Do I have any chance at T-14 Schools (specifically Columbia and Harvard)? Forum

[Neacal]

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the role that my ethnic background might play in the application process or if I should even indicate my ethnicity at all?

As mentioned in the OP, my dad is Cuban and Puerto Rican and my mother is English. I've never provided any information about my ethnic background on any of my previous applications, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should do so this time.

It seems that being URM (and especially Puerto Rican) might improve my chances at some of my top choices, but I'm somewhat conflicted. On the one hand, I'm hesitant to portray myself as "under-represented" because I come from an upper-middle-class background and my Cuban/Puerto Rican father's great grandparents all came from Europe at the end of the 1800's. I did live in Miami and I do speak Spanish very well, but I'm not sure a tall blond guy from an upmarket area of London is who they're targeting.

On the other hand, though, the question is "what is your ethnic background?" and not "Do you come from an impoverished background" or "Do you look Northern European". If I answer Puerto Rican/Cuban/European to the question, I am definitely being truthful because that is where my grandparents were born and raised.

[Hat.trick]

Yeah nobody is going to be able to help you until you get an actual LSAT score. You can get into Columbia and maybe Harvard with a 172. I wouldn't give any weight to your ACT score. the LSAT is a very different test. You do have a solid diag of 164 so work on it.

[kartelite]

It seems that being URM (and especially Puerto Rican) might improve my chances at some of my top choices, but I'm somewhat conflicted. On the one hand, I'm hesitant to portray myself as "under-represented" because I come from an upper-middle-class background and my Cuban/Puerto Rican father's great grandparents all came from Europe at the end of the 1800's. I did live in Miami and I do speak Spanish very well, but I'm not sure a tall blond guy from an upmarket area of London is who they're targeting.

On the other hand, though, the question is "what is your ethnic background?" and not "Do you come from an impoverished background" or "Do you look Northern European". If I answer Puerto Rican/Cuban/European to the question, I am definitely being truthful because that is where my grandparents were born and raised.

The URM thing has nothing to do with your socioeconomic status or even physical appearance, it is about your ethnic background. If your grandparents are from PR, go ahead and indicate your URM status, everyone knows that PR is not a homogeneous country and people's ancestors come from various continents including Europe.

[Neacal]

Will Law Schools care/look at my grades in the masters programme? It starts in October and I'm planning on applying in November, so I won't even have any grades to submit when I apply.

Looking through what some other people have posted, it seems like they only care about undergraduate GPA. Is that the case or am I mistaken?