Plz tell me where to apply 159, 3.5, MA Forum

[CatherineZetaScarn1]

I have a 159 LSAT (already used all three of my takes), 3.5 GPA, Mexican American, was a leader in tons of orgs on campus, currently serving with AmeriCorps at a food and resource center. I applied last year and got hit with a WL from every place I applied from BU to Northeastern. I applied again this year, earlier and with more experience hoping that I'd get into many of the places I got WLed at last year. So far, I've been WL at one (BC) and rejected at another (GWU). I'm really not sure what I did wrong, I rewrote my personal statement and it's a lot stronger than before. I put down literally every single thing I've ever been involved in but honestly now I'm getting worried. There's no way I'll take another year off so...where do I apply? I need some safety schools or any school where I'm likely to get accepted. I know it's late but I really thought I had a better shot this year. Any advice would be appreciated!!

The places I've applied so far: Fordham, BU, BC, George Mason, GWU, W&M, UW.

Edit: I want to pursue public interest law in the Northeast preferably.

[grades??]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

I would have to agree 100% with this. I know that it sucks that you might have to wait another year (This is year 3 for me before law school), but this late in the game, it would be crazy for you to be applying to safeties where you will receive a fraction of the money you would get by applying early next cycle. ESPECIALLY if you're planning on doing public interest law, I think it would be foolish to rush to attend a safety school at near sticker/sticker and be looking at close to $250,000 as you look to do PI.

[bunney_j]

I have a 159 LSAT (already used all three of my takes), 3.5 GPA, Mexican American, was a leader in tons of orgs on campus, currently serving with AmeriCorps at a food and resource center. I applied last year and got hit with a WL from every place I applied from BU to Northeastern. I applied again this year, earlier and with more experience hoping that I'd get into many of the places I got WLed at last year. So far, I've been WL at one (BC) and rejected at another (GWU). I'm really not sure what I did wrong, I rewrote my personal statement and it's a lot stronger than before. I put down literally every single thing I've ever been involved in but honestly now I'm getting worried. There's no way I'll take another year off so...where do I apply? I need some safety schools or any school where I'm likely to get accepted. I know it's late but I really thought I had a better shot this year. Any advice would be appreciated!!

The places I've applied so far: Fordham, BU, BC, George Mason, GWU, W&M, UW.

Edit: I want to pursue public interest law in the Northeast preferably.

Rutgers, Cardozo, CUNY Law, WUSTL, American, Texas, USC. You can also try t1 schools or even t14 like Cornell or UVA if they still have apps open. Don't listen to the above poster. I know URMs with your stats currently at t20 and t14 schools. Feel free to PM me - a URM who is a reapplicant as well.

[bunney_j]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

I would have to agree 100% with this. I know that it sucks that you might have to wait another year (This is year 3 for me before law school), but this late in the game, it would be crazy for you to be applying to safeties where you will receive a fraction of the money you would get by applying early next cycle. ESPECIALLY if you're planning on doing public interest law, I think it would be foolish to rush to attend a safety school at near sticker/sticker and be looking at close to $250,000 as you look to do PI.

Idk. For a URM her cycle might actually turn out well if she can blanket schools like WUSTL/Indiana/Notre Dame etc. who need diversity and have lower 25ths around 160/161. Arizona State too. I would say you can easily get a t20 if your application is well crafted. Just apply to more places, even reach schools. I personally know a MA guy at Cornell with a 160 and an AA at Emory with a 154...

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

I have a 159 LSAT (already used all three of my takes), 3.5 GPA, Mexican American, was a leader in tons of orgs on campus, currently serving with AmeriCorps at a food and resource center. I applied last year and got hit with a WL from every place I applied from BU to Northeastern. I applied again this year, earlier and with more experience hoping that I'd get into many of the places I got WLed at last year. So far, I've been WL at one (BC) and rejected at another (GWU). I'm really not sure what I did wrong, I rewrote my personal statement and it's a lot stronger than before. I put down literally every single thing I've ever been involved in but honestly now I'm getting worried. There's no way I'll take another year off so...where do I apply? I need some safety schools or any school where I'm likely to get accepted. I know it's late but I really thought I had a better shot this year. Any advice would be appreciated!!

The places I've applied so far: Fordham, BU, BC, George Mason, GWU, W&M, UW.

Edit: I want to pursue public interest law in the Northeast preferably.

Rutgers, Cardozo, CUNY Law, WUSTL, American, Texas, USC. You can also try t1 schools or even t14 like Cornell or UVA if they still have apps open. Don't listen to the above poster. I know URMs with your stats currently at t20 and t14 schools. Feel free to PM me - a URM who is a reapplicant as well.

did your URM friends apply in February as well? Are they looking to do PI Law after attending law school at sticker price?
-Reapplicant

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

I would have to agree 100% with this. I know that it sucks that you might have to wait another year (This is year 3 for me before law school), but this late in the game, it would be crazy for you to be applying to safeties where you will receive a fraction of the money you would get by applying early next cycle. ESPECIALLY if you're planning on doing public interest law, I think it would be foolish to rush to attend a safety school at near sticker/sticker and be looking at close to $250,000 as you look to do PI.

