I graduated from UCSB with a 3.4 and got a 156 on my LSAT. I graduated a four year program in three years (if that means anything), went on to work for a big four accounting firm, and got my cpa, etc......decent softs i suppose

what do you guys think my chances are at SCU, LMU, USF, USD?

Thanks,

http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com
http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com



You're numbers on on the fringes for LMU. The CPA may help though.

anyone else?

I think you stand a good chance at USF. Not too sure about the others though. I also went to UCSB and graduated in three years. I also double-majored. Any idea if graduating early will help us in admissions?

^^^...from what I've heard, graduating early does NOT help in the admissions process. I would go so far as to say that some schools may look down on it.

Just curious, but why would schools look down on it?

well this is just what I've heard from other people that have applied who are three yr graduates based on their experience and talking with adcomms. If you don't have super stellar grades, the student could be looked at as having a lack of interest in the academic sector of their life. They usually only prefer people straight out of undergrad if they have stellar grades (even 4 yr graduates) and so a three yr graduate has, theoretically, even less life experience compared to the 26 yr old average student in law school. It makes sense a little...because it's hard to make the case that someone who graduates a year earlier with less than superb grades is any better off than someone who took the extra year to take care of the academic duties. I mean, I'm not a 100% on this, but this is just info ive heard from previous appliers and just trying to add a little perspective to OP.

SCU - waitlist/in
USD - out
LMU - waitlist/out
USF - in

I applied last year to SCU, LMU, and USF with a similar gpa and a 160. Got into USF and SCU and waitlisted at LMU. Your accounting experience/cpa should give you a boost, but the I don't think the graduating early aspect will do much for you. Just my opinion!

Thanks for the input. My main reason for trying to graduate early was financial, which I noted in my application. My GPA is still pretty good despite graduating early and I tried to emphasize my academic success, graduating honors, etc. despite my financial difficulties. Hopefully adcomms will take this into consideration

be a CPA

haha i know a lot of people tell me to "bite the bullet" and practice as a CPA. I understand with my numbers i wont get into any great school and will most likely come out with huge debt but going to law school has always been a dream of mine.....more of a nightmare these days!

Im thinking about writting an addendum about the 156 and my issues with standardized testing. In high school i got a 1000 on my SATs (when they were out of 1600), was ready to go to UCR, but luckily got into UCSB. I started to focus on school got a good gpa, made the deans list, got an accounting internship at kpmg, went on to work full time and passed the cpa exams, etc...

Do you think it is in my interest to write an addendum?

I think your application could benefit from a carefully written addendum. Just try not to make it seem as though you are making up excuses for your LSAT. I would just try to emphasize that your ability to succeed in law school is better exemplified by your gpa and other softs.