170/3.6 advice please!! (updated page 2) Forum

[becauseimaddicted]

Just got my February results, and I got a 170. My last score was 161 (anxiety issues) so I set my sights on IU Bloomington, William and Mary, Washington and Lee.

I have a 3.63 from NYU and decent softs (year-long term government internship and what I've been told is a great personal statement about my experience there).

As of today, I've missed the deadline for every top14 school besides UVA and Georgetown, as well as UCLA. I had already applied at IU, WM, and W&L and I sent in UVA and Georgetown tonight (deadline is tomorrow) and I have no idea what to expect.

I don't want to wait another year but I'm considering it. Thoughts?

[im_blue]

I wouldn't wait another year unless you get rejected from UVA, since your numbers won't get CCN next year.

[becauseimaddicted]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is CCN?

I'm anticipating rejection from UVA and GULC because even though my numbers are pretty average, I'm literally applying the night before.

Also sending in Northwestern tonight.

[im_blue]

CCN = Columbia, Chicago, NYU = Top 6 = basically the next higher tier above UVA.

[TheWire]

If you wanna go to uva, send them an ED contract...having a 170 makes you an elite candidate for UVA ED. You will probably get in...do it and PM me later to thank me

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Where do you want to work after graduation? What do you want to do?

If you are rejected by UVA, Northwestern, and GULC I would strongly consider waiting a year and reapplying. If you wait a year, you should land at least one of Michigan, Virginia, and Penn. And the year off will make you be in good shape for Northwestern. You should also be in very good shape at Cornell and Georgetown.

If there is a school in the T30 in an area you want to work and they offer some good $$, that might be enough to decide not to wait a year though.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

If you wanna go to uva, send them an ED contract...having a 170 makes you an elite candidate for UVA ED. You will probably get in...do it and PM me later to thank me

+100000000, as long as you're fine with attending UVA at sticker. You prob a stretch to get CCN, so MVP, prob at sticker, is most likely the best you will get.

[becauseimaddicted]

Thanks guys!

I want to work in government, and definitely in a city. Boston, DC, or NYC preferably. Taking another year off (I graduated from NYU undergrad in 2009) sounds like torture, but may be worth it if I can get into. I have no interest in corporate law, so I also am a bit hesitant to take out huge loans when I know I won't be making much upon graduation.

It doesn't feel right to apply ED anywhere, since I have no idea what kind of offers I'll get scholarship-wise from other schools and money is going to have to factor into my decision (as I imagine it does for almost everyone). Truthfully, if I got into UVA or GULC I think I'd go, but I'm not positive.

Plus, I already sent in the apps for both and didn't check ED. Maybe I should have, but I don't know which one is my first choice. UVA is ranked higher but GULC is in DC....shoot, now I'm second guessing myself.

[im_blue]

Thanks guys!

I want to work in government, and definitely in a city. Boston, DC, or NYC preferably. Taking another year off (I graduated from NYU undergrad in 2009) sounds like torture, but may be worth it if I can get into. I have no interest in corporate law, so I also am a bit hesitant to take out huge loans when I know I won't be making much upon graduation.

It doesn't feel right to apply ED anywhere, since I have no idea what kind of offers I'll get scholarship-wise from other schools and money is going to have to factor into my decision (as I imagine it does for almost everyone). Truthfully, if I got into UVA or GULC I think I'd go, but I'm not positive.

Plus, I already sent in the apps for both and didn't check ED. Maybe I should have, but I don't know which one is my first choice. UVA is ranked higher but GULC is in DC....shoot, now I'm second guessing myself.

You should get into both UVA and GULC, so I wouldn't sweat it.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

Thanks guys!

I want to work in government, and definitely in a city. Boston, DC, or NYC preferably. Taking another year off (I graduated from NYU undergrad in 2009) sounds like torture, but may be worth it if I can get into. I have no interest in corporate law, so I also am a bit hesitant to take out huge loans when I know I won't be making much upon graduation.

