2.9/162 - chances for top 30

[futurejd123]

School: University of Toronto
Majors: Economics, International Relations
Work Experience: Internships (embassy, consulate, nonprofit)
International Student: born and raised in Pakistan, also lived in Saudi Arabia and Canada, now in the U.S.
Leadership: President of a campus org, staff positions at some campus publications

My GPA in my second year went down to a 2.0, which is why my cumulative it so low. I missed a month of classes in my second year because of student visa issues and I was also shifting from a major in English to one in Economics.

I'm just providing this information so you can give me an honest opinion about my chances for a top 30 school. Also, is it worth putting in an addendum for my GPA or is the reason not significant enough?

[Its Always Sunny]

probably a 0% chance. I would retake to overcome that GPA.

[futurejd123]

I did yesterday. I studied a lot, was aiming for over 168 and was consistently getting high 160s and low 170s on the past tests, but yesterday I messed up LG and don't expect my score to much higher. Don't have the energy, motivation, or guts to retake again.

[Kabuo]

I did yesterday. I studied a lot, was aiming for over 168 and was consistently getting high 160s and low 170s on the past tests, but yesterday I messed up LG and don't expect my score to much higher. Don't have the energy, motivation, or guts to retake again.

In which case, 0%.

[futurejd123]

Fair enough.

[swilson215]

Yeah, you're probably shut out of the top 30, but you'll probably get in to a lower T1 with $, depending on the region you want to study in. Check out LSN, it's really helpful for inquiries like this.

[JamMasterJ]

I did yesterday. I studied a lot, was aiming for over 168 and was consistently getting high 160s and low 170s on the past tests, but yesterday I messed up LG and don't expect my score to much higher. Don't have the energy, motivation, or guts to retake again.

putting up with a few more shitty months is vastly superior to the alternative

[Bashy]

putting up with a few more shitty months is vastly superior to the alternative

So much this. A few points on your LSAT score will dramatically change your options and really help you out with schools/scholarships/the long run.

[john1990]

I know the feeling, but the faster you get back to studying the better. If you put in work you can beat your old prep scores too

[89vision]

I took two weeks off of studying after the Oct. test, and then consistently started scoring 3-5 points higher than the PTs before Oct. The break rejuvinated me. I re did the LG bible and did the RC bible (although I never could finish all 4 passages). Good luck though.

[FUBAR]

Probably need a 167 w/that GPA.

[futurejd123]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just another question. Assuming I get a score in the low 160s for my 2nd LSAT that I just took, will law schools even care what I get on a potential third? Also, would it be worth taking it in feb and trying to apply for this cycle, or just better to sit out this cycle altogether and apply for the next one?

[swilson215]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just another question. Assuming I get a score in the low 160s for my 2nd LSAT that I just took, will law schools even care what I get on a potential third? Also, would it be worth taking it in feb and trying to apply for this cycle, or just better to sit out this cycle altogether and apply for the next one?

With your GPA and three LSATs, I would say that either way I would sit out this cycle. Applying in February is going to get you a lot of dings and WLs (unless your last score is 172+). Applying in September/October will give you a TON more choices, and a lot greater likelihood of getting into places that would have been "reaches".