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I was not planning applying until next fall, but I have changed my mind. Assuming I can get all of my materials together by Mid-December, what are t14 chances with those numbers if I apply at this point in the process? Am I significantly hurting myself at Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, Duke, VA, Cornell, and GT by applying now rather than earlier? Thanks for any help you can give!

Apply this year, you'll be fine. The whole "apply early" thing is overdone on this board.

You'll be in at several T14s, with a good chance at $$$.

If those are the schools you want then it should be fine.

Why aren't you applying to CCN as well? You should get into at least one, if not all 3 of them.

im_blue wrote:Why aren't you applying to CCN as well? You should get into at least one, if not all 3 of them.

Or Stanford? Your odds aren't great, but they're good enough to apply.

With regards to CCN or Stanford, I worry a bit about my softs. They are decent, but won't blow anyone away. Also, I graduated this past May, and so I haven't left a lot of time for extraordinarily meaningful work experience. I am currently working as a Legislative Assistant in the state legislature and will have a full year there by time I enroll, but that seems pretty weak for Northwestern, especially.

acardsfan1 wrote:With regards to CCN or Stanford, I worry a bit about my softs. They are decent, but won't blow anyone away. Also, I graduated this past May, and so I haven't left a lot of time for extraordinarily meaningful work experience. I am currently working as a Legislative Assistant in the state legislature and will have a full year there by time I enroll, but that seems pretty weak for Northwestern, especially.

There's no harm in applying though. You've got excellent chances at NYU and Chicago specifically.

acardsfan1 wrote:With regards to CCN or Stanford, I worry a bit about my softs. They are decent, but won't blow anyone away. Also, I graduated this past May, and so I haven't left a lot of time for extraordinarily meaningful work experience. I am currently working as a Legislative Assistant in the state legislature and will have a full year there by time I enroll, but that seems pretty weak for Northwestern, especially.

You've still got good chances at Chicago and especially NYU.

Got into Chicago with your numbers and unimpressive softs. Got WLed by Columbia, NYU and Harvard. Definitely apply everywhere!

I really appreciate all of the help so far. No one thinks applying somewhat late (probably a little before Christmas) is going to be a problem?

acardsfan1 wrote:I really appreciate all of the help so far. No one thinks applying somewhat late (probably a little before Christmas) is going to be a problem?

It won't be a problem. It's not early anymore, but it's not late either. Late would be submitting after the holidays and going complete in late January or February.

you think working with state legislature is a WEAK soft? what the hell is a strong soft, then?

what Undergrad/major

LSP says "Consider" for Harvard and Yale, "Admit" for Stanford, "Strong Consider" for Columbia and NYU, and "Admit" everywhere else. Shoot for the moon.

johndhi wrote:you think working with state legislature is a WEAK soft? what the hell is a strong soft, then?

I sincerely hope the admission committees feel the same way!

randyn, I went to Butler University (small, liberal arts college in Indianapolis) with a major in English literature and minor in Spanish.

Apply to all T-14 - including HYS.

Apply to all T14s. I think you'll be accepted to at least 9 of them (but Yale is a big bee eye teesee aiche). You're going to a fine Ivy, my friend.

in everywhere except Y and possibly HS

Just make sure you apply before the huge rush after Dec. LSAT scores are released. You'll do fine.

cpunch wrote:in everywhere except Y and possibly HS

And probably Columbia.

Thank you everyone for all of the advice/opinions. I have everything ready and am just waiting on LORs to be returned before I apply. Is it still a better idea to fax LORs to LSAC?

acardsfan1 wrote:Thank you everyone for all of the advice/opinions. I have everything ready and am just waiting on LORs to be returned before I apply. Is it still a better idea to fax LORs to LSAC?

Yes, faxing LORs should take a day or two, while mailed LORs can take longer to process.

Hmm.... I got into CLS, HLS and SLS with basically the exact same stats (retook a 169 to get a 171, so if 171 is your only lsat then you're better off than me) and no work experience. I applied before the economy tanked (I'm in my second year of a TFA deferral) and applied as soon as apps became open though, but I can vouch that you're right on the edge of getting in at top-6 schools. If you had applied earlier on you may have already gotten your JR2, but that's just speculation =p Basically, do not sell yourself short!

Tanicius wrote:

acardsfan1 wrote:With regards to CCN or Stanford, I worry a bit about my softs. They are decent, but won't blow anyone away. Also, I graduated this past May, and so I haven't left a lot of time for extraordinarily meaningful work experience. I am currently working as a Legislative Assistant in the state legislature and will have a full year there by time I enroll, but that seems pretty weak for Northwestern, especially.

There's no harm in applying though. You've got excellent chances at NYU and Chicago specifically.

Just curious, why do you say NYU and Chicago? Are they particularly numbers driven?

im_blue wrote:

acardsfan1 wrote:Thank you everyone for all of the advice/opinions. I have everything ready and am just waiting on LORs to be returned before I apply. Is it still a better idea to fax LORs to LSAC?

Yes, faxing LORs should take a day or two, while mailed LORs can take longer to process.

I talked to the LSAC people, and they said while faxing cuts down on mailing time, they still have heaps of faxes to go through and processing time may ultimately be the same.

So up to your discretion.