4.02 LSDAS GPA/151 LSAT Forum

[UA2012]

Graduating from The University of Alabama with a degree in business and from the Honors College. Just received notice that I have been accepted to Alabama Law via the Law-Honors contract (3.75 GPA and minimum 28 ACT requirement). My LSDAS GPA is 4.02.

Applying to:
Emory
Uni. of Georgia
Tulane
Tennessee
Uni. of Florida
UNC-Chapel Hill

I've taken the LSAT twice and made a 151 on both occasions. My GPA isn't even comparable to my LSAT score, and I go to a good school (regionally, especially) with a solid business program. I've also completed honors requirements (18 hours of honors level courses) for my honors college and an honors thesis. I've written an addendum to submit with my applications addressing the discrepancy between my score and LSAT. My history of standardized test scores are representative of my LSAT performance - I made the same score on the ACT three consecutive times in high school.

Any insight?

[dol1298]

Retake.

[law4vus]

Please don't waste that fantastic GPA on a 151.

Figure out HOW to do well. You're not dumb, you got a 4.02. You can figure out how to break a 165 on the LSAT if you buckle down, get over the standardized test thing, and put a lot of time into doing well.

[UA2012]

I know that I could (and should) increase my score by 10-15 points. I know that I have the ability, I am just unsure of the problem. I have been considering taking a year off, working, studying for the LSAT, and retaking it again next year. I have no doubt that I can succeed in law school. I just want to be admitted into a respectable program with the opportunities (clinics, journals, etc) that will help me grow as a professional. Maybe the best option is to wait a year, retake it, and then proceed.

[pupshaw]

Maybe the best option is to wait a year, retake it, and then proceed.

This.

[CanadianWolf]

How long has the Honors College at the University of Alabama had a law-honors contract ? I suggested the idea to UA about 5 or 6 years ago when they were accepting their first group of University Fellows. Michigan & a few other universities have similiar programs.

[CanadianWolf]

With a 4.02 GPA and two 151 LSAT scores, Georgia & Emory are unlikely to accept you, in my opinion. Are you a resident of Tennessee or Florida or North Carolina ? If not, those schools are also unlikely to accept you.

In light of your standardized testing history, there seems to be little use in retaking the LSAT. You are fortunate to have been accepted by Alabama--which is a solid regional law school.

[law4vus]

In light of your standardized testing history, there seems to be little use in retaking the LSAT. You are fortunate to have been accepted by Alabama--which is a solid regional law school.

I just don't buy it. OP is obviously smart and while I understand some people just have trouble with standardized tests, I have no doubt that he/she can break a 160 with some hard work (which I'm sure won't be an issue, given the stellar GPA).

There's a fantastic GPA coupled with a 50th percentile LSAT score. I just think the OP is doing themselves a disservice by settling for Alabama when much better schools can be within reach.

[MrKappus]

I don't always side with the TLS retake chorus, but I can't see how someone can get great grades in an honors program and then suddenly become unteachable just because a particular test is standardized. Testmasters. Retake. It could be the diff between Alabama and T6. Big difference.

[CanadianWolf]

If the OP does decide to retake, then it would be wise to enroll in a prep course. The GPA, while admirable, is not as uncommom as one might think for UA's Honors College. And I suspect that this is well known to other law schools in the region.

[180asBreath]

4.02 + >28 ACT = The potential to get a 170

Don't delude yourself into believing that you have test anxiety, that this test isn't well-suited to your skill set, etc; you have the capacity to get into a T6 or get a scholarship to a T14.

[CanadianWolf]

It would be helpful to know how OP prepared for the two LSAT sittings. Also would be interesting to know his ACT scores, although that tests learned knowledge more than intelligence.

[UA2012]

A Dean of Admissions from one of the law schools to which I applied actually contacted me regarding the discrepancy. They had previously admitted students from Alabama, particularly in the Honors College, who have shown stellar performance at their law school, and he was curious as to why my LSAT was so far from my GPA. He did point out that, given the average LSAT score for LSAT test takers over time at UA was a 152, I was not far off the mean mark for the school; however, the average GPA at UA is a 3.33 - I come in well above that with a 4.02.

He did not rule out my chances for admission at all, stating that my undergraduate performance and letters of recommendation were strong. He did suggest that I send him an addendum so he could add it to my file when the admissions committee asks about the apparent discrepancy in my two numbers.

