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URM Chilean
Went from a 153 (June 2011) and 50 something percentile to a 168 (Oct 2012) and 96 percentile in the LSAT.
3.1 GPA, but I have a good explanation that I attached to applications. I actually experienced extreme discrimination my freshman year from all 8 of my suitemates on the ethnic and economic level.

Graduated in three years with a BA in Political Science. Was very involved with clubs (had leadership positions) including the Mock Trial team. Had an internship. Volunteer work. Have a full-time job and is currently coaching a high school Mock Trial team. Recommendations from Attorney friends and a Professor. Included a diversity statement.

I applied to:
uc berk
ucd
george washington
georgetown
uc hastings
loyola
northwestern
mcgeorge
ucsd
santa clara
usc
ucla
stanford


My aim is keeping myself in California because I want to work in state. I understand some of these are toss ups. I'm curious as to which ones I have good chances in getting into and also if I can get scholarships. Money isn't really an issue so please don't tell me I "shouldn't apply there or go there" because I already sent in my applications.

Thanks for any info guys! (:

You should check out UC Hasting's LEOP program - I've heard of people with similar stats getting $$

If you are applying this cycle, try to send out your apps as soon as you can - early applicants get a slight boost, simply because there are more spaces to fill. Best of luck!

jump_man wrote:You should check out UC Hasting's LEOP program - I've heard of people with similar stats getting $$

If you are applying this cycle, try to send out your apps as soon as you can - early applicants get a slight boost, simply because there are more spaces to fill. Best of luck!

For the love of god, don't go to Hastings.

Retake for a 170+ and open up some more doors, OP.

jump_man wrote:You should check out UC Hasting's LEOP program - I've heard of people with similar stats getting $$

If you are applying this cycle, try to send out your apps as soon as you can - early applicants get a slight boost, simply because there are more spaces to fill. Best of luck!

If I already sent my apps, can I still check out LEOP? I did look at it earlier, but I've never felt disadvantaged in any way. I just experienced intense discrimination. I didn't think it would be enough to enter into the program.

CorkBoard wrote:

jump_man wrote:You should check out UC Hasting's LEOP program - I've heard of people with similar stats getting $$

If you are applying this cycle, try to send out your apps as soon as you can - early applicants get a slight boost, simply because there are more spaces to fill. Best of luck!

For the love of god, don't go to Hastings.

Retake for a 170+ and open up some more doors, OP.

Why not UC H? I'm very curious.

Midwest T30s will roll out the red carpet and give you scholarships. (Indiana, Minn, Iowa, WUSTL).

So will T40s like Georgia, Alabama, Ill, and Wisc.

xjustyoursmile wrote:
Why not UC H? I'm very curious.

UC H wrote:•46.5% of graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs. This includes an unknown number school-funded jobs.
•59.4% graduates were employed in long-term jobs.
•57.9% graduates were employed in full-time jobs.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=hastings

Nova wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:
Why not UC H? I'm very curious.

UC H wrote:•46.5% of graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs. This includes an unknown number school-funded jobs.
•59.4% graduates were employed in long-term jobs.
•57.9% graduates were employed in full-time jobs.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=hastings

Yikes!

Nova wrote:Midwest T30s will roll out the red carpet and give you scholarships. (Indiana, Minn, Iowa, WUSTL).

So will T40s like Georgia, Alabama, Ill, and Wisc.

Will going to the midwest make it difficult for me to go back into California?

xjustyoursmile wrote:

Nova wrote:Midwest T30s will roll out the red carpet and give you scholarships. (Indiana, Minn, Iowa, WUSTL).

So will T40s like Georgia, Alabama, Ill, and Wisc.

Will going to the midwest make it difficult for me to go back into California?

Yes. California has too many lawyers as is...

But I bet you would still be better off getting back to CA from a State school than if you attend mcgeorge, ucsd, santa clara.

A few hundred on apps (email them because most will give you a fee waiver) could easily turn into tens of thousands of additional scholarships from UC D/H/I when you start negotiating.

I'm from Texas. What about UT Austin? You probably have a decent shot. As legal industry recovers, you can most likely make it back to Cali with UT degree. What about the University of Washington? Does it have reach to Cali?

bizzybone1313 wrote:I'm from Texas. What about UT Austin? You probably have a decent shot. As legal industry recovers, you can most likely make it back to Cali with UT degree. What about the University of Washington? Does it have reach to Cali?

