2011-2012 Cycle Applicants! Forum

[djrue211]

Hey guys, I'm a long time-lurker, but just joined the forum hoping to get some advice, and join ya'll for the ride.

GPA: 3.4 (maybe 3.5 for LSDAS)
LSAT: I'm taking them in October, but shooting for as high as possible.
Softs: Intern BC Law Post-Deportation Human Rights, Manager BC Dining Services, a few summers doing sales, 1 year volunteer work at my Jesuit High School, Semester in Spain (Fluent in Spanish).
Non-URM

As you can tell I went to BC undergrad, and REALLY want to go back for Law. I want to do International Justice and Human Rights, so my personal statement will be all about that, and I hope that the Jesuits of BC and GTown eat it up.

Reach: Georgetown, Texas
Goal: BC, Fordham
Safety: Northeastern, Wayne State (Detroit)

[fixxion]

Are you URM?

[Hedwig]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

[fixxion]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Congrats. I'm hoping for a bit of a bump in my gpa (trying to get lucky!)

[acadec]

GPA: 3.97
LSAT: Still waiting on June 2011 test...grrr. Expecting anywhere in the 168-173 range based on PTs and my gut feeling after the test.
PS: family relationships developing passion for advocacy

Reaches: Duke, UVA
Targets: W&M, GW, Vandy
Safeties: Wake Forest, W&L, Alabama, UNC - anything less than this and I'm sitting out a cycle to up my game

I think you're aiming kind of low. If you hit the top of your range, you could be targeting HYS; if you're in the middle, CCN and especially Boalt are still very much in play, with a possible reach to Stanford. Even with a 168, you could be targeting Boalt and MVP, with Vandy as a safety.

[spek]

Reach: CLS
Target: Penn/UVA
Safety: GULC

171/173, 3.65; PS will probably be something about film?

Yesterday I decided not to bother with an app to Harvard. Do you guys agree with that call?

What made you decide that?

[auburnbelle89]

auburnbelle89 wrote:
GPA: 3.97
LSAT: Still waiting on June 2011 test...grrr. Expecting anywhere in the 168-173 range based on PTs and my gut feeling after the test.
PS: family relationships developing passion for advocacy

Reaches: Duke, UVA
Targets: W&M, GW, Vandy
Safeties: Wake Forest, W&L, Alabama, UNC - anything less than this and I'm sitting out a cycle to up my game

I think you're aiming kind of low. If you hit the top of your range, you could be targeting HYS; if you're in the middle, CCN and especially Boalt are still very much in play, with a possible reach to Stanford. Even with a 168, you could be targeting Boalt and MVP, with Vandy as a safety.

True, I guess I just don't want to get my hopes up. Give me my LSAT score, and then we'll see where I decide to apply. Which is kind of the point for 95% of the people on this thread. No LSAT score=semi-guessing in the dark at this point.

[acadec]

.

[acadec]

auburnbelle89 wrote:
GPA: 3.97
LSAT: Still waiting on June 2011 test...grrr. Expecting anywhere in the 168-173 range based on PTs and my gut feeling after the test.
PS: family relationships developing passion for advocacy

Reaches: Duke, UVA
Targets: W&M, GW, Vandy
Safeties: Wake Forest, W&L, Alabama, UNC - anything less than this and I'm sitting out a cycle to up my game

I think you're aiming kind of low. If you hit the top of your range, you could be targeting HYS; if you're in the middle, CCN and especially Boalt are still very much in play, with a possible reach to Stanford. Even with a 168, you could be targeting Boalt and MVP, with Vandy as a safety.

True, I guess I just don't want to get my hopes up. Give me my LSAT score, and then we'll see where I decide to apply. Which is kind of the point for 95% of the people on this thread. No LSAT score=semi-guessing in the dark at this point.

That's true, and demonstrates a good deal more restraint than most posters on here show, but there's nothing wrong with being confident or excited about the opportunities you'll have. Unless you bombed the test, the schools you listed as your targets should be low safeties at best.

[spek]

Reach: CLS
Target: Penn/UVA
Safety: GULC

171/173, 3.65; PS will probably be something about film?

Yesterday I decided not to bother with an app to Harvard. Do you guys agree with that call?

What made you decide that?

Harvard admitted only a few non-URMs under 3.7 last year; the ones they did were 175+ and/or out of school a while. I figured it wasn't worth the application fee for a one-in-a-thousand shot at Harvard.

Well I would say there's no harm in applying but if you're strapped for cash I understand why you would choose not to. If you're not though, $70-$100 might be worth the possibility (however small) that you do get in. Idk, "nothing ventured nothing gained" is my personal philosphy.

