3.56/167 - Cornell Forum

[acidwash]

I'm trying to get into Cornell or Northwestern.

I know my numbers aren't great, but I have good--or at least unusual--softs. I'm 32, I have a PhD in English literature from a good school, have published in well respected journals, and have a decent amount of experience teaching college. Plus I'll have pretty good recommendations. Is there a chance here?

[Trippel]

Sounds like you have good softs that might make up for your GPA.

Check out Cornell's LSN graph.
http://cornell.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1415

[acidwash]

Thanks, that is useful. Definitely need to make sure I put together a solid app.

[Trippel]

Thanks, that is useful. Definitely need to make sure I put together a solid app.

Good luck!

[acidwash]

Thanks, that is useful. Definitely need to make sure I put together a solid app.

Good luck!

Thanks!

[A. Nony Mouse]

I applied to law school after earning a Ph.D., publishing, and working as a professor. I think your softs are decent, especially if you can put together a compelling narrative throughout your application, but I'm sorry to say that I performed pretty much exactly as my LSAT/GPA predicted. (I don't know if that rules you out or not; am not up on what numbers are needed.)

[acidwash]

I applied to law school after earning a Ph.D., publishing, and working as a professor. I think your softs are decent, especially if you can put together a compelling narrative throughout your application, but I'm sorry to say that I performed pretty much exactly as my LSAT/GPA predicted. (I don't know if that rules you out or not; am not up on what numbers are needed.)

Thanks! This is really good to know. I'm adjunct faculty right now (which is the reason I'm leaving--I don't want to be adjunct faculty forever). As for Cornell, I'm at their median LSAT, and their 25% GPA. So, not good, but still worth a shot, I'm hoping.

[CanadianWolf]

Whether or not you will be admitted to Cornell is a minor concern when compared to paying for Cornell. Be sure to apply to law schools for which both of your numbers (GPA & LSAT) are above that law school's medians. This should generate substantial scholarship offers for you.

[acidwash]

Whether or not you will be admitted to Cornell is a minor concern when compared to paying for Cornell. Be sure to apply to law schools for which both of your numbers (GPA & LSAT) are above that law school's medians. This should generate substantial scholarship offers for you.

True. I have personal reasons for favoring Cornell, but imagining somehow financing is a fucking nightmare.

[CanadianWolf]

Your prior posts indicate that you have taken the LSAT twice. Your score increased from a 161 to a 167. Consider solving all of your law school related issues regarding admissions & financing by retaking the LSAT and scoring 169 or higher. Then you can have your 5 year old retriever write your PS & you should still be admitted to Cornell with scholarship money.

[acidwash]

Your prior posts indicate that you have taken the LSAT twice. Your score increased from a 161 to a 167. Consider solving all of your law school related issues regarding admissions & financing by retaking the LSAT and scoring 169 or higher. Then you can have your 5 year old retriever write your PS & you should still be admitted to Cornell with scholarship money.

This is good advice, but I'm in a tough spot for the December test. I wasn't exaggerating in that PS you hated -- I really am working 70-80 hour weeks, and I just can't see myself committing to studying for it over the next month or so. I'm really afraid that I would fuck up and get a lower score. Still, I will consider this and see if I can somehow swing it.

[CanadianWolf]

Then consider applying to some non-Top 14 law schools such as Vanderbilt, Emory & WashUStL in order to generate acceptances with scholarship offers. If accepted to Cornell, you might be able to use these scholarship offers to negotiate for some money from Cornell. Not a guarantee, but at least it is a strategy to consider.

[BrazilBandit]

Make sure you also send GULC an application... every once in a while some school sees something different in you and offers you a crazy scholly (Gtown gave me 105k with a 3.69 and 167) and since they are "peers" other schools will look at matching them.

[flawedargument]

Please, please retake for 169+. Future you will thank us. If you're working too hard right now, wait until February, or, if you must, June. Does it sound that crazy?

Best case scenario: You score 169+, are almost guaranteed a T14, have a shot at schools that were out of reach (NYU!), are much more likely to get into Cornell and NW, are much more like to get in this cycle, and will get more scholarship money (perhaps 30 grand extra, perhaps more).

Worst case scenario: Your score stays the same or goes down slightly. The schools you're looking at won't really care at all. You might marginally decrease your chances at being accepted this year due to the delay. You might take a year off, gain work experience, make connections, and become an even better writer -- all things which will likely improve your performance in 1L where it counts.

Compare the upside to the downside. Retake.