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Deleted. Responses in this forum made me realize what a delightfully trolly place TLS is.

lexsi340 wrote:So... couldn't quite find this "story", and LSN doesn't quite account for Mexican URMs. Advice is incredibly appreciated.

Stats
LSAT: 165
GPA: 3.65 (strong upward trend, 4.0 last semester and expected for this)

"Unique" Softs

• *Homeless in highschool, GED dropout
  
  *Now at decent private university, 5 internships (including DC PD office), stellar recommendations, leadership positions, and academic awards.
  
  *Worked ~30 hours a week throughout university + addenda to address this and how it contributed to subpar GPA.
  
  *Planning to go into public interest law, with demonstrated interest throughout undergrad.
  
  *1/4 mexican-american. I know, the bare minimum. I've claimed it my whole life and certainly identify as such (and I don't know why I feel the need to defend this, but hey!).

Personal statement: Based on socioeconomic diversity + work experience + commitment to PI, no MA diversity statement.

Do you think I possibly have an outside shot at the T-14s? Or stick it out, do something amazing for a year, and snap up the last few points on the test?
LG/RC was something that hurt me in the test (-5 LR combined, whopping -7 on LG/RC), and I know drilling could push my LG up quite a bit.

You should get in to some of the lower t14 with your current numbers, but just a few points could get you in at CCN, with a shot at H and S.

LET'S GET IT wrote:
You should get in to some of the lower t14 with your current numbers, but just a few points could get you in at CCN, with a shot at H and S.

Figured as much. 167 is my lucky number, then?

lexsi340 wrote:

LET'S GET IT wrote:
You should get in to some of the lower t14 with your current numbers, but just a few points could get you in at CCN, with a shot at H and S.

Figured as much. 167 is my lucky number, then?

Yeah that would make you viable at CCN.

Oh I wish I had those #'s. ED to NYU!

Sounds like you have a good shot at berkeley imo. Why CCN though? If you're truly PI try to minimize debt and go to a school with a strong PI support system.

You should retake for more money but I feel like you'd have a good shot at Cal and NYU. If you apply to NYU def look into the RTK scholarship and AnBryce.

[quote="DaRascal"]Oh I wish I had those #'s. ED to NYU![/quote]

Don't troll the on-topics.

sesto elemento wrote:[quote="DaRascal"]Oh I wish I had those #'s. ED to NYU!

Don't troll the on-topics.[/quote]

Ummm hello don't you remember Alex federwhatever from a year or two ago? He was also Mexican and had a 3.5 and a 164 from Stony Brook and NYU accepted him ED! I hate to out him, but I do remember that thread.

sesto elemento wrote:Sounds like you have a good shot at berkeley imo. Why CCN though? If you're truly PI try to minimize debt and go to a school with a strong PI support system.

You should retake for more money but I feel like you'd have a good shot at Cal and NYU. If you apply to NYU def look into the RTK scholarship and AnBryce.

NYU has a pretty great PI support system and repayment plan, so that was always the end goal for me. You think even with a 165 I'd be a consideration?

Those scholarships would be fantastic, although my score definitely rules me out for RTK.

Thank you both for your thoughtful advice.

DaRascal wrote:

sesto elemento wrote:[quote="DaRascal"]Oh I wish I had those #'s. ED to NYU!

Don't troll the on-topics.

Ummm hello don't you remember Alex federwhatever from a year or two ago? He was also Mexican and had a 3.5 and a 164 from Stony Brook and NYU accepted him ED! I hate to out him, but I do remember that thread.[/quote]

Wouldn't it be advantageous for me to apply ED since NYU averages the scores, and it would take an impossible 173+ to make me even close to a $$ candidate for them? Essentially, they're not giving me $$ no matter what I get.

Although, I know you're trolling for the "wish I had your numbers!", lol. I'll take the stab in stride.

If you ED NYU, your debt at repayment with be OVER $300,000.

Mullens wrote:If you ED NYU, your debt at repayment with be OVER $300,000.

Thank you for keeping me in reality. PI repayment isn't enough for a life of 300k.

Just thinking I won't get money from them anyway.

Bumping for any additional TLS-wisdom for those that are awake at normal hours!

lexsi340 wrote:

sesto elemento wrote:Sounds like you have a good shot at berkeley imo. Why CCN though? If you're truly PI try to minimize debt and go to a school with a strong PI support system.

You should retake for more money but I feel like you'd have a good shot at Cal and NYU. If you apply to NYU def look into the RTK scholarship and AnBryce.

NYU has a pretty great PI support system and repayment plan, so that was always the end goal for me. You think even with a 165 I'd be a consideration?

Those scholarships would be fantastic, although my score definitely rules me out for RTK.

Thank you both for your thoughtful advice.

I don't think RTK is based on LSAT score. Rather, your LSAT is used for NYU admissions, once you're admitted a different set of factors will dictate if you get an invite to RTK. As an example, I met someone who ED to NYU and then got the RTK, def risky tho.

sesto elemento wrote:

lexsi340 wrote:

sesto elemento wrote:Sounds like you have a good shot at berkeley imo. Why CCN though? If you're truly PI try to minimize debt and go to a school with a strong PI support system.

You should retake for more money but I feel like you'd have a good shot at Cal and NYU. If you apply to NYU def look into the RTK scholarship and AnBryce.

NYU has a pretty great PI support system and repayment plan, so that was always the end goal for me. You think even with a 165 I'd be a consideration?

Those scholarships would be fantastic, although my score definitely rules me out for RTK.

Thank you both for your thoughtful advice.

I don't think RTK is based on LSAT score. Rather, your LSAT is used for NYU admissions, once you're admitted a different set of factors will dictate if you get an invite to RTK. As an example, I met someone who ED to NYU and then got the RTK, def risky tho.

Ah, interesting. I was under the impression the majority of RTK kids are also highly competitive at Harvard.

Would ED+soft factors give me enough of a bump, even if risky -- leaving the issue of $$ alone for the moment? (Sorry I'm really picking your brain on this!).

NYU doesn't average lsat scores. Feel free to partake in that sweet, sweet retake action.

BigZuck wrote:NYU doesn't average lsat scores. Feel free to partake in that sweet, sweet retake action.

Ah?! I could have sworn I read somewhere...!

I just wouldn't ED to any school with your numbers and urm status. I'd retake before even considering EDing.
Some schools say they look at all LSAT scores but that's it. They just look at them but don't average.

From NYU website:

If I take the LSAT more than once, does the Committee see the higher score?

Yes, but they evaluate based on the average score in most cases. The Committee may take special circumstances into account. If a candidate can point out specific reasons why the Committee should consider an LSAT score aberrant, they should detail those reasons in an addendum to the personal statement.

Confused?

lexsi340 wrote:From NYU website:

If I take the LSAT more than once, does the Committee see the higher score?

Yes, but they evaluate based on the average score in most cases. The Committee may take special circumstances into account. If a candidate can point out specific reasons why the Committee should consider an LSAT score aberrant, they should detail those reasons in an addendum to the personal statement.

Confused?

Believing what adcoms say is probably the single biggest mistake someone can make during their application cycle, other than refusing to retake the lsat.

laugh out loud. Just laugh out loud at writing an lsat score addendum cuz you score a few points higher.

What a joke.

NYU definitely doesn't average scores and is probably the least holistic school in the entire country. It's all about the GPA and (highest) LSAT combo. I mean just look at that LSN graph.

Tiago Splitter wrote:NYU definitely doesn't average scores and is probably the least holistic school in the entire country. It's all about the GPA and (highest) LSAT combo. I mean just look at that LSN graph.

Welp. I knew this initially, anyway, but headed for the year off & retake then. Thanks everyone for advice.

You could always retake in December and still go this year, but waiting is never a bad idea. It'll be especially helpful for you because you can get some excellent grades during your final year in school and bump that GPA up a little more. You're pretty close to NYU's median already.

Tiago Splitter wrote:You could always retake in December and still go this year, but waiting is never a bad idea. It'll be especially helpful for you because you can get some excellent grades during your final year in school and bump that GPA up a little more. You're pretty close to NYU's median already.

Good point, my 4.0 last semester brought me up quite a bit and I would expect close to for the following semesters. Just a few points on both stats would take away a little uncertainty.

Update: In at NYU and Berkeley. Root interview next month

To future URM's applying trolling t- please maximize your chances... you can always retake later. URM cycles are unpredictable and from what I can tell just not properly represented on LSN (at least those of us with lower scores).

Based on (good!) advice here I had planned on not applying at all, but applied on a whim on urging from colleagues who knew my background. I didn't think a unique story could help that much, but it absolutely did.

Although I ED'd (a very risky decision), I'm not eligible for need-based aid based on my father's income, and with 100% PI aspirations, looking at the highest ranked schools with strong PI programs and strong LRAP programs was a best bet for me.

With my scores + URM status (not based on need) I received fee waivers from most T-14's (excluding Yale, Harvard, Chi, and NYU).

Disclaimer: While I could have retaken and gotten a 170+ (maybe?) and shot for higher ranked schools, I'm not sure the extra year would have been worth it for my personal goals.