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170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:55 pm
by viacavour
Really unsure right now of where I should be aiming. I'm retaking the LSAT on Saturday.
Any suggestions?

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:03 pm
by 20130312
Blanket T14. Will get acceptances in T6. Will get $ from lesser T14's.

lawschoolnumbers.com

lawschoolpredictor.com

Go forth and prosper.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:10 pm
by cactuarX3
i have similar numbers although I'm not sure how much that one point counts (170 just sounds SO much better than 169); applied to a number of T20 but just got my apps in last weekend so haven't heard anything yet; you should get your apps in ASAP though; would be very interested to see how your cycle goes, good luck!

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:14 pm
by viacavour
I'm waiting until this weekend to send in my apps. In case I bomb the LSAT and cancel my scores, I don't want them to see that second test date. On the other side of that if I feel I did really well I'm going to write an addendum.
Bad idea?

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:29 pm
by crumpetsandtea
viacavour wrote:I'm waiting until this weekend to send in my apps. In case I bomb the LSAT and cancel my scores, I don't want them to see that second test date. On the other side of that if I feel I did really well I'm going to write an addendum.
Bad idea?
Just send them now. Honestly your score now is pretty good and it will take them a while to get to your app since you're applying a little later. You might want to list that you're re-taking for schools you're borderline at so they know.

Don't write an addendum until you get your score back. There is nothing more embarrassing than sending in an addendum to explain a score jump and then finding out that you didn't improve by much or actually scored lower.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:34 pm
by crumpetsandtea
cactuarX3 wrote:i have similar numbers although I'm not sure how much that one point counts (170 just sounds SO much better than 169); applied to a number of T20 but just got my apps in last weekend so haven't heard anything yet; you should get your apps in ASAP though; would be very interested to see how your cycle goes, good luck!
A 170 is pretty significant over a 169, because it's median/above median for a lot of T14 schools whereas 169 isn't. Also, people just are subconsciously biased when they see the number (IMO, not grounded in science or anything :P)--kind of like a 2.99 vs 3.00 or a 3.49 vs 3.50. Technically there's only a sliver of a difference, but oftentimes schools will set a soft floor there. It's definitely more challenging to get into a T6 with a 16X compared to a 17X. Of course, having a 3.8-3.9 GPA will help ease that mindblock, but it still exists. Anecdotally, I have a friend with a 3.9X and a similar LSAT score to the two of you who got WL/A at Chicago.

FWIW though, Michigan/Penn/Cornell/Duke/Boalt seem to be very friendly to high GPA/slightly lower LSATs, so you have a great shot there! (:

And I agree--OP, get your apps in ASAP.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:48 pm
by viacavour
crumpetsandtea wrote:
Don't write an addendum until you get your score back.
you can submit additional addenda even after your app has been received?

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:50 pm
by crumpetsandtea
viacavour wrote:
crumpetsandtea wrote:Don't write an addendum until you get your score back.
you can submit additional addenda even after your app has been received?
Yep, you can. They will understand, especially if you've just had a change to your app you need to explain (higher LSAT for example).

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:04 pm
by cactuarX3
argggh, so there is a big difference? goddamn, if it's literally ONE question on the LSAT that ruins my chances of getting into T14, I'm going to jump out the 20th story window of my office

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:11 pm
by crumpetsandtea
cactuarX3 wrote:argggh, so there is a big difference? goddamn, if it's literally ONE question on the LSAT that ruins my chances of getting into T14, I'm going to jump out the 20th story window of my office
I mean there's a difference, but don't freak out too bad. Your GPA is still high so you should get some good news. I'd suggest considering a retake to get off WLs/to get money though. (:

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:11 pm
by spirals
Just send in your app now. Seriously. Apply to the entire T14, and you'll get in somewhere (likely more than one place). A 170 is high enough for an excellent school. It's not worth it to retake.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:12 pm
by cactuarX3
crumpetsandtea wrote:
cactuarX3 wrote:Technically there's only a sliver of a difference, but oftentimes schools will set a soft floor there.
any data on LSN to support that (e.g. lots of 170s getting in and then all of a sudden very few 169s getting in with similar GPAs?)

