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elorica8 wrote: b) Opt to go do a one-year masters that I deferred admission to last year and reapply next cycle (for 2014/15), which would mean (more) debt but which I feel would certainly put me over the top in terms of getting into Harvard at least

elorica8 wrote:Hi Everyone,

I am registered to take Saturday (Dec 1) test, and, like many on the forums I'm sure, I'm freaking out.

I had been PTing at 167-168 for awhile, but in completing the most recent PTs, I have seen that number drop (got a 163 on PT 66) and I feel myself struggling with RC and LGs more than before. I had originally been signed up in October, but in the hopes of raising my score, I postponed. Now I am afraid that I won't even get the 167-168. What's more, I have a very silly mistake haunting me from undergrad days, when I stupidly took the LSAT and didn't cancel, and therefore suffered the consequences of a 149 on my record. I'm a URM (AA), female, graduated 2011 from a top-three Ivy-league school, with a GPA of 3.6 with honors and awards. Lots of travel experience and experience working abroad, four foreign languages. I really want to get into a top five program. Actually, I really want H or Y.

Right now, I feel like my options are:

a) Take the test on Saturday and take my chances... and suffer the possible consequences of either a cancel on the record or a 149/165 or whatever/???
b) Opt to go do a one-year masters that I deferred admission to last year and reapply next cycle (for 2014/15), which would mean (more) debt but which I feel would certainly put me over the top in terms of getting into Harvard at least
c) Work for another year in my soul-crushing corporate job, which means no Masters but no added debt, but the lurking feeling that schools will look down on that and also that, given the generosity of the top schools FinAid and loan repayment plans, it's not really saving me that much money

What do you guys think? Be gentle please, but be honest

Thank you so much.

Wormfather wrote:

gguuueessttt wrote:

elorica8 wrote: b) Opt to go do a one-year masters that I deferred admission to last year and reapply next cycle (for 2014/15), which would mean (more) debt but which I feel would certainly put me over the top in terms of getting into Harvard at least

what? you think a one year masters will push you over the edge in terms of getting into harvard at least?

In regards to the rest of your post, if you are a URM, I say take it. Otherwise, even your high PT scores (167/8) are not high enough to have any shot at Harvard, which seems to be your goal, so wait a cycle.

WHAT!?!!?

OP is from an Ivy, AA, has WE, speaks multiple languages and has an IVY GPA of 3.5 plus. If she hits 165 Harvard will admit her.

/endthread

gguuueessttt wrote:


worm, I said if she's URM she should take it. You are agreeing with me in a very shocked tone.

Wormfather wrote:
EXACTLY, I AGREE!!! ROARRRR!!!1

/ragequit

PickledPanda wrote:

gguuueessttt wrote:


worm, I said if she's URM she should take it. You are agreeing with me in a very shocked tone.

I too am often shocked when I find myself agreeing with you.

alex.feuerman wrote:c) Work for another year in my soul-crushing corporate job, which means no Masters but no added debt, but the lurking feeling that schools will look down on that and also that, given the generosity of the top schools FinAid and loan repayment plans, it's not really saving me that much money

Do this. No offense, but you're an idiot if you take out loans for a useless master's program. As an AA, you have a very real shot at HYS. Just suck it up. I HATE my job too but postponed for a year so I could score higher. And paychecks are nice? Come on, you know you know it paychecks are nice. It's one year you can do it it'll be gone so fast.

elorica8 wrote:Hey Guys,

Thanks. As always, prompt and amazing.

What do you think about the 149 thing? Is that not a huge red flag, enough to make it necessary for me to get at least 170, even as a URM? I know other URMs have gotten into Harvard with 164s or even less, but they have applied earlier in the cycle and don't have a terrible score already.

Also, when I said about law schools looking down on my for my job, I didn't mean because I took a job, but because I'm trying to sell myself in applications as someone who is interested in human rights (I've done legal aid work in the Middle East), but I am afraid that's getting to be a less and less compelling story the longer I stay at this job.

