155 LSAT and 3.5 GPA from a crappy undergrad Forum

[TigerHawk]

I'm also a white mail (so there is no way I'm getting any minority priorities).

Do you think there is any possible way I could sneak into a Top 100 Law School?

[Sheffield]

Sure. Unguarded back door late at night.

Short of that think 101 with check in hand (these days being what they are, you might even pull off a 10% discount).

[TigerHawk]

Sure. Unguarded back door late at night.

Short of that think 101 with check in hand (these days being what they are, you might even pull off a 10% discount).

Mind you...

I have absolutely no ties to any particular area of the country. (If there was a top 100 law school up in Alaska, and if I was accepted, I would go there for sure)

I also have a ton of money (without describing my income sources, I've been assured that I won't have to take out any loans to go to law school. So scholarships/etc. mean absolutely nothing to me)

The only thing I care about is whether my law school is Top 100. I'm going to apply to at least 30 of these law schools.

[Sheffield]

Congratulations — welcome to LS.

Of those 30, I’d be interested to hear how many will invite you in. My optimistic guess, around half, give or take. Let us know how many said yes and how far up the ladder you managed to get. Might be better than some expect.

[llachans]

You'll probably be able to get into some schools with a scholarship. If I was in your position, I'd focus on low-ranked regional schools that do well (that you could show some "ties" to; whatever those might be). You say you're focused on top 100 schools but I would allow yourself to branch out a little more with those stacks. For example, a regional TTT like University of South Dakota probably places better than some TT in an oversaturated market (cough John Marshall cough). I'd really look over employment stats and focus on that compared to rankings. Once you dip into the lower end of the TT, there's a very fine line between schools. Allow employment stats and regional preferences to guide you and focus less on the ranking. It's not like you're compared a T-14 school to a TT school, where rank is reflective of employment prospects.

Full disclosure: I myself had a 160/3.5. I got many 75% and full ride scholarships and ended up choosing a TTT in the state I want to practice for a 75% scholarship. Their employment is much better than some of the TTs I got accepted to with money and have yet to regret my decision. Feel free to PM me if you have questions about specific schools.

[stuckinthemiddle]

You're a white mail?

[goldenflash19]

Top 100 distinction is absolutely meaningless. Given the kind of schools you could get into with your #s, no one is going to care whether or not the school is Top 100. You need to focus on job prospects in the region you want to work. Your numbers are mediocre, and a retake would really help you get into a school that gives you even halfway-decent job prospects. Just because you have money, that doesn't mean you should recklessly blow it on a three-year endeavor that is more likely to lead to failure than success.

I have absolutely no ties to any particular area of the country. (If there was a top 100 law school up in Alaska, and if I was accepted, I would go there for sure)

Do you live/are from Alaska? If you want to work there, research what schools place into the relatively few legal positions there. I'm sure there's a thread on TLS about it. If I had to guess, stronger West Coast regionals would give you a decent shot if you have strong ties.

[eric922]

Assuming you aren't trolling us, retake the LSAT.

[CyanIdes Of March]

Why does it matter to you if the school is "Top 100"? There's only a little more than 200 accredited law schools in the U.S. (as far as I know) and anything beyond the top ~20 is more or less a regional school. What matters is employment prospects, not meaningless ranks beyond the very tip top of the ranking system. I'd save that pile of money you have and go somewhere cheap that has at least decent employment prospects in a place you'd like to live. Going to the University of Absolutely Worst Place to Live at rank 87 is not going to be any better than University of Great Town at rank 115.

[90convoy]

donTTT go to law school with that lsat player.

[dr123]

white mail, eh?

[justonemoregame]

Get a job

[TigerHawk]

I appreciate all the responses here.

Only problem is... It's my father who is paying for my legal education IN FULL no matter where I choose to go.

The only string attached is that he said it MUST be a Top 100 school. He says if I want to go to a non-ranked school, I'd have to pay the tuition myself (i.e. take out loans).

I'll try to explain the concept of regional-preference to him, but he seems pretty rigid on that requirement. Thanks for all of your input.

[CanadianWolf]

Consider retaking the LSAT to increase your score & your options.

[sinfiery]

He may pay for your entire education, but you'll still be the one with a JD, probably no job, and probably a father who doesn't understand how that could even be possible.


Retake, break 171, ED CLS/NYU, if unsuccessful, ED UVA.

Or whatever you may get on your LSAT, after putting some serious effort into it, come back here and we can help you out.

[PRgradBYU]

He may pay for your entire education, but you'll still be the one with a JD, probably no job, and probably a father who doesn't understand how that could even be possible.


Retake, break 171, ED CLS/NYU, if unsuccessful, ED UVA.

Or whatever you may get on your LSAT, after putting some serious effort into it, come back here and we can help you out.

+1. Sure, there is definitely a top 100 law school that will take you in with your numbers as is, but it won't be a school worth going to.

[stuckinthemiddle]

You have no idea how lucky you are to have your law school paid for completely. You need to aim high and not waste this opportunity on an awful "top 100" law school.

[20141023]

.

[isuperserial]

Is retaking out of the question? If you study, retake, get a 165+, some actually reasonable doors start to open up. Powerscore books are good. You say you have a shitload of money, so taking a class with Testmasters might be a good idea too.

[052220151]

donTTT go to law school with that lsat player.

I'm thrilled to see you are becoming a quality poaster

[TripTrip]

Is retaking out of the question? If you study, retake, get a 165+, some actually reasonable doors start to open up. Powerscore books are good. You say you have a shitload of money, so taking a class with Testmasters might be a good idea too.

Credited.

[paranoia4ya]

My parents care about me too, we should be friends

Figure out where you would be okay living before you apply. I recently talked to a student from Alaska going to a lower t100 school. He was getting decent grades, but he thought the job prospects would be better for him in another part of the country simply because the school was ranked around 5-15 places better than the school he was admitted to in the state he wished to find gainful employment. It was awkward, I forgot to tell him this, but I really hope he considers transferring.

unfortunately i cant offer you too much advice as i have never met anyone who is from and wishes to stay in Alaska.. though I would highly recommend talking to some of the legal employers you may or may not have ties to in the state and figure out what they are looking for when selecting their staff.

[reasonable_man]

I appreciate all the responses here.

Only problem is... It's my father who is paying for my legal education IN FULL no matter where I choose to go.

The only string attached is that he said it MUST be a Top 100 school. He says if I want to go to a non-ranked school, I'd have to pay the tuition myself (i.e. take out loans).

I'll try to explain the concept of regional-preference to him, but he seems pretty rigid on that requirement. Thanks for all of your input.

I wonder which of you is a bigger idiot; you or your father?

[PRgradBYU]

I appreciate all the responses here.

Only problem is... It's my father who is paying for my legal education IN FULL no matter where I choose to go.

The only string attached is that he said it MUST be a Top 100 school. He says if I want to go to a non-ranked school, I'd have to pay the tuition myself (i.e. take out loans).

I'll try to explain the concept of regional-preference to him, but he seems pretty rigid on that requirement. Thanks for all of your input.

I wonder which of you is a bigger idiot; you or your father?

You don't need to insult OP's father; that's completely unnecessary. Clearly, neither of them (well, at least OP's father) know anything about law school, so I'd say it's more ignorance than stupidity. Either way, TCR is RETAKE.

[Tekrul]

3.5 is in range for many good schools and the "crap" undergrad is largely irrelevant outside of HYS.

I would suggest retaking the LSAT with significant practice and studying. Bump that to 165 and you're looking at Fordham and other well placing regionals.