Idk. For a URM her cycle might actually turn out well if she can blanket schools like WUSTL/Indiana/Notre Dame etc. who need diversity and have lower 25ths around 160/161. Arizona State too. I would say you can easily get a t20 if your application is well crafted. Just apply to more places, even reach schools. I personally know a MA guy at Cornell with a 160 and an AA at Emory with a 154...

Yes, that would be a great cycle...if you think that receiving less than half of the scholarship she could've gotten by applying early next cycle is what you mean by "turn out well."

[zot1]

Apply to UCI. You're not competitive with your stats, but if you write a good personal statement about public interest stuff, they might take a chance on you if they can make it work number-wise. I know UCI does make an effort every year to get in a couple of students with a low lsat who show extraordinary qualities otherwise (I'm assuming you have an impressive resume). You're late in the cycle though so that might work against you, but UCI doesn't charge a fee for the application so why not go crazy?

[bunney_j]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

I would have to agree 100% with this. I know that it sucks that you might have to wait another year (This is year 3 for me before law school), but this late in the game, it would be crazy for you to be applying to safeties where you will receive a fraction of the money you would get by applying early next cycle. ESPECIALLY if you're planning on doing public interest law, I think it would be foolish to rush to attend a safety school at near sticker/sticker and be looking at close to $250,000 as you look to do PI.

Idk. For a URM her cycle might actually turn out well if she can blanket schools like WUSTL/Indiana/Notre Dame etc. who need diversity and have lower 25ths around 160/161. Arizona State too. I would say you can easily get a t20 if your application is well crafted. Just apply to more places, even reach schools. I personally know a MA guy at Cornell with a 160 and an AA at Emory with a 154...

Yes, that would be a great cycle...if you think that receiving less than half of the scholarship she could've gotten by applying early next cycle is what you mean by "turn out well."

Lol point blank said there's no way she'll wait another year. People on this site prescribe the "best" fit that isn't practical for some people. If she is set on law school THIS cycle, yeah, I'd say going and paying sticker at Cornell or half at Emory is a pretty decent outcome with her stats. Plus a school like CUNY or Rutgers has good enough PI connections and will be lower cost, and probably even give her money.

@CatherineZetaScarn1 :
URM cycles are unpredictable. And reapplying won't necessarily give you a better shot. I was accepted into Chicago last year, applied earlier with a better LSAT and got waitlisted. Held at Northwestern last year and got waitlisted this year. If you want to go to law school, apply to more places across the board, and outside scholarships for URMs. You'll be fine.

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

What is wrong is that cycles are getting more competitive and your LSAT is awful (you say 159 and 150 in different parts of your post). Keep working for a few years and retake again. Law school will always be there.

I would have to agree 100% with this. I know that it sucks that you might have to wait another year (This is year 3 for me before law school), but this late in the game, it would be crazy for you to be applying to safeties where you will receive a fraction of the money you would get by applying early next cycle. ESPECIALLY if you're planning on doing public interest law, I think it would be foolish to rush to attend a safety school at near sticker/sticker and be looking at close to $250,000 as you look to do PI.

Idk. For a URM her cycle might actually turn out well if she can blanket schools like WUSTL/Indiana/Notre Dame etc. who need diversity and have lower 25ths around 160/161. Arizona State too. I would say you can easily get a t20 if your application is well crafted. Just apply to more places, even reach schools. I personally know a MA guy at Cornell with a 160 and an AA at Emory with a 154...

Yes, that would be a great cycle...if you think that receiving less than half of the scholarship she could've gotten by applying early next cycle is what you mean by "turn out well."

Lol point blank said there's no way she'll wait another year. People on this site prescribe the "best" fit that isn't practical for some people. If she is set on law school THIS cycle, yeah, I'd say going and paying sticker at Cornell or half at Emory is a pretty decent outcome with her stats. Plus a school like CUNY or Rutgers has good enough PI connections and will be lower cost, and probably even give her money.

@CatherineZetaScarn1 :
URM cycles are unpredictable. And reapplying won't necessarily give you a better shot. I was accepted into Chicago last year, applied earlier with a better LSAT and got waitlisted. Held at Northwestern last year and got waitlisted this year. If you want to go to law school, apply to more places across the board, and outside scholarships for URMs. You'll be fine.

lols okay. You think sitting out a year isn't practical but paying sticker when she probably doesn't have to is? Jesus.

Well in that case, OP, you should check out Northeastern. It has a solid PI program!

[KMart]

to a job to wait a year so you can boost your LSAT and go to better schools.