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Reapplying next year

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:23 pm
by ProductofUnreality
I think I under-applied this year. I left out nearly half of the T14 and submitted my apps late. While I'm anxious to get started with school I think could end up with more options if I apply to more schools as soon as apps are released.

Anyone else considering reapplying or have any advice about it?

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:01 pm
by oliverotis
ProductofUnreality wrote:I think I under-applied this year. I left out nearly half of the T14 and submitted my apps late. While I'm anxious to get started with school I think could end up with more options if I apply to more schools as soon as apps are released.

Anyone else considering reapplying or have any advice about it?
If you've underperformed your numbers, this is probably a good idea, especially if you already have a good job. One extra year of WE probably won't make a huge difference for apps or OCI, but definitely won't hurt. Applying early and broadly significantly increases your chances of getting good scholly in T14.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:18 pm
by ProductofUnreality
oliverotis wrote:
ProductofUnreality wrote:I think I under-applied this year. I left out nearly half of the T14 and submitted my apps late. While I'm anxious to get started with school I think could end up with more options if I apply to more schools as soon as apps are released.

Anyone else considering reapplying or have any advice about it?
If you've underperformed your numbers, this is probably a good idea, especially if you already have a good job. One extra year of WE probably won't make a huge difference for apps or OCI, but definitely won't hurt. Applying early and broadly significantly increases your chances of getting good scholly in T14.
Cool, thanks!

I've got a whatever job right now, but will be looking for one that looks good on an app. I might be able to get an additional LoR from a former professor, too (been out of school for 3 years so it was a bit of a struggle).

But not applying early and broadly is what I feel like hurt me the most.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:44 pm
by WhatsGood
ProductofUnreality wrote:I think I under-applied this year. I left out nearly half of the T14 and submitted my apps late. While I'm anxious to get started with school I think could end up with more options if I apply to more schools as soon as apps are released.

Anyone else considering reapplying or have any advice about it?
This was me last year and I am SO happy that I reapplied. Idk how old you are, but I just think that one year is nothing and the upside of significantly improving your options definetly make it worth reapplying

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:37 am
by ProductofUnreality
WhatsGood wrote:
ProductofUnreality wrote:I think I under-applied this year. I left out nearly half of the T14 and submitted my apps late. While I'm anxious to get started with school I think could end up with more options if I apply to more schools as soon as apps are released.

Anyone else considering reapplying or have any advice about it?
This was me last year and I am SO happy that I reapplied. Idk how old you are, but I just think that one year is nothing and the upside of significantly improving your options definetly make it worth reapplying
Great, thanks for sharing and I'm glad you ended up being happy!

I'm 26 and you're right, becoming a lawyer at 30 instead of 29 seems well worth the potential upside of better options and less debt.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:44 am
by Clearly
Where's your LSAT at? Taking a year off, might as well consider if you could up it.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:53 am
by mdu
Considering this option as well.
Is there any downside in reapplying?
Lets say I get a generous James Wilson from Penn, and I've already gotten decent $$ from Chicago, but I prefer NY schools. If I don't get into NY schools this cycle and I reapply next year, do I risk losing some schollies and possibly even acceptances that I have this year?
I know there are probably no concrete answers, just curious for some thoughts.
(Once I'm at it, any thoughts on ED for NYU next year in the above scenario? Does that give any advantage?)
Thanks.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:11 am
by Clearly
mdu wrote:Considering this option as well.
Is there any downside in reapplying?
Lets say I get a generous James Wilson from Penn, and I've already gotten decent $$ from Chicago, but I prefer NY schools. If I don't get into NY schools this cycle and I reapply next year, do I risk losing some schollies and possibly even acceptances that I have this year?
I know there are probably no concrete answers, just curious for some thoughts.
(Once I'm at it, any thoughts on ED for NYU next year in the above scenario? Does that give any advantage?)
Thanks.
Personally, I wouldn't ED, because I'd take a wilson at Penn over NYU at sticker (hi rpupkin / brut). If you're getting money to t6 schools an ED would just be foolish. I don't believe reapplying would do you any harm. You might want to include an addendum on those apps explaining that the time wasn't right or something.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:15 am
by WhatsGood
I'm sure there is some risk, like the possibilty of a stronger applicant pool next year, but if you use the year effectively and improve your application either thru LSAT retake, more work experience, higher GPA if you are applying as a UG senior, or just general resume improvement I think it's worth it. Also a year might give you extra perspective on your admissions essays and you could improve those too.
I also agree no ED

