Am I applying to too few schools? Forum

[BeatTheMets]

Currently applying to Northwestern, Georgetown, Wash U, BU, BC, GW, and Fordham. 3.61 GPA from a top 20 school (it's one of the law schools I'm applying to) with a 165 LSAT. Definitely not retaking the LSAT; I wanted to take it in June but couldn't because of work and studying for the September test was tough enough. Between long hours at work and studying I'm way too burnt out to retake in December and don't want to wait another cycle. What do you think my chances are at the schools I've listed? I feel like Fordham is a safety, BU/BC/GW are targets and Northwestern/Georgetown/Wash U are reaches. Any other schools I should add to the list? Currently in NYC but would like to get out, preferably to Boston/DC/Chicago.

[jacketyellow]

Currently applying to Northwestern, Georgetown, Wash U, BU, BC, GW, and Fordham. 3.61 GPA from a top 20 school (it's one of the law schools I'm applying to) with a 165 LSAT. Definitely not retaking the LSAT; I wanted to take it in June but couldn't because of work and studying for the September test was tough enough. Between long hours at work and studying I'm way too burnt out to retake in December and don't want to wait another cycle. What do you think my chances are at the schools I've listed? I feel like Fordham is a safety, BU/BC/GW are targets and Northwestern/Georgetown/Wash U are reaches. Any other schools I should add to the list? Currently in NYC but would like to get out, preferably to Boston/DC/Chicago.

I don't think you should limit yourself to just those schools. You could probably get into the T10-14 range and use scholarships at the T20 to negotiate.

[BeatTheMets]

Currently applying to Northwestern, Georgetown, Wash U, BU, BC, GW, and Fordham. 3.61 GPA from a top 20 school (it's one of the law schools I'm applying to) with a 165 LSAT. Definitely not retaking the LSAT; I wanted to take it in June but couldn't because of work and studying for the September test was tough enough. Between long hours at work and studying I'm way too burnt out to retake in December and don't want to wait another cycle. What do you think my chances are at the schools I've listed? I feel like Fordham is a safety, BU/BC/GW are targets and Northwestern/Georgetown/Wash U are reaches. Any other schools I should add to the list? Currently in NYC but would like to get out, preferably to Boston/DC/Chicago.

I don't think you should limit yourself to just those schools. You could probably get into the T10-14 range and use scholarships at the T20 to negotiate.

I hear you but I ultimately want to end up in NY/DC/Boston/Chicago which rules out Texas and Berkeley. I also value being in a real urban area which makes me hesitant about Duke and Cornell. Also I feel like my grades are a little below par for T10-14 which is why I have Northwestern as a reach.

[Rigo]

Currently applying to Northwestern, Georgetown, Wash U, BU, BC, GW, and Fordham. 3.61 GPA from a top 20 school (it's one of the law schools I'm applying to) with a 165 LSAT. Definitely not retaking the LSAT; I wanted to take it in June but couldn't because of work and studying for the September test was tough enough. Between long hours at work and studying I'm way too burnt out to retake in December and don't want to wait another cycle. What do you think my chances are at the schools I've listed? I feel like Fordham is a safety, BU/BC/GW are targets and Northwestern/Georgetown/Wash U are reaches. Any other schools I should add to the list? Currently in NYC but would like to get out, preferably to Boston/DC/Chicago.

I don't think you should limit yourself to just those schools. You could probably get into the T10-14 range and use scholarships at the T20 to negotiate.

I think everything you said is way too optimistic.

[BeatTheMets]

Currently applying to Northwestern, Georgetown, Wash U, BU, BC, GW, and Fordham. 3.61 GPA from a top 20 school (it's one of the law schools I'm applying to) with a 165 LSAT. Definitely not retaking the LSAT; I wanted to take it in June but couldn't because of work and studying for the September test was tough enough. Between long hours at work and studying I'm way too burnt out to retake in December and don't want to wait another cycle. What do you think my chances are at the schools I've listed? I feel like Fordham is a safety, BU/BC/GW are targets and Northwestern/Georgetown/Wash U are reaches. Any other schools I should add to the list? Currently in NYC but would like to get out, preferably to Boston/DC/Chicago.

I don't think you should limit yourself to just those schools. You could probably get into the T10-14 range and use scholarships at the T20 to negotiate.

I think everything you said is way too optimistic.

Me (OP) or jacketyellow?

