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repost, but more thoughts will be helpful

3.81 / 173 / good recs / pretty good work experience (have coached a hs debate team for 4 years and have a good rec from the coach)

odds?

NYU-In
Chicago-In
Berkley - In

Columbia- probably in but not certain
Harvard- Waitlist (when did you apply? JR1?)
Stanford - its a total possibility but who knows, no way to say either way
Yale- You're at median lsat and around 25th percentile gpa, probably out unless you've done something quite interesting

Also, I'm 99.9% positive I know you.

i am applying next cycle. what can i do to improve my stanford/harvard chances? also, what's your name?

pdiddy89 wrote:i am applying next cycle. what can i do to improve my stanford/harvard chances? also, what's your name?

If you bring the gpa up to a 3.9 I'd say you get in everywhere. Admin's don't exactly see those from uchicago everyday. For Harvard if you could bring the lsat up to a 176 I'd say you're guaranteed in. Otherwise, the normally take 3.9+ for gpas 175 and under. Generally if you are below 25th on one number you'll want to be at or above 75th on the other. Right now at Harvard you're at median lsat and below median gpa. When you're above 25th but below median with one number (you're gpa) you'll want to get the other number (lsat) above median (173). Harvard is definitely a shot but getting the lsat a few points higher should make it a sure thing.
Stanford... well apparently stanford is starting to get more interested in high lsats, but your lsat is still above their 75th so you're fine in that respect. Stanford loves high gpas but your is certainly within range. They just have a really small class so you need to really sell yourself. Get school specific recommendations, write a school specific essay, etc and then just hope. Like I said, you're numbers aren't the issue there.

For Columbia you might need to raise the lsat a point or two to be certain but right now you stand a damn good shot (at least according to lsn: http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/0809/)

first off, i don't plan to retake the lsat. second, i might be able to get my gpa up to 3.85ish, but thats about as far as I can go with the time I have left. does this basically mean i'm out at harvard? will really good recs/ps not make any difference?

There's no point in retaking a 173; statistically your chances of improving aren't good. Your numbers are competitive for H/S, but not a guarantee. I think you can feel comfortable that you'll end up in the top 6.

If you're thinking about applying next year, I'd spend more time developing your soft factors than worrying about the marginal improvements you could make in GPA/LSAT. Every applicant was chair/president/captain of some academic club, was a poli. sci. major, and doesn't have any interesting stories. If you want in to YHS, find a way to set yourself apart. Find something no one else is doing (volunteer work, advocacy, etc.) and do that.

not out at all at harvard.
with median lsat and gpa almost at median from a T10 you have at totally decent shot. get great recs, write a great PS, and apply EARLY (as in the day the apps come online). You're not an auto-admit but you have a totally fair shot. While its true they usually take 173 with 3.9+ its certainly not unheard of for them to take a 3.85 (especially because from what I hear that's a quite sweet gpa for chicago).
anyways, you have a good chance. but don't get your hopes up. you just have enough numbers to be in the game.
anyways, be happy as you have nyu, berkley, chicago as safeties, and will almost certainly get into columbia as well. also, you're a real target for Stanford. So if you're interested in three years of paradise I'd start working on the stanford-specific essay now. Anyone over 3.8 and 170 has a chance at Stanford and I think your numbers give you an especially good chance. Stanford is just really small and once you reach that 3.8/170 threshold they just pick who they like. So make them like you. That is, if you like Cali... not for everyone. If not enjoy Columbia and maybe Harvard if JR likes you.

haha i do love stanford i am from 10 mins away their campus (my mom is a doctor at stanford hospital). my softs aren't diverse, but the one i do, i am involved heavily in. i coach a hs debate team, and have for the last 3 years. I have coached several nationally competitive debaters (i.e. top 15 in the nation). is it okay that i don't have many softs if i just heavily emphasize the one i really do love?

pdiddy89 wrote:haha i do love stanford i am from 10 mins away their campus (my mom is a doctor at stanford hospital). my softs aren't diverse, but the one i do, i am involved heavily in. i coach a hs debate team, and have for the last 3 years. I have coached several nationally competitive debaters (i.e. top 15 in the nation). is it okay that i don't have many softs if i just heavily emphasize the one i really do love?

well I don't think they are looking for Max Fischer (no need to be president of the Rushmore beekeepers, fencing team, kite flying society, etc). They just want you to have been doing something besides coursework. But it would be good if you spent the next year perhaps writing a good thesis, publishing an article, or doing something that will allow you to put together a compelling narrative about why you want to study law, etc.

pdiddy89 wrote:haha i do love stanford i am from 10 mins away their campus (my mom is a doctor at stanford hospital). my softs aren't diverse, but the one i do, i am involved heavily in. i coach a hs debate team, and have for the last 3 years. I have coached several nationally competitive debaters (i.e. top 15 in the nation). is it okay that i don't have many softs if i just heavily emphasize the one i really do love?

I actually think this is really good, because it isn't as common as some. I'm sure you have compelling stories about seeing HS kids succeed, and if not, develop some.