Withdrawing an ED admit? Forum

[Whatsawahooanyway]

So I was posting my greetings in the UVA class of thread, minding my own business, but I got a PM from someone... You can see my extensive post history (if you want to go to law school, you have to do the dirty work sometimes) for what it would likely be about.

Well anyway, I have applied/accepted ED at a certain unnamed school. I took the December LSAT for S+G, no really because I wanted to try and put myself in a position to at least make a compelling case for some aid money.

Well, a certain poster with over 1100 posts PM'd me and said I could theoretically withdraw my UVA ED and apply next cycle if I wished. I was certainly under the impression that this was not the case. In fact, I feel like if I asked that, I would have been mocked for even entertaining such an idea. I thought I was bound to attend UVA Law. I looked over the ED agreement and no mention of cycles is there.

Now I have no intentions of doing so, but theoretically say I were to get a 180 (not going to happen, but what if?), would what this person proposed be admissable? He (or she) made it seem to be a fact, but then admitted he was not entirely sure.

What says the TLS nation?

*Edited only for grammar

[Knock]

So I was posting my greetings in the UVA class of thread, minding my own business, but I got a PM from someone... You can see my extensive post history (if you want to go to law school, you have to do the dirty work sometimes) for what it would likely be about.

Well anyway, I have applied/accepted ED at a certain unnamed school. I took the December LSAT for S+G, no really because I wanted to try and put myself in a position to at least make a compelling case for some aid money.

Well, a certain poster with over 1100 posts who PM'd me told me that if I could theoretically withdraw my UVA ED and apply next cycle if I wished. I was certainly under the impression that this was not the case. In fact, I feel like if I asked that, I would have been mocked for even entertaining such an idea. I thought I was bound to attend UVA Law. I looked over the ED agreement and no mention of cycles is there.

Now I have no intentions of doing so, but theoretically say I were to get a 180 (not going to happen, but what if?), would what this person proposed be admissable. He (or she) made it seem to be a fact, but then admitted he was not entirely sure.

What says the TLS nation?

That's correct. Your ED contract stipulates that you will only attend that law school this cycle. It's a perfectly acceptable choice to attend no law school, and re-apply next cycle.

[Whatsawahooanyway]

Hmm, very interesting. And all this time I thought message boards were a waste of time. Thank you.

[HowdyYall]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

[Knock]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

The ED contract is only for this cycle. It's perfectly fine to just wait a year and re-apply with a new LSAT score.

[trudat15]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

The ED contract is only for this cycle. It's perfectly fine to just wait a year and re-apply with a new LSAT score.

Credited.

Would any LS (aside from Michigan) give you a scholly after an ED acceptance after a retake? Or were you just hoping they might consider it.

[well-hello-there]

If you actually did score something like a 180, rather than waiting around another year to go to law school......you could sabotage your own chances at your binding decision school by "accidentally" sending them a "why X law school" LOCI/Addendum with the X school being some other school.

edit^My bad...RC fail! You've already been accepted.

[Knock]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

The ED contract is only for this cycle. It's perfectly fine to just wait a year and re-apply with a new LSAT score.

Credited.

Would any LS (aside from Michigan) give you a scholly after an ED acceptance after a retake? Or were you just hoping they might consider it.

Not sure. I think the ED acceptance rather than the retake would be more a hindrance to receiving money. Since under ED you have basically no leverage, besides sitting out a year. Under non-ED circumstances you can get scholly money from retaking if the schools still have money left to disperse.

[well-hello-there]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

The ED contract is only for this cycle. It's perfectly fine to just wait a year and re-apply with a new LSAT score.

Credited.

Would any LS (aside from Michigan) give you a scholly after an ED acceptance after a retake? Or were you just hoping they might consider it.

Not sure. I think the ED acceptance rather than the retake would be more a hindrance to receiving money. Since under ED you have basically no leverage, besides sitting out a year. Under non-ED circumstances you can get scholly money from retaking if the schools still have money left to disperse.

I had one adcomm at a T14 tell me that if I were to be accepted ED off the October score and then subsequently take December, they would "consider" my december score in their scholarship calculations.

[Knock]

The ED contract is only for this cycle. It's perfectly fine to just wait a year and re-apply with a new LSAT score.

Credited.

Would any LS (aside from Michigan) give you a scholly after an ED acceptance after a retake? Or were you just hoping they might consider it.

Not sure. I think the ED acceptance rather than the retake would be more a hindrance to receiving money. Since under ED you have basically no leverage, besides sitting out a year. Under non-ED circumstances you can get scholly money from retaking if the schools still have money left to disperse.

I had one adcomm at a T14 tell me that if I were to be accepted ED off the October score and then subsequently take December, they would "consider" my december score in their scholarship calculations.

Interesting. I'm in no position to disagree with an adcomm, but I would take that with a huge grain of salt. Law schools also say stuff like they are "holistic," etc. If you're bound by ED you pretty much lose a lot of negotiating leverage.

[well-hello-there]

agreed.....that's why I put the quotations around the word consider.

[trudat15]

agreed.....that's why I put the quotations around the word consider.

That's interesting as well. But again, they tend to say things like - applying ED does NOT mean you wont get scholarship money, when we all know it does. Would you mind saying what school told you that? Via PM if you want.
I'm on an ED acceptance, but would retake in a heartbeat in Feb if that meant some money could be thrown my way. I think I could raise it by at least a few points, esp if there was no pressure.

[005618502]

agreed.....that's why I put the quotations around the word consider.