It doesn't feel right to apply ED anywhere, since I have no idea what kind of offers I'll get scholarship-wise from other schools and money is going to have to factor into my decision (as I imagine it does for almost everyone). Truthfully, if I got into UVA or GULC I think I'd go, but I'm not positive.

Plus, I already sent in the apps for both and didn't check ED. Maybe I should have, but I don't know which one is my first choice. UVA is ranked higher but GULC is in DC....shoot, now I'm second guessing myself.

UVA>GULC, even for DC. You could always call tomorrow morning and ask if you could send in the ED paper for UVA (though don't do this if you're not sure about UVA).

[TheWire]

Thanks guys!

I want to work in government, and definitely in a city. Boston, DC, or NYC preferably. Taking another year off (I graduated from NYU undergrad in 2009) sounds like torture, but may be worth it if I can get into. I have no interest in corporate law, so I also am a bit hesitant to take out huge loans when I know I won't be making much upon graduation.

It doesn't feel right to apply ED anywhere, since I have no idea what kind of offers I'll get scholarship-wise from other schools and money is going to have to factor into my decision (as I imagine it does for almost everyone). Truthfully, if I got into UVA or GULC I think I'd go, but I'm not positive.

Plus, I already sent in the apps for both and didn't check ED. Maybe I should have, but I don't know which one is my first choice. UVA is ranked higher but GULC is in DC....shoot, now I'm second guessing myself.

UVA>GULC, even for DC. You could always call tomorrow morning and ask if you could send in the ED paper for UVA (though don't do this if you're not sure about UVA).

I think today is the last day...you should send in the ED contract, receive an acceptance, and then visit/see if UVA is good for you. Money offers with your #s are not going to be substantial and if you decide you do want to wait, I think (THINK) that you can choose to wait until next cycle even if you ED this cycle

[becauseimaddicted]

I don't expect money from UVA or GULC or any T14, but significant scholarships from a T30 (which I think are within my grasp) might make me rethink spending 150,000 on UVA. The consensus seems to be that if I apply ED, I can get into UVA and I should go. If I don't, I won't. And UVA does seem to be the best school that I have a legit shot at.

I set up an interview with Northwestern for tomorrow. App is complete. I can't help feeling like I'm wasting my time with them, but alas, gotta think positive.

Thank you guys ever so much for the advice. I would be an even bigger hot mess right now if it weren't for my TLS brethren.

[orphanarium]

...

[becauseimaddicted]

Orphanarium-- thanks for the advice! According to the georgetown website, applications have to be in by October to be considered for ED. So, I only missed the deadline by a few months. I also looked at LSN and if those numbers are accurate, it looks like I'm going to be WL'ed. If that's the case, I'll write a LOCI and see what happens.

If given the choice between UVA and GULC, I think I'd pick GULC, so I don't feel comfortable applying ED to UVA.

Alas, no ED for me. After a day of serious panic, I've made my decision.

[becauseimaddicted]

One more question...

Should I apply to George Washington? Rumor is they have stopped handing out merit aid, and I know that they don't waive fees. The deadline is 3/31. It seems crazy to me that they wouldn't have some stores of merit aid before then.

Based on LSN, I would get in, but I can't rationalize spending something like $70,000 per year (with COL) if its not t14. What are the chances I could get money at GW this cycle if I applied tomorrow?

[starrydecisus]

One more question...

Should I apply to George Washington? Rumor is they have stopped handing out merit aid, and I know that they don't waive fees. The deadline is 3/31. It seems crazy to me that they wouldn't have some stores of merit aid before then.

Based on LSN, I would get in, but I can't rationalize spending something like $70,000 per year (with COL) if its not t14. What are the chances I could get money at GW this cycle if I applied tomorrow?

GW may have stopped handing out merit aid, but I can you now that by just by looking at LSN, a lot of those receiving $100+k in merit aid probably will be accepting other schools, so that aid should be back after they withdraw. I would do it! You already said you like DC

[im_blue]

One more question...

Should I apply to George Washington? Rumor is they have stopped handing out merit aid, and I know that they don't waive fees. The deadline is 3/31. It seems crazy to me that they wouldn't have some stores of merit aid before then.

