Top Law Schools

I am an English major and I have a 3.9 gpa. While my grades are top notch, my practice LSATS fall in the 149 to 154 range--I am waiting on my october LSAT score. Clearly, I am awful at taking them. What kind of schools can I reasonably get into with those numbers? I would like to go to the best school I can get into, but I really have no idea where to even look with my situation. It seems like everyone else is the opposite.

Roughly everyone here is going to tell you to retake the LSAT. Study more and longer for the next one, because it can seriously pay off for you. You have a GPA that wouldn't limit you at all.

As for what schools you can get into with that range, as it is, try out lawschoolpredictor.com with your GPA and expected score and see what you get. It's a useful tool, if not necessarily the ultimate authority.

IMO, retake.

Retake.

People have jumped on the LSAT. It is difficult but first study as much as possible and try to find a way that works. Then take the LSAT at least 3 times before you even consider applying with a score in the 140's or 150's. Give yourself the best possible chance rather than selling yourself short. If you can't do better, then at least you have exhausted all options rather than given up early.

While my grades are top notch, my practice LSATS fall in the 149 to 154 range

As a general rule, never apply to law school until you have either scored in the 170s or taken the LSAT three times.

Don't just blindly practice by taking prep tests. Do drills- find out question types you are weak at and understand the specific difficulties you are having. If you are unable to get your scores up, think long and hard about whether law school is really the best choice.

Those are all good points, I never really did any true review for them other than the practice tests. I am basically going through this whole process on my own, so I am learning what to do as I go--probably not the best way.

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StillHerexxx wrote:Those are all good points, I never really did any true review for them other than the practice tests. I am basically going through this whole process on my own, so I am learning what to do as I go--probably not the best way.

It happened to me. I prepped horribly last year and made the awful decision of apply late last year. I withdrew my apps once I realized how I had fucked up and retook the LSAT and am now reapplying. It does suck having to do this over, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

edubs003 wrote:Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

Good is a relative term. Retake is the only correct response here.

edubs003 wrote:Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

Eh, no. Retake is really the only option. You must be overestimating the power of a high GPA.

Yeah, I won't know until I get my score in a few weeks, but I am not adverse to taking the test again in december or another time. Realistically, a year off from school could be useful. Also, my sole reason for getting into law is to work in the NFL, so for me, getting into a school like Miami would be amazing for networking and furthering my goal. Lets hope the first LSAT score gets me there.

Shawh wrote:

edubs003 wrote:Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

Eh, no. Retake is really the only option. You must be overestimating the power of a high GPA.

Not overestimating, but you guys are making it sound like it's the end of the world to go to a T2 school. Which they should have no problem with getting in. I think they should retake it but by December, it's way too late to apply unless you have a great score. Delay a year? This person has a 1/6 chance at Pitt, 1/6 chance at UConn, and 1/10 chance at UCHastings. Granted these are reach schools but I'm sure if she/he explains they might have a chance.

edubs003 wrote:Not overestimating, but you guys are making it sound like it's the end of the world to go to a T2 school. Which they should have no problem with getting in. I think they should retake it but by December, it's way too late to apply unless you have a great score. Delay a year? This person has a 1/6 chance at Pitt, 1/6 chance at UConn, and 1/10 chance at UCHastings. Granted these are reach schools but I'm sure if she/he explains they might have a chance.

It is really bad to go to a T2 or heck any school below 30 or so except on a large scholarship when you have a shot at actually good schools.

StillHerexxx wrote:my sole reason for getting into law is to work in the NFL

There is an insanely high chance that you will be disappointed if this is your sole reason for law school.

edubs003 wrote:

Shawh wrote:

edubs003 wrote:Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

Eh, no. Retake is really the only option. You must be overestimating the power of a high GPA.

Not overestimating, but you guys are making it sound like it's the end of the world to go to a T2 school. Which they should have no problem with getting in. I think they should retake it but by December, it's way too late to apply unless you have a great score. Delay a year? This person has a 1/6 chance at Pitt, 1/6 chance at UConn, and 1/10 chance at UCHastings. Granted these are reach schools but I'm sure if she/he explains they might have a chance.

I think the point is s/he shouldn't 'waste' that high GPA. If s/he puts in a lot of effort studying for the LSAT, that could be huge. Granted, there are no guarantees, but even hitting the mid-160s would be a huge boost.

Plus, is it a very prudent choice to attend a T2 school (or lower) with no/little scholarship money? I don't think I'd advise that...

I know, I have talked to a lot of people about it and its a long shot. And by long shot, I mean severe long shot. But if there is one thing in life I love, it's football. I am willing to give it a try, if it doesn't work out I am not afraid to fail, I can use my law degree in other ways.

Shawh wrote:

edubs003 wrote:

Shawh wrote:

edubs003 wrote:Even with your low LSAT, you can get in to good schools. If you feel like retaking it and waiting another year before applying, then do it!

Eh, no. Retake is really the only option. You must be overestimating the power of a high GPA.

Not overestimating, but you guys are making it sound like it's the end of the world to go to a T2 school. Which they should have no problem with getting in. I think they should retake it but by December, it's way too late to apply unless you have a great score. Delay a year? This person has a 1/6 chance at Pitt, 1/6 chance at UConn, and 1/10 chance at UCHastings. Granted these are reach schools but I'm sure if she/he explains they might have a chance.

I think the point is s/he shouldn't 'waste' that high GPA. If s/he puts in a lot of effort studying for the LSAT, that could be huge. Granted, there are no guarantees, but even hitting the mid-160s would be a huge boost.

