Should I apply to some more reaches? Forum

[forty-two]

Hello everyone! I'm a longtime lurker, first time poster, and I would really appreciate some advice. I originally thought I applied to a good range of schools, but my cycle has been going better than I had expected, so now I'm not so sure. I have a 166 LSAT and between a 3.6-3.7 GPA and I have OK softs (had some cool internships, but nothing amazing). I've lived in Cali my entire life, and while I love it, I'm open to moving to the east coast. So far I've applied to:

UCLA
USC
BU
Emory
BC
U Washington
UC Davis
Cardozo
USD
Loyola LA

So, do you think it's worth the app fees to apply to a few more reaches? Is it too late at this point? If you think I should, any suggestions on where? Thanks!

[joshhoward]

i would apply to georgetown.

i would probably apply to cornell and a few other t14s, but only in the same way that people like me apply to Yale...but i guess that depends on how hurting your are for money.

[BenJ]

Basically agree with kingabraham. Georgetown is definitely worth an app. Virginia probably gave you an invisible fee waiver (I think they blanketed everyone with an LSAT over 160, haha), so it's worth it to apply even though you're a pretty big stretch there. If you're definitely comfortable with UVA, you could try applying ED, as that improves your chances (but binds you to attend, although it's probably the best school your numbers could possibly get you in at anyway). Cornell couldn't hurt, either.

[im_blue]

With a 3.6x/166, Cornell and GULC are the only T14 schools where you hit the median GPA, so any others would be auto-dings (along with UCLA fwiw). If I were you, I'd apply to GULC PT and Fordham.

[mhd08]

With a 3.6x/166, Cornell and GULC are the only T14 schools where you hit the median GPA, so any others would be auto-dings (along with UCLA fwiw). If I were you, I'd apply to GULC PT and Fordham.

Why would you assume that would mean an auto-ding? It's the median, not the cutoff. Could end up being a WL, which is not the worst case scenario.

[im_blue]

With a 3.6x/166, Cornell and GULC are the only T14 schools where you hit the median GPA, so any others would be auto-dings (along with UCLA fwiw). If I were you, I'd apply to GULC PT and Fordham.

Why would you assume that would mean an auto-ding? It's the median, not the cutoff. Could end up being a WL, which is not the worst case scenario.

Yes, but applicants with both numbers below median are auto-dings, so the median GPA and median LSAT together act as a cutoff. And obviously a 166 is below every T14's median LSAT. Sure, OP could end up being WLed at some schools, but he won't get in.

[forty-two]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll start on the Georgetown and Cornell apps right away. I know they're long shots, but thanks for letting me know that they're not lost causes.

[General Tso]

GW also worthwhile

[MURPH]

Apply to any school that gives you a fee waiver. After that apply to as many as you think you can afford. You may get waitlisted at some schools that are a reach. Later you may slip in as students disperse to other schools.