Any additional thoughts?

alex.feuerman wrote:Do this. No offense, but you're an idiot if you take out loans for a useless master's program. As an AA, you have a very real shot at HYS. Just suck it up. I HATE my job too but postponed for a year so I could score higher. And paychecks are nice? Come on, you know you know it paychecks are nice. It's one year you can do it it'll be gone so fast.

elorica8 wrote:Hi Everyone,

I am registered to take Saturday (Dec 1) test, and, like many on the forums I'm sure, I'm freaking out.

I had been PTing at 167-168 for awhile, but in completing the most recent PTs, I have seen that number drop (got a 163 on PT 66) and I feel myself struggling with RC and LGs more than before. I had originally been signed up in October, but in the hopes of raising my score, I postponed. Now I am afraid that I won't even get the 167-168. What's more, I have a very silly mistake haunting me from undergrad days, when I stupidly took the LSAT and didn't cancel, and therefore suffered the consequences of a 149 on my record. I'm a URM (AA), female, graduated 2011 from a top-three Ivy-league school, with a GPA of 3.6 with honors and awards. Lots of travel experience and experience working abroad, four foreign languages. I really want to get into a top five program. Actually, I really want H or Y.

Right now, I feel like my options are:

a) Take the test on Saturday and take my chances... and suffer the possible consequences of either a cancel on the record or a 149/165 or whatever/???
b) Opt to go do a one-year masters that I deferred admission to last year and reapply next cycle (for 2014/15), which would mean (more) debt but which I feel would certainly put me over the top in terms of getting into Harvard at least
c) Work for another year in my soul-crushing corporate job, which means no Masters but no added debt, but the lurking feeling that schools will look down on that and also that, given the generosity of the top schools FinAid and loan repayment plans, it's not really saving me that much money

What do you guys think? Be gentle please, but be honest

Thank you so much.

Wormfather wrote:

elorica8 wrote:Yes, you are right. I feel like sometimes I let the restlessness get to me and that's no good for making rational decisions. Also, since I'm still so junior, that paychecks bit isn't even really there yet

Thanks again for all your input. I appreciate it.

I'll take it this Sunday. Wish me luck!

Wait a second. You're a junior? Pft...see you in June. Do light studying for the rest of the academic year, then in may go full throttle and crush it in june.

DO not take this administration. You can do better than 165 and you have the time. Focus on lifting that GPA. If you get you're ivy GPA north of 3.8, then you'll lock up HYS with 165+.

LOL, junior.

Wormfather wrote:

elorica8 wrote:Yes, you are right. I feel like sometimes I let the restlessness get to me and that's no good for making rational decisions. Also, since I'm still so junior, that paychecks bit isn't even really there yet

Thanks again for all your input. I appreciate it.

I'll take it this Sunday. Wish me luck!

One other thing...the test is Saturday. Since you're going to take our advice [nodding my head up and down as I say this], dont just not show up. Cancel through LSAC.

scottyc66 wrote:Said so junior, not a junior. I'm thinking it means low on the company totem pole, not in school, could be wrong though

elorica8 wrote:

alex.feuerman wrote:c) Work for another year in my soul-crushing corporate job, which means no Masters but no added debt, but the lurking feeling that schools will look down on that and also that, given the generosity of the top schools FinAid and loan repayment plans, it's not really saving me that much money

Do this. No offense, but you're an idiot if you take out loans for a useless master's program. As an AA, you have a very real shot at HYS. Just suck it up. I HATE my job too but postponed for a year so I could score higher. And paychecks are nice? Come on, you know you know it paychecks are nice. It's one year you can do it it'll be gone so fast.

Haha Alex, where do you work? Maybe we're colleagues.

elorica8 wrote:Thank you for your thoughts here. I'm also nervous about having to retake a third time. The 149 was taken in Oct 2010, however, so I have cleared the two year mark. Still not a good idea to have a third go, however.

Do you think February is really doable? Especially since we wouldn't have the results until the end of the month... The deadlines will have passed by then.

Your friend's news is encouraging!