I need a reality check

[winter19]

Hi powerscore,

I took my first LSAT in Novemeber and canceled my score. I am debating whether to take the January and apply this cycle or wait till next cycle.

I am aiming for a T5 school. Deadlines are Feb 15, which means I will be one of the last, if not the last people to submit my application. I know strategically my odds are better if I wait till next cycle, but that's another year of my life in law school admissions limbo.

My gpa was 3.76, which less than steller for those schools. But I have 9 years experience in finance and starting my own company. That, plus a good enough LSAT I think I can make up for my lower gpa. What would you do in my position? Wait till next cycle or take January and submit anyway in the 11th hour of this cycle?

Say I wait till next year and best case scenario: I do everything right, get a 178, apply early decision, etc. There's still no garuantee I will get it in. So isn't better to know that now rather than a year from now?

On the other hand I don't want to rob myself of a better shot because I was too impatient to wait a year.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Winter,

Your situation brings to mind that meme, "Why not both?" What is the harm in applying this cycle and seeing what happens? And if you don't like the outcome, apply again next year as well. There's no school that is insulted by a second application--it shows interest and commitment, and usually it is considered a small plus.

I can't recall who it was that said it (I believe it was a former Harvard Dean), but they said they loved to see reapps because they knew they were interested and they wanted to see how they evolved from the prior year.

So, I don't think this needs to be a pick your poison scenario. You can do both if needed and suffer no harm (aside from app fees).

Thanks!