3.2/170, ED UVA? Forum

[coffeecups93]

-School: Ivy undergrad (humanities/law-related, unique thesis), applying this fall (technically, I'll be one year out of UG when I attend)
-GPA: explaining that I originally had documented depression/anxiety with extreme upward GPA trend at the end of my undergrad (deans were supportive at my undergrad)
-URM status: Non-URM hispanic, 1st generation, plan to write diversity statement
-Softs: very hands-on investigations work all through undergrad, legal-related internships that were not just filing-related; will be accepting a full-time job as a legal investigator for the year between UG and law school; annual organizer for LGBTQ+ high school dances in conservative county; department leader during UG (I don't necessarily believe my softs are amazing - I'm just stating them, not overselling)
Recs: I know I can't necessarily submit 3 to every school, but I'll have one from my employer of 4 years from investigations, and two from professors

Given the splitter-friendly nature of UVA, I was wondering if I had a decent chance of making this work? Advice? Other options are going to be ED Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell, Vandy, WUSTL, my state school, NU, general bottom half of t14 and some of top 30.

[GFox345]

-School: Ivy undergrad (humanities/law-related, unique thesis), applying this fall (technically, I'll be one year out of UG when I attend)
-GPA: explaining that I originally had documented depression/anxiety with extreme upward GPA trend at the end of my undergrad (deans were supportive at my undergrad)
-URM status: Non-URM hispanic, 1st generation, plan to write diversity statement
-Softs: very hands-on investigations work all through undergrad, legal-related internships that were not just filing-related; will be accepting a full-time job as a legal investigator for the year between UG and law school; annual organizer for LGBTQ+ high school dances in conservative county; department leader during UG
Recs: I know I can't necessarily submit 3 to every school, but I'll have one from my employer of 4 years from investigations, and two from professors

Given the splitter-friendly nature of UVA, I was wondering if I had a decent chance of making this work? Advice? Other options are going to be ED Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell, Vandy, WUSTL, my state school, NU, general bottom half of t14 and some of top 30.

Everyone here is going to strongly caution you against ED because it completely takes away your bargaining power when it comes to negotiating a scholarship. Essentially, you should not ED unless you are totally fine with the idea of paying the full Cost of Attendance for the school in question via loans, and, again, almost everyone here is going to tell you that even schools as high up as HYS are not worth taking out the full COA in debt.

Now, that being said, you most likely have a decent chance at UVA ED and maybe even RD with that LSAT score, especially since UVAs median has been falling in recent years. However, if you have your heart set on EDing somewhere, I would recommend Northwestern. If you are accepted ED there, you are guaranteed a 150k scholarship. From what I have seen, Northwestern has admitted people ED with LSAT scores around yours and GPAs even below yours.

Full Disclosure: I ED'd because I had a clear first choice and I had it on good authority that they didn't screw students that chose ED over. In my case it turned out to be true, and I ended up receiving a scholarship that was approximately equal to what an RD applicant with the same stats would have received. My outcome, however, does not retroactively make my decision a smart one.

I would say that you should ED NU if you have no geographic preference. At the very least, you should apply broadly within the t-14 and on down to a few schools below them. You may end up with more options than you thought possible!

Good luck!

[GFox345]

Also, almost everyone is going to tell you to forget about your softs, although for applying ED Northwestern a year or two of work experience can make all the difference. Your softs are what most people would call average - maybe slightly above average on an optimistic appraisal.

The point is that your softs are not going to allow you to outperform your numbers.

[Student of Law]

-School: Ivy undergrad (humanities/law-related, unique thesis), applying this fall (technically, I'll be one year out of UG when I attend)
-GPA: explaining that I originally had documented depression/anxiety with extreme upward GPA trend at the end of my undergrad (deans were supportive at my undergrad)
-URM status: Non-URM hispanic, 1st generation, plan to write diversity statement
-Softs: very hands-on investigations work all through undergrad, legal-related internships that were not just filing-related; will be accepting a full-time job as a legal investigator for the year between UG and law school; annual organizer for LGBTQ+ high school dances in conservative county; department leader during UG
Recs: I know I can't necessarily submit 3 to every school, but I'll have one from my employer of 4 years from investigations, and two from professors

Given the splitter-friendly nature of UVA, I was wondering if I had a decent chance of making this work? Advice? Other options are going to be ED Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell, Vandy, WUSTL, my state school, NU, general bottom half of t14 and some of top 30.