[Rigo]

Me (OP) or jacketyellow?

jacketyellow. T20 is even a reach for you and I doubt T14 is going to happen.
Your list seems fine. Maybe think about adding a true "safety" where you'll get a lot of money like Cardozo or UIUC (although you seem east coast centric despite saying Chicago, so maybe not).

[wmbuff]

Me (OP) or jacketyellow?

jacketyellow. T20 is even a reach for you and I doubt T14 is going to happen.
Your list seems fine. Maybe think about adding a true "safety" where you'll get a lot of money like Cardozo or UIUC (although you seem east coast centric despite saying Chicago, so maybe not).

More in the reach/target list, I'd also consider Vanderbilt (very reach, but less so than NW), Notre Dame, W&L, and W&M. I generally agree with Rigo's assessment.

[cavalier1138]

What are your career goals?

I get that you don't want to wait a cycle, but the top end of your list is not happening. And if you have career goals that aren't really reachable without a degree from one of those schools, then you need to get a better LSAT and apply later.

[BeatTheMets]

Me (OP) or jacketyellow?

jacketyellow. T20 is even a reach for you and I doubt T14 is going to happen.
Your list seems fine. Maybe think about adding a true "safety" where you'll get a lot of money like Cardozo or UIUC (although you seem east coast centric despite saying Chicago, so maybe not).

I'm definitely more East Coast centric. Born and raised in NY and would like to be somewhat close to family, hence Boston and DC. How would you rate my chances for each of BU/BC/GW/Fordham in terms of target, reach or safety?

[future liT1g4tor]

You're putting the cart before the horse. You need to focus more on your career goals rather than what city you want to go to law school in; not that the latter isn't important to you, it's just not important for receiving the advice you're seeking without referring to the former.

[BeatTheMets]

OP here. I should also add that I'm interested in labor & employment law. Don't know if that makes a huge difference.

[TheBlueDevil]

I hear you but I ultimately want to end up in NY/DC/Boston/Chicago which rules out Texas and Berkeley. I also value being in a real urban area which makes me hesitant about Duke and Cornell. Also I feel like my grades are a little below par for T10-14 which is why I have Northwestern as a reach.

I wouldn't go as far as calling Durham urban, but the Triangle actually has quite a bit going on. FWIW I'm from a big Northern city, so I was a bit skeptical about North Carolina. But I was very pleasantly surprised. And, in any case, it's only three years and between the low cost of living and the scholarship they offered, I think it was well worth it. It's definitely a lot less rural than Cornell or UVA. You shouldn't rule it out without at least visiting.

[cavalier1138]

OP here. I should also add that I'm interested in labor & employment law. Don't know if that makes a huge difference.

It does if that means that you want to work for a smaller labor & employment firm in Boston vs. the ERISA practice group at a large firm.

[BeatTheMets]

OP here. I should also add that I'm interested in labor & employment law. Don't know if that makes a huge difference.

It does if that means that you want to work for a smaller labor & employment firm in Boston vs. the ERISA practice group at a large firm.

I'm more concerned with opportunities for labor & employment law in each city, small vs. big firm isn't my primary concern at this point. Are there enough opportunities with small l&e firms in Boston?

[Mullens]

OP here. I should also add that I'm interested in labor & employment law. Don't know if that makes a huge difference.

It does if that means that you want to work for a smaller labor & employment firm in Boston vs. the ERISA practice group at a large firm.

I'm more concerned with opportunities for labor & employment law in each city, small vs. big firm isn't my primary concern at this point. Are there enough opportunities with small l&e firms in Boston?

Just spitballing here, but isn’t that something you should look into before spending 3 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on law school?

[cavalier1138]

I'm more concerned with opportunities for labor & employment law in each city, small vs. big firm isn't my primary concern at this point. Are there enough opportunities with small l&e firms in Boston?

Just spitballing here, but isn’t that something you should look into before spending 3 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on law school?

In addition to this, why isn't the size of the firm your primary concern? The type of work you do in this sector is going to be heavily influenced by the type of job you're aiming for. And the issue right now is that you're not applying to enough schools that will give you a full scholarship, which you'll need if you want to start at a small firm in Boston, in order to avoid having half your income go to paying off loans.

[future liT1g4tor]

Just retake the LSAT & then we’ll talk about where to apply. I’m not just saying the cliche thing to say, pls retake.