Top Law Schools

Northeastern
Uconn
Yeshiva
American

You're below median LSAT at American, UConn, and Cardozo. I don't think you'd get outright dinged at any of these schools, but you may be waitlisted. Northeastern is your best shot. However, you'd probably end up paying sticker at most of these schools, and unless you're a resident at UConn, they're all very expensive. Have you looked into Rutgers at all? I think you'd be a shoe-in there, and from what I understand, it's very easy to get residency and in-state tuition.

Retake the LSAT. Do not go to any of these schools at sticker.

I assume you will be applying to attend law school next year? You really need to seriously consider retaking--sept./Oct test is prob. the best choice to give yourself time to try and maximize your score.

Similar numbers: 158/3.34 and I got waitlisted at American, Northeastern, and Cardozo. Never applied to UConn. Got off the waitlist at Cardozo for the May program. pm me if you have any questions.

Actually, I haven't taken the LSAT yet. I'm using the 159 as a early predictor (haha?). But I am taking it in October and have begun my prep work along with a three month testmasters course coming up in July. I live in NYC and these are some of the schools i would like to have as safety schools.

check out Rutgers-Newark w/in-state tuition. Uconn part time might be an option as well

LionelHutzJD wrote:Actually, I haven't taken the LSAT yet. I'm using the 159 as a early predictor (haha?). But I am taking it in October and have begun my prep work along with a three month testmasters course coming up in July. I live in NYC and these are some of the schools i would like to have as safety schools.

Well, according to the LSAT score band, if 159 is your most likely score, then you have the potential of scoring between 156-162 66% of the time. The difference between 156 and 162 is huge in terms of admissions.

Got off Northeastern wait list with 3.4/156. Call admissions office or send LOCI if you really want admission. Good luck wherever you go!

rwhyAn wrote:You're below median LSAT at American, UConn, and Cardozo. I don't think you'd get outright dinged at any of these schools, but you may be waitlisted. Northeastern is your best shot. However, you'd probably end up paying sticker at most of these schools, and unless you're a resident at UConn, they're all very expensive. Have you looked into Rutgers at all? I think you'd be a shoe-in there, and from what I understand, it's very easy to get residency and in-state tuition.

I got into Rutgers N with similar numbers and had it above all the other schools on your list when it came to bang for the buck. I was waitlisted at Cardozo and am withdrawing tomorrow......

Obviously the right answer is to bust hump and do even better on the LSAT but if you actually like NJ Rutgers is not a bad choice at all.....

Nova wrote:Retake the LSAT. Do not go to any of these schools at sticker.

I agree. Or don't go. Seriously. Don't committ financial suicide.

top30man wrote:

Nova wrote:Retake the LSAT. Do not go to any of these schools at sticker.

I agree. Or don't go. Seriously. Don't committ financial suicide.

How do you know I wont find a solid job upon graduation? I mean cmon, you are all dead set on the notion that if you go to a lower ranked school you have no shot at finding a solid job that pays well financially. It's such bs that runs this site.

LionelHutzJD wrote:

top30man wrote:

Nova wrote:Retake the LSAT. Do not go to any of these schools at sticker.

I agree. Or don't go. Seriously. Don't committ financial suicide.

How do you know I wont find a solid job upon graduation? I mean cmon, you are all dead set on the notion that if you go to a lower ranked school you have no shot at finding a solid job that pays well financially. It's such bs that runs this site.

Are you kidding? Have you spent any time researching the job market for freshly minted JDs?

Tiago Splitter wrote:

LionelHutzJD wrote:

top30man wrote:

Nova wrote:Retake the LSAT. Do not go to any of these schools at sticker.

I agree. Or don't go. Seriously. Don't committ financial suicide.

How do you know I wont find a solid job upon graduation? I mean cmon, you are all dead set on the notion that if you go to a lower ranked school you have no shot at finding a solid job that pays well financially. It's such bs that runs this site.

Are you kidding? Have you spent any time researching the job market for freshly minted JDs?

Have you spent time researching the job market for EVERY JOB!? Look, were all in the same boat. Our job prospects suck, but they also suck for other occupations as well. What can land you a job isnt solely based on what institution you attend. Other factors are becoming a much larger part of job hunting, such as social skills, networking, being proactive, etc.

Are we to simply not entertain the notion of law school simply because of job percentages? I certainly wont. And yeah, my gpa is a 3.4 and no i probably wont score a 175 on the LSAT, but that doesnt mean i shouldnt go to law school.

--LinkRemoved--

Go to American at sticker. Acquire 200k+ debt. Have a 10% chance to earn 90k+ a year [and still struggle with loans]. Have a 45% chance of not have a full time legal job 9 months out. Good luck!

Or...

Retake.

