173/3.94 How many schools to apply to? Forum

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[BigZuck]

Any T14 you would actually attend. Don't bother with BU/BC

[Quest4Knowledge]

I'm looking for input on how many schools it is worth applying to. Obviously my top three choices would be HYS (in that order actually given that I want to ultimately work in Boston (probably biglaw), and I have a strong preference for the New England area for school).

Beyond that, I initially planned to apply to the t14 plus strong regional (BU and BC specifically). I'll be in the second year of full time work in a field that is related tangentially to law, and I expect relatively strong recommendations.

My question, then, is how many of the t14 should I actually apply to. Is it realistic to only apply to HYS+BU/BC+CCN? Any input would be great.

I'm assuming this is for the September 2015 cycle?

If I was in your shoes I would apply to HYS, CCN, and any other T14 that sent you a fee waiver.

[stevenash1313]

Apply to all the T-14 for scholarship negotiations. You should get waivers for most.

In the end you'll likely be deciding between at least one of HYS and a full ride at another T-14

[jn7]

Any T14 you would actually attend. Don't bother with BU/BC

[Kimikho]

I wish I had applied to fewer schools than I had, and I'm about a tenth of a GPA point lower than you.

[CanadianWolf]

Based on the limited info. shared in your post, apply to any of the T-14 that are of interest to you as well as to BU & BC.

[BigZuck]

Based on the limited info. shared in your post, apply to any of the T-14 that are of interest to you as well as to BU & BC.

But why BU and BC?

The OP would never attend either of those schools in a bazillion years. 50 bucks is a lot of beer money to blow.

[politics89]

In her thread Dean Perez mentioned applying to schools you really want early on, and then if you don't hear back applying to your second-choices. This would be a great money-savings strategy if you were able to apply early enough.

ETA: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... &start=325

[CanadianWolf]

BC & BU because OP prefers Boston & should receive generous scholarships (we don't know much about OP's family situation & financial responsibilities) . Also, OP is not fully committed to pursuing biglaw, therefore no or minimal loans should enable OP to pursue "other than biglaw" opportunities.

[bhan87]

HYSCCN. You should also consider MVP even if you don't wish to attend them to see if you can get $$$ to negotiate with. Below that doesn't seem necessary.

[Big Dog]

with those numbers you should get fee waivers from many in the T14; negotiate $$ (or attend HYS). Profit.

[drawstring]

Not just HYS. I have the same LSAT and a higher GPA and I've been shutout from there so far.

Definitely hit some other schools for caution and to see what type of $$$ is offered.

[aboutmydaylight]

I have nearly identical numbers. I went most T14 + Strong regional. I got fee waivers from everywhere but HYS and Boalt. I wouldn't have even bothered with DNCG if they didn't give me waivers though. That being said its still $25 even with the waiver, so if money is tight I'd probably just go HYSCCNMVPB and any regional you want. I'm not that confident that a 173/3.9x guarantees you HYS, though CCN should be automatic. Depending on how much money MVPB gives you, you can use that to maybe leverage more money from them.

[BigZuck]

I have nearly identical numbers. I went most T14 + Strong regional. I got fee waivers from everywhere but HYS and Boalt. I wouldn't have even bothered with DNCG if they didn't give me waivers though.

That's kind of bizarre to me. Why bother with Michigan but not Northwestern and Virginia but not Duke? They're all peers.

Anyway I don't get why the OP would apply to a strong regional with numbers like that. If he attended BU/BC with those numbers that would make me sad.

Please don't make me sad, OP.

[aboutmydaylight]

I have nearly identical numbers. I went most T14 + Strong regional. I got fee waivers from everywhere but HYS and Boalt. I wouldn't have even bothered with DNCG if they didn't give me waivers though.

That's kind of bizarre to me. Why bother with Michigan but not Northwestern and Virginia but not Duke? They're all peers.

Anyway I don't get why the OP would apply to a strong regional with numbers like that. If he attended BU/BC with those numbers that would make me sad.

Please don't make me sad, OP.

Honestly, Michigan sent me a really nice letter/please apply package or whatever. Personalized and signed by the dean. I figured I'd pay the $25 and let them do whatever they want with my app since I appreciated the gesture.