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:14 pm
by crumpetsandtea
cactuarX3 wrote:any data on LSN to support that (e.g. lots of 170s getting in and then all of a sudden very few 169s getting in with similar GPAs?)
You're free to go look if you'd like. (:

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:19 pm
by cactuarX3
glanced at a few graphs at some of the T14 schools; looks like in many cases, acceptances at 170 turned into WLs at 169; damn, looks like i got a few tickets for the WL train this cycle

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:32 pm
by crumpetsandtea
cactuarX3 wrote:glanced at a few graphs at some of the T14 schools; looks like in many cases, acceptances at 170 turned into WLs at 169; damn, looks like i got a few tickets for the WL train this cycle
Again, I'd recommend considering a retake: worst case, it doesn't help. Best case, you get into a school you might not have, or you get $$! I had a friend with a 3.8X/168 who got WL-ed at Michigan; retook in June, got a 171 and got in off the WL with a half scholarship. I know it's just an anecdote and 1 example, but IMO that one shot makes it worth it.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 5:41 pm
by cactuarX3
wait, so he was still riding the waitlist in June (as in 2-3 months before school was going to start?) and they still considered that score? AND had a spot for him AND had money left over?

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:08 pm
by Tiago Splitter
cactuarX3 wrote:wait, so he was still riding the waitlist in June (as in 2-3 months before school was going to start?) and they still considered that score? AND had a spot for him AND had money left over?
This happens all the time. People often double or triple deposit and don't make their final decision until June or July.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:11 pm
by soj
Tiago Splitter wrote:
cactuarX3 wrote:wait, so he was still riding the waitlist in June (as in 2-3 months before school was going to start?) and they still considered that score? AND had a spot for him AND had money left over?
This happens all the time. People often double or triple deposit and don't make their final decision until June or July.
Aren't people discouraged if not prohibited from double depositing? I thought when you deposit at a school, you're supposed to withdraw from all the other schools you got into, but you're not obligated to withdraw from any waitlists.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:21 pm
by crumpetsandtea
cactuarX3 wrote:wait, so he was still riding the waitlist in June (as in 2-3 months before school was going to start?) and they still considered that score? AND had a spot for him AND had money left over?
Yep. And they got back to him in like, a week. People get off the waitlist as late as July/August. The friend I mentioned in this quote:
Anecdotally, I have a friend with a 3.9X and a similar LSAT score to the two of you who got WL/A at Chicago.
Didn't get accepted into UChi until mid-August. He'd already found an apartment in a city for a different T14 but decided to find a subleaser and go to Chi anyway.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:28 pm
by Tiago Splitter
soj wrote:
Tiago Splitter wrote:
cactuarX3 wrote:wait, so he was still riding the waitlist in June (as in 2-3 months before school was going to start?) and they still considered that score? AND had a spot for him AND had money left over?
This happens all the time. People often double or triple deposit and don't make their final decision until June or July.
Aren't people discouraged if not prohibited from double depositing? I thought when you deposit at a school, you're supposed to withdraw from all the other schools you got into, but you're not obligated to withdraw from any waitlists.
None of the schools I was accepted to had this language in their acceptance letters. I believe the second deposit, usually due in June or July, is the one that also requires withdrawal of other apps. The second one seems to also be much more expensive, so that aspect also helps force a decision. I'm also under the impression that schools can find out from LSAC whether people have open apps at other schools after a certain date (like June 15th.)

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:35 pm
by soj
You're probably right. I was thinking of the second deposit.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:07 pm
by UnamSanctam
cactuarX3 wrote:argggh, so there is a big difference? goddamn, if it's literally ONE question on the LSAT that ruins my chances of getting into T14, I'm going to jump out the 20th story window of my office
Everything Crumps has told you in this thread is sound advice (she's smart). That said, don't have a panic attack. I'm 3.27/169 and got Mich (granted, ED). With a much better GPA, you're going to see some T14 love somewhere.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:10 pm
by cactuarX3
Umam, thanks for the vote of confidence!

Did you have any amazing softs/WE/URM?

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:48 am
by UnamSanctam
cactuarX3 wrote:Umam, thanks for the vote of confidence!

Did you have any amazing softs/WE/URM?
I'm still in UG. Basically no softs, no WE, and white as rice. I am in-state and ED, but that's not supposed to be a big boost at Mich. I stand by what I said.

Re: 170/ 3.8

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:49 am
by viacavour
what does WE stand for?