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:19 am
by mdu
Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:37 am
by ProductofUnreality
Clearly wrote:Where's your LSAT at? Taking a year off, might as well consider if you could up it.
My LSAT is a 172, which was in the high range of my practice tests. I'm pretty comfortable with it and don't think I'd want to run the risk of having to explain a lower score.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 2:56 am
by landshoes
There's still time to apply to many of the T-14 schools, even though it's "late" to do so. I suggest that, and then seeing how things play out before deciding whether to reapply. If you're a decently strong candidate you might get offers good enough to make up for the opportunity cost of not applying more broadly.
mdu wrote:Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(
I'm not sure why you'd care if you lost money at the non-NYC schools--is it because you would use them to negotiate with NY schools? Either way, I think reapplying is probably better than going to Fordham.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 11:51 am
by ProductofUnreality
landshoes wrote:There's still time to apply to many of the T-14 schools, even though it's "late" to do so. I suggest that, and then seeing how things play out before deciding whether to reapply. If you're a decently strong candidate you might get offers good enough to make up for the opportunity cost of not applying more broadly.
mdu wrote:Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(
I'm not sure why you'd care if you lost money at the non-NYC schools--is it because you would use them to negotiate with NY schools? Either way, I think reapplying is probably better than going to Fordham.
Another issue for me is that it's not a good time for me to move, but next year I'll be able to move anywhere no sweat. I didn't think I was competitive for t14 until I found out my LSAC GPA was .3 points higher than I thought it would be so originally I was only focused on regional schools but have since set my goals higher.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:19 pm
by Lexaholik
landshoes wrote:There's still time to apply to many of the T-14 schools, even though it's "late" to do so. I suggest that, and then seeing how things play out before deciding whether to reapply. If you're a decently strong candidate you might get offers good enough to make up for the opportunity cost of not applying more broadly.
mdu wrote:Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(
100% agree with Landshoes. I don't know the particular admissions tendencies of NYU/Columbia, but I know for a fact that at least one other T14 school makes a lot of major decisions about candidates very late (in the summer). So what I'm saying is--you won't be penalized all that much for applying late--in fact you might even get lucky and get a leg up because they have a specific spot they want to fill with a 172 scorer. (At my T14 many of my friends told me they were admitted after June.) The downside of applying now is so small that it doesn't make sense to NOT apply right now.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:52 pm
by ProductofUnreality
Lexaholik wrote:
landshoes wrote:There's still time to apply to many of the T-14 schools, even though it's "late" to do so. I suggest that, and then seeing how things play out before deciding whether to reapply. If you're a decently strong candidate you might get offers good enough to make up for the opportunity cost of not applying more broadly.
mdu wrote:Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(
100% agree with Landshoes. I don't know the particular admissions tendencies of NYU/Columbia, but I know for a fact that at least one other T14 school makes a lot of major decisions about candidates very late (in the summer). So what I'm saying is--you won't be penalized all that much for applying late--in fact you might even get lucky and get a leg up because they have a specific spot they want to fill with a 172 scorer. (At my T14 many of my friends told me they were admitted after June.) The downside of applying now is so small that it doesn't make sense to NOT apply right now.
It looks like for me and mdu the downsides aren't just that it's late, but also that moving isn't a great option (just this year for me). Next year I'll be able to move and I'll have a year to boost my softs and rework my applications so they're better tailored to each school rather than just boilerplate. And I could submit in September rather than mid December/late January.

I found this site after sending out my first batch of applications and I've learned a lot here about the admissions process. If waiting a year won't hurt me it could open up a lot of possibilities. I could get school specific LoRs, write school specific personal statements, draft why x essays and so forth. Reading through these forums I've realized my apps are weak compared to other people even though my numbers are competitive enough.

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:58 pm
by Lexaholik
ProductofUnreality wrote:
Lexaholik wrote:
landshoes wrote:There's still time to apply to many of the T-14 schools, even though it's "late" to do so. I suggest that, and then seeing how things play out before deciding whether to reapply. If you're a decently strong candidate you might get offers good enough to make up for the opportunity cost of not applying more broadly.
mdu wrote:Thanks for the replies... To clarify my position, and therefore my consideration of ED: I have VERY strong reasons why I must stay in NY. The type that if I don't get into NYU/Columbia, I will probably be stuck at Fordham :(
100% agree with Landshoes. I don't know the particular admissions tendencies of NYU/Columbia, but I know for a fact that at least one other T14 school makes a lot of major decisions about candidates very late (in the summer). So what I'm saying is--you won't be penalized all that much for applying late--in fact you might even get lucky and get a leg up because they have a specific spot they want to fill with a 172 scorer. (At my T14 many of my friends told me they were admitted after June.) The downside of applying now is so small that it doesn't make sense to NOT apply right now.
It looks like for me and mdu the downsides aren't just that it's late, but also that moving isn't a great option (just this year for me). Next year I'll be able to move and I'll have a year to boost my softs and rework my applications so they're better tailored to each school rather than just boilerplate. And I could submit in September rather than mid December/late January.

I found this site after sending out my first batch of applications and I've learned a lot here about the admissions process. If waiting a year won't hurt me it could open up a lot of possibilities. I could get school specific LoRs, write school specific personal statements, draft why x essays and so forth. Reading through these forums I've realized my apps are weak compared to other people even though my numbers are competitive enough.
Ah that makes sense. I applaud your patience--it's hard to wait another year but usually in the long-term it's more than worth it. Good luck to you!

Re: Reapplying next year

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:16 pm
by ProductofUnreality
Lexaholik wrote:
Ah that makes sense. I applaud your patience--it's hard to wait another year but usually in the long-term it's more than worth it. Good luck to you!
Thanks! I'm not looking forward to the wait, but hopefully when I look back I won't be able to imagine not holding off.