Critique My List Forum

[jeffgarlin]

Hey everyone....

Getting my stuff together to apply fo the upcoming cycle. Have a 3.6 lsac gpa and a 165 lsat (took it twice and got 165 both times after averaging 2-3 points higher on practice exams). History major at Georgetown and will have 1.5 years of not-so-special work experience upon matriculation.

Pretty sure I want to practice in the NE but would be open to other options if I got into a great regional school with an offer I couldn't turn down. As of now, I'm pretty debt averse. Will be taking out loans for tuition and my parents will be paying my living expenses. PA resident from Philly 'burbs. Like everyone, I am interested in big law, if only for the exit options it provides. Seems like it's feast or famine out there.

Here's my preliminary list:

BC
BU
GW
Temple (PA resident)
Villanova
Fordham
UNC
William & Mary
Wisconsin
Indiana
Vanderbilt (long shot)
USC (also long shot)


Thoughts on these? Assume I don't retake for now....There's probably a 60% chance I will but since I got the same score twice after similar practice averages I don't know if it's worth it.

Thanks

[HuskyHopeful]

Add UCONN imo. Top 50ish and from what I hear good in ct/ri/ny/ma placement.

[jeffgarlin]

Add UCONN imo. Top 50ish and from what I hear good in ct/ri/ny/ma placement.

Thanks. Forgot about American too.

[HuskyHopeful]

Any interest in catholic or marquette? since your apping to other schools in that area

[TMC116]

Add UCONN imo. Top 50ish and from what I hear good in ct/ri/ny/ma placement.

Thanks. Forgot about American too.

Forget about American and Catholic. Poor placement and expensive

[TMC116]

Add UCONN imo. Top 50ish and from what I hear good in ct/ri/ny/ma placement.

Thanks. Forgot about American too.

Forget about American and dont add Catholic. Poor placement and expensive

[jeffgarlin]

Any interest in catholic or marquette? since your apping to other schools in that area

Not as much. Wisco/Indiana/Illinois are just a few I might throw apps to since I have some minor Chicago connections but anything short of major money would keep me on the east coast.

Debt exceeding 100k or so would make it very difficult for me to turn down Temple at this point, but I think this upcoming cycle will be very hard to predict.

[Arculease]

.

[CanadianWolf]

For a 3.6/165, I think that you may be aiming too low.

Add Cornell. Applications to law schools are going to decrease further next admissions cycle. Law schools are aware of this fact & standards will be lower. Just for fun, ED to Penn, Michigan, Virginia. Add Minnesota if you enjoy the cold.

[JoeFish]

If you apply to Indiana, also worth applying to Illinois. I think everyone should pair these two.

Think good and hard about how badly you want to get back to PA or nearby after school, and whether or not there's any chance your perspective might change after a year in the mid-west.

[jeffgarlin]

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't think I'll see much money with my numbers, so I'm thinking a retake is probably worth my time

[Doorkeeper]

I assume you're not a URM, right?

If that's the case, add Cardozo. They seem to throw over $100k to people with your stats.

Otherwise, throw a few reaches...Georgetown, Cornell, Duke, UVA. Just in case you write a kickass statement or applications decrease again next year.

[pifhib2]

If you're applying to UNC you should also apply to Wake. Wake places better considering the smaller class size.

[jeffgarlin]

Think USC would bite with these numbers next cycle? No ties to LA unfortunately but I would be very intrigued by that offer.

[JimHalpert]

Think USC would bite with these numbers next cycle? No ties to LA unfortunately but I would be very intrigued by that offer.

Unless you want Cali you should probably avoid USC

[jeffgarlin]

Apps going out this week. Thoughts (3.6/165/1.5 years decent WE)

BU
BC
Fordham
GWU
Temple
Villanova
North Carolina
USC (cali)
Boulder


What about some more reaches? TIA

[jeffgarlin]

Bump.

Really could use some advice here...

What are your guys' thoughts on the decision between BC/GWU/Fordham versus taking money at Temple? I feel like I'd get in to those places, but with 3.6 165, it could be at full price. Assume I can't retake. I'd probably like going back home to practice in Philly, but I like having options (also like not having huge debt).

Maybe this cycle I'll get money from those places with the lower apps?....

Thanks

[Robespierre]

You might add Emory. Top 25 school, they give lots of money, and your numbers definitley put you in the running.