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My Journey Through Life

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:30 pm
by seanpatin
Well, I guess we'll start with some of my law school figures and parts of my application. I plan on this kind of being a diary/journal of my school/work experiences as they go on, as well as where/when/what I am doing in preparation for law school. I just finished up my freshman year, so still quite a ways to go, but as some other people have noted about themselves, I like to plan and think ahead (a lot)!

Current Stats (as of 06/16/2007):

School: University of Iowa
Current Year: Sophomore
Degree: B.S. Economics
GPA: 2.77
LSAT: ---
GMAT: ---
Race: White

Extra-Curriculars:
1. Member, phi alpha delta law fraternity
2. All-Conference HS Baseball

Work Experience:
1. Office Assistant - Iowa City Law Firm

Miscellaneous:
2 Simple Misdemeanor Violations (Possession of Alcohol and Fake ID)


My GPA is low, but since my first semester GPA was a 2.43, I should have a pretty good trend by graduation. I spent most of the past year not really caring, it wasn't until about half-way through the spring semester that I put forth the effort that I should have. So, with my commitment to continuing that effort and improving my GPA for law school/business school (as I hope to pursue my J.D./M.B.A. after Undergrad), hopefully there will be a pretty large upward trend.

As for the LSAT, I am going to put a little bit of time into getting a general idea of the test over this summer. Since I have approximately 5 years or so (3 more years of Undergraduate and 2-3 years off for full-time work) until I take it for real, this should give me a lot of time to improve and hopeful break the 170-mark. I realize this is a pretty remarkable goal to set, and possibly even beyond my ability, but until I take some practice tests and can even gauge the range that I score in, this will remain the minimum that I am shooting for.

My extra-curriculars are a little weak, but this fall I will likely join the UI Mock Trial team (which is nationally-ranked most years), and am looking to volunteer for WiderNet, which is a group working to bridge the technology gap between industrialized nations and some of the third-world countries in Africa. As for my membership in phi alpha delta, I am currently the Webmaster. I hadn't planned to run for Vice President or President until probably my Junior Year or so. Next year I may run for the Financial Management position.

My work experience has a few others that I omitted, as I likely will on my application. They are just "high school summer" jobs. Like being an electrician and an office assistant for a local dance studio. I am planning on applying for quite a few internships next summer. I really am hoping to land one with a Fortune 500 company, or possibly a Las Vegas casino.

Currently, these are my rankings for graduate schools:
1. Harvard University
2. Stanford University
3. University of Pennsylvania
4. Columbia University
5. University of Chicago
6. University of Michigan
7. Northwestern University
8. University of California - Berkeley
9. Cornell University
10. Duke University
11. University of California - Los Angeles
12. University of Texas
13. Georgetown University
14. University of Southern California
15. Vanderbilt University
16. Emory University
17. Boston College
18. University of Minnesota
19. Washington University
20. Ohio State University
21. Boston University
22. University of Washington
23. University of Notre Dame
24. Tulane University

This list is very expansive, but I am hoping to be able to improve my GPA to about a 3.4 (since the highest I can attain with the courses I plan to take is approximately a 3.69). Also, with the time that I have, and no idea of my LSAT score, I included a lot of schools that I might not gain acceptance to, unless my LSAT score is exceptional, but until then, this remains my list of "dream" schools to receive a J.D./M.B.A. from.

Well, that pretty much wraps up the introductory stuff. Anyone can P.M. me if they have any questions or recommendations, or anything else I left out.

Closer Look at #1 and #2 (Harvard and Stanford)

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 4:52 pm
by seanpatin
I have started to compile information on some of the schools I am looking at. Most of the information came from U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and Internet Legal Research Group.

Here is my #1 choice:
Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.72-3.95
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 169-175
Academic Experience Rating: 93
Student/Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Overall Facility Rating: 99
Library Collection (total volumes): 2,224,088
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +21.3% (95.3%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $50,540
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 800
U.S. News Rank: 2 (tie)
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Average Work Experience (months): 54
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.19-3.93
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 670-770
Academic Experience Rating: 97
Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Overall Facility Rating: 92
Average Starting Salary: $125,520
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 425
U.S. News Rank: 1

And #2:
Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.77-3.96
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 167-172
Academic Experience Rating: 99
Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Overall Facility Rating: 92
Library Collection (total volumes): 543,405
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +24.6% (86.6%) - CA
Average Starting Salary: Private - $135,000 Public - $52,495
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 750
U.S. News Rank: 2 (tie)
STANFORD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Average Work Experience (months): 48
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.15-3.89
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 640-760
Academic Experience Rating: 98
Student/Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Overall Facility Rating: 94
Average Starting Salary: $126,660
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 400
U.S. News Rank: 2


It should also be noted that although location is not listed, it was taken into consideration in ranking them as I have. If anyone has any questions about the data, or would simply like to give me some more accurate information on any stats that I have, go right ahead and P.M. me!

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:38 pm
by seanpatin
And now for Number 3-5...