That's interesting as well. But again, they tend to say things like - applying ED does NOT mean you wont get scholarship money, when we all know it does. Would you mind saying what school told you that? Via PM if you want.
I'm on an ED acceptance, but would retake in a heartbeat in Feb if that meant some money could be thrown my way. I think I could raise it by at least a few points, esp if there was no pressure.

I decided to ED to UVA with a GPA above 75% and a 165 LSAT. When i spoke with XXXXX, and i told him i underpeformed on the LSAT and was signed up for December, he told me i could definitely re-take the LSAT and they would consider me equally for the scholarship. Now im sure they cont consider equally, but if i scored a 175 and had a 4.0, they had better give me BIG $$$ or that would look really bad on them. And yes you have some leverage as you can withdraw after your ED acceptance and apply NEXT cycle, BUT you do have to sit out the rest of the cycle you were admitted ED or you could be penalized very badly.

Now this is the impression i am under as the ED contract only binds you to the class you were accepted for. The thing is, when you ED it should be your dream school. If i took and got a 175, i wouldnt even consider leaving unless of course they did not honor their agreement that i would be considered equally.

[005618502]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

Where have you ever heard this? I would love to know if many of us are misinterpreting something...

[trudat15]

agreed.....that's why I put the quotations around the word consider.

That's interesting as well. But again, they tend to say things like - applying ED does NOT mean you wont get scholarship money, when we all know it does. Would you mind saying what school told you that? Via PM if you want.
I'm on an ED acceptance, but would retake in a heartbeat in Feb if that meant some money could be thrown my way. I think I could raise it by at least a few points, esp if there was no pressure.

I decided to ED to UVA with a GPA above 75% and a 165 LSAT. When i spoke with XXXXX, and i told him i underpeformed on the LSAT and was signed up for December, he told me i could definitely re-take the LSAT and they would consider me equally for the scholarship. Now im sure they cont consider equally, but if i scored a 175 and had a 4.0, they had better give me BIG $$$ or that would look really bad on them. And yes you have some leverage as you can withdraw after your ED acceptance and apply NEXT cycle, BUT you do have to sit out the rest of the cycle you were admitted ED or you could be penalized very badly.

Now this is the impression i am under as the ED contract only binds you to the class you were accepted for. The thing is, when you ED it should be your dream school. If i took and got a 175, i wouldnt even consider leaving unless of course they did not honor their agreement that i would be considered equally.

Ahh, thanks for the info. I forgot that you do have a little leverage in that you can certainly withdraw and wait a year to reapply. My GPA is really low for Chicago, where I ED'd, but I'm pretty confident I can get my LSAT up at least a few points. Even if they gave me $10 and a subway gift card, it's better than what I'm expecting. I'm going to talk to the financial aid office tomorrow and see what they say, I guess.

[T6Hopeful]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

Where have you ever heard this? I would love to know if many of us are misinterpreting something...

He/she means you cannot commit to any other school for Fall 2011. I think you're misinterpreting "planning to go to law school" for "reapplying" next cycle, whereas HowdyYall means GOING to law school next year (fall 2011).
Also, OP, don't be surprised if UVA dings you next cycle for burning them.

[Dr. Strangelove]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

+1
Otherwise, OP shouldn't have applied ED.

[005618502]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

Where have you ever heard this? I would love to know if many of us are misinterpreting something...

He/she means you cannot commit to any other school for Fall 2011. I think you're misinterpreting "planning to go to law school" for "reapplying" next cycle, whereas HowdyYall means GOING to law school next year (fall 2011).
Also, OP, don't be surprised if UVA dings you next cycle for burning them.

UVA would DEFINITELY ding you, even if you re-took and got perfect numbers. lol

[005618502]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

+1
Otherwise, OP shouldn't have applied ED.

Yes but that is only next year. If you sit a cycle out and re-apply the next, you will be fine. Though, as said before, you will not get into the origional school you did ED to.

[vamedic03]

Don't forget that the law school admissions community is rather small - especially among the top schools. If you truly anger adcoms at one school, that can have consequences with other schools as well.

Edit - also, it's a bit disconcerting that you retook the LSAT after you had already been admitted ED somewhere. Honesty and fair dealing go along way in this world (especially in small professional communities).

[trudat15]

no, if you plan to go to LS next year, youre bound to UVA, whether or not you scored a 180 or dont receive any aid money. A contract is a contract

+1
Otherwise, OP shouldn't have applied ED.

Yes but that is only next year. If you sit a cycle out and re-apply the next, you will be fine. Though, as said before, you will not get into the origional school you did ED to.

Think that's the point of this thread - if they were to get a much higher score, they're probably looking at a different range of schools.

Don't forget that the law school admissions community is rather small - especially among the top schools. If you truly anger adcoms at one school, that can have consequences with other schools as well.

Edit - also, it's a bit disconcerting that you retook the LSAT after you had already been admitted ED somewhere. Honesty and fair dealing go along way in this world (especially in small professional communities).

But also remember that binding ED decisions are only valid for a year. OP is certainly within his/her rights to sit out a year and reapply.

RE: Edit - I'm ED in at a school, and I have no intention of not going there this year. But I did talk to the dean who stated that if I were to retake the LSAT and do better, they would take it into consideration when offering me my financial package. While I'm sure it's just what they say (just like they say ED wont affect scholly chances), it might be worth the $138 bucks and few hours a day it takes to study to find out. Seems like OP was trying the same thing (stating that the reason for retake was to make themselves more competitive for scholarships).