Top Law Schools

Yes, I know take it and get back, but since I am taking the LSATs in October I want to have written up basically all of my application materials and basically hit send when I get my score Nov 1, so I really want to have at least 90% of my app list done

Info-
3.5 GPA-High Honors from McGill in Canada (Honors program, research intensive, Psych degree, two theses, first year GPA below 3, but I was mandated to take Calc 1/2, Physics 1/2, Bio, and I took Chem 1 (BUT it was not credited because the stupid red tape at my school help up my AP credit, so when it showed up the credit was out), took Orgo 1/2 for no real reason, minor Linguistics)
1 year teaching English in China
~8 months as a Research Assistant in Vancouver at SFU in an Experimental Linguistics EEG lab
Short (3 week part time) internship at a law firm
Polyglot (4-6 languages, depending on how you rate fluency)

LSAT situation-PT cold 160 and 162, 50% wrong in games because I had no idea what I was doing, SHOULD hit 170/172+, doing a course with tons of hours and work, planning to do at least 4 more than the 4 PTs they administer, good test taker (1500+ SATs, 1390 GRE, 770 Psych GRE) so no chance I freeze or whatever

So let's say worst case LSAT=168

Now for apps, I want to stay East Coast (HATED the West coast except the Bay Area and Portland) and maybe Chicago, want to be in or very near a city, have public transport (I love driving, but hate it to commute, plus more time to read), 18 years from birth to university in the burbs will do that

My list-
Yale (no way in hell)
Columbia/NYU/UPenn (UPenn favored because of their Bioethics and Environmental studies dual masters, and the one year in UParis where you get French certification)
Northwestern/Georgetown (visit Chicago because I like DC and have family in Arlington)
GWU/BU/Fordham (choose based on city/money/etc)
Rutgers-Newark (instate)

Possibilities/not sure
Chicago (the work doesn't scare me, got a friend who lives in Hyde Park, but I'm not at all set on BigLaw or the business/Finance side of the field)
Harvard (the big size bothers me...I didn't mind them for Calc, but the law is different)
BC

What I want in the field
Dual degrees interest me, as does litigation. BigLaw not so much (but will I say no to 150k, I don't know), mid-tier or boutique firms seem interesting, as does possibly eventually opening up a small firm myself. Clerking and academia (possibly another LLM), comparative law all interest me.

Debt is not a factor, as my UG was cheap (relative to what my parents thought it would be when saving) so it is paid for, BUT all things being equal, I don't want to spend more money than needed (it's the Asian system, I am their retirement fund)

Any schools I should add or remove (assuming a 168+ LSAT)? Any suggestions on schools on or off the list with dual degree/overseas certification (French being my strongest second language that matter, German being one I could remaster, Chinese being weak but possibly learnable)? I know it is a "take the test" post but read my intro and understadn please.

Oh and since I am interested in dual degrees, should I give my GRE scores (will they help or hurt) and should I mention this in the Why X? Should I ED?

HLS and Yale are both pretty much out of the question with that GPA, and you'll probably need a 175+ for CCN.

vespertiliovir wrote:HLS and Yale are both pretty much out of the question with that GPA, and you'll probably need a 175+ for CCN.

Yea, I'm taking a shot for Yale (why not, put it up and frame it when I'm successful:)) and Columbia and NYU are my backyard and I love NY so I'll take a shot, not expecting much.

UPenn though, what LSAT would I need for a shot (I hear they are splitter unfriendly)? Also, should I just suck it up and apply to more 6-13's and hate where I live for the future? If so, where?

..

acrossthelake wrote:There's an entire sub-forum dedicated to chances...

Yea, I almost posted there, wasn't sure where this would fit as I'm also asking about app strategy and such...*shrug*

For UPenn, I would hazard a guess that a 173 or so (maybe higher -- I didn't actually check LSP or LSN, so I may be underestimating) would give you a solid shot.

As for other schools, it's hard to put together a realistic list without an LSAT score. Just focus on doing as well as you can, don't get ahead of yourself.

I pretty much had your exact numbers after taking the thing twice, scoring a 168 both times, and practicing in the high 170s before each attempt.

You will in all probability not cross the Cornell barrier. Odd thing is, you'll get a solid amount of money in the rest of the T20 though, which is nothing to be ashamed about.

To hit Michigan or Penn, you gotta hit above a 171. For anything above that, a 174 is the lowest you can go and with a 3.5, HYS is pretty silly to talk about as an option. Sure, throw an application over there if you'll regret not trying, but those really shouldn't be on your list when you're talking practicalities.

I'd really recommend looking at Texas and Vandy.

Hmmm...

Would I be able to work out East (not big law) with a degree from there?

If you want to clerk, then they are a good option. You're not going to get boutique or smaller firm work right out of law school anyways.

Your goals seem undefined, which is totally fine...which is why I'd advocate trying to focus on the best schools in your range that will give you some money and the best career options right out of school.