I've got two questions I'd like people's thoughts on:

1) I retook the LSAT in December because my Sept score was way below my PT average (and it was a good call, 7 point increase). I submitted apps in late Oct and early Nov, and I'm wondering about how this will change my turnaround time for a response. Anyone had experience with this? Some schools seem to indicate that they read your app, comment on everything and then hold for the score (which should make it faster).

2) Has anyone had experience with an undergrad with little to no grade inflation and how they adjust for it? I have a 3.65 LSDAS GPA and that puts me in the top 6% of applicants from an undergrad with a 160 average LSAT. I'm sure not all law schools adjust the same, but are there some that have a reputation for doing a better job of it?

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Where is your understanding coming from?

1) Many schools don't give a thorough reading of an app until they're sure they want to consider it. They may briefly look at everything, but if your LSAT was below median before, they probably put it aside to wait until they get your new score, figuring they'll read it more thoroughly if your new score justifies them doing so.

2) Schools care about LSDAS GPA because it's what gets reported to USNWR. A school might consider it a "soft" that you went to a school with a particularly harsh grading curve, but realistically you're stuck with the GPA that you have, because that's what the schools care about and what affects the schools in the rankings.

The good news is that for schools in your LSAT range, your GPA is already above median at many of them, and that will help you.

How do you know my LSAT (171 btw). I'd be a mild splitter at most schools in my LSAT range I think.

I'm aware of the impact of US News. OTOH I've seen a lot of admissions people SAY at least that they try to adjust for it (talked to the UVA guy actually).

Oh, you mentioned a 160 LSAT in your first post, so I figured that was your LSAT score.

In that case, yeah, you're in mild splitter territory... the good news is that your LSAT is above median at schools like UVA (170 median) so it'll help make up for your GPA being below-median... in that case, they may look at an adjustment, but I'd still call that a "soft factor", which schools may or may not choose to do.

What schools care about most is LSAT and LSDAS GPA. Since you have a high enough LSAT to warrant consideration they may look more closely, it'll just vary depending on the school and how it operates.

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating. It's so hard to get a handle on how schools will look at me. I've got solid but not spectacular numbers (unless you adjust my GPA), and what I think of as killer "softs" (advanced degrees from a top program and a 4.0 GPA in grad school).

Those are actually pretty good softs.

If you've applied to all of MVP I would expect one of them to take you. Sadly I can't really predict which one it will be. I know it's frustrating, but with your numbers and those softs you should be able to find someone who'll take you.

Yeah, we will see. I haven't applied to Penn, but I've hit up most of the "T14" and a number of other places. I'm also applying to HYS, because hey you never know. I will probably send apps into Penn, NYU and WUSTL in the next few days.

Definitely apply to all those! WUSTL will make a good safety and probably offer you $$$. If you want to work East Coast, you should also consider applying to BC or BU, they are solid schools and will likely offer you $$$ also if they accept you. However, with your numbers you should be in somewhere in the T14. Good luck.