I've been lurking for a while but I finally decided to post now that I have an LSAT score. I know most of you would slit your wrist and lay in the bathtub with my credentials but let me explain a little bit about myself and then ask for advice.
1) I'm 24, male, non-URM, BS in Medical Biology, ~10 yrs of real work experience, ie. not summer camp bullshit.
2) I plan on retaking in October. 162 was my first attempt at the LSAT after taking a blueprint online course. I was PTing around 155 with a few tests around 158 but had never broken 160. In June, something just made more sense to me and I was much more calm on the actual test day so I ended up with a 162. I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to increase my score in October, especially because I suck at games and I'm getting better at them...FINALLY.
3) While my GPA is low (3.2/4.0 just to be specific) because of 10 credits of Organic Chemistry with a C+ in all of them. The course is just ballbusting hard and to give you an idea of how hard, after I took the course and nailed it with a C+ I was asked to TA an organic chemistry lab and design labs for the following year and was paid for it. I wonder how the rest of the class did since there was 0 grade curving.
4) After graduating in 2009 I got a job in a research lab and I've been doing stem cell research since then; I'm still doing this. I've presented 4 posters at international conferences and will probably have a few first author papers out by the time my application gets reviewed. I'm just a little tired of the lab,
Now it's question time...
1) Does it matter that I didn't major in basket weaving with a 4.33, didn't go to a school with grade inflation, didn't support crappy core grades with stupid electives? I'm worried, I'm sure justifiably so, that I won't even get a second look after my GPA is reviewed. My resume and transcript are much more impressive than that one number.
2) My LSAT score is too low for most, maybe even all, schools worth going to. I'm not delusional or drinking the Kool Aid, I'm not gonna settle for a TTT so even if you think I'm missing a few chromosomes after you read this, at least respect me for that. What LSAT score would get me closer to the light? I'm not sure I could ever break 170 but maybe?. I think my next goal is in the 166 to 167 range. Is that realistic enough and is that enough period? I suppose my ideal situation would be BU, BC and Fordham respectively. I'd like to stay in the New England area.
3) I'm interested in hearing what you guys think about my law school dreams. I'm sure I have the same pipe dream as many people but I'm hoping my technical science background would be useful for biotech companies. That way I still get to apply the science I like without all the wet lab benchwork I'm not too keen on anymore. I know I can get a PhD and then take the patent bar but is that just as useful? PhD's are free but I'll most likely hate the entire process.
Questions/comments/death threats are appreciated. Thanks guys!