Top Law Schools

Of course I am wondering my chances

Not going to give excuses, but I applied very late in the cycle and have been looking around here and LSN and have been very very discouraged by what my chances seem to be.
Here's the list:
BC: #1 realistic choice
BU: #2 realistic choice
Columbia: It was free just like everyone else's
Cornell: Reach
Fordham: #3 realistic choice
George Washington: splitters hoy!
Georgetown: Reach
Northeastern: safety
Penn: Major Reach #1 dream school
Pepperdine: free
U of Connecticut: safety
U of Maryland: safety
UVA: reach
Villanova: safety
William & Mary: good school and a free app

Everyone can ignore the rest, But what are my chances at the 3 "realistic" schools? Considering how late I was in the cycle. Furthermore, I would prefer not to, but if I dont get in to one of them this year, would it be better for me to apply earlier next year or just go to a "lesser" school... I'm looking at you Uconn......

BU and BC are probably going to waitlist since your gpa is low for them. An acceptance wouldn't crazy, but definitely somewhat surprising if you applied late. They seem to like 3.3+ more than their peers. You're pretty borderline for Fordham, but sticker and NY col is scary imho so you may have better options even with an acceptance. I don't see Penn happening, but you already knew that. Basically, this is really tough to predict.

As for waiting a year and re-applying: it's pretty tough to say this is a good option for you. Your LSAT is above the 75th at all your targets and you can't change that gpa which is really what's holding you back from your realistic choices. You'll definitely have to weigh your options once decision letters come in and make the choice that is best for you. I probably wouldn't settle for uconn if I were you though.

Also, in before ed to uva.

We're basically numbers twins.... I had all my apps in by mid December. I don't think bc/bu are gonna happen for you this late in the cycle. From LSN, they really seem to look down on lower gpas. Fwiw, I've been waitlisted at UVA (ED), gulc and gw. If you apply on the first day next year you should have a pretty good shot at one of them or even a shot at Penn ED.

You are going to a party. It is a waitlist party.

Also, isn't Cornell's deadline Feb 1st? Or did they extend it?

Double Also: Even if you sneak into one of your targets, you may get a lot more scholarship money at the same school next cycle if you apply earlier. Might be worth the wait.

GPAs are far more available than LSATs. Hope BC grabs your LSAT and gets that stat to where it should be for a school of its quality.

Yea, this was basically my fear. I think if I get in at any of those three I'll take it and run, and maybe try and negotiate some money out of them. What kind of future lawyer can't do a little forcefull negotiating??

I really dont want to settle, but if I am going to settle it's going to be really low in my opinion. Maybe they will give me lots of money and I can just pretend I go somewhere else for 3 years?

Are second chance applications looked down upon if i were to wait a year? Like you said, my numbers aren't going to change. Is timing the difference between in and rejected? or just $$$ and in? Because living with debt is something I am willing to accept, whereas rejection sucks.

SO many questions!

ED Penn if you get denied ED UVA (yeah i know but's its prolly the best advice) which usually has a late ED deadline


Edit: You could easily get ED to GULC but i think that PV>> G

Why no midwest schools on your list? IUB, UIUC, Minn, Iowa, ND, WUSTL, etc... I've seen splitters not only get into these schools but got substantial $ from some of them, too

It's not that have an aversion to the midwest, I just really like the northeast. And it is where I will want to live and practice. So it seems illogical of me to go somewhere to follow a scholarship and end up regional in a region i dont want to spend my life.

harrijust86 wrote:It's not that have an aversion to the midwest, I just really like the northeast. And it is where I will want to live and practice. So it seems illogical of me to go somewhere to follow a scholarship and end up regional in a region i dont want to spend my life.

this is smart if you are really tied to the northeast. re-applying isn't a big deal. probably need a new ps and I imagine some people write an addendum. do you have anything to do in the off year?

I really hope it doesnt come to that, but yea i have a job that knows i plan on leaving to go back to law school. They want me back in the summers, and would love to keep me. I really think now is the time though. I will probably even go for sticker if I have to. whats another 100k in loans on top of my existing 78k? Waiting a year wasn't even on my mind before today, but we will see how things turn out!

Not feeling too confident though... I invite people to either build me up, or crush my dreams. BRING IT.

Wait a year and ED to UVA or ED to NU.

