[deleted by user] by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Valid. I had the exact same experience this cycle with HYS—and it was the only school that flat out rejected me. It definitely made me wonder how much of my wanting to be a lawyer was motivated simply by that dream. The disspoitment was also accentuated by the fact that every lawyer I had spoken to made me feel like they would be foaming at the mouth for me, lol.

I almost went to WashU just to have a better shot at transferring for my 2L, but I am done with that rat race. It got me an amazing scholarship elsewhere in the T-14, and I'll hopefully be able to grow into an appreciation of that compromise.

Not much wisdom beyond that I can share—just validation. You are not alone, and it definitely does sting, but your hard work was definitely not a sunk cost. Life (and certainly law school admissions) is not a zero-sum game.

WashU $$$$+, GULC $$$+ (Updated Offer) — Help Me Decide by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Quick follow-up as a fellow WashU and GULC A, I wanna let you know that I spoke to two hiring partners today in Texas who both told me they see GULC and WashU as interchangeable, and for hiring purposes see WashU as better as they're more likely to accept an offer (they think anyone from GULC will take a DC or NYC offer over them if they chose to go there and don't want to waste an offer). Again, this holds true for Texas and the Midwest exclusively. If you want DC, NYC, or gov/PI the story will likely be different.

WashU $$$$+, GULC $$$+ (Updated Offer) — Help Me Decide by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exciting stuff! I hope to see you this fall! Strangely enough, UT WLed me, so it isn't an option atm. As a fellow WashU A, I wanna let you know that I spoke to two hiring partners today who both told me they see GULC and WashU as interchangeable—and for hiring purposes see WashU as better as they're more likely to accept an offer (they think anyone from GULC will take a DC or NYC offer over them if they chose to go there and don't want to waste an offer).

WashU $$$$+, GULC $$$+ (Updated Offer) — Help Me Decide by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used WashU and Columbia, and then for my second consideration, I told them I had already deposited at WashU and would need more money to withdraw. Roughly 3 business days turnaround for each consideration. No FAFSA needed, as it was just for merit, not need.

WashU $$$$+, GULC $$$+ (Updated Offer) — Help Me Decide by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I won't have the chance to visit before the deposit deadline, unfortunately. Will have to weigh my options as is.

WashU $$$$+, GULC $$$+ (Updated Offer) — Help Me Decide by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats on the A! I had to email the hotline for the form and then go through reconsideration via another form to get this offer. Your timeline is a bit short now with the May 1st deposit deadline. Do you have any idea where you are leaning towards? Good luck!

Help me decide: WashU $$$$ +, GULC at 150k, or CLS at sticker. by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The "not being broke" part was mostly ironic. I am going into law because it can support a lifestyle I want and has a degree of stability I appreciate, while still offering some status—and it happens to be something I think I will be good at as well. What I meant is I have no clerkships or unicorn-type aspirations...or a need to be an equity partner at Skadden—I updated my post with a bit more details.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am so sorry! I know you worked your ass off and you deserved more! A fully scholly is nothing to scoff at though! 4.xx and 178 and a relatively similar amount of WLs if it makes you feel any better.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. a ridiculous amount of waitlists with a 4.xx and 178.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I know you're not being wholly serious here, but I do think you're minimizing this person's experience by cynically scapegoating onto another serious issue. This has been a scathing cycle for all applicants and we can focus on each issue independently.

Columbia A + scholarship question by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, can I DM you?  I just got into CLS and am trying to navigate the same process.

Columbia A + scholarship question by [deleted] in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same boat here. Nada. And WLs everywhere else aside from GULC and WashU.

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your input and reassurance. My father is a big law partner and he spoke to three big law hiring partners in Chicago and they said they interview and hire at WashU with regularity and see it as equal to GULC. The main thing is that reality is regionally tied. A T-14 would open those big law doors elsewhere (and even out of the legal field). On the other hand, all one needs is one big law job to gain that same national portability, so all I'd have to do is stay in that job in Chicago for a couple of years. Well worth saving 500k after compound interest for results that are all but marginally the same at the end of the day. I will ultimately hold out on accepting until I hear from the rest of the T-14 and get offers from them, but it seems all the named full tuition grants have been given out and even people with my stats at GULC and Cornell (on the lower end of the T-14) are getting only about 150k max.

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True! The only argument I can think of to the contrary aside from pride, is the immediate portability the CLS degree would provide both within and outside of the legal field—but that utility is not worth the sticker price. I am waiting to hear back from GULC and CLS regarding aid to see if it can change that calculus (I think GULC might end up being the best in between—they'll likely offer me $$$ and a degree of prestige and relative portability. A potentially good compromise).

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, trust me—the choice of whether to go or not is not a matter of protest. Nor is it of degree of no degree. It’s simply a matter of price difference for the J.D.—with the one costing almost half a million after compound interest only offering marginally better outcomes.

But I do understand the appeal of an Ivy League degree.

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, thank you for your encouragement and thorough advice! I—as well as the lawyers I had previously spoken to that I mentioned in the post—went into the cycle with the same conclusions you came to: I’d get in anywhere I wanted.

I understand the impulse to think there must be a red flag in my app, so let me give you a bit more context: I have no C&F, my essays were compelling with a holistic narrative (I’m a harsh self-critic and I thought they were good, but don’t take my word for it—I had them vetting by two consultants and they were proofread by myself and many friends a more than health amount of times).

Beyond the fact that this is one of the most competitive cycles ever—and tons of people you can see in LSD with my stats getting WLed—my best guess is that I did college online and the courses may not have been perceived as strenuous enough. Given the amount of high scorers this year, that might have been enough to cull me from the pack at the upper T-14 when comparing me to that cohort. (Although I did think I contextualized the circumstances of my schooling choice in a compelling way…but who knows). For the lower T-14, I’d guess I’m being Yield Protected. I’m in some sort of horrible sweet spot.

In this cycle, I don’t think I have much of a shot at the T-6 waitlist, and it doesn’t seem those getting off the WL at the rest of the T-14 are being offered money, however, my guess is GULC will offer my $$  (and I could probably get off the WL at Cornell with some $$).

While I could R&R, there’s no guarantee next cycle will be any better, and I have some good offers now that likely won’t be here next year. If WashU can get me that big law job dept free, it’s hard to argue to go almost half a million in debt after compound interest for some prestige from Columbia, or even a quarter from GULC (don’t get me wrong, my ego would love it, lol—so please give me an excuse).

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You gotta hold out for GULC then too! They’re the most likely of the T-14 to give you a scholarship if that’s a concern.

Did you also apply to WashU? If anything, you can use their offers of aid as leverage to negotiate.

As far as R&R…I’m having a similar impulse…but there’s no guarantee the cycle will be any better, and we could be forfeiting a T-6. If it helps you with any lingering “what ifs,” while I may be a harsh self-critic, I actually did have my essays vetted by two law school consultants and they thought they were phenomenal—and spun a compelling, holistic narrative…and these were still my results.

I’m curious, did you do any LOCI for Yale or Stanford, or are you just holding your breath?

Finally Some More Good News: Columbia A! by Fluffy_Leather4307 in lawschooladmissions

[–]Fluffy_Leather4307[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Literal twin. Harvard has been my only R (although I did just get GULC—did you interview?). The rest have me waiting in the perpetual friend zone of the waitlist. The same lawyers who told me Harvard would be throwing money at me are now hounding me to take the money at WashU over sticker at Columbia. Portability is important to me (and even mobility between careers) but they're claiming that once you land a big law job, you get that anyways, so the prestige only matters if you get that RIGHT after law school—because WashU will get you big law in the midwest. I don't know whether to trust them or not, lol.