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sapien wrote:168, 171 + 3.94 + better-than-average softs

Is it worth it to take a chance with Harvard and Stanford or should I just do Columbia ED? Goals= NYC biglaw. Although, ideally I would like to work in London.

trudat15 wrote:

sapien wrote:168, 171 + 3.94 + better-than-average softs

Is it worth it to take a chance with Harvard and Stanford or should I just do Columbia ED? Goals= NYC biglaw. Although, ideally I would like to work in London.

Columbia has great placement in NYC, but according to LSP, you have a strong consider at Stanford, and a consider at Columbia, Harvard and Yale.
Since ED essentially eliminates $$, I would RD to Columbia. I wouldnt want to be stuck paying sticker at Columbia when an HYS acceptance comes around.

Knockglock wrote:

trudat15 wrote:

sapien wrote:168, 171 + 3.94 + better-than-average softs

Is it worth it to take a chance with Harvard and Stanford or should I just do Columbia ED? Goals= NYC biglaw. Although, ideally I would like to work in London.

Columbia has great placement in NYC, but according to LSP, you have a strong consider at Stanford, and a consider at Columbia, Harvard and Yale.
Since ED essentially eliminates $$, I would RD to Columbia. I wouldnt want to be stuck paying sticker at Columbia when an HYS acceptance comes around.

I disagree. I would ED to Columbia. LSP isn't as accurate with Stanford (and Yale), because numbers are merely a prerequisite there, in most cases you still need exceptional softs to be the well-rounded candidate they look for.

Since your goal is NYC Biglaw, and Columbia places well there, and you aren't likely to see any money from Columbia anyways, it makes a lot of sense to ED. Coupled with the fact that you are far from a sure thing RD, maybe a coin flip, you should definitely ED to give you the best chance there.

Unless your softs are truly above average, what are we talking about?

I guess it comes down to risk. You have a shot at Stanford with that high GPA, but it is a black box. What it boils down to, and it's hard to say, is if the chance you have at Stanford is worth reducing your odds at Columbia. Personally, I feel, considering your goal is NYC biglaw, that it isn't worth it.

sapien wrote: will adjust the 'softs' bit in the prompt. But is the difference between C and N big enough to justify ED to Columbia instead of just sending out RD applications to all of the top few schools?

Moxie wrote:If you really want Harvard or Stanford more than Columbia, I think you should do RD. LSN shows that people with your numbers have a great chance of getting in RD. (http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/ap ... ,8&type=jd).

The ED to Columbia boost is not particularly big, and it essentially ends any chance you have at money. Isn't it worth RD'ing to: 1) give yourself a chance at one of HYS; 2) try and get merit aid from Columbia?

Moxie wrote:If you really want Harvard or Stanford more than Columbia, I think you should do RD. LSN shows that people with your numbers have a great chance of getting in RD. (http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/ap ... ,8&type=jd).

The ED to Columbia boost is not particularly big, and it essentially ends any chance you have at money. Isn't it worth RD'ing to: 1) give yourself a chance at one of HYS; 2) try and get merit aid from Columbia?

Knockglock wrote:OP said he wants NYC biglaw. I think he doesn't have a chance really at H or Y, so those are out of consideration. S he has some chance, but it's really anyone's guess as as to his chances there. He only has average softs, not out of HYP, and will have 1 year work exp.

Looking at your LSN link, no one with OP's numbers got any merit money from Columbia. So if OP does get into Columbia, he is very likely paying sticker, no matter what.

So while there may be an argument to take chances at S, I think, considering his goals, ED'ing to Columbia and giving him really strong chances to be accepted there is the way to go. And as the above poster said, the 171 is a retake, so I think to be safe he should ED to Columbia.

Obviously this is just my opinion, and more people should throw in their two cents, for the benefit of the OP.

sapien wrote:The one thing I'm hung up on is that If I ED Columbia, I'm basically conceding that it's a school that is so much better than NYU that it's worth it to give up on Stanford and Harvard. I'm having a bit of trouble believing this, especially since I would like to practice either in NYC or for a US firm abroad and I hear that NYU is great for NYC and is top for intl. law...