Everyone here is going to strongly caution you against ED because it completely takes away your bargaining power when it comes to negotiating a scholarship. Essentially, you should not ED unless you are totally fine with the idea of paying the full Cost of Attendance for the school in question via loans, and, again, almost everyone here is going to tell you that even schools as high up as HYS are not worth taking out the full COA in debt.

Now, that being said, you most likely have a decent chance at UVA ED and maybe even RD with that LSAT score, especially since UVAs median has been falling in recent years. However, if you have your heart set on EDing somewhere, I would recommend Northwestern. If you are accepted ED there, you are guaranteed a 150k scholarship. From what I have seen, Northwestern has admitted people ED with LSAT scores around yours and GPAs even below yours.

Full Disclosure: I ED'd because I had a clear first choice and I had it on good authority that they didn't screw students that chose ED over. In my case it turned out to be true, and I ended up receiving a scholarship that was approximately equal to what an RD applicant with the same stats would have received. My outcome, however, does not retroactively make my decision a smart one.

I would say that you should ED NU if you have no geographic preference. At the very least, you should apply broadly within the t-14 and on down to a few schools below them. You may end up with more options than you thought possible!

Good luck!

UVA does not consider whether a student applied ED when it disperses merit aid, and I believe NYU has the same policy. That said, applying ED will substantially diminish your ability to negotiate that merit aid.

[coffeecups93]

Thank you for the advice so far. Yes, I'm aware that my softs are not amazing and, again, not trying to oversell them. I just wanted to paint the clearest picture I could about what I've done. I appreciate the feedback very much!

NU ED seems like a dream, but I feel like it would be vastly more difficult to get in that round considering that scholarship is so appealing to even non-splitters. I'm aware that scholarships would be very little if I did ED to UVA/Georgetown, but it just seems more strategic to ED to a set of schools that will not prevent me from EDing elsewhere. I'm conflicted.

Oh, and I had no idea UVA/NYU had that policy. Pretty cool.

[Student of Law]

Thank you for the advice so far. Yes, I'm aware that my softs are not amazing and, again, not trying to oversell them. I just wanted to paint the clearest picture I could about what I've done. I appreciate the feedback very much!

NU ED seems like a dream, but I feel like it would be vastly more difficult to get in that round considering that scholarship is so appealing to even non-splitters. I'm aware that scholarships would be very little if I did ED to UVA/Georgetown, but it just seems more strategic to ED to a set of schools that will not prevent me from EDing elsewhere. I'm conflicted.

Oh, and I had no idea UVA/NYU had that policy. Pretty cool.

Caveat: They did when I applied, but if you do chose to ED at one of those two schools, make sure to confirm with their admission's office. That said, non-NU ED is always risky.

[coffeecups93]

Is need-based aid substantial in the slightest (given that schools claim to have it)? Also, I can't imagine they'd give much merit aid, ED or RD, to a splitter like me in the T14...

[GFox345]

Is need-based aid substantial in the slightest (given that schools claim to have it)? Also, I can't imagine they'd give much merit aid, ED or RD, to a splitter like me in the T14...

I think that you would really be surprised how much money you could get by applying widely and negotiating. Sure, you probably won't get a full ride, but that 170 is at/above median at all but HYS and Columbia, and that's worth more than you realize. You could VERY realistically get in ED at NU based on recent trends, and otherwise you could probably get respectable money in the lower t-14.

Edit: Re Need-based aid. I can speak from experience with Michigan. I received roughly a half-tuition scholarship, and I was informed that a Merit Award of that size disqualified me from even being considered for Need-based aid. I had not even submitted a FAFSA yet, so there's no way that they were screening me based on my background. So at Michigan, Need-based aid is mostly for people who are from lower-income backgrounds AND receive very little or no merit aid. That being said, I cannot speak for other schools.

[coffeecups93]

Thank you, I really appreciate the help!

