Plan of Attack? Forum

[splitster1221]

3.2 UGPA/171 LSAT. Applying next cycle. What should my plan of attack be? Looking for hopefully big law eventually (I know this is difficult), or just the best paying and best career prospects job I can find.

Do I apply ED and if so where?
Where do I spread out my applications to? Apply to for $$$ and scholarship negotiations? What are my chances with T14 and T20? Any advice, schools, and chances are appreciated. Thanks TLSers

[NYC Law]

What region do you want to work in?
ED to VA
Other than that you'll get big $$$ from WUSTL
In at Vandy, BU/BC, Fordham, GW, maybe Cornell
WL at USC/UCLA/Texas

Apply broadly in the T14, you'll probably get mostly Waitlists.

[splitster1221]

What region do you want to work in?
ED to VA
Other than that you'll get big $$$ from WUSTL
In at Vandy, BU/BC, Fordham, GW, maybe Cornell
WL at USC/UCLA/Texas

Apply broadly in the T14, you'll probably get mostly Waitlists.

you think in at Vandy with that low of a GPA? I honestly am very open about where I work. I would be happy with Chicago or even possibly Minneapolis or other large midwest city. Would be happy with LA or east coast as kind of a last resort but am originally from DC so would be ok with working there.

What places am I looking at WLs? Is it more reasonable to count on not getting in anywhere T14 besides a possible UVA ED? Or a shot at Cornell?

[NYC Law]

What region do you want to work in?
ED to VA
Other than that you'll get big $$$ from WUSTL
In at Vandy, BU/BC, Fordham, GW, maybe Cornell
WL at USC/UCLA/Texas

Apply broadly in the T14, you'll probably get mostly Waitlists.

you think in at Vandy with that low of a GPA? I honestly am very open about where I work. I would be happy with Chicago or even possibly Minneapolis or other large midwest city. Would be happy with LA or east coast as kind of a last resort but am originally from DC so would be ok with working there.

What places am I looking at WLs? Is it more reasonable to count on not getting in anywhere T14 besides a possible UVA ED? Or a shot at Cornell?

Just from looking at this cycle's LSN, the few people with #s similar to yours either got in or were waitlisted, they've been pushing hard this cycle to up their LSAT median which helps.
If you want and would be happy with the midwest then WUSTL is going to be your best option, or get some work experience and go to Northwestern.
Looks like you'll probably get in to G'Town also.
Other than that your best shot is Michigan, Penn, Duke, which will all probably be waitlists.

[Flips88]

What region do you want to work in?
ED to VA
Other than that you'll get big $$$ from WUSTL
In at Vandy, BU/BC, Fordham, GW, maybe Cornell
WL at USC/UCLA/Texas

Apply broadly in the T14, you'll probably get mostly Waitlists.

you think in at Vandy with that low of a GPA? I honestly am very open about where I work. I would be happy with Chicago or even possibly Minneapolis or other large midwest city. Would be happy with LA or east coast as kind of a last resort but am originally from DC so would be ok with working there.

What places am I looking at WLs? Is it more reasonable to count on not getting in anywhere T14 besides a possible UVA ED? Or a shot at Cornell?

Do you have work experience or are you gonna be straight out of UG? If WE, Northwestern is a good possibility.

Also, may as well apply to Minnesota if you like Minneapolis.

[bmore]

Go check LSN to see who is getting in. I don't think Penn is taking GPAs that low, but who knows. It does not hurt to apply. As for ED, I would say UVA too.

[splitster1221]

Out of MPD which would be my best shot? Shot with ED? And are those all still much lower odds than an ED to UVA? Thanks.

[NYC Law]

Out of MPD which would be my best shot? Shot with ED? And are those all still much lower odds than an ED to UVA? Thanks.

Probably M

[Kilpatrick]

I would ED somewhere else (Michigan maybe) and then ED to UVA if you get rejected from the first school, since UVA doesn't have an ED deadline. Blanket the rest of the schools lower than that.

I know cycles change from year to year but when I was applying those numbers + an early app was good for at least one of the lower T14.

You're out at UCLA/USC/Vandy - not splitter friendly.

You're in at places like WUSTL, Minn and UIUC with $$$

[NYC Law]

I would ED somewhere else (Michigan maybe) and then ED to UVA if you get rejected from the first school, since UVA doesn't have an ED deadline. Blanket the rest of the schools lower than that.

I know cycles change from year to year but when I was applying those numbers + an early app was good for at least one of the lower T14.

You're out at UCLA/USC/Vandy - not splitter friendly.

You're in at places like WUSTL, Minn and UIUC with $$$

This cycle Minn seems less splitter friendly and Vandy has been more so (but usually after an initial WL)

[splitster1221]

I would ED somewhere else (Michigan maybe) and then ED to UVA if you get rejected from the first school, since UVA doesn't have an ED deadline. Blanket the rest of the schools lower than that.

I know cycles change from year to year but when I was applying those numbers + an early app was good for at least one of the lower T14.

You're out at UCLA/USC/Vandy - not splitter friendly.

