Chances at T30 without work experience? Forum

[miss_juris]

Thank you for the taking the time to read my post. I have a few questions regarding my chances in the next application cycle and how I can best strengthen my application. My stats are listed below, but I wanted to mention that I have an upward GPA trend, with my last year averaging a 3.8 GPA. I'm still very concerned with my low LSAC GPA and with hardly any work experience I feel that it may completely close my options to a T30 acceptance. The good news is my LSAT score which I am very satisfied with, yet I have average/below average softs. I am a California resident and attended a school in the University of California system. Therefore, I would love to stay in California (although I heard they like high GPAs) unless a better option presented itself which I would gladly take. I am also curious if I should take a year off before applying to gain some work experience or obtain a masters which I think I would greatly benefit from. I heard however that law schools don't take master degrees into account and that law firms may look down on them, which to me seems odd - is this true?

Political Science B.S.
minor in International Studies

GPA: 3.10 (3.38) LSAT: 172
URM: NA & AA female

- 2 year scholarship athlete D1 school
- staff writer for university's newspaper
- hundreds of hours working in local soup kitchen
- habitat for humanity volunteer
- member of law school forum
- worked several weeks on Native American reservations
- 6 month long internship with District Attorney

Any advice or suggestions are more than appreciated. Thank you!

[JD2014]

This: http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/
and this: http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com/

are the best answers to your questions. Anything anyone tells you will be their interpretation of the data in these sites.

[MrKappus]

I feel that it may completely close my options to a T30 acceptance.

GPA: 3.10 (3.38) LSAT: 172
URM: NA & AA female

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[Moxie]

My stats are listed below, but I wanted to mention that I have an upward GPA trend, with my last year averaging a 3.8 GPA. I'm still very concerned with my low LSAC GPA and with hardly any work experience I feel that it may completely close my options to a T30 acceptance. I am a California resident and attended a school in the University of California system. Therefore, I would love to stay in California. I am also curious if I should take a year off before applying to gain some work experience or obtain a masters which I think I would greatly benefit from. I heard however that law schools don't take master degrees into account and that law firms may look down on them, which to me seems odd - is this true?

GPA: 3.10 (3.38) LSAT: 172
URM: NA & AA female

1) Your GPA will not exclude you from any T30 schools. With your LSAT and URM status, I'd bet money that you'll gain multiple acceptances at T14 schools. Stanford is probably a no-go with your GPA, but you might have a chance at Berkeley. Check out lawschoolnumbers.com for more information on your chances.

2) Is 3.1 or 3.38 your LSDAS GPA? This will make a difference in your acceptance chances.

3) Take a year off for work or a masters if you want to, it might not be a big benefit in getting to LS, but it'll give you something to talk about when interviewing with firms (and work experience seems to provide a small boost to job interviewing prospects)

4) I've never heard that "law firms may look down on masters degrees", and have no idea where you would get that idea.

[Corwin]

You're into several T14 schools with that LSAT and URM. Nice job!

[miss_juris]

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. Unfortunately 3.1 is my LSDAS GPA and the 3.38 is my university GPA. I read several posts with people having outstanding numbers (4.06 GPA) and went into panic mode. Wish I could take back those earlier years.

4) I've never heard that "law firms may look down on masters degrees", and have no idea where you would get that idea.

Someone had mentioned it in law forum that law firms may not take individuals with a masters because they may be more focused or career driven by their masters than by their JD. I think it sounds ridiculous as well - I always thought the more education the better.

[chicubs88]

A 3.1 and 172 are nothing to be ashamed of. Those numbers will easily get you into a T30 with scholly money. Now factor in the fact that you are URM, and you are sitting in a position that many law school applicants would kill for. The 3.1 is not great, but any damage it does to your profile is more than negated by the 172 and URM. Never underestimate the power of URM status.

[TheFactor]

Enjoy T10 w/ $$$

[CanadianWolf]

Agree that your URM status combined with a 172 LSAT score will get you Top 10 offers with money.

Masters degrees are valued by law school admissions offices, but graduate GPAs are not.

[beachbum]

Stop freaking out. You're fine. And

Enjoy T10 w/ $$$

[CoriOlivia]

Enjoy T10 w/ $$$

Do you really think the 172 lsat and URM status make up for the 3.1? I will have similar numbers and can't imagine t10 (even at sticker) with such a low GPA.

[CanadianWolf]

Yes, even if the low GPA is in "remedial studies" from an on-line school that permits students to grade their own work.

[Corwin]

Enjoy T10 w/ $$$

Do you really think the 172 lsat and URM status make up for the 3.1? I will have similar numbers and can't imagine t10 (even at sticker) with such a low GPA.

Non-urms get into NU (with WE) and UVa ED with those numbers. URMs get in RD (sometimes with money) at those numbers. See this RD with $ at UVa: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/aspire2more and this EA at Cornell: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/coopertemplegrl

[TheFactor]

Enjoy T10 w/ $$$

Do you really think the 172 lsat and URM status make up for the 3.1?

Yes