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New to this forum. 172 LSAT 3.97 GPA, one year work experience as an investment analyst in Venture Capital

Is it worth retaking for HYS/$$$? PT averaging around ~174

It’s worth retaking if you scored below your PT average.

The above is correct. If you think the 172 is truly below what you can get *based on consistent scores in your during practice tests* then yes: both for short-term financial reasons and long-term maximum career flexibility+optionality, go for HYS. (You'll probably hear from a dedicated few here who insist that the career prospects are "essentially" or "effectively" the same for schools like HLS on one hand and schools like CLS/Columbia/Chicago on the other, but that's false when you're cutting as finely as you can afford to, given your stats.)

Splurgles23 wrote:The above is correct. If you think the 172 is truly below what you can get *based on consistent scores in your during practice tests* then yes: both for short-term financial reasons and long-term maximum career flexibility+optionality, go for HYS. (You'll probably hear from a dedicated few here who insist that the career prospects are "essentially" or "effectively" the same for schools like HLS on one hand and schools like CLS/Columbia/Chicago on the other, but that's false when you're cutting as finely as you can afford to, given your stats.)

This is helpful. My biggest concern is underperforming on the second go and doing the same or worse than the 172, which I am fairly certain would decrease my chances for either outcome. I know +/-3 is a very typical range for PT-->test day scores. I may wait it out, apply early next cycle, and re-evaluate from there. Only 1 year out of undergrad and I don't particularly feel time pressure.

Splurgles23 wrote:The above is correct. If you think the 172 is truly below what you can get *based on consistent scores in your during practice tests* then yes: both for short-term financial reasons and long-term maximum career flexibility+optionality, go for HYS. (You'll probably hear from a dedicated few here who insist that the career prospects are "essentially" or "effectively" the same for schools like HLS on one hand and schools like CLS/Columbia/Chicago on the other, but that's false when you're cutting as finely as you can afford to, given your stats.)

OP's admissions odds at Y/S will turn on their softs (or lack thereof). It sounds like OP's worked a single year in VC out of college. Maybe there's some really impressive extracurricular OP isn't mentioning, but otherwise OP isn't getting into Y/S even with a 180.

HLS vs. CCN will turn on how much $$$ OP gets at CCN vs. how much need-based aid OP gets at HLS, as well as OP's post-law school goals. And with a 3.97/172 (or even higher LSAT), OP's looking at $$$ at CCN. Obviously sticker HLS > sticker CCN, but that's not the choice OP will be facing.

Stanford and Yale are not magical places that only take special people. They're more holistic than Harvard, but by degree, not kind. OP with an LSAT above the YHS median with their GPA can get in anywhere.

Also OP, don't get too set on HYS. A big scholarship at CCN will set you up about as well as at HYS, but with way less debt.

Splurgles23 wrote:(You'll probably hear from a dedicated few here who insist that the career prospects are "essentially" or "effectively" the same for schools like HLS on one hand and schools like CLS/Columbia/Chicago on the other, but that's false when you're cutting as finely as you can afford to, given your stats.)

Oh, dear. First, no one ever says to take CCN over HLS at equal price. Second, no one is ever making that choice. And yes, the career prospects are effectively the same.

OP: As mentioned later in the thread, you're likely to get very competitive scholarship offers from CCN (even more so if you can break 173). Unless you get full need-based aid at HYS, make sure you don't let the imagined prestige-boost sucker you into foregoing a six-figure discount on law school.

cavalier1138 wrote:

Splurgles23 wrote:(You'll probably hear from a dedicated few here who insist that the career prospects are "essentially" or "effectively" the same for schools like HLS on one hand and schools like CLS/Columbia/Chicago on the other, but that's false when you're cutting as finely as you can afford to, given your stats.)

Oh, dear. First, no one ever says to take CCN over HLS at equal price. Second, no one is ever making that choice. And yes, the career prospects are effectively the same.

OP: As mentioned later in the thread, you're likely to get very competitive scholarship offers from CCN (even more so if you can break 173). Unless you get full need-based aid at HYS, make sure you don't let the imagined prestige-boost sucker you into foregoing a six-figure discount on law school.

Agree with your post, but just wanted to point out that the bolded is not necessarily true. People who barely squeak into Harvard may not get major scholarships to CCN (or even named scholarships lower down) and get full need aid at Harvard. But this makes for an easy decision that doesn't result in a choosing thread on a forum.

Wubbles wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:Oh, dear. First, no one ever says to take CCN over HLS at equal price. Second, no one is ever making that choice. And yes, the career prospects are effectively the same.

OP: As mentioned later in the thread, you're likely to get very competitive scholarship offers from CCN (even more so if you can break 173). Unless you get full need-based aid at HYS, make sure you don't let the imagined prestige-boost sucker you into foregoing a six-figure discount on law school.

Agree with your post, but just wanted to point out that the bolded is not necessarily true. People who barely squeak into Harvard may not get major scholarships to CCN (or even named scholarships lower down) and get full need aid at Harvard. But this makes for an easy decision that doesn't result in a choosing thread on a forum.

Agree 100% with cav as well as Wub's clarification/caveat. Not every Harvard admit gets a full or half ride at CCN - notably splitters. (And, obviously, no 0Ls ever make threads agonizing over whether to choose HLS or CCN at equal price.) But, cav is right that OP, with a 3.97/172, isn't going to be facing a CCN vs. HLS at equal price choice.

Obviously I don't expect anything as a certainty in the t6, but is $$$ at CCN/acceptance at HLS even a real possibility with median/below median LSAT? Or are some of these responses contingent on a 173+ retake, which hinges on my decision to study/take again (far from certain) AND actually exceeding the 172.

tj1997 wrote:Obviously I don't expect anything as a certainty in the t6, but is $$$ at CCN/acceptance at HLS even a real possibility with median/below median LSAT? Or are some of these responses contingent on a 173+ retake, which hinges on my decision to study/take again (far from certain) AND actually exceeding the 172.

Let's look at some actual data. I went off of Columbia's 509; I picked 172-173 because Columbia's LSAT 50th is 172 (thus including 171 LSATs would throw off our analysis) and 75th is 174 (thus including 174 LSATs would also throw off our analysis), and a GPA range of 3.84+ because Columbia's GPA 75th is 3.84.