With a 170+ LSAT, is this the smartest strategy? Forum

[Dr. Strangelove]

I've been hearing that low GPA applicants with 170+ LSAT's with decent WE have a great shot at Northwestern (especially with ED).
I'm planning to go into accounting if I don't go to law school after college. My accounting/finance GPA is a 4.0, and I've heard from public firms that will give me an enormous boost despite my lackluster GPA..especially if I get a graduate degree in accounting AND pass the CPA exam.
I'm assuming a year or two in a public accounting firm will be enough work experience for Northwestern.
So is the best strategy to only plan to go to law school if I get into a T12 school (T14 sans Georgetown/Cornell) and otherwise take the accounting route and if I still want law school, then apply to NU and its peer schools?

[nycsoul87]

Wow, that's basically what I'm planning on doing... With how bad the legal market is, why bother going now? Why not go and pick up a CPA credential and come back to this in a few years? I think that's a great idea, but I'm obviously biased b/c I'm trying to do the same thing. Only thing is, what's the entry level accounting job market like right now? I did Econ undergrad so I'm not too familiar with how accounting is faring ITE.

[jks289]

Will you have to invest any money in getting a graduate degree in accounting? Even cost of living loans? If not, then I think it makes sense to wait out the economy a little and distance yourself from your GPA. But if you are looking at going into debt, or even just spending significantly, on a graduate degree you only really want to boost your law school application then I think that is a big mistake. A CPA isn't going to help you with legal employment. In terms of work experience just picking up an entry level job that pays the bills and working your way up for a few years will qualify for Northwestern, depending on how bad your GPA is, and if you really score that on the LSAT, of course.

[mountaineerlaw]

Depends on the market you in (obviously), but I know where my undergrad was the firms weren't hiring. We had ~40 people going for internships and only 15 people got them (in the past, about 85% of people looking for internships got them). Out of those 15, I believe 4 of them got solid, "you're hired", jobs once they get their MAcc. A bunch of them (meaning 5-8) got "If the economy picks up before the Fall of 2011, you're hired." So while the mass media will tell you accounting is recession proof - the numbers, at least from my undergrad, say otherwise.

Edit: The real estate market crashing has crushed many firms that are right below "Big 4" status, at least in the SE. The smaller firms and the Big 4 haven't been hit as hard, but they are hurting also, and seemed to be the ones that gave the conditional offers.

That being said, the implementation of IFRS will probably cause an uptick in new hires, just b/c the partners and middle management won't want to have to deal with learning new standards that are just now being taught in accounting classrooms.

[lostjake]

Depends on the market you in (obviously), but I know where my undergrad was the firms weren't hiring. We had ~40 people going for internships and only 15 people got them (in the past, about 85% of people looking for internships got them). Out of those 15, I believe 4 of them got solid, "you're hired", jobs once they get their MAcc. A bunch of them (meaning 5-8) got "If the economy picks up before the Fall of 2011, you're hired." So while the mass media will tell you accounting is recession proof - the numbers, at least from my undergrad, say otherwise.

Edit: The real estate market crashing has crushed many firms that are right below "Big 4" status, at least in the SE. The smaller firms and the Big 4 haven't been hit as hard, but they are hurting also, and seemed to be the ones that gave the conditional offers.

That being said, the implementation of IFRS will probably cause an uptick in new hires, just b/c the partners and middle management won't want to have to deal with learning new standards that are just now being taught in accounting classrooms.

TITCR. After accounting dropped the requirement for calc the void was filled and its now like trying to find a job teaching.

[DerrickRose]

I'm glad you're so interested in this stuff now, but spend your time studying for the LSAT right now.

Having a fantastic strategy with your 171 <<<<<< Winging it with a 175

[Tanicius]

His LSAT is higher than a 175.

OP, this year I would do whatever you would intend to do if you didn't plan on law school, but apply to Northwestern anyway and see what happens. If you don't get in, or if you don't get a scholarship to your satisfaction, just apply next year and continue working.

[DerrickRose]

His LSAT is higher than a 175.

His profile says he's taking it in June, and don't give me practice tests, especially when you're up in the 170's.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I'm glad you're so interested in this stuff now, but spend your time studying for the LSAT right now.

Having a fantastic strategy with your 171 <<<<<< Winging it with a 175

I agree with that. LSAT is top priority right now.
From studying all of this, the higher the LSAT, the better.

[Tanicius]

His LSAT is higher than a 175.

His profile says he's taking it in June, and don't give me practice tests, especially when you're up in the 170's.

I thought I saw the OP give out 2.8/180 in the "guess where the above poster is going to law school" thread. Must have been seeking hypothetical opinions..

[Dr. Strangelove]

His LSAT is higher than a 175.

His profile says he's taking it in June, and don't give me practice tests, especially when you're up in the 170's.

I thought I saw the OP give out 2.8/180 in the "guess where the above poster is going to law school" thread. Must have been seeking hypothetical opinions..

Yea, that was hypothetical. Needed it for motivation to study for the LSAT.
I can already do around low 170's but need to put in that extra work to score 175+.

[Dr. Strangelove]

My current strategy is to apply to law school as early as possible.
I might do the ED thing (depends on how I actually do on the LSAT) but I hope that sending my applications out in September will give enough of a boost.

[CanadianWolf]

Northwestern's tolerance for "low" GPAs may depend upon the undergraduate major. Majors such as electrical engineering, aerospace engineering & chemical engineering are well known to be highly demanding & low grading especially at certain schools like Georgia Tech, CMU & the Univ. of Illinois and a few other undergraduate universities.

[jks289]

Northwestern's tolerance for "low" GPAs may depend upon the undergraduate major. Majors such as electrical engineering, aerospace engineering & chemical engineering are well known to be highly demanding & low grading especially at certain schools like Georgia Tech, CMU & the Univ. of Illinois and a few other undergraduate universities.

At least anecdotally on TLS, there isn't any evidence of Northwestern doing this. They seem to care about LSAT, GPA, and quality/duration of work experience. If one element is weak, but the other two sufficiently strong (in any combination, really) they are willing to overlook. But difficult major seems to barely qualify as a soft.

[09042014]

Depends on the market you in (obviously), but I know where my undergrad was the firms weren't hiring. We had ~40 people going for internships and only 15 people got them (in the past, about 85% of people looking for internships got them). Out of those 15, I believe 4 of them got solid, "you're hired", jobs once they get their MAcc. A bunch of them (meaning 5-8) got "If the economy picks up before the Fall of 2011, you're hired." So while the mass media will tell you accounting is recession proof - the numbers, at least from my undergrad, say otherwise.

Edit: The real estate market crashing has crushed many firms that are right below "Big 4" status, at least in the SE. The smaller firms and the Big 4 haven't been hit as hard, but they are hurting also, and seemed to be the ones that gave the conditional offers.

That being said, the implementation of IFRS will probably cause an uptick in new hires, just b/c the partners and middle management won't want to have to deal with learning new standards that are just now being taught in accounting classrooms.

TITCR. After accounting dropped the requirement for calc the void was filled and its now like trying to find a job teaching.

You don't need to take calc for accounting? Weaaaak. Not even business calc.

[09042014]

Northwestern's tolerance for "low" GPAs may depend upon the undergraduate major. Majors such as electrical engineering, aerospace engineering & chemical engineering are well known to be highly demanding & low grading especially at certain schools like Georgia Tech, CMU & the Univ. of Illinois and a few other undergraduate universities.

With decent work experience they won't care.

[09042014]

Here is what I'd do. Get a job in accounting, or business. Don't worry about the CPA for now, the investment isn't worth it for two years of working. And apply ED to UVA and then Penn/Mich each year. They probably won't take you, but they might. It is worth the risk. After applying ED to VPM the first cycle, apply to NU ED and claim 2 years of work experience, you'll probably get it.

Also I've read about one guy who rode the UVA waitlist until end of august, and then EDed as soon as apps opened and got in. They rewarded his loyalty.

Having a job means you can apply a couple years in a row waiting to get lucky. If after three years, you can get your masters at night and get your CPA.

[NayBoer]

Northwestern's tolerance for "low" GPAs may depend upon the undergraduate major. Majors such as electrical engineering, aerospace engineering & chemical engineering are well known to be highly demanding & low grading especially at certain schools like Georgia Tech, CMU & the Univ. of Illinois and a few other undergraduate universities.

Nope.

I can thankfully say it does not.

[09042014]

Northwestern's tolerance for "low" GPAs may depend upon the undergraduate major. Majors such as electrical engineering, aerospace engineering & chemical engineering are well known to be highly demanding & low grading especially at certain schools like Georgia Tech, CMU & the Univ. of Illinois and a few other undergraduate universities.

Nope.

I can thankfully say it does not.

I didn't want to say this in my post, but lol yes.

[Mattalones]

TITCR. After accounting dropped the requirement for calc the void was filled and its now like trying to find a job teaching.

And what exactly is that supposed to be like? Careful with teacher hating

[NayBoer]

Here is what I'd do. Get a job in accounting, or business. Don't worry about the CPA for now, the investment isn't worth it for two years of working. And apply ED to UVA and then Penn/Mich each year. They probably won't take you, but they might. It is worth the risk. After applying ED to VPM the first cycle, apply to NU ED and claim 2 years of work experience, you'll probably get it.

Also I've read about one guy who rode the UVA waitlist until end of august, and then EDed as soon as apps opened and got in. They rewarded his loyalty.

Having a job means you can apply a couple years in a row waiting to get lucky. If after three years, you can get your masters at night and get your CPA.

This is a great strategy, OP.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Here is what I'd do. Get a job in accounting, or business. Don't worry about the CPA for now, the investment isn't worth it for two years of working. And apply ED to UVA and then Penn/Mich each year. They probably won't take you, but they might. It is worth the risk. After applying ED to VPM the first cycle, apply to NU ED and claim 2 years of work experience, you'll probably get it.

Also I've read about one guy who rode the UVA waitlist until end of august, and then EDed as soon as apps opened and got in. They rewarded his loyalty.

Having a job means you can apply a couple years in a row waiting to get lucky. If after three years, you can get your masters at night and get your CPA.

This sounds like a really good strategy!
Thanks, Desert Fox! I thought NU would expect to see a CPA if I went on the accounting route- but given law school admissions- that expectation doesn't really make sense..

[09042014]

Here is what I'd do. Get a job in accounting, or business. Don't worry about the CPA for now, the investment isn't worth it for two years of working. And apply ED to UVA and then Penn/Mich each year. They probably won't take you, but they might. It is worth the risk. After applying ED to VPM the first cycle, apply to NU ED and claim 2 years of work experience, you'll probably get it.

Also I've read about one guy who rode the UVA waitlist until end of august, and then EDed as soon as apps opened and got in. They rewarded his loyalty.

Having a job means you can apply a couple years in a row waiting to get lucky. If after three years, you can get your masters at night and get your CPA.

This sounds like a really good strategy!
Thanks, Desert Fox! I thought NU would expect to see a CPA if I went on the accounting route- but given law school admissions- that expectation doesn't really make sense..

No go study the LSAT. We can plan crazy admissions strategies after the LSAT.

What were your last 5 PTs?

[NayBoer]

ITT: DF pays forward his splitter good fortune.

[09042014]

ITT: DF pays forward his splitter good fortune.

IRL I've created an even better splitter. 2.8 Pting in the 170s, african american, electrical engineer.