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Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:00 pm
by Clyde Frog
The Cleveland Cavaliers came back from 3-1 down against the Golden State Warriors.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:49 am
by lelesmiles
What about the money? Is it worth paying for another semester, waiting to apply to law school and therefore losing a year of your legal career? I think the extra .1 in gpa isn't worth that extra year

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:56 am
by yadiermolina
Agreed. Those stats (I would think) will get you a full tide to a t14, which is all anyone can really ask for. .1 is not guaranteed to get you anything better anyway (though I suppose it might).

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:05 am
by MT Cicero
This is actually a pretty tough one. I guess it depends on where you're looking to go. Looking at the GPA medians, you'd be <25th for HYS and 25-50 for about half the remaining T14. Above median at only 4 schools. There are big schollies coming your way, no doubt.

There's a bit of an uptick on MyLSN with both acceptance % and $$$ moving from the 3.7-3.8 range into the 3.8-3.9 range.

Others will have more knowledge on movement from $$$ into Ruby/Hammy range as you go from 3.75 to >3.8, if that's what you're thinking. If the thinking is Y/S, then this could very well be a crucial .1!

Great job by the way.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:04 pm
by Clyde Frog
lelesmiles wrote:What about the money? Is it worth paying for another semester, waiting to apply to law school and therefore losing a year of your legal career? I think the extra .1 in gpa isn't worth that extra year
I'm poor as shit and my school is super cheap so it's all covered with grants and scholarships.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:07 pm
by Clyde Frog
Soco Law wrote:This is actually a pretty tough one. I guess it depends on where you're looking to go. Looking at the GPA medians, you'd be <25th for HYS and 25-50 for about half the remaining T14. Above median at only 4 schools. There are big schollies coming your way, no doubt.

There's a bit of an uptick on MyLSN with both acceptance % and $$$ moving from the 3.7-3.8 range into the 3.8-3.9 range.

Others will have more knowledge on movement from $$$ into Ruby/Hammy range as you go from 3.75 to >3.8, if that's what you're thinking. If the thinking is Y/S, then this could very well be a crucial .1!

Great job by the way.

Preferably I'd like a full ride in the T6. HYS would be great, but I guess I really couldn't see myself paying near sticker.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:15 pm
by Philafaler
Clyde Frog wrote:
lelesmiles wrote:What about the money? Is it worth paying for another semester, waiting to apply to law school and therefore losing a year of your legal career? I think the extra .1 in gpa isn't worth that extra year
I'm poor as shit and my school is super cheap so it's all covered with grants and scholarships.
Apply in the fall.

Take the three courses over the spring and fall to bring up the GPA over this academic school year.

If you don't like your law school options for this cycle, reapply next year with the higher GPA.

Also, retake.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:23 pm
by 03152016
You'll have some amazing options no matter what you do. If I were in your shoes, I'd stick around UG. Since you're not paying for it, you might as well boost your GPA, pad out your resume, and enjoy your remaining time as an undergrad. It's hard for me to see the downside.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:04 pm
by Clyde Frog
Max324 wrote:You'll have some amazing options no matter what you do. If I were in your shoes, I'd stick around UG. Since you're not paying for it, you might as well boost your GPA, pad out your resume, and enjoy your remaining time as an undergrad. It's hard for me to see the downside.
Thank you. I've actually been looking for this answer. I just don't see why it's basically mandatory to retake your LSAT if it's not in the high 170s, but not much is ever said about padding your gpa. For example, a student heading into their senior year (90 credits) with a 3.5 gpa can bring it up to around a 3.7 with a mix of A+s and As, which makes a huge difference. Realistically I'm shooting for a Hamilton or a Ruby since HYS are averse to merit based scholarships.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:34 am
by jbagelboy
Your numbers could score you a Hamilton, but its never a guarantee - like yale but worse. Ruby and Hamilton are excessively difficult to get, considering only 25-30ish will be offered each year among several hundred applicants with deserving numbers.

How many years have you been in school? If you still have your senior year to go, then yea I say ride it out, relax, get a job and apply fall 2015. If you've already been in school 4 years, apply this fall.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 3:59 pm
by Tiago Splitter
Clyde Frog wrote:
Max324 wrote:You'll have some amazing options no matter what you do. If I were in your shoes, I'd stick around UG. Since you're not paying for it, you might as well boost your GPA, pad out your resume, and enjoy your remaining time as an undergrad. It's hard for me to see the downside.
Thank you. I've actually been looking for this answer. I just don't see why it's basically mandatory to retake your LSAT if it's not in the high 170s, but not much is ever said about padding your gpa. For example, a student heading into their senior year (90 credits) with a 3.5 gpa can bring it up to around a 3.7 with a mix of A+s and As, which makes a huge difference. Realistically I'm shooting for a Hamilton or a Ruby since HYS are averse to merit based scholarships.
The big difference is cost, both in time and money. In your case it won't cost any more money, but there's no reason to lose a year of time if you'll have the exact same options a year later. This is especially true with a GPA as high as yours, as opposed to the 3.5-er in your example who should definitely stay as long as possible. I'd apply in the fall and then send a grade update after another semester of killer grades.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:01 pm
by 09042014
Just apply in late december when grades drop.

Re: Spike up GPA or apply in the fall?

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:09 pm
by Clyde Frog
Desert Fox wrote:Just apply in late december when grades drop.
Spoken like a true Nazi.