The Official BLSD "What Are My Chances?/Where Should I Apply?" Thread

[stunnerrunner]

do you think i have any chance at getting ok money offers from the bottom end of the t 14 and ucla type schools? that could affect where i end up.

also, it seems to me like its really difficult to gauge what kind of black students are ending up at the top schools. At columbia for instance there are only 33 in the first year class! thats so few its ridiculous. at the same time, its very, very difficult to find more than say 10 black students who have been admitted to columbia on this board and TLS. so the availability of data on the types of black students numbers wise getting into a school like columbia is super limited. im pretty much at a loss and just hoping for the best.

[A.]

Yeah you should get money from the bottom t14.

There have been plenty of black applicants who have been admitted to Columbia on this board over the years.  One current CLS student still posts from time to time.  You're almost guaranteed to get in there, if that's something you're worried about.

P.S. 33 black students in one class is a huge number.  There are that many black first years at CLS?  Interesting.  Then again, there were 18 in my class at YLS, and Columbia is twice as big, so I guess it's possible...esp. when you throw in the allure of NYC.  But I bet they have the second largest in the t14 after Harvard.  Or maybe NYU or GULC.

[captainkyoraku]

Hey if any of you guys have any knowledge about black transfer applicants (or find anything out) please let me know. You all seem pretty well connected with URMs at the top schools. I've been trying to find out how URM transfers tend to do (ie do they get a boost) but I can't find any concrete info. Some people say definitely, others say definitely not. Thanks!

[stunnerrunner]

thanks for the insight A. I'm wondering, you seem like something of a guru on this stuff, on this website at least. Are you making these predictions just based on information you've seen over and over on the internet, or have you worked in admissions, or...?

[Jamie Stringer]

With regard to black splitter applicants, I wonder if they're just as friendly. Columbia was my dream school and I had similar numbers to the OP with the question (thought slightly higher and fairly good soft factors) and was waitlisted. I mean, it ended up OK in the end because I'm at HLS, but I was ridiculously bummed and wondered if it was due to the GPA.

[A.]

thanks for the insight A. I'm wondering, you seem like something of a guru on this stuff, on this website at least. Are you making these predictions just based on information you've seen over and over on the internet, or have you worked in admissions, or...?

Information seen over and over, and I was heavily involved in minority recruiting in law school.

[A.]

With regard to black splitter applicants, I wonder if they're just as friendly. Columbia was my dream school and I had similar numbers to the OP with the question (thought slightly higher and fairly good soft factors) and was waitlisted. I mean, it ended up OK in the end because I'm at HLS, but I was ridiculously bummed and wondered if it was due to the GPA.

Yeah, you're Exhibit A in how difficult it is to predict a splitter.  HLS accepted you, but CLS waitlisted you...go figure.

[Warbucks]

2.76, 176, Black Male.

Hey all,

I don't have a chance at Yale or Stanford and pretty sure Harvard is out of the question as well but what about the other T14 schools?

I'd really like to go to Columbia but obviously would be open to NYU, Northwestern, Chicago, UPENN or Georgetown. Any advice you guys could offer would be great.

A little background: I attended a NESCAC school, am actively involved in a couple of non-profits and currently work for either the number one or number two law firm as a paralegal.

Thanks!

 Grin

[Kirk Lazarus]

2.76, 176, Black Male.

Hey all,

I don't have a chance at Yale or Stanford and pretty sure Harvard is out of the question as well but what about the other T14 schools?

I'd really like to go to Columbia but obviously would be open to NYU, Northwestern, Chicago, UPENN or Georgetown. Any advice you guys could offer would be great.

A little background: I attended a NESCAC school, am actively involved in a couple of non-profits and currently work for either the number one or number two law firm as a paralegal.

Thanks!

 Grin

Out at CLS. Look at Penn on down. Apply to all and see what happens.

[Warbucks]

Thanks guys. Also, is a 2.76 more excusable than it is if I told you guys I tried to take Japanese my freshmen year and received two Ds? That's honestly why my GPA isn't a 3.0.