#3
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
university of pennsylvania law school
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 98
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.47-3.84
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 167-171
Academic Experience Rating: 95
Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Overall Facility Rating: 89
Library Collection (total volumes): 839,545
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +21.5% (95.5%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $49,775
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 400
U.S. News Rank: 6 (tie)
WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Average Work Experience (months): 72
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.19-3.86
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 670-760
Academic Experience Rating: 99
Student/Faculty Ratio: 5:1
Overall Facility Rating: 96
Average Starting Salary: $122,710
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 425
U.S. News Rank: 3

#4
Columbia University (New York, NY)
COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 97
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.51-3.82
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 169-174
Academic Experience Rating: 88
Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Overall Facility Rating: 95
Library Collection (total volumes): 1,111,775
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +16.6% (90.6%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $54,000
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 750
U.S. News Rank: 5
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 99
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 2.96-3.80
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 660-750
Academic Experience Rating: 91
Student/Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Overall Facility Rating: 90
Average Starting Salary: $119,280
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 350
U.S. News Rank: 9

#5
University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 97
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.51-3.77
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 169-172
Academic Experience Rating: 99
Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Overall Facility Rating: 84
Library Collection (total volumes): 656,531
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +10.6% (95.6%) - IL
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $52,000
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 350
U.S. News Rank: 6 (tie)
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 94
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.03-3.82
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 640-760
Academic Experience Rating: 82
Student/Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Overall Facility Rating: 88
Average Starting Salary: $115,500
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 275
U.S. News Rank: 5 (tie)

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:41 am
by seanpatin
Now, we have Schools 6-8....

#6
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 95
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.53-3.80
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 166-170
Academic Experience Rating: 96
Student/Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Overall Facility Rating: 97
Library Collection (total volumes): 960,387
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +22.5% (96.5%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $52,470
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 760
U.S. News Rank: 8 (tie)
ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 96
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 2.78-3.80
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 640-740
Academic Experience Rating: 96
Student/Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Overall Facility Rating: 95
Average Starting Salary: $110,835
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 250
U.S. News Rank: 11

#7
Northwestern University (Chicago, IL)
NORTHWESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 97
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.40-3.80
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 166-172
Academic Experience Rating: 95
Student/Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Overall Facility Rating: 95
Library Collection (total volumes): 747,808
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +9.9% (94.9%) - IL
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $37,850
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 770
U.S. News Rank: 12
KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 98
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.15-3.83
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 640-760
Academic Experience Rating: 98
Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Overall Facility Rating: 93
Average Starting Salary: $114,460
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 330
U.S. News Rank: 5 (tie)

#8
University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
BOALT HALL SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 98
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.65-3.89
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 163-169
Academic Experience Rating: 94
Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Overall Facility Rating: 81
Library Collection (total volumes): 863,568
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +25.0% (87.0%) - CA
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $45,000
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 450
U.S. News Rank: 8 (tie)
HAAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 98
Average Work Experience (months): 67
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.16-3.84
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 660-750
Academic Experience Rating: 97
Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Overall Facility Rating: 84
Average Starting Salary: $113,665
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 325
U.S. News Rank: 8

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:23 am
by seanpatin
And Rounding out the Top 10...

#9
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
CORNELL LAW SCHOOL
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 93
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.50-3.80
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 166-168
Academic Experience Rating: 83
Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Overall Facility Rating: 96
Library Collection (total volumes): 721,439
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +20.3% (94.3%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $51,700
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 325
U.S. News Rank: 13
JOHNSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 94
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 2.72-3.90
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 580-740
Academic Experience Rating: 97
Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Overall Facility Rating: 92
Average Starting Salary: $112,155
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 180
U.S. News Rank: 14 (tie)

#10
Duke University (Durham, NC)
DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 94
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.66-3.85
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 165-169
Academic Experience Rating: 88
Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Overall Facility Rating: 91
Library Collection (total volumes): 634,267
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +20.0% (94.0%) - NY
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $47,000
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 370
U.S. News Rank: 10 (tie)
FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 92
Average Work Experience (months): 70
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 2.93-3.81
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 650-750
Academic Experience Rating: 76
Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Overall Facility Rating: 85
Average Starting Salary: $108,560
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 200
U.S. News Rank: 12 (tie)

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:53 pm
by seanpatin
#11
University of California – Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 94
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.44-3.80
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 162-169
Academic Experience Rating: 93
Student/Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Overall Facility Rating: 89
Library Collection (total volumes): 631,575
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +15.8% (87.8%) - CA
Average Starting Salary: Private - $125,000 Public - $55,035
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 450
U.S. News Rank: 15
ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 90
Average Work Experience (months): 54
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 3.12-3.88
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 640-750
Academic Experience Rating: 76
Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Overall Facility Rating: 83
Average Starting Salary: $102,860
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 160
U.S. News Rank: 16

#12
University of Texas (Austin, TX)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 96
Undergrad GPA Range (25%-75%): 3.33-3.78
LSAT Range (25%-75%): 162-168
Academic Experience Rating: 90
Student/Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Overall Facility Rating: 88
Library Collection (total volumes): 1,039,731
Pass Rate for Bar Exam: +9.6% (89.6%) - TX
Average Starting Salary: Private - $110,000 Public - $48,000
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 550
U.S. News Rank: 18
MCCOMBS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 95
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Undergrad GPA Range (10%-90%): 2.79-3.93
GMAT Range (10%-90%): 610-720
Academic Experience Rating: 93
Student/Faculty Ratio: 5:1
Overall Facility Rating: 90
Average Starting Salary: $101,450
Employers Recruiting on Campus: 400
U.S. News Rank: 18 (tie)