2011-2012 Cycle Applicants! Forum

[Kmoney]

PT's 162-172
LSDAS GPA: 3.3

Reach: Washington
Target: Lewis and Clark
Safety: Oregon

[maxpower430]

lsat: 174
gpa: 3.91

reach: harvard
target:not sure that i have a target but wherever i get most money/best vibe out of CCNPV
safety: vandy

also i have a question for you guys, b/c my chances thread didn't get any responses. basically, i have a decent amout of experience doing a legalish type job (a couple summers) which i continued after i graduated on a full time basis. i left that job, however, b/c i was worried about the company folding and got the job i'm currently at. it's basically a temp job, which was great b/c i could study etc but i'm worried that it might look bad, esp b/c it seems like a lot of people have much more interesting work experience. would it be worth it to try and find a job that looks better on paper? i'm also worried b/c if i leave this job after 6 months too, it might look like i'm bouncing around etc. any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks.

[merlin2009]

LSAT: 178
GPA: 3.74 @ Y with upward grade trend

Reach: Harvard
Target: Columbia
Safety: NYU

PS topic: Have not thought about this at all. Prob something to do with something in college.

I didn't get a lot of responses in the chances thread, but, you know. Chance me.

[the_phoenix612]

LSAT: 177
GPA: 3.6

Reach: Harvard
Target: UVa/Duke?
Safety: UT-Austin

PS: Run an annual tournament at the regional level for an international educational company, involved at every level up to international, leadership roles at local/regional/state levels

[Yeshia90]

GPA: 3.53
LSAT: 174

Reach: NYU
Target: NYU (ED)/Penn/Mich/Duke
Safety: G'Town/Cornell
Total safety: Fordham

How I overcame depression after my mom's death.


Softs: Internship for a U.S. Senator, Internship at a law firm, major upwards grade trend (3.95 junior year), elected position in student allocation council.

[rowingmyboat]

.

[Blessedassurance]

Reaches: YHS (law school predictor gives me a deny at H, a consider at S and a weak consider at Y, weird)
Targets: Rest of T14
Safety: WUSTL, Vandy,UW and rest of T20.

PS: A whole bunch of stuff
DS: See Above


Good luck everyone, still debating on retaking in October but might stick with my score.

[fixxion]

Reaches: YHS (law school predictor gives me a deny at H, a consider at S and a weak consider at Y, weird)
Targets: Rest of T14
Safety: WUSTL, Vandy,UW and rest of T20.

PS: A whole bunch of stuff
DS: See Above


Good luck everyone, still debating on retaking in October but might stick with my score.

Retake and aim for 170-172+ If you want to make your reaches a little closer.

[Modus Ponens]

LSAT: 171
LSDAS GPA: 3.9x

Reach: Chicago, NYU
Target: Duke, U Penn
Safety: UVA, Vanderbilt

[descartesb4thehorse]

Reaches: YHS (law school predictor gives me a deny at H, a consider at S and a weak consider at Y, weird)
Targets: Rest of T14
Safety: WUSTL, Vandy,UW and rest of T20.

PS: A whole bunch of stuff
DS: See Above


Good luck everyone, still debating on retaking in October but might stick with my score.

Retake and aim for 170-172+ If you want to make your reaches a little closer.

Credited

[freestallion]

Hi everyone! I seriously want this cycle to start. I really want to know where I can get in.

LSAT: 173 (retake though)
GPA: 3.8ish
Favorite Reach School: H (probably can't get in but worth a shot) / Columbia / NYU
Favorite Target School: Northwestern, Penn
Favorite Safety School: Georgetown, Cornell?

softs: lotsa public interest work & experience
PS: something related to my career goals/experience in human rights..

[sea15]

LSAT: 172
UGPA: 4.0
LSAC GPA: 3.98

Softs: 4 years work experience in non-profits including 2 years Americorps State

Favorite Reach School: UVA, Duke, Northwestern
Favorite Target School: Georgetown, Vandy
Favorite Safety School: UNC, American

I plan on doing public interest law, so I am aiming for some serious scholarship money

In ten words or less, what you plan to put in your personal statement: Not sure yet

[freestallion]

Reach: Michigan, Boalt
Target: Notre Dame, U-Washington
Safety: Oregon State

GPA is a high 3.8, I haven't taken the LSAT yet (taking it in October) but my PTs so far range from high 150s to high 160s (based on concentration, tiredness, whether I worked that day etc).

As for my PS I have no idea what to write about yet.

