3.0 UG STEM PhD 170 LSAT Please rank my list Forum

[biomed123]

Hey all I have posted here before but I have just finished applying and want thoughts on this list and whether I should add some more safety schools or take a few more shots at some T14/T20. It is tough for me to know where I stand due to the split between my GPA/LSAT and from what I hear the STEM PhD may or may not help and it is likely school specific. My current list of schools:
Columbia, Emory, UWSTL, Boston U, Michigan, BC, Vanderbilt, Berkley, Georgetown, Northwestern, Cornell, University of Florida, and OSU.
I know many of those schools are big long shots: Berkly, Columbia etc. but they are located in big cities for what I want to do (biomed/tech patent law) and are amazing schools so I am giving it a chance. My question is am I missing any schools I should take a shot on? Do I need more safety schools between the T20 schools Emory etc. and UF, OSU. Any help would obviously be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot for any and all help

[trebekismyhero]

Hey all I have posted here before but I have just finished applying and want thoughts on this list and whether I should add some more safety schools or take a few more shots at some T14/T20. It is tough for me to know where I stand due to the split between my GPA/LSAT and from what I hear the STEM PhD may or may not help and it is likely school specific. My current list of schools:
Columbia, Emory, UWSTL, Boston U, Michigan, BC, Vanderbilt, Berkley, Georgetown, Northwestern, Cornell, University of Florida, and OSU.
I know many of those schools are big long shots: Berkly, Columbia etc. but they are located in big cities for what I want to do (biomed/tech patent law) and are amazing schools so I am giving it a chance. My question is am I missing any schools I should take a shot on? Do I need more safety schools between the T20 schools Emory etc. and UF, OSU. Any help would obviously be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot for any and all help

Where do you want to practice? These are all random schools outside of the t14. Apply to non-t14 schools in the places you want to practice so you can make connections. If you are going to throw out more random apps I would include UIUC and GW since they have strong IP placement and you would probably get a full ride at UIUC and scholarship money at GW.

You have 0% chance at Berkley and Columbia. Probably less than 5% chance at Cornell, Georgetown, and Michigan. NU is splitter friendly, but 170 might not be high enough. If you want NU, retake for a couple more points on the LSAT.

You will get good money from WUSTL, probably in at Vandy, but less money. In at the others.

[biomed123]

I want to go to a school that is in a biotech hub and will give a good chance to gain valuable connections and experience. The biggest hubs are: DC, NYC, Boston, SF, with Atlanta and Chicago behind those four. Obviously I'm a long shot at any T14 but for some like Columbia and Berkley it seemed worth the $ to throw it out there and see what happens considering there is not really other viable options in those cities. Thanks for the advice and I will send out applications to those schools it certainly couldn't hurt at this point.

[silenttimer]

Just curious... rather than law school, why not just go work for a tech/engineering firm?

[biomed123]

Personally I am pretty over with bench top science and I know that it is not what I want to do anymore. Ignoring that I am sure I could find work as a tech or a specialist however the pay is less than you would think especially since my specialty is not incredibly well sought after in industry. I am applying to a few things in that direction but I am leaning pretty heavily towards the law school route both because personally I think ill enjoy it and also due to likely higher pay and more stability.

[Lexaholik]

Hey all I have posted here before but I have just finished applying and want thoughts on this list and whether I should add some more safety schools or take a few more shots at some T14/T20. It is tough for me to know where I stand due to the split between my GPA/LSAT and from what I hear the STEM PhD may or may not help and it is likely school specific. My current list of schools:
Columbia, Emory, UWSTL, Boston U, Michigan, BC, Vanderbilt, Berkley, Georgetown, Northwestern, Cornell, University of Florida, and OSU.
I know many of those schools are big long shots: Berkly, Columbia etc. but they are located in big cities for what I want to do (biomed/tech patent law) and are amazing schools so I am giving it a chance. My question is am I missing any schools I should take a shot on? Do I need more safety schools between the T20 schools Emory etc. and UF, OSU. Any help would obviously be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot for any and all help

Where do you want to practice? These are all random schools outside of the t14. Apply to non-t14 schools in the places you want to practice so you can make connections. If you are going to throw out more random apps I would include UIUC and GW since they have strong IP placement and you would probably get a full ride at UIUC and scholarship money at GW.

You have 0% chance at Berkley and Columbia. Probably less than 5% chance at Cornell, Georgetown, and Michigan. NU is splitter friendly, but 170 might not be high enough. If you want NU, retake for a couple more points on the LSAT.

You will get good money from WUSTL, probably in at Vandy, but less money. In at the others.

You don't have a 0 chance at Berkeley and Columbia. Your odds aren't good, but they're not zero. The truth is that even if 99 out of 100 splitters get rejected, you might still be the one person. For example, here's a low GPA high LSAT splitter who got into Berkeley: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4#p7669314 You really never know what happens with admissions.

Also, a 170 is good enough for NU even in a more competitive admissions cycle. NU loves high LSATs so much that they'll let you in even if your GPA is in the low 2s. As long as you're willing to hang out on the waitlist, you have a decent chance. It's possible that a 171+ will give you better odds, but let's not kid ourselves here, a 170 is good enough.

Personally I think you should blanket the T14. It's not a ton of additional work, and if you put together a good application you might surprise yourself. Years ago, and during a competitive admissions cycle where high LSATs were a dime a dozen, I was a candidate with a 2.9/170 and was told I probably wouldn't get into any of the top schools. Today I'm a T14 grad. It can happen to you too. Cast a wide net, put together a good app, and hope to get lucky.