Side note: I'm actually taking a course at the UA School of Law now with this brand new program that the law school and Honors College has started. Select seniors are chosen to take a course for honors credit in the law school, completely immersed in the environment with 2Ls and 3LS - we weren't allowed to choose 1L courses for obvious reasons.

CanadianWolf, to answer your question: I'm not exactly sure when UA Law started the law-honors contract. I think the first class was in 2007 or 2008? They take in, on average, 35-40 honors students per year. In 2010 I think the number was 39 acceptances, 1 rejection. I have several friends who took advantage of the option, and they have been successful.

My ACT score was a consistent 28. I perfected reading and english, and my highest score on math was a 32. Science, the last section, was always my lowest.

I prepped with Kaplan for the first LSAT - textbooks, CD, and a tutor. The second test I reviewed the books and took more practice tests - I thought it was a stamina and timing problem so that's what I worked on the most for the second test. My practice exams were in the 160s, lowest being 160 and highest was 166.

[UA2012]

Personally, I just don't understand. My practice tests were so much higher. Maybe just anxiety? I have no clue. It gets to a point where you get sick of paying for the test and preparing for the test along with working and trying to maintain said GPA. This is why I've considered taking a year off and studying, maybe taking an actual prep course, then retaking it next year.

[BiglawOrBust]

And you got a 151??? Shit, dude, get the bibles and retake, man. Then, my man, stop aspiring to be Atticus Finch and say hello to New York City!

[sach1282]

I prepped with Kaplan for the first LSAT - textbooks, CD, and a tutor. The second test I reviewed the books and took more practice tests - I thought it was a stamina and timing problem so that's what I worked on the most for the second test. My practice exams were in the 160s, lowest being 160 and highest was 166.

I took a Kaplan course and my first score was a 161. I did self-study with powerscore and Manhattan LSAT (by far the best books IMO) and scored 171. Do not sell yourself short.

[Hippononymous]

I generally don't chime in on these things, but I'm going to make an exception.

Retake. But don't just retake, invest in a serious LSAT course and then retake. This is one occasion where I think there are few enough other variables that you are essentially guaranteed to recoup whatever you spend on test prep, either in scholarship money or in acceptance to a higher ranked school.

So many splitters get to LS applications and have NOTHING they can do about their GPA. You are very fortunate not to be in the same boat. An addendum may help, but at the end of the day, LS admissions is very much a numbers game.

Sounds like you want to stay in the south. If so, Alabama isn't a turrible choice, but bring that LSAT up and you can get in to Emory, Texas, UVa, Duke... The sky is truly the limit.

Stay hungry. Don't be complacent. Good luck.

[taxguy]

Yes, trying to improve your LSAT is a good idea;however, University of Alabama has a very good, well-regarded law school. You could do a lot worse than there. In fact, if you want to practice in Alabama, it wouild still be a good choice for you.

[American_in_China]

RETAKE. I would pay $100,000 to have your GPA. Don't wast fit because you're scared of taking the LSAT or too lazy to do so.

[Bodhi_mind]

100K? How much for a 3.95? lol

RETAKE. I would pay 100,000K to have your GPA. Don't wast fit because you're scared of taking the LSAT or too lazy to do so.

[pugilistjd]

Like others have said, get the Powerscore Bibles + every published practice test in the history of LSAT. If you really want to do a prep course, Testmasters is better than Kaplan in every way possible. Everyone here would kill for your GPA. Please please please don't waste it.

[Mr. Pancakes]

you are selling yourself short. quit telling yourself you are a bad a standardized testing. Man the fuck up and power through that shit. You should probably keep going until you at least hit a 160.

[Mr. Pancakes]

I prepped with Kaplan

[TheZoid]

Definitely have to say a retake is worth your time. That GPA is fantastic and although UA is a good school if you want to be in the South, a solid LSAT score could go a long way towards better schools and/or $$$. Get the Powerscore Bibles, and dedicate like six months to studying like it's a full time job. It will pay off in the long run, and when it's all said and done, you'll be glad you made the effort (and even more glad that you'll never have to do it again). Good luck to you, and nice work on the GPA.

[20130312]

I prepped with Kaplan

I lol'd

+1, perfect execution