From what I've heard, it is VERY difficult for non-IP UT grads to find work in in CA.

If you have ties to CA, then you will have much better luck than someone without ties.

I know that UW's grads do pretty well in the Seattle area, but according to their website, only 9 out of 182 grads from the class of 2011 found work in California: http://www.law.washington.edu/career/em ... stats.aspx

xjustyoursmile wrote:URM Chilean

You are not considered a URM.

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:URM Chilean

You are not considered a URM.

I'm pretty sure I am. Chileans are Hispanic.

jump_man wrote:

bizzybone1313 wrote:I'm from Texas. What about UT Austin? You probably have a decent shot. As legal industry recovers, you can most likely make it back to Cali with UT degree. What about the University of Washington? Does it have reach to Cali?

From what I've heard, it is VERY difficult for non-IP UT grads to find work in in CA.

If you have ties to CA, then you will have much better luck than someone without ties.

I know that UW's grads do pretty well in the Seattle area, but according to their website, only 9 out of 182 grads from the class of 2011 found work in California: http://www.law.washington.edu/career/em ... stats.aspx

I was thinking that is how it is.That's why I' m also hesitant in applying to midwest schools. I don't want just a 'decent' chance in coming back to Cali, I want a 'sure' chance. My family is all in Cali since my parents are the only ones that moved to the US from Chile not to mention I have a long-term boyfriend in Cali. I feel like being close to the only family I have in the US is important.

Nova wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:

Nova wrote:Midwest T30s will roll out the red carpet and give you scholarships. (Indiana, Minn, Iowa, WUSTL).

So will T40s like Georgia, Alabama, Ill, and Wisc.

Will going to the midwest make it difficult for me to go back into California?

Yes. California has too many lawyers as is...

But I bet you would still be better off getting back to CA from a State school than if you attend mcgeorge, ucsd, santa clara.

A few hundred on apps (email them because most will give you a fee waiver) could easily turn into tens of thousands of additional scholarships from UC D/H/I when you start negotiating.

You know, that's really a good idea. I never considered applying to schools just so I can have some competition to turn to in negotiating scholarships.

xjustyoursmile wrote:

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:URM Chilean

You are not considered a URM.

I'm pretty sure I am. Chileans are Hispanic.

The only URM Hispanics are Mexican American and Puerto Rican. You are considered a non-URM Hispanic. You may get a slight boost, but much less than a Hispanic URM boost.

Good luck.

Good luck with USC and UCLA. I bet you snag one of them at least.

bizzybone1313 wrote:Good luck with USC and UCLA. I bet you snag one of them at least.

+1

guessing USC.

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote:URM Chilean

You are not considered a URM.

I'm pretty sure I am. Chileans are Hispanic.

The only URM Hispanics are Mexican American and Puerto Rican. You are considered a non-URM Hispanic. You may get a slight boost, but much less than a Hispanic URM boost.

Good luck.

Oh I see what you mean. Okay, thanks for the heads up. At least I'll get a little boost. It's odd bc there are barely any Chileans in law.

Nova wrote:

bizzybone1313 wrote:Good luck with USC and UCLA. I bet you snag one of them at least.

+1

guessing USC.

Thanks. That makes me feel better that two ppl think so. USC actually just emailed me to tell me they got my app. Only confirmation from all the law schools so far.

xjustyoursmile wrote: Oh I see what you mean. Okay, thanks for the heads up. At least I'll get a little boost. It's odd bc there are barely any Chileans in law.

URM status is determined by the amount of minorities in the legal profession in relation to the minority populace within greater society. It's a comparative term based on representative proportions. Because there are very few Chileans in American society, having very few Chileans in the legal field would not mean they are inadequately represented in the profession.

I still think you will have a great cycle, however! And I wish you nothing but the best <3

GAIAtheCHEERLEADER wrote:

xjustyoursmile wrote: Oh I see what you mean. Okay, thanks for the heads up. At least I'll get a little boost. It's odd bc there are barely any Chileans in law.

URM status is determined by the amount of minorities in the legal profession in relation to the minority populace within greater society. It's a comparative term based on representative proportions. Because there are very few Chileans in American society, having very few Chileans in the legal field would not mean they are inadequately represented in the profession.

I still think you will have a great cycle, however! And I wish you nothing but the best <3

Ah, I see. Thank you for making it more clear to me. Someone told me around the same thing, but I still didn't fully understand it.

Thanks for your support (: I've been so nervous, it's nice knowing some people think I'll do well.