[BigZuck]

I have nearly identical numbers. I went most T14 + Strong regional. I got fee waivers from everywhere but HYS and Boalt. I wouldn't have even bothered with DNCG if they didn't give me waivers though.

That's kind of bizarre to me. Why bother with Michigan but not Northwestern and Virginia but not Duke? They're all peers.

Anyway I don't get why the OP would apply to a strong regional with numbers like that. If he attended BU/BC with those numbers that would make me sad.

Please don't make me sad, OP.

Honestly, Michigan sent me a really nice letter/please apply package or whatever. Personalized and signed by the dean. I figured I'd pay the $25 and let them do whatever they want with my app since I appreciated the gesture.

You fell victim to "Dean Z's" cool aunt schtick. Makes sense, happens to the best of us.

Anyway, whatever school has the coolest aunt working in their admissions department shouldn't really dictate where one should actually attend. On some level I get the whole safety school thing, but not really. By all means use schools that you wouldn't attend as pawns in your negotiation games but unless you're doing that then just save your money. Donate it to a good cause or take your grandma out to a nice dinner or something. I think the OP applying to BC/BU would just be flushing money down the toilet.

Also, $25 fee to lsac? Those vampires. Last year it was $16, and I think the year before it was $12.

[aboutmydaylight]

I have nearly identical numbers. I went most T14 + Strong regional. I got fee waivers from everywhere but HYS and Boalt. I wouldn't have even bothered with DNCG if they didn't give me waivers though.

That's kind of bizarre to me. Why bother with Michigan but not Northwestern and Virginia but not Duke? They're all peers.

Anyway I don't get why the OP would apply to a strong regional with numbers like that. If he attended BU/BC with those numbers that would make me sad.

Please don't make me sad, OP.

Honestly, Michigan sent me a really nice letter/please apply package or whatever. Personalized and signed by the dean. I figured I'd pay the $25 and let them do whatever they want with my app since I appreciated the gesture.

You fell victim to "Dean Z's" cool aunt schtick. Makes sense, happens to the best of us.

Anyway, whatever school has the coolest aunt working in their admissions department shouldn't really dictate where one should actually attend. On some level I get the whole safety school thing, but not really. By all means use schools that you wouldn't attend as pawns in your negotiation games but unless you're doing that then just save your money. Donate it to a good cause or take your grandma out to a nice dinner or something. I think the OP applying to BC/BU would just be flushing money down the toilet.

Also, $25 fee to lsac? Those vampires. Last year it was $16, and I think the year before it was $12.

You seem to be overly concerned with how other people spend their own money.

[BigZuck]

I would much rather someone do something productive with their money (like buy their friends a round of shots at a bar) than further line the pockets of those LSAC fat cats. Ya feel me?

Anyway my main point was that every cycle law students get neurotic and think their numbers won't get them where they should like they ultimately do for 99% of applicants. It's not a big deal and its their money so YOLO I guess but in my opinion life is too short and beer money is too precious to waste the time and resources on backup law school applications that you can't even use as negotiations pawns.

[star fox]

I don't really see the point in applying to schools you're never going to even consider actually attending. Especially since it's not like CCN is going to be matching scholarship offers with BU or anything.

[psychmusic]

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[Optimist Prime]

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[Iroh]

I really appreciate all of the replies. In terms of BU/BC, I will certainly apply, and I would strongly consider attending those schools if I were accepted. It may be that I'm crazy, but I would probably go to BU over a school like Duke. I know myself, and I just cannot see living in North Carolina. Moreover, I am pretty dead set on Boston, so the strong regionals just make sense.

It's a pity you said that, because Duke's Priority Track program (assuming you're invited, and you probably will be) will allow you to hear back ten days after your app goes complete, giving you a safety school in your pocket and eliminating the need to apply to BU/BC.

Raleigh/Durham isn't so bad. All kinds of great restaurants, although the Mexican food is terrible.

[JWalker]

You SHOULD get H at the least but since you never know, apply to a few other schools in the T14 that you like (they should throw you boatloads of $$$).

[PrideandGlory1776]

The correct answer is blanket the t-14 to leverage scholarships any other answer is putative nonsense.