How long have you been studying for the LSAT?

And glad someone else is completely confused about their personal statement. Or, well, completely at a loss for words.

I feel like I should have a draft written by July, not least because one of my recommenders wants to read my PS before he writes me a letter. Eeek.

Wow, you're going to have a draft written by July?! I haven't even started drafting mine yet... sigh, overachievers

[swinger]

LSAT: 172
UGPA: 4.0
LSAC GPA: 3.98

Softs: 4 years work experience in non-profits including 2 years Americorps State

Favorite Reach School: UVA, Duke, Northwestern
Favorite Target School: Georgetown, Vandy
Favorite Safety School: UNC, American

I plan on doing public interest law, so I am aiming for some serious scholarship money

In ten words or less, what you plan to put in your personal statement: Not sure yet

I dont know that I would consider your 'reach' schools reach schools, seeing as you are above both medians for all of them.

[Blessedassurance]

Reaches: YHS (law school predictor gives me a deny at H, a consider at S and a weak consider at Y, weird)
Targets: Rest of T14
Safety: WUSTL, Vandy,UW and rest of T20.

PS: A whole bunch of stuff
DS: See Above


Good luck everyone, still debating on retaking in October but might stick with my score.

Retake and aim for 170-172+ If you want to make your reaches a little closer.

Credited

There are pros and cons to retaking. I retook in June and scored a 165, my February score was a 155. I stupidly used the February score as a cold diagnostic and was pretty sure I bombed it but didn't cancel out of curiosity. The 10 point jump should show an anomaly and that the LSAT tells really nothing about me. I can probably hit a 170 or above in October but I don't have a problem with the questions themselves, it's the time factor. I didn't finish any section for the 165...

However a lot of things could go wrong on my third try and I have a 3.9x GPA from a top 50 university. That's top 3% for my school according to the LSAC report. In fact I nearly registered for October last night (I have a waiver) but I keep thinking a third take is pointless since I'm clearly at an advantage (considering familiarity) compared to others etc. I must mention that I'm an AA male (African), first generation American, ex-military etc. I will consider a hail Mary app to Yale in January. I have an LSAC fee waiver so I think I'm gonna stick it out and retake next year if my cycle doesn't yield positive results. I'm not exactly in a hurry.

[sea15]

LSAT: 172
UGPA: 4.0
LSAC GPA: 3.98

Softs: 4 years work experience in non-profits including 2 years Americorps State

Favorite Reach School: UVA, Duke, Northwestern
Favorite Target School: Georgetown, Vandy
Favorite Safety School: UNC, American

I plan on doing public interest law, so I am aiming for some serious scholarship money

In ten words or less, what you plan to put in your personal statement: Not sure yet

I dont know that I would consider your 'reach' schools reach schools, seeing as you are above both medians for all of them.

I realize this. However, I don't want to go into serious debt (or any at all if possible) to go to law school. I think that looking at lower schools and setting them as my targets and reaches allows me better opportunity for scholarships. Do you think this is reasonable?

Should I be aiming higher?

[swinger]

I get what you're saying. Your reaches are UVA w/ $$, Duke w/ $$, Northwestern w/ $$, and your targets are Georgetown w/ $$ and Vandy w/ $$. You may (hopefully not though) find that the decision will come down to something like UVA w/ no $$ vs. Georgetown/Vandy with $$. This is where it will get tricky. But apply early and hopefully you get into V with tons of cash.

[sea15]

I get what you're saying. Your reaches are UVA w/ $$, Duke w/ $$, Northwestern w/ $$, and your targets are Georgetown w/ $$ and Vandy w/ $$. You may (hopefully not though) find that the decision will come down to something like UVA w/ no $$ vs. Georgetown/Vandy with $$. This is where it will get tricky. But apply early and hopefully you get into V with tons of cash.

Yes, you said it more correctly. My reaches are UVA, Duke, and Northwestern with $$. I am not interested in going to a higher school at sticker. I would be very happy at Georgetown or Vandy with $$, though! It will get tricky negotiating if I get different ranges of scholarship money from different levels of school. Some money at UVA versus lots of money at Georgetown, for instance.

But really, that's not a horrible decision to make.

[swinger]

I get what you're saying. Your reaches are UVA w/ $$, Duke w/ $$, Northwestern w/ $$, and your targets are Georgetown w/ $$ and Vandy w/ $$. You may (hopefully not though) find that the decision will come down to something like UVA w/ no $$ vs. Georgetown/Vandy with $$. This is where it will get tricky. But apply early and hopefully you get into V with tons of cash.

