LAW SCHOOL- 149 LSAT 3.8 UGPA- CLIMATE LIKE TEXAS Forum

[ladylaw06]

Can someone suggest the best law schools for me to apply to with a 149 LSAT and a 3.8 UGPA? I'm hoping there are some 2nd tier ones out there.

Thanks!

[kwais]

I recommend Retake University. They have a superb Trial Advocacy program and they are tops in the nation for not wasting awesome GPAs. A little stingy with the scholly though. (Good luck and don't expect too much besides 'retake')

[ladylaw06]

Thanks....I've already taken 3x in 2 years so retaking is not an option right now...but again thanks for your feedback

[Jack Smirks]

I'm honestly curious how you took the LSAT three times and didn't score higher than a 149.

[ladylaw06]

148 oct 2009- lots of self preparation
144 dec 2009- self preparation
149 jun 2010- kaplan- lsat extreme-

[ToTransferOrNot]

148 oct 2009- lots of self preparation
144 dec 2009- self preparation
149 jun 2010- kaplan- lsat extreme-

Don't go to law school. You might do well in school, you might make a fine lawyer - but, the schools that you can get into with those scores have horrible cost/benefit results.

[Flips88]

With that score, law school is probably not for you. You can work 5 years and retake a fresh LSAT and you should probably do some intensive prep/hire a personal tutor. But no school worth your time or money will accept you with that score. You'd be pissing away your future going anywhere that did take you.

[ndirish2010]

Please don't go to law school.

[deadpanic]

Please don't go to law school.

This is actually the best advice.

[crossarmant]

Please don't go to law school.

This is actually the best advice.

Agreed. If you're hell-bent on more schooling, go for a Masters or PhD in something. Your GPA shows that you're intelligent and hard-working, but your LSAT is showing that law school may just not be right for you and you may not be able to think the way you must to be an attorney or successful law student. Please don't go. It's too much money and time for little payout from the schools that you'd get into.

[almightypush]

no school worth your time or money will accept you with that score. You'd be pissing away your future going anywhere that did take you.

[fingersxd]

Please don't go. It's too much money and time for little payout from the schools that you'd get into.

This.


P.S. - If you really want to go to law school, you can petition to be permitted to take the LSAT again. I've heard of this being done successfully. Then, take Testmasters, work your ass off, and get up to 160+. Otherwise you are just throwing away your money.

[Borhas]

148 oct 2009- lots of self preparation
144 dec 2009- self preparation
149 jun 2010- kaplan- lsat extreme-

Don't go to law school. You might do well in school, you might make a fine lawyer - but, the schools that you can get into with those scores have horrible cost/benefit results.

[Jah'rakal]

I think you can try and play around with lawschoolpredictor, or the predictor thing on LSAC, even if they give you low chances, you may still get in, spread your apps, apply to many, all you need is ONE acceptance afterall, some T2 schools will look favorably at your GPA, get some solid personal statements and recs, I think it's more likely than not that you will at least get into one of them

[Flips88]

I think you can try and play around with lawschoolpredictor, or the predictor thing on LSAC, even if they give you low chances, you may still get in, spread your apps, apply to many, all you need is ONE acceptance afterall, some T2 schools will look favorably at your GPA, get some solid personal statements and recs, I think it's more likely than not that you will at least get into one of them

No. Whatever shit hole that accepts people with 149s aren't worth attending. No one wants to be the person with 6 figure debt, no job, and a JD from a joke of a school.

[Jah'rakal]

I think you can try and play around with lawschoolpredictor, or the predictor thing on LSAC, even if they give you low chances, you may still get in, spread your apps, apply to many, all you need is ONE acceptance afterall, some T2 schools will look favorably at your GPA, get some solid personal statements and recs, I think it's more likely than not that you will at least get into one of them

No. Whatever shit hole that accepts people with 149s aren't worth attending. No one wants to be the person with 6 figure debt, no job, and a JD from a joke of a school.

not true, it's no guarantee that OP will get into a good school, but it is still possible for Mid T2 schools to take her, especially if she's URM (not sure if she is)

[Verity]

MS or PhD. Skip the JD.