To everyone that's saying I should wait a year and ED at NU, UVA, GULC, or Penn:

If I were to wait and ED what do my odds become? Because unless it is an automatic ticket, I'm not sure if I see the benefit of waiting. Everyone wants a T14 school, but everyone here is so cavalier about "oh just wait it out a year"

harrijust86 wrote:To everyone that's saying I should wait a year and ED at NU, UVA, GULC, or Penn:

If I were to wait and ED what do my odds become? Because unless it is an automatic ticket, I'm not sure if I see the benefit of waiting. Everyone wants a T14 school, but everyone here is so cavalier about "oh just wait it out a year"

Try EDing to UVA this cycle if you still can.

harrijust86 wrote:To everyone that's saying I should wait a year and ED at NU, UVA, GULC, or Penn:

If I were to wait and ED what do my odds become? Because unless it is an automatic ticket, I'm not sure if I see the benefit of waiting. Everyone wants a T14 school, but everyone here is so cavalier about "oh just wait it out a year"

if you get an ED app in on the first day of next cycle, you'll be a lock at at least one of those.

bostonlawchick wrote:

harrijust86 wrote:To everyone that's saying I should wait a year and ED at NU, UVA, GULC, or Penn:

If I were to wait and ED what do my odds become? Because unless it is an automatic ticket, I'm not sure if I see the benefit of waiting. Everyone wants a T14 school, but everyone here is so cavalier about "oh just wait it out a year"

if you get an ED app in on the first day of next cycle, you'll be a lock at at least one of those.

Yeah I agree. 3.0+/170+ has been a pretty safe bet at UVA ED in the past. Being above NU's median is also huge if you ED. Plus, the year off will help you there. Penn is a bigger shot in the dark. Mich might be better advice. Not sure about GULC. They can be weird.

Desert Fox wrote:

harrijust86 wrote:To everyone that's saying I should wait a year and ED at NU, UVA, GULC, or Penn:

If I were to wait and ED what do my odds become? Because unless it is an automatic ticket, I'm not sure if I see the benefit of waiting. Everyone wants a T14 school, but everyone here is so cavalier about "oh just wait it out a year"

Try EDing to UVA this cycle if you still can.

+1

Alright, asside from getting into the t14 with an ED app next cycle, What are my options if I do manage to sneak into BC, BU, or Fordham this year? I know money "dries up", but will there be any chance of negotiating money out of them? For example, any opnions on BC for sticker vs a 40-50 range school.. or northeastern for that matter, with $$$? and how much clout would I have at the negotiating table with $$$ from a 40-50 against sticker at 20-30?

harrijust86 wrote:Alright, asside from getting into the t14 with an ED app next cycle, What are my options if I do manage to sneak into BC, BU, or Fordham this year? I know money "dries up", but will there be any chance of negotiating money out of them? For example, any opnions on BC for sticker vs a 40-50 range school.. or northeastern for that matter, with $$$? and how much clout would I have at the negotiating table with $$$ from a 40-50 against sticker at 20-30?

With a 3.1, No. Might be able to pull 30/year at Illinois.

St Johns or Brooklyn might give you full rides with some pretty egregious stipulations.

Just wait a year.

Alright Folks! One more thing. I know undergrad major really doesnt matter much. But how much of a bump is it for a double major, one of which is a science (real,not political.. though that was the other major)? If I am on the verge with so many of these schools will that be something they look to? Furthermore, ive been removed from undergrad for 2.5 years. This has to help distance me from the mistake that was my GPA.... right?

harrijust86 wrote:Alright Folks! One more thing. I know undergrad major really doesnt matter much. But how much of a bump is it for a double major, one of which is a science (real,not political.. though that was the other major)? If I am on the verge with so many of these schools will that be something they look to? Furthermore, ive been removed from undergrad for 2.5 years. This has to help distance me from the mistake that was my GPA.... right?

numbers be numbers

DAMN YOU ALL.....

I am increasingly falling in love with the idea of GW.... IP law... DC.... LET MY PEOPLE (splitters) GO! (to GW)

These numbers just scream WUSTL.

I applied there yesterday, under the hypnotizing command of people like you, plus it just seems like a logical thing to do. Good school, good city(a little further from the northeast than I would have preffered), quite generous with the funds. Student center has daily happy hours... What's not to like?

harrijust86 wrote:DAMN YOU ALL.....

I am increasingly falling in love with the idea of GW.... IP law... DC.... LET MY PEOPLE (splitters) GO! (to GW)

You can get into GTown with a 171/3.1.

The IP market is better, especially at GWU, but not if you can attend a significantly better school at the same price. That is stupid.

Don't be an idiot, wait a year. Or at least late ED at UVA or Gtown.