Top Law Schools

I'd just like to get a general sense of the types of schools I could get into as my situation is a bit unique.

I graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 from a lower ranked state university, probably T100, but I also have a Ph.D from a top ranked state school in physics. I have publications and have won several fellowships and awards for my academics.

I tested ~160 on the lsats the first time and I'm sure with practice could get it up to high 160s/low 170s. Do have a shot at HYS? Does the Ph.D help at all? Does it hurt that my undergrad gpa is from a lower ranked school, even though it's a 4.0?

I'd like to go into patent law. I'm a non-URM female.

Thanks!

Assuming you are not flame...

You're golden. Get your LSAT to 170+ and you will have a decent shot at any school in the country. A 173+ and you'll almost certainly land one of HYS.

The lower ranked school won't hurt a thing. The PhD won't help a ton, but I think it will help. With your GPA, the only thing you should be concerned with at this point is the LSAT.

Thank you! I'm definitely not a flame. I was mostly worried about the ranking of my undergrad school, since I've heard that that can count against you in law school applications. I also don't have any law work experience so my softs are a bit weak.

Your softs are not weak, although it is unlikely they will matter too much. A PhD is a definitely plus. Adcomms would definitely like to see a PhD more than they would the pre-law club or debate team or something from some 21 year old undergrad student.

And your undergrad will not hurt you.

Just focus 100% on your LSAT and do the very best you can. You should be T6 bound, and if you really rock your LSAT, you'll have a shot at HYS.

romothesavior wrote:Assuming you are not flame...

You're golden. Get your LSAT to 170+ and you will have a decent shot at any school in the country. A 173+ and you'll almost certainly land one of HYS.

The lower ranked school won't hurt a thing. The PhD won't help a ton, but I think it will help. With your GPA, the only thing you should be concerned with at this point is the LSAT.

OP might have fucked herself with the 160 on her LSAT record for HYS. She needs to seriously study the LSAT, and stop worrying about softs.

Desert Fox wrote:

romothesavior wrote:Assuming you are not flame...

You're golden. Get your LSAT to 170+ and you will have a decent shot at any school in the country. A 173+ and you'll almost certainly land one of HYS.

The lower ranked school won't hurt a thing. The PhD won't help a ton, but I think it will help. With your GPA, the only thing you should be concerned with at this point is the LSAT.

OP might have fucked herself with the 160 on her LSAT record for HYS. She needs to seriously study the LSAT, and stop worrying about softs.

Oh dang, I read that as she was PTing ~160 since she was just giving an estimate. OP, did you already score a 160 on the LSAT? If that is the case, you are definitely out YS and probably H.

No, you read it right. That was just my first practice test with no study, sorry I should've specified. Although I thought that if you retested and scored 7 points higher at least, that overwrites your old score?

chiltonred wrote:No, you read it right. That was just my first practice test with no study, sorry I should've specified. Although I thought that if you retested and scored 7 points higher at least, that overwrites your old score?

Ok, well just study your ass off, and get a good LSAT. Your GPA is great, now you need a great LSAT. Nothing else matters at this point. Good luck.

chiltonred wrote:No, you read it right. That was just my first practice test with no study, sorry I should've specified. Although I thought that if you retested and scored 7 points higher at least, that overwrites your old score?

Scores are never overwritten. Certain schools may claim to have a policy of taking the higher score with a significant (+6 or +7) improvement, but they still see all scores.