Nova wrote:http://www.lawschooltransparency.com/cl ... l=american

Go to American at sticker. Acquire 200k+ debt. Have a 10% chance to earn 90k a year. Have a 45% chance of not have a full time legal job 9 months out. Good luck!

Or..

Retake.

I could do that if i really wanted to. How do you know I wont meet the right person? How do you know I wont be able to get in with a firm? You just don't know these things. Yes, it's definitely a risk, but if you're committed then there is no point in being negative. It's when you worry and start folding under pressure that you miss the opportunities.

Look dude, you can do whatever you want. Coming out of undergrad unable to find a good job sucks, but finishing law school with 200K debt unable to find a job is a lot worse. Why are you so quick to shit on your own ability? Study hard for the LSAT, follow the study plans available around here, take a prep course if you need to, and get the best score you can.

You all want to be lawyers right? Lawyers are always asking questions, trying to figure out different ways to get to their desired conclusion. Exactly what i'm trying to do here.

Tiago Splitter wrote:Look dude, you can do whatever you want. Coming out of undergrad unable to find a good job sucks, but finishing law school with 200K debt unable to find a job is a lot worse. Why are you so quick to shit on your own ability? Study hard for the LSAT, follow the study plans available around here, take a prep course if you need to, and get the best score you can.

Agreed and thats exactly what i'm doing. I just cant help to notice all the negativity that goes around here when it comes to someone mentioning they want to go to a not t20 school. Might as well just have HYS and let every single applicant in the damn country compete to get into just those three schools.

LionelHutzJD wrote:Northeastern
Uconn
Yeshiva
American

American is the only one that might be OK. That is assuming you wanted to do nonprofit stuff.

LionelHutzJD wrote: I could do that if i really wanted to. How do you know I wont meet the right person? How do you know I wont be able to get in with a firm? You just don't know these things.

You don't either. Get the best LSAT score you can and put yourself in the best possible position to succeed. No reason to unnecessarily handicap yourself before law school even starts. Getting a job from any school is tough enough.

LionelHutzJD wrote:I just cant help to notice all the negativity that goes around here when it comes to someone mentioning they want to go to a not t20 school. Might as well just have HYS and let every single applicant in the damn country compete to get into just those three schools.

When I first found this site a couple of years ago I had the same attitude as you (and about the same GPA.) It took a while, but eventually I realized just how bad things are for new lawyers (Spoiler alert: It's really shitty.) Honestly, just spend some time looking sites like law school transparency before you go into this thing blind. Also, google "bimodal salary distribution."

OP: aim higher for LSAT.

This leaves you with 2 options imo.

1) you honestly can not get higher than a 159 on lsat (which i doubt) but if this is the case then law school probably isn't for you unless you are very wealthy, have a great paying legal job already set up for after graduating law school, or practicing law is the only thing you have ever and could ever see yourself doing (i have a weak spot for people with dreams) but be aware of the stats and how much debt you will graduate with and the chance of paying that off anytime soon.

2) You can get higher and you apply to a good school. (Top 14 or best school in the market you will be practicing in, or a good regional school with no debt. Of course minimize debt in all of these options.)

LionelHutzJD wrote:

Have you spent time researching the job market for EVERY JOB!? Look, were all in the same boat. Our job prospects suck, but they also suck for other occupations as well. What can land you a job isnt solely based on what institution you attend. Other factors are becoming a much larger part of job hunting, such as social skills, networking, being proactive, etc.

While it's true that the job market in general sucks, at least now you don't have $150k+ in law school debt. It's easier to get by on a low-wage job now than it will be three years from now with massive debt. Also, getting a decent job really is a function of your grades and where you go. That's it, unless you have a guaranteed connection with a job lined up for you.

LionelHutzJD wrote:

Nova wrote:http://www.lawschooltransparency.com/cl ... l=american

Go to American at sticker. Acquire 200k+ debt. Have a 10% chance to earn 90k a year. Have a 45% chance of not have a full time legal job 9 months out. Good luck!

Or..

Retake.

I could do that if i really wanted to. How do you know I wont meet the right person? How do you know I wont be able to get in with a firm? You just don't know these things. Yes, it's definitely a risk, but if you're committed then there is no point in being negative. It's when you worry and start folding under pressure that you miss the opportunities.

No one knows how successful or lucky you will be. Going to American/Cardozo without a substancial scholarship stacks the deck against you. Good luck on the LSAT.

LionelHutzJD wrote: I just cant help to notice all the negativity that goes around here when it comes to someone mentioning they want to go to a not t20 school. Might as well just have HYS and let every single applicant in the damn country compete to get into just those three schools.

Attending a T1/TT in the geographic area one wants to work, with a substancial scholarship, is typically a respected choice.