[auburnbelle89]

Though it has probably been asked before, how many schools should you apply to (assuming that you can afford the app fees)? I've been working hard to narrow down my list. I don't want to end up applying to something I will never really consider going to, but on the other hand, I don't want to get to January and wish I had applied to X school and seriously hurt my chances by not applying earlier. How many schools is everyone thinking of applying to?

[fixxion]

If I score 170+ I'm applying to around 20. Not just to see where I get in but hopefully so I can get into 4-5 places and leverage scholy $$

[dasani13]

Do the schools to which you apply know to where else you applied?

[Sounder89]

Do the schools to which you apply know to where else you applied?

They wouldn't admit it but my impression yes, if you apply to the elite schools they know what other top schools you've applied/been accepted to. I know this is the case for UG I'm not so sure about law school.

[071816]

Do the schools to which you apply know to where else you applied?

A small minority of schools will specifically ask you as part of their app.

[mickeyD]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Just got mine today, is it weird how excited I am to have it? It's not even a high GPA, just stoked to have taken another step towards apps.

[blehGPAgoodLSAT]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Just got mine today, is it weird how excited I am to have it? It's not even a high GPA, just stoked to have taken another step towards apps.

How long ago did you send your transcripts? My UG uses the national student clearinghouse and they told me they sent my transcripts to lsac last tuesday... my profile still isn't updated.

[dasani13]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Just got mine today, is it weird how excited I am to have it? It's not even a high GPA, just stoked to have taken another step towards apps.

Hello,

Do UGs generally report to LSAC whether a student graduated with honors, high honors, or highest honors or do they only calculate and report the GPA? Actually, I know they send out the entire transcript so what I'm trying to figure out is if LSAC reports any other information from the transcript to the schools (I.e. community service hours, honors, etc.)?

[thelawschoolproject]

.

[dasani13]

Dude, you're URM with a 4.0 with a high PT of 173 and those are your target schools???

[coldshoulder]

LSAT: (Taking in October) Hoping for 168-173
GPA: 4.0 Undergrad, 3.9 Graduate School (MA in English)

Reach: Georgetown, Northwestern, Boalt
Target: WUSTL, Vandy
Safety: Mizzou

Personal Statement: I can't decide. I have quite a few options to choose from. Any advice based on this list?

--Cherokee American Indian (my mother's family grew up on a reservation)
--Several political internships (hesitant about repeating this when it's listed on my CV)
--Teaching undergraduate English classes to disadvantaged students
--Learning to walk after being in a wheelchair for almost a year
--Dealing with the law from a young age (parents divorced, mom did some bad shit, lots of police and lawyers . . . might be too much of a sob story?)

Thanks!

Dude, what the hell. Score over a 170 and you've got an easy shot at the T6.

[thelawschoolproject]

Dude, you're URM with a 4.0 with a high PT of 173 and those are your target schools???

Definitely. I applied in the Fall 2010 cycle and was waitlisted everywhere. I'm quite hesitant this time around, it's my last shot!

[soj]

LSAT: (Taking in October) Hoping for 168-173
GPA: 4.0 Undergrad, 3.9 Graduate School (MA in English)

Reach: Georgetown, Northwestern, Boalt
Target: WUSTL, Vandy
Safety: Mizzou

Personal Statement: I can't decide. I have quite a few options to choose from. Any advice based on this list?

--Cherokee American Indian (my mother's family grew up on a reservation)
--Several political internships (hesitant about repeating this when it's listed on my CV)
--Teaching undergraduate English classes to disadvantaged students
--Learning to walk after being in a wheelchair for almost a year
--Dealing with the law from a young age (parents divorced, mom did some bad shit, lots of police and lawyers . . . might be too much of a sob story?)

Thanks!

Dude, what the hell. Score over a 165 and you've got an easy shot at the T6.

[Jack Smirks]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Just got mine today, is it weird how excited I am to have it? It's not even a high GPA, just stoked to have taken another step towards apps.

Hello,

Do UGs generally report to LSAC whether a student graduated with honors, high honors, or highest honors or do they only calculate and report the GPA? Actually, I know they send out the entire transcript so what I'm trying to figure out is if LSAC reports any other information from the transcript to the schools (I.e. community service hours, honors, etc.)?

If you made honors it will be listed on your LSAC academic summary report.

[dasani13]

Just got my academic summary report, so relieved to find they calculated my GPA exactly the same as I did.

Just got mine today, is it weird how excited I am to have it? It's not even a high GPA, just stoked to have taken another step towards apps.

Hello,

Do UGs generally report to LSAC whether a student graduated with honors, high honors, or highest honors or do they only calculate and report the GPA? Actually, I know they send out the entire transcript so what I'm trying to figure out is if LSAC reports any other information from the transcript to the schools (I.e. community service hours, honors, etc.)?

If you made honors it will be listen on your LSAC academic summary report.

Thanks!


didn't even know that existed.