Plus, is it a very prudent choice to attend a T2 school (or lower) with no/little scholarship money? I don't think I'd advise that...

True. It would be somewhat of a waste of a GPA. I wouldn't retake it because it delays you a year, which actually delays you 2 years since we have to apply a year in advance. Why not apply to schools and if you don't get accepted, apply later with a better LSAT?

edubs003 wrote:True. It would be somewhat of a waste of a GPA. I wouldn't retake it because it delays you a year, which actually delays you 2 years since we have to apply a year in advance. Why not apply to schools and if you don't get accepted, apply later with a better LSAT?

Because it is pretty obvious that a 150's isn't getting into worthwhile schools. This isn't some black box where you don't know what the odds are. It is damn clear it would be waste.

Also, delays you 2 years? wtf are you talking about. If OP were to apply this year then he would graduate in 2014. If he were to retake the LSAT in December/Feb/June/Sep and apply next cycle, he would graduate in 2015. It is only delaying a year.

bk187 wrote:

edubs003 wrote:True. It would be somewhat of a waste of a GPA. I wouldn't retake it because it delays you a year, which actually delays you 2 years since we have to apply a year in advance. Why not apply to schools and if you don't get accepted, apply later with a better LSAT?

Because it is pretty obvious that a 150's isn't getting into worthwhile schools. This isn't some black box where you don't know what the odds are. It is damn clear it would be waste.

Also, delays you 2 years? wtf are you talking about. If OP were to apply this year then he would graduate in 2014. If he were to retake the LSAT in December/Feb/June/Sep and apply next cycle, he would graduate in 2015. It is only delaying a year.

I disagree with you on the 150's. Plenty of people have gone to good schools with 150's. Now if it wasn't the OPs best then they should retake it. Why not apply to 5 schools? And if they want to go Miami, thats a T2 and its possible that they can get it. Not everyone with a good GPA/LSAT wants to go to T14 schools.

By delaying 2 years I mean that they are delayed a year in the app process and wouldn't start school for two years from now.

But if there is one thing in life I love, it's football.

If football is your love in life, there are far better ways to get near it than the legal world.

There are plenty of ways to do everything in the world, but we all choose our own paths.

Seriously, OP, this bk187 needs to stfu. There are plenty of successful people who DIDN'T get into a top 30 school. If you are applying based soley on rankings, you shouldn't be applying. That's common sense. Plenty of important political figures didn't even attend a top 30.

But... facts are facts. You have a 3.9 in a major that probably won't make you stand out amongst the crowd, and you are scoring in the average range. Odds are, unless something affected your score in a way you can pinpoint (did you not study very much? have you been ill?), you won't score much higher the second time around. If you take it again, the way your scoring has gone, all the seats will be taken by the time you do apply this cycle. If you wait until next year, you'll be out an entire year's worth and two years until you finally go. You stand a better chance at applying with an average LSAT early in the cycle. You'll still get into a good school (the term 'good' is relative, but more skewed when you are a prick) and get a solid education at a lower-ranked school--and remember, the ABA doesn't rank schools, magazines do. Every school is different and the LSAT weighs a lot, but if you have strong soft materials with a high GPA, that can get you into a school that will provide you with a great legal education. There are also ways to score interviews that can help your chances, if you have enough initiative.

And, there is always the possibility of transferring to a more reputable institution after the first year, if you feel it will serve your career. But, you'll soon discover that most people who care about rankings flood message boards and tell you to retake the LSAT until you get a 170. Don't listen to idiots who are just trying to intimidate the competition away.

StillHerexxx wrote:I can use my law degree in other ways.

Not if you don't retake, you can't.

Is it still possible to cancel your LSAT score? If so, do it.

I'm going to blunt, but it is tough love: a low 150s score is a shade above "comatose." You have a 3.9; do NOT waste that fantastic GPA by taking on debt to go to some festering TTT. Read the LSAT prep forum, learn what it takes to do well on the LSAT, and then study your ass off.

Also, please don't listen to people with <100 posts who know ZILCH about law school, the admissions process, or the job market.

the_wanksta and edubs have NO idea WTF they are talking about.

the_wanksta36 wrote:Seriously, OP, this bk187 needs to stfu. There are plenty of successful people who DIDN'T get into a top 30 school. If you are applying based soley on rankings, you shouldn't be applying. That's common sense. Plenty of important political figures didn't even attend a top 30.

But... facts are facts. You have a 3.9 in a major that probably won't make you stand out amongst the crowd, and you are scoring in the average range. Odds are, unless something affected your score in a way you can pinpoint (did you not study very much? have you been ill?), you won't score much higher the second time around. If you take it again, the way your scoring has gone, all the seats will be taken by the time you do apply this cycle. If you wait until next year, you'll be out an entire year's worth and two years until you finally go. You stand a better chance at applying with an average LSAT early in the cycle. You'll still get into a good school (the term 'good' is relative, but more skewed when you are a prick) and get a solid education at a lower-ranked school--and remember, the ABA doesn't rank schools, magazines do. Every school is different and the LSAT weighs a lot, but if you have strong soft materials with a high GPA, that can get you into a school that will provide you with a great legal education. There are also ways to score interviews that can help your chances, if you have enough initiative.

And, there is always the possibility of transferring to a more reputable institution after the first year, if you feel it will serve your career. But, you'll soon discover that most people who care about rankings flood message boards and tell you to retake the LSAT until you get a 170. Don't listen to idiots who are just trying to intimidate the competition away.

I honestly couldn't get past 3 sentences without ignoring every word you had to say. Seriously, the lack of a cognizant line of though was entertaining but off-putting. That's all I got.