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Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:23 pm
by Take Two
Alright I think I am braced to get my character, integrity, and intelligence trashed by posting this.
I am wondering if you all think it is worth it for me to throw an app at Harvard. The numbers are 176 and 3.73. I know that Law School Predictor puts me as a consider and that would be good enough for me to give it a go but I also have a 164 from June.
I know the retaking article says they consider the average and the complete history but I am wondering how much stock to put in that. Obviously if my scores are averaged my chances drop down to about zero.
softs and LORs are nothing to get excited about, decent but standard, only potentially note worthy bit is I am a current Americorps member.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:25 pm
by weatherswaysme
worst that can happen is they say no. If I were you, I would spend the money
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:27 pm
by bk1
weatherswaysme wrote:worst that can happen is they say no. If I were you, I would spend the money
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:28 pm
by The Gentleman
Absolutely apply.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:28 pm
by top30man
Absolutely apply.
This. There is not definite consensus that they actually average.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:31 pm
by Take Two
Thanks everybody! You are right the worst they can say is is no and I will probably regret being a little stingy if I dont give it a try.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:52 pm
by quiver
top30man wrote:Absolutely apply.
This. There is not definite consensus that they actually average.
bk187 wrote:weatherswaysme wrote:worst that can happen is they say no. If I were you, I would spend the money
100% agree with the consensus here. From personal experience it's much better to just fork over the money for YHS than to think about "what might have been" after the fact. Especially since you have a great chance.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:33 pm
by snailio
Well as it stands you're a splitter, but I think you can use an addendum to mitigate the 164 since it's 12 point spread between takes, also they lerv Americorps. It is definitely worth throwing an app at em.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:07 pm
by rwhyAn
weatherswaysme wrote:worst that can happen is they say no. If I were you, I would spend the money
There's your answer. There are worse ways to spend the money. Instead of hitting up the bars and buying rounds, take a weekend off and save the cash to put toward your app fee. You don't want to be kicking yourself somewhere down the line, wondering if you could have gotten in. Good luck!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:41 pm
by paul34
.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:33 pm
by aperfectmap
Definitely go for it. My LSAT is below yours, and I was asked to do a KB 1 phone interview. For what it's worth, I am currently in TFA, so the Americorps participation may be a good tie-breaker for you as well.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:57 am
by pupshaw
Similar numbers here (3.75/168/177). I'm going to apply to all of HYS. Here's hoping they don't actually average. Good luck!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:42 pm
by Take Two
Alright sent it in, here's to hoping! Thanks everyone for the advice and good luck!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:04 am
by vulpixie
top30man wrote:There is not definite consensus that they actually average.
Actually, there is definite consensus that they absolutely do *not* average. Ever.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:25 am
by bdubs
vulpixie wrote:top30man wrote:There is not definite consensus that they actually average.
Actually, there is definite consensus that they absolutely do *not* average. Ever.
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I think your big gap will help, especially when apps are down.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:29 am
by Curious1
bdubs wrote:vulpixie wrote:top30man wrote:There is not definite consensus that they actually average.
Actually, there is definite consensus that they absolutely do *not* average. Ever.
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I think your big gap will help, especially when apps are down.
Any pattern as to how they view cancels? I thought the consensus was you get one "free" cancel, but if you have two it'll raise some eyebrows.
OP could easily write an addendum about how he had the stomach flu the day of his first test...
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:23 am
by vanwinkle
Even if your prior LSAT dropped your odds of acceptance to 1% (which it won't), wouldn't a 1% chance of admission be worth the app fee?
(Answer: Yes.)
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:29 pm
by vulpixie
bdubs wrote:
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I believe Gaia the Mod's stats were a 167, 167, 172. She got into Harvard on the first string of acceptances. A white female with a 4.0 168/169 (the average of her scores) would have been an auto reject. She is just one example of dozens. Obviously HYS -- like all other schools -- cares only about what's reportable. OP will not suffer a disadvantage from his first LSAT.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:26 pm
by soj
vulpixie wrote:bdubs wrote:
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I believe Gaia the Mod's stats were a 167, 167, 172. She got into Harvard on the first string of acceptances. A white female with a 4.0 168/169 (the average of her scores) would have been an auto reject. She is just one example of dozens. Obviously HYS -- like all other schools -- cares only about what's reportable. OP will not suffer a disadvantage from his first LSAT.
Gaia's not a white female. But I agree, previous scores don't seem to matter much.
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:30 pm
by 180asBreath
Don't even question this... APPLY!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:32 pm
by Borhas
Take Two wrote:Alright I think I am braced to get my character, integrity, and intelligence trashed by posting this.
I am wondering if you all think it is worth it for me to throw an app at Harvard. The numbers are 176 and 3.73. I know that Law School Predictor puts me as a consider and that would be good enough for me to give it a go but I also have a 164 from June.
I know the retaking article says they consider the average and the complete history but I am wondering how much stock to put in that. Obviously if my scores are averaged my chances drop down to about zero.
softs and LORs are nothing to get excited about, decent but standard, only potentially note worthy bit is I am a current Americorps member.
yeah it was worth it
should have applied earlier though
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:54 pm
by 20121109
vulpixie wrote:bdubs wrote:
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I believe Gaia the Mod's stats were a 167, 167, 172. She got into Harvard on the first string of acceptances. A white female with a 4.0 168/169 (the average of her scores) would have been an auto reject. She is just one example of dozens. Obviously HYS -- like all other schools -- cares only about what's reportable. OP will not suffer a disadvantage from his first LSAT.
One of my best friends at HLS is a white female who got in off the WL with a 166/4.0. A white female with a 4.0/168 is definitely not an auto reject to HLS.
Also, thanks for the shout out, lol.. <3
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:47 pm
by Take Two
Borhas wrote:Take Two wrote:Alright I think I am braced to get my character, integrity, and intelligence trashed by posting this.
I am wondering if you all think it is worth it for me to throw an app at Harvard. The numbers are 176 and 3.73. I know that Law School Predictor puts me as a consider and that would be good enough for me to give it a go but I also have a 164 from June.
I know the retaking article says they consider the average and the complete history but I am wondering how much stock to put in that. Obviously if my scores are averaged my chances drop down to about zero.
softs and LORs are nothing to get excited about, decent but standard, only potentially note worthy bit is I am a current Americorps member.
yeah it was worth it
should have applied earlier though
Wish that I had! Also wish I hadn't taken that first LSAT haha, but whats done is done! I appreciate everyone's input!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:39 am
by vulpixie
GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:vulpixie wrote:bdubs wrote:
I dont know about this. Retakers have, in cycles past, been at a distinct disadvantage to first time takers. This isn't to say that they strictly average, but it's clear that there is some stigma still at YHS.
I believe Gaia the Mod's stats were a 167, 167, 172. She got into Harvard on the first string of acceptances. A white female with a 4.0 168/169 (the average of her scores) would have been an auto reject. She is just one example of dozens. Obviously HYS -- like all other schools -- cares only about what's reportable. OP will not suffer a disadvantage from his first LSAT.
One of my best friends at HLS is a white female who got in off the WL with a 166/4.0. A white female with a 4.0/168 is definitely not an auto reject to HLS.
Also, thanks for the shout out, lol.. <3
Whoops, my bad. I guess I just assumed you were not a URM since you retook a solid (high 160s) score that was coupled with a great GPA. Sorry for the misconception!
Re: Worth the fee to Harvard
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:44 am
by JamMasterJ
Any point whatsoever in me throwing away 101 dollars? White male, 3.54/166/166/176. No strong softs