2 attempts is quite normal. I took the CLAT/AILET when there was an age limit bar, though and close to half of my tier-1 NLU batch had also attempted the exam twice. But nowadays, since the age cap was removed, I see people writing it 3-4 times thinking that NLS/Nalsar will drastically change their opportunities. This simply isn't true. While these colleges are relatively better in some ways due to them being the oldest NLUs, the opportunities at places like NLUJ, NLIU and GNLU are not any less. And I say this having had interactions with folks from these other colleges. If you're 20+ years, then it's not worth dropping another year just for CLAT to get NLS.

You should join a college, will already be 25 year old A0 when you graduate, that too if you join now. If you take another drop, the age will be 26. I get that you are no taking a complete drop, but paying a fee for the 1st sem/year and then repeating is a waste of money too. Plus, going abroad for a LLM later in life would be something where you then start taking age into account. Stick to a college.

Its a bit sad that people just give up years for the prestige of Nalsar and NLS B, whereas working hard at any decent college will still land them at a really good place.

After a long time , I see genuine people giving advice (good or bad) to juniors healthily amidst threads of ‘hookup culture’ and lawyers marrying ‘rich clients’.

Coming to this particular thread in hand and especially this comment , lemme give you some pointers which will make you realise your decisions(this is coming from a person who himself took it 4 times and upgraded from a Tier-2 to Top 3 in his last attempt) :-

1. There was a reason why the ‘age limit bar’ was removed. It was 20 years if I am not wrong. The consortium itself found aspirants ranging 21 increasing in the competition and they did deserve a shot- that’s why the age limit cap was waived off anyway.This was also done keeping in mind the other exams of JEE and NEET. Coming to OP , going by his recent comments , he is 19. By the time he enters NLSIU or NALSAR (if he does end up having a great score in Clat 24) he will be 20. So you should retake the exam (only if you are dead sure of ur efforts).

2. You have to understand that people who comfortably fall within the age gap of (19-20) , the majority of them only give it 3-4 times. So your logic of “20+ years” fails because the OP is 19 years. This means that they graduated from high school around the age of 17. There was even an interview where I saw a hardworking boy from Trivandrum making his way to NLSIU from NUALS in his 3rd or 4th attempt I guess (if someone knows about it , then chime in)

3. OP with diligent research on LinkedIn you will find that giving the exam around 19-20 is not uncommon , many people have done it , you won’t be an exception.

4. Now coming to the part where I feel it doesn’t make sense . You are in GNLU or Jindal this year. Majority of aspirants whom I have seen (including me) giving the 4th attempt (regardless of their age) were in Tier-3 or some C-Grade local college who don’t even have the resources for a proper legal education. Going by your thread you have covered literally SLS-P , then Tier -3 (I don’t know who gave you this genius of an advice) and now JGLS or GNLU. What else u need to prove ? I mean don’t get me wrong , but you have done remarkably well and your CV looks good with you being in these colleges . Do you really want to drop another year for NLSIU ? ( Even if you are still 20 when you join law school , there won’t be vast difference as JGLS/GNLU are not that behind Top 3). Think about it , patience brings perspectives. My close frnd (who was more or less in a similar dilemma like u and me) talked with a professor about this , his words were exactly these , “You know you have to work hard in either of these colleges , might as well do it from here.”

5. Last but not the least , if you do end up giving clat , aim for the top 50 ranks . Challenge yourself. Make sure you can grab the ABS scholarship(GNLU although covers it) in which you can add some value to ur attempt. You are in the average batch age-range and still will be when you join NLS/NALSAR , but take a clarified approach.