175 LSAT / government work

[ihopeigetin1234]

Hi everyone,

So I'm an international and American student (grew up elsewhere but have U.S. Citizenship)
175 LSAT
Past work experience includes four years in the Democratic Caucus of a state legislature working under the speaker in the areas of healthcare and labor policy and one year as a civil rights enforcement section student for the state attorney general.

I'm applying to all major Ivy League universities this year, as well as some others. What are my chances?! I'm stressed but feel I have enough under my belt to show an interest in the law as well as breadth of policy understanding.

[thechinaman12]

gpa?

[ihopeigetin1234]

just below a distinction average - so just below a 3.0 - but where I'm from, we have a massive scaling system where getting distinctions is extremely difficult - and high distinctions almost impossible - problem with America is grade inflation - i feel the GPA will be a problem for me

[ihopeigetin1234]

but my letters of recommendation are from the speaker and the attorney general - will that hold weight?

[Clemenceau]

I think, but am not sure, that international gpas are not really considered as a big part of the admissions process, probably for the reason you describe. So its kindof like your only viable number is the lsat score.

This doesn't apply to canada though.

[Longtimecoming19]

but my letters of recommendation are from the speaker and the attorney general - will that hold weight?

This is a fine soft, but don't count on it helping you too much. Your numbers will make or break your application--the identities of your recommenders will probably only be tiebreakers when you're compared with students who have your numbers but lesser recommenders.

[ballcaps]

yeah, so...

way to go on the lsat. as far as i know, your "gpa" won't matter tremendously, as it won't be reported to the aba.

your lsat puts literally every school in play, and your gpa is irrelevant. that leaves everything else: personal statement, work experience, awards, recommendations, etc.

yours sound quite good.

p.s. if your undergrad is really that intense about grade deflation, i'd write an addendum to explain.