3.5/172 CLS? Forum

[Swimp]

3.5 GPA, 172 LSAT, almost 3 years of full time work by the time orientation rolls around. Not a URM, no remarkable softs.

I currently live in NYC and staying here is important to me for personal reasons that I won't get into. If I got into Harvard, I would go, but short of that, I would prefer NYU or CLS at sticker to any other school with scholarship money.

Because of that NYC stipulation, I'm contemplating whether I should apply ED to NYU or to CLS (or nowhere). My impression is that I would probably get into NYU if I applied ED, but I might get in RD too. What I'm unsure of is whether CLS would take me. I know my GPA is below all kinds of medians, but given that CLS's current median LSAT is a 172...what do you all think my chances are? Worse than a coin flip? Thanks in advance.

[twenty]

Possibilities the same/better than EDing at Columbia (You don't ED to either, and you're better off now)

In at NYU with money, in/out at C.
In at NYU with no money, in with money at C.
In at NYU and C with no money.

Possibilities the same as EDing at Columbia ( These results are arguably the same as if you'd gotten ED Columbia...)

Out at NYU, in at Columbia with no money.
Out at NYU, in at Columbia off deferment (maybe with money?)

Possibilities worse than EDing at Columbia (You didn't ED, and should have)

Out at NYU, out at Columbia.
In at NYU with no money, waitlisted at Columbia, eventually rejected.
Waitlisted at both.


I think the bolded are more likely to happen than the others. If you absolutely must go to law school this year, and are willing to pay any price to see that happen, I'd ED NYU. If not, stick it out, and you'll probably, but not absolutely, do better.

[badaboom61]

You're almost certainly out at Harvard. You're probably right that NYU is more likely to take you ED than Columbia, and you probably want to work in NY after graduation. For New York biglaw, NYU places almost identically to Columbia. I would take the safe option and ED to NYU.

[JamMasterJ]

60% ED CLS
25% RD CLS
65% RD NYU - probably in off the WL
90% ED NYU
.01% Harvard

[Swimp]

60% ED CLS
25% RD CLS
65% RD NYU - probably in off the WL
90% ED NYU
.01% Harvard

This all makes sense to me, except that you're assuming a much greater ED bump at CLS than most people do. Any reason for that?

For the record, I know Harvard might as well be out.

[CorkBoard]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=170051

[JamMasterJ]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=170051

counterpoint. People asking about ED strategy, IMO benefit more from input from people than just looking at LSN.

OP, my opinion is based on the fact that your numbers probably aren't strong enough for CLS RD, but given the decrease in the overall number of 172, with a median of 172, CLS would be more interested in a 172 that they can lock into attendance.

[Swimp]

Thanks, Jam. That was my thinking/hope too. I'm starting to think that, while totally plausible, maybe a CLS ED acceptance involves too many unknown factors for me to bank on given the marginal advantage of a CLS degree versus one from NYU. If I had hit that 176, maybe I'd feel more confident about NYU RD, but as it is I guess I'm leaning toward just applying early to NYU and giving myself the best shot I can at a desirable outcome to this whole process.

[JamMasterJ]

Unless you're cool with RDing to both, the most reliable chance at getting into CCN is almost always an NYU ED. To be honest (though this is coming from an NYU student), there's really not a significant difference between NYU and CLS except maybe at the very bottom of the class.

[smaug_]

Unless you're cool with RDing to both, the most reliable chance at getting into CCN is almost always an NYU ED. To be honest (though this is coming from an NYU student), there's really not a significant difference between NYU and CLS except maybe at the very bottom of the class.

At the very least, the gap is small enough that you're probably better off following the money. (This is why you shouldn't ED, though.)