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Alright so I feel good about my numbers but I made 3 somewhat obvious typos on my personal statement (I corrected the errors before I applied to Harvard, Stanford, Virginia, Michigan and McGeorge but the rest still have the errors. Otherwise I think it was a pretty good statement) and I did not write any of the "why xyz law school" optional statements. Submitted all apps by 11/24 but most by 11/16. Pretty good softs, lot of involvements, but I'm applying straight out of undergrad.

A few Questions:

1. What are my chances at these schools? Should I add more targets and safeties?
2. How do these typos affect my application and should I attempt to contact these schools and correct the errors?

Uber-reaches: Harvard, Stanford, Columbia
Mild Reaches: NYU, Michigan, Virginia, Berkeley, Penn
Targets: UCLA, USC, Cornell, Duke, Georgetown
Safeties: UC Davis, McGeorge

Thanks guys and best of luck on all your apps.

I think you're shooting pretty high. Nothing wrong with that, but unless you're a URM, you're gonna struggle. I'm thinking maybe Michigan and Cornell for the T-14, but that's probably it. Especially if you didn't do optional essays and submitted unpolished personal statements, you're facing an uphill battle.

Of course if you're a URM, that totally changes things.

bobbyh1919 wrote:I think you're shooting pretty high. Nothing wrong with that, but unless you're a URM, you're gonna struggle. I'm thinking maybe Michigan and Cornell for the T-14, but that's probably it. Especially if you didn't do optional essays and submitted unpolished personal statements, you're facing an uphill battle.

Of course if you're a URM, that totally changes things.

IDK, I think OP isn't far off in the way he/she is categorizing things. He did say 'uber-reaches' for the first category, essentially acknowledging no chance (although with good softs I would think there would be some realistic shot at Stanford even). I think the other categories are pretty realistic estimates (for the most part) as well. A high GPA and solid LSAT shouldn't be underestimated IMO...

Without any "Why X" essays? And with a sloppy personal statement? I wish the best for OP, but Duke, GTown, Virginia, and NYU applications sent in mid November are going to be tough.

Absolutely worth applications though. Prepare to ride out some waitlists IMO.

Mid November is fine, typos are not. No one here can predict how much those typos will hurt you.

Revise your PS a bit and send updates stating you revised them.

I don't see Texas up there... NYU is probably an "uber reach"

elgringobandito wrote: Uber-reaches (aka waitlist/reject me): Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Virginia, Penn, NYU
Targets: Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan
Safeties(give me $ or I won't even look at you): UC Davis, McGeorge, UCLA, USC
Lol I'm holistic: Berkeley

FTFY.

dude, i have EXACTLY the same numbers as you (even down to the 1 in the 3.81) except with 3 years WE

i think the typos are fine unless you applied to Harvard saying you would love to go NYU, but if they are just small spelling and/or grammar typos, i wouldn't worry about it

i'm wondering why you didn't do any optional essays actually? from what i hear, they don't count for THAT much, but with our scores, I think we are very much 50/50 candidates at most of the t-14 and so they might actually make the difference. if i were you, i would go back and see if i could submit optional essays to the schools you really want to go to (a few hours of work invested for 3 years of payback)

anyway, very interested to see how your cycle goes; keep me updated!

cactuarX3 wrote:dude, i have EXACTLY the same numbers as you (even down to the 1 in the 3.81) except with 3 years WE

i think the typos are fine unless you applied to Harvard saying you would love to go NYU, but if they are just small spelling and/or grammar typos, i wouldn't worry about it

i'm wondering why you didn't do any optional essays actually? from what i hear, they don't count for THAT much, but with our scores, I think we are very much 50/50 candidates at most of the t-14 and so they might actually make the difference. if i were you, i would go back and see if i could submit optional essays to the schools you really want to go to (a few hours of work invested for 3 years of payback)

anyway, very interested to see how your cycle goes; keep me updated!

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I appreciate it. I know I applied to a lot of reaches but its is mainly because UCLA is my top choice and I feel like I have a pretty good shot there, especially because I have already met with Dean Schwartz in person to talk about it. He seemed to imply I was in a good position to be admitted.

The reason I didn't write the optional essays was because I kept hearing how crucial it was to get my apps in sooner rather than later. I guess I could have taken a little extra time with it (especially given the typos in my original) but I just wanted to get my apps in. Hopefully it all works out.

If you want to go to UCLA, I think you're a good bet there. Knowing that, the list starts to make more sense.

Best of luck to you.

What in fuck's name is McGeorge and why are you applying to it?

BiglawOrBust wrote:What in fuck's name is McGeorge and why are you applying to it?

+ 11

Haha its in my hometown, that's the only reason, and my dad went to UOP. Not really expecting to go there