[Lexaholik]

-School: Ivy undergrad (humanities/law-related, unique thesis), applying this fall (technically, I'll be one year out of UG when I attend)
-GPA: explaining that I originally had documented depression/anxiety with extreme upward GPA trend at the end of my undergrad (deans were supportive at my undergrad)
-URM status: Non-URM hispanic, 1st generation, plan to write diversity statement
-Softs: very hands-on investigations work all through undergrad, legal-related internships that were not just filing-related; will be accepting a full-time job as a legal investigator for the year between UG and law school; annual organizer for LGBTQ+ high school dances in conservative county; department leader during UG (I don't necessarily believe my softs are amazing - I'm just stating them, not overselling)
Recs: I know I can't necessarily submit 3 to every school, but I'll have one from my employer of 4 years from investigations, and two from professors

Given the splitter-friendly nature of UVA, I was wondering if I had a decent chance of making this work? Advice? Other options are going to be ED Georgetown, UPenn, Cornell, Vandy, WUSTL, my state school, NU, general bottom half of t14 and some of top 30.

You're a strong enough candidate that you probably don't need to apply ED to get into the T14. Just make sure you put together a strong application and apply widely--I'm talking 20+ schools. Hell I'd even throw in the top half of the T14. Even if you'll probably get rejected you really never know. Once you get acceptances you can choose, and leverage/negotiate for scholarships.

[TFALAWL]

Disclosure: I applied to UVA ED w/ a 167/4.05 and am currently graduating, yet regret the decision everyday (separate discussion).

With your stats, there is a VERY strong likelihood that one of the 8 bottom T-14 will accept you. There is a MODERATE likelihood that one may offer a little bit of money. There is a SMALL likelihood that one will offer a lot of money.

By contrast, if you ED UVA, there is a HIGH likelihood you get in, but an almost CERTAIN chance that you get $0 money.

In light of this, applying regular decision is the more rational choice.

[Lexaholik]

Disclosure: I applied to UVA ED w/ a 167/4.05 and am currently graduating, yet regret the decision everyday (separate discussion).

With your stats, there is a VERY strong likelihood that one of the 8 bottom T-14 will accept you. There is a MODERATE likelihood that one may offer a little bit of money. There is a SMALL likelihood that one will offer a lot of money.

By contrast, if you ED UVA, there is a HIGH likelihood you get in, but an almost CERTAIN chance that you get $0 money.

In light of this, applying regular decision is the more rational choice.

Sorry to derail the thread but why the regret?

[Generally]

Considering people with much better numbers than you with competing scholarships from peers schools got $0 from UVA this cycle, I wouldn't apply ED unless you are ok with sticker, and you shouldn't be ok with sticker at UVA unless you have $200,000 in the bank, and if you do, I can think of better ways to spend it. You have a chance of some money from T14s for sure. Apply broadly and keep your options open. For the record, I was seriously considering ED to UVA way back when, and I am so glad I didn't.

[coffeecups93]

All right, I'll do that then. The 200k + loans are very scary to me and I can see myself doing BigLaw, but you never really know if that opportunity will even be given to me. I guess I was just very scared of the 3.2 and the fact that I was on extended academic warnings because it took me a bit to get to a good place academically.

I'll apply to the bottom half of the T14, Vandy, WUSTL, GW, Emory, and my state flagships. I probably will also ED to NU because I really have nothing to lose and it would be a top-notch deal (despite the fact that I probably won't get it).

I really do appreciate the help.

[lsatrecycles]

You've still got June/Oct/Dec test dates if you think you could score even higher than 170. Have you used up all your tries? I think RD to UVA makes a lot more sense here, regardless. From all I know, you shouldn't settle for less than at least some money at a T14.

[James.K.Polk]

3.1/171 here, which I assume is roughly equivalent. See my profile for LSN profile, etc. I'd strongly urge against ED at Virginia.

[coffeecups93]

3.1/171 here, which I assume is roughly equivalent. See my profile for LSN profile, etc. I'd strongly urge against ED at Virginia.

Wow, thanks for that. It's wonderful to see that you got such nice results.

[TFALAWL]

Disclosure: I applied to UVA ED w/ a 167/4.05 and am currently graduating, yet regret the decision everyday (separate discussion).

With your stats, there is a VERY strong likelihood that one of the 8 bottom T-14 will accept you. There is a MODERATE likelihood that one may offer a little bit of money. There is a SMALL likelihood that one will offer a lot of money.

By contrast, if you ED UVA, there is a HIGH likelihood you get in, but an almost CERTAIN chance that you get $0 money.

In light of this, applying regular decision is the more rational choice.

Sorry to derail the thread but why the regret?

Mostly, a bunch of "what ifs" (e.g. what if I retook LSAT and got HYS or CCN $$$) -- then again I was a reverse splitter, the admissions game was on my racquet so to speak and I kind of blew my 4.05 with a relatively poor LSAT.