AA Female 3.3 GPA / Illness / Shot at Harvard? Forum

[Untimely]

Hi,

I was in the hospital and realized that I was suffering from a ruptured ovarian cyst and a uterine fibroid as a chronic illness weeks prior to the LSAT exam test date. This was unbearable pain and it was difficult to achieve the highest exam score possible. What would be a good addendum for this? Should I attach medical reports verifying this? If you were in my shoes, what would you write (and show)?

Columbia undergrad
AA Female
Excellent softs
3.3 GPA
LSAT score comes in Jan. 4th, 2013

With this addendum, what is the lowest LSAT score I would need to get into Harvard? Stanford? Columbia? Should I apply anyway if I bomb it and send this addