Top Law Schools

LSAT taken once: 159
GPA: 3.94

Waitlisted at UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt and UC Davis
Accepted to UW with in-state tuition and $15K scholarship, UA, Emory with $57K scholarship, UC Irvine with $45K scholarship, UC Hastings, & Pepperdine with $45K scholarship.
With the scholarships, UW, Emory, UC Irvine and Pepperdine will be fairly equivalent costs. Parents are helping finance so won't be taking out loans.

Interested in International, Transactional & IP. Goal is to live and work permanently in CA (preferably Southern California or the Bay Area). Where should I go to get the best job in this location?

You should retake the lsat.

Retake. Don't waste the 3.94. You get to a 170(even lower honestly) and you are into Berkely

Thanks for the optimism, but the 159 was a few points higher than my highest practice test score and I think it's a little late to retake now. I'm just wondering what would be my best option now? I'm leaning toward UW in the hopes of getting connected with a CA alumni group.

Little0L wrote:Thanks for the optimism, but the 159 was a few points higher than my highest practice test score and I think it's a little late to retake now. I'm just wondering what would be my best option now? I'm leaning toward UW in the hopes of getting connected with a CA alumni group.

You're not going to get any advice other than retake with those numbers. Just to let you know. I'm a 169/4.0, and the majority of the advice I get on here is retake as well. If you're not considering a retake as an option, then you'll just get frustrated.

0L opinion-> either retake or minimize your debt in an area where you don't mind practicing law. Can't count on a regional degree outside of CA taking you back to CA.

Retake. Reapply next year or the year after next.

Little0L wrote:Thanks for the optimism, but the 159 was a few points higher than my highest practice test score and I think it's a little late to retake now. I'm just wondering what would be my best option now? I'm leaning toward UW in the hopes of getting connected with a CA alumni group.

There is no choice to be made here. You must retake.

With that GPA you won't stay on the waitlist long at those schools, you will probably get money too.

Retake

Retake. But if I have to choose out of the listed schools, Irvine is your best bet.

Retake in June at the very least. With that GPA you should sit out and take the LSAT in October. The sky is the limit for you with that GPA. It would be a terrible choice to go to law school with a 159

Little0L wrote:LSAT taken once: 159
GPA: 3.94

Waitlisted at UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt and UC Davis
Accepted to UW with in-state tuition and $15K scholarship, UA, Emory with $57K scholarship, UC Irvine with $45K scholarship, UC Hastings, & Pepperdine with $45K scholarship.
With the scholarships, UW, Emory, UC Irvine and Pepperdine will be fairly equivalent costs. Parents are helping finance so won't be taking out loans.

Interested in International, Transactional & IP. Goal is to live and work permanently in CA (preferably Southern California or the Bay Area). Where should I go to get the best job in this location?

If you want transactional or IP work, I'm sorry to say you're out of luck. If you're okay living and working in Washington for the rest of your life, then take the in-state + scholly at UW.