You're in at places like WUSTL, Minn and UIUC with $$$

Thanks. I've read that applying to the UVA ED later in the cycle with numbers like mine could be destined for the WL, as they aren't as friendly with the numbers after the earlier apps are in. I guess I will have to decide whether or not I want to be at UVA, as I think they are my best shot for mid T14 acceptance

[splitster1221]

What region do you want to work in?
ED to VA
Other than that you'll get big $$$ from WUSTL
In at Vandy, BU/BC, Fordham, GW, maybe Cornell
WL at USC/UCLA/Texas

Apply broadly in the T14, you'll probably get mostly Waitlists.

you think in at Vandy with that low of a GPA? I honestly am very open about where I work. I would be happy with Chicago or even possibly Minneapolis or other large midwest city. Would be happy with LA or east coast as kind of a last resort but am originally from DC so would be ok with working there.

What places am I looking at WLs? Is it more reasonable to count on not getting in anywhere T14 besides a possible UVA ED? Or a shot at Cornell?

Do you have work experience or are you gonna be straight out of UG? If WE, Northwestern is a good possibility.

Also, may as well apply to Minnesota if you like Minneapolis.

No WE, I would love NU though but that isn't happening. I'm considering Minn, but would rather have ILL with the potentially 10k/year more scholly offer. But Also WUSTL I'm guessing from looking off LSN would give me around 84k

[sanetruth]

I have similar numbers, and in a good sign of my obsessiveness about this, I made a little chart for myself showing the performances of applicants on LSN with 171's and a GPA between 3.2 and 3.29 in the last 3 cycles.

A little summary:

- 7 out of 13 got into at least one T14.

- Of the 6 that did not, there were pretty clear reasons for each. For example, the only T14 that one of them applied to was Berkeley. A common theme among the rest of them was that they applied late in the cycle (one of them didn't send out apps until March).

- 6 out of the 7 who were accepted to T14's got in on an ED app.

So, while a minute sample size, the lesson here is 1) ED somewhere and 2) apply as early as possible (I guess those two go hand in hand, but early apps across the board might mitigate the consequences of an ED flop.)

The last thing i'd say to keep in mind: people on TLS are going to say that as the GPA or LSAT drops in the above sample, so too will the chances of admissions. But that doesn't mean that there aren't people with 170's and 3.2's or 171's and 3.0's getting into the T14. It's a numbers game, but it's not a 100% numbers game. Get a good app together.

[bk1]

Thanks. I've read that applying to the UVA ED later in the cycle with numbers like mine could be destined for the WL, as they aren't as friendly with the numbers after the earlier apps are in. I guess I will have to decide whether or not I want to be at UVA, as I think they are my best shot for mid T14 acceptance

Kilpatrick is giving the advice backwards. UVa has a two week turn around on their ED apps whereas Michigan has a normal ED that is due in November and you get a response in December (I think). Basically, if you really want a T14 (and you're going to be paying sticker at these places anyways), the best thing to do would be:

• Sept 1 - ED UVa
  • Sept 15 - If rejected, ED UMich
    • Dec 15 (I think) - If rejected, ED GULC

Of course you could skip out on doing the ED GULC if you don't feel that GULC is worth it. Other people have it pretty much spot on. You will probably not get in to USC/UCLA/UT/Vandy because they tend to be GPA whores. If you want money at a top regional, you're going to have to look at the midwest (WUSTL/Illinois/UMinn/IUB). But if you want a T14 you're going to have to ED because there is a real chance you get waitlisted across the board without it.

[Kilpatrick]

But UVA has no deadline for ED right? So you could still ED there in like January. That's why I suggested it. But I see what you're saying in terms of maximizing chances for any T14

[bk1]

But UVA has no deadline for ED right? So you could still ED there in like January. That's why I suggested it. But I see what you're saying in terms of maximizing chances for any T14

You're right you could. But doing it that late makes you much more likely to get waitlisted. So yeah, if you do UVa first then UMich, you're more likely to get at least one of them as opposed to doing UMich first then UVa.

[Flips88]

But UVA has no deadline for ED right? So you could still ED there in like January. That's why I suggested it. But I see what you're saying in terms of maximizing chances for any T14

You're right you could. But doing it that late makes you much more likely to get waitlisted. So yeah, if you do UVa first then UMich, you're more likely to get at least one of them as opposed to doing UMich first then UVa.

I would caution the OP to at least heavily research or visit the schools to make sure you would be fine attending somewhere before you ED. I know that seems like common sense, but if you get ED to UVA and then realize you don't like Virginia, you'll have to sit out a year

[bk1]

I would caution the OP to at least heavily research or visit the schools to make sure you would be fine attending somewhere before you ED. I know that seems like common sense, but if you get ED to UVA and then realize you don't like Virginia, you'll have to sit out a year

Good advice, though I really hope that that goes without saying.

[splitster1221]

Thanks guys. And yes haha, as I said before I will need to think and decide whether or not I want to go to VA, since they are likely my best bet. Although I feel like I would prefer Michigan (closer to home), but I will most likely take whichever I can get! Michigan RD seems more possible (not likely) than UVA RD though