Based on LSN, I would get in, but I can't rationalize spending something like $70,000 per year (with COL) if its not t14. What are the chances I could get money at GW this cycle if I applied tomorrow?

GW may have stopped handing out merit aid, but I can you now that by just by looking at LSN, a lot of those receiving $100+k in merit aid probably will be accepting other schools, so that aid should be back after they withdraw. I would do it! You already said you like DC

Merit aid doesn't really work like that. Much like admission offers, they offer aid to more people than they actually can actually support, with the understanding that only a certain percentage will accept their offer. However, it's certainly possible that this percentage was lower than anticipated, in which case they might have funds left over to offer. But I agree that there's nothing to lose by applying.

[KMaine]

OP - Though a year off may seem like "torture" to you at this point, it could end up being one of the best decisions you ever make. I had slightly worse #s than you and got money from 2 t14s, (accepted to 2 of the 4 t10s I applied to WL at the other 2).

I would not settle for anything less than a t-14 or > $30K per year from a top 30 if I were you (of course, I would have ED'd UVA). This probably means you will have to wait until next cycle.

[jtang11]

OP - Though a year off may seem like "torture" to you at this point, it could end up being one of the best decisions you ever make. I had slightly worse #s than you and got money from 2 t14s, (accepted to 2 of the 4 t10s I applied to WL at the other 2).

I would not settle for anything less than a t-14 or > $30K per year from a top 30 if I were you (of course, I would have ED'd UVA). This probably means you will have to wait until next cycle.

I agree with this. If money is a a serious factor for you, you'd really be depriving yourself of some legitimate scholarship money at a T-14 by applying this cycle. By all means apply now and see what you can get, just bear in mind you've got some great stats that will land you some great offers next year.

[becauseimaddicted]

Update-- in at Washington and Lee (with almost full scholarship) and William and Mary (with no $$).

I was waitlisted at Georgetown and American. I do wish I had applied ED at UVA because with GULC out of the picture (at least for now, as I don't think they will be moving the waitlist right away) UVA is by far my first choice.

Still waiting on UVA (fingers crossed x 1000 but not too optimistic), Notre Dame, IU Bloomington (expected to hear from them by now), Northwestern (pessimistic), USC, and George Washington.

I will write a LOCI and visit GULC (hopefully for an interview) and do the same if waitlisted at UVA, but I am starting consider taking another year. However, I am no longer interning (left on good terms for a high-paying job that won't add to my resume) and I don't think that is going to look good. And as far as personal statement, I already wrote something that encompassed my undergrad and postgrad experience, and I would have a VERY hard time constructing something as good for reapplication. Should these things influence my decision?

I really appreciate everyone's input.

[RhubarbPie]

I have really similar numbers (my GPA is slightly higher) and was rejected at UVA (I applied in October). However, I have a scholarship offer at Michigan. It might be worth it to wait another year so you can have a shot at more $$ (especially if you are debt-averse).

[becauseimaddicted]

hykang-- that is good to know, thanks! May I ask how much Michigan offered you? Did you get offers from any other T14 schools? I am debt-averse but might be more taking another year off-averse.

[RhubarbPie]

hykang-- that is good to know, thanks! May I ask how much Michigan offered you? Did you get offers from any other T14 schools? I am debt-averse but might be more taking another year off-averse.

sent you a pm.

[becauseimaddicted]

waitlisted at UVA today. absolutely, 100% wish I had done ED now.

Still waiting on Northwestern, IU Bloomington, Notre Dame, and George Washington. But if I don't get any better offers, I feel like I have no choice but wait another year. Argh.

[memaha]

waitlisted at UVA today. absolutely, 100% wish I had done ED now.

Still waiting on Northwestern, IU Bloomington, Notre Dame, and George Washington. But if I don't get any better offers, I feel like I have no choice but wait another year. Argh.

sorry to hear that. but with your LSAT, if you waited another year and applied when apps come out, I think you have a really good shot at T6-T14. It just sucks having to wait another whole year. Best of luck!