Yes, you said it more correctly. My reaches are UVA, Duke, and Northwestern with $$. I am not interested in going to a higher school at sticker. I would be very happy at Georgetown or Vandy with $$, though! It will get tricky negotiating if I get different ranges of scholarship money from different levels of school. Some money at UVA versus lots of money at Georgetown, for instance.

But really, that's not a horrible decision to make.

Very nice to be in the situation to have to make that decision, but the decision is still pretty tough (for most). Good luck.

[descartesb4thehorse]

Reaches: YHS (law school predictor gives me a deny at H, a consider at S and a weak consider at Y, weird)
Targets: Rest of T14
Safety: WUSTL, Vandy,UW and rest of T20.

PS: A whole bunch of stuff
DS: See Above


Good luck everyone, still debating on retaking in October but might stick with my score.

Retake and aim for 170-172+ If you want to make your reaches a little closer.

Credited

There are pros and cons to retaking. I retook in June and scored a 165, my February score was a 155. I stupidly used the February score as a cold diagnostic and was pretty sure I bombed it but didn't cancel out of curiosity. The 10 point jump should show an anomaly and that the LSAT tells really nothing about me. I can probably hit a 170 or above in October but I don't have a problem with the questions themselves, it's the time factor. I didn't finish any section for the 165...

However a lot of things could go wrong on my third try and I have a 3.9x GPA from a top 50 university. That's top 3% for my school according to the LSAC report. In fact I nearly registered for October last night (I have a waiver) but I keep thinking a third take is pointless since I'm clearly at an advantage (considering familiarity) compared to others etc. I must mention that I'm an AA male (African), first generation American, ex-military etc. I will consider a hail Mary app to Yale in January. I have an LSAC fee waiver so I think I'm gonna stick it out and retake next year if my cycle doesn't yield positive results. I'm not exactly in a hurry.

URM is different as they're more likely to forgive low LSATs, especially with a 3.9. LSN would know more about the T-14 with a 165 and URM than I.

I get what you're saying. Your reaches are UVA w/ $$, Duke w/ $$, Northwestern w/ $$, and your targets are Georgetown w/ $$ and Vandy w/ $$. You may (hopefully not though) find that the decision will come down to something like UVA w/ no $$ vs. Georgetown/Vandy with $$. This is where it will get tricky. But apply early and hopefully you get into V with tons of cash.

Yes, you said it more correctly. My reaches are UVA, Duke, and Northwestern with $$. I am not interested in going to a higher school at sticker. I would be very happy at Georgetown or Vandy with $$, though! It will get tricky negotiating if I get different ranges of scholarship money from different levels of school. Some money at UVA versus lots of money at Georgetown, for instance.

But really, that's not a horrible decision to make.

Especially for public interest, I would look at CCN. Apply for the scholarships, and definitely look into their respective LRAPs. For law school, it's not always the case that the lower the school = the more money you'll get, at least in the long run.

[sea15]

Especially for public interest, I would look at CCN. Apply for the scholarships, and definitely look into their respective LRAPs. For law school, it's not always the case that the lower the school = the more money you'll get, at least in the long run.[/quote]


Maybe I am aiming too low. I just get nervous looking at $250,000 estimated debt for CCN.

[fixxion]

Especially for public interest, I would look at CCN. Apply for the scholarships, and definitely look into their respective LRAPs. For law school, it's not always the case that the lower the school = the more money you'll get, at least in the long run.

Maybe I am aiming too low. I just get nervous looking at $250,000 estimated debt for CCN.[/quote]

Aim higher and if you happen to get into a t4 you can use it as leverage for scholy money. The more acceptances you have the more wiggle room you can make on the financial side.

[sea15]

Especially for public interest, I would look at CCN. Apply for the scholarships, and definitely look into their respective LRAPs. For law school, it's not always the case that the lower the school = the more money you'll get, at least in the long run.

Maybe I am aiming too low. I just get nervous looking at $250,000 estimated debt for CCN.

Aim higher and if you happen to get into a t4 you can use it as leverage for scholy money. The more acceptances you have the more wiggle room you can make on the financial side.[/quote]


Good point! Thanks for the advice!

[bellarosa]

.

[oliver_h]

LSAT: 173
LSAC GPA: 3.92

Reach: Yale/Harvard
Target: NYU/Chicago/Penn
Safety: Georgetown

4 Years as an Army Officer