Los Angeles vs. New York Forum

[ladybug7439]

Facts:

Undergrad: NYU 2012, Econ & Comparative Lit
LSAT: 166
GPA: 3.8

- I'm from Los Angeles, and my entire family is there.
- I did undergrad in New York and will have lived here for 6 years by the time law school starts. I absolutely LOVE NYC!!
- In an ideal world I would live in NYC forever and fly to LA every couple months to visit family.
- Realistically, I feel obligated to be closer to home with my parents getting older and the "settling down" stage getting approaching.

Questions:

- Where in CA and NY should I apply? Should I even consider applying to schools elsewhere given I have no ties? Is it worth applying to schools like Harvard?
- If, for instance, I were to get accepted to NYU off the waitlist and to USC with substantial scholarship, what would be the best way to proceed?

[fats provolone]

it doesn't matter which state you retake in.

[ladybug7439]

166 is my retake. I got 164 the first time.

[Rigo]

166 is my retake. I got 164 the first time.

You're allowed 3 tries within a 2 cycle period.

166 is unfortunately a bit too low for the best NYC or CA schools or the T14 in general. Even if you get in, they'll be prohibitively expensive if you plan on taking out loans.

[Atmosphere]

it doesn't matter which state you retake in.

merciless.

[unodostres]

prob retake. you could get money at sc at a decent price. maybe live with the fam to cut those la costs. if anything, retaking could get a you full ride at the right score. then agian, sc is around 58% employment score. its tough. la is a little bit better but then again, retake.

[chuckbass]

If you can get a few more points, I'd say got to Cornell with money. That will set you up nicely for a job in NYC, and it'll be easier to get a job in NYC no matter what school you go to.

[KD35]

If you do want feedback on places, that would be a near full ride at Pepperdine or LMU

[mvp99]

you're in a position where a couple of extra points (3/4) will get you a ton of money at lower top schools. It's ridiculous.. a couple more question answered correctly and walaaaa $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[lapolicia]

As a fellow former NYU undergrad, I have to strongly urge you to retake and not waste the 3.8. You're not getting into NYU Law off the wait list with that 166 and you're not getting a substantial scholarship to USC. Retake and aim for at least 170 and you will get substantial money at a lower T14. Then you can choose between that and a CCN or USC with a full ride. But please don't waste the 3.8 GPA. If you got a 166 you are fully capable of getting a 170 with some more intense studying

[ladybug7439]

Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic replies! Please note that I have already submitted my applications to all the schools that are of interest to me (listed below by rank). Could I still take the February LSAT? And under what circumstances would my score (whether good or bad) be taken into consideration by Admissions?

NYU
Berkeley
UCLA
USC
Fordham
Cardozo
Loyola (Los Angeles)

[BigZuck]

Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic replies! Please note that I have already submitted my applications to all the schools that are of interest to me (listed below by rank). Could I still take the February LSAT? And under what circumstances would my score (whether good or bad) be taken into consideration by Admissions?

NYU
Berkeley
UCLA
USC
Fordham
Cardozo
Loyola (Los Angeles)

Score higher and you get better options. Score lower and nothing changes.

Literally no downside to retaking in February.

[Rigo]

Could I still take the February LSAT? And under what circumstances would my score (whether good or bad) be taken into consideration by Admissions?

Definitely. A higher score will help you get off waitlists and/or be very useful for scholarship negotiations.
I would probably tell NYU you're retaking if you choose to do that since you're likely a reject there with only a 166. They may hold your app until your February score is released.

[banjo]

Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic replies! Please note that I have already submitted my applications to all the schools that are of interest to me (listed below by rank). Could I still take the February LSAT? And under what circumstances would my score (whether good or bad) be taken into consideration by Admissions?

NYU
Berkeley
UCLA
USC
Fordham
Cardozo
Loyola (Los Angeles)

Great choice retaking in February. Tell the schools; a higher score will definitely help. And add CLS to your list. Our 1L SA placement is better than Cardozo's 2L SA placement (lol).

[BigZuck]

Our 1L SA placement is better than Cardozo's 2L SA placement (lol).

lol