[ladylaw06]

thanks totransferornot. I really appreciate the honest opinion. I'm very passionate about being able to practice law, but i have to consider all these factors everyone keeps mentioning.

flips88...thanks for the advice... i hadn't really thought about that...

thanks ndirish2010 and deadpanic...

crossarmant..i am pretty hell-bent on more schooling...like i said i'm really passionate about being able to practice law...but i'm starting to think that that now may not be my time... or maybe i'm meant to use my passion for something else... i love helping people..so the options are pretty much unlimited...i really appreciate your opinion

fingersxd... i hadn't heard about that before..but i'm definitely going to have to do some research on that...thanks

thanks borhas & verity...

jah'rakal...i've done that to an extent... i'm definitely going to revisit that option.... and yes i am urm..

[NYC Law]

That changes things, what kind of URM?

Just checked, looks like you have a shot at Houston or SMU. SMU is the winner if you can get in.

[crossarmant]

I'm sorry, but with a 3.8 GPA an URM status, anything short of a 165 LSAT in my opinion seems like a waste. I'd say try for a MPH, MSW, or other direction if you are bent on more schooling and wanting to help people.

[NYC Law]

I'm sorry, but with a 3.8 GPA an URM status, anything short of a 165 LSAT in my opinion seems like a waste. I'd say try for a MPH, MSW, or other direction if you are bent on more schooling and wanting to help people.

Meh, OP can get SMU, which is fine for Texas. It is a waste of a high gpa + URM, but it's pretty convincing OP won't score higher any time soon.

[ndirish2010]

Haven't 3.8/160s got Harvard before?

[crossarmant]

Haven't 3.8/160s got Harvard before?

Even if not Harvard, T1 anywhere is pretty much guaranteed. But I understand if getting any higher on the LSAT is out of the picture. But if that's the case then there is no reason to waste that killer GPA on law school.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

I'm going to have to agree with everyone else here. Don't go to law school, unless you can retake in the future and get into the 160s and make it to a T1. A 149 will not get you into a good law school. As a result, you will have terrible job prospects and a ton of debt. NOT worth it at all.

[Blessedassurance]

I'm sorry, but with a 3.8 GPA an URM status, anything short of a 165 LSAT in my opinion seems like a waste. I'd say try for a MPH, MSW, or other direction if you are bent on more schooling and wanting to help people.

The underlined is bad advice. An AA male got into Harvard with a 160 and a comparable/lower GPA. a 149 is certainly too low but your threshold of 165 against the backdrop of a 3.8 GPA is just bad advice. Another got into UVA (ED) with a 154/155 and a lower gpa (I'm not sure of the GPA but search).

To OP, I'm not sure about the current LSAC rules but at one point, you couldn't take it more than 3 times in a 2-year period. You might want to check the rules as it applies to your situation. I think they may have changed the rules regarding petitioning for a 4th time from a school. I think you have to petition directly to LSAC now but I'm not entirely sure. You might not have to wait five years. If you can find something else to do while you wait to be eligible (work, MS, Phd etc), do it and spend all the time you have studying for your next test. The 149 limits your options with respect to the kind of schools you might get into but with ample studying and a conscientious effort, you can certainly score above at least a 155. I don't know what you got your degree in, the college or your background story but having a 3.8 makes me want to assume that you are smart enough to crack at least 155.

You will probably not get any scholarships with the 149 to the schools that will accept you with such a score and going to such schools will be a very, very risky thing to do and I will caution against it. If you're dead certain on being a lawyer, you will have to improve your score.

Rant: I don't know why people on these boards insist on considering people with lower LSAT scores stupid or not capable of succeeding in law school. Someone with a sub 3.0 gpa somehow "didn't take his undergrad seriously" and is otherwise smart because he scored 170+ plus on one exam which doesn't measure shit. Splitter my ass. Fail the LSAT and somehow, everyone looks down on you, pfft. \Rant

To OP: At the risk of being condescending, do not lose hope. Law School will always be there, it just might not happen soon enough for you but hang in there. In the end, people are trying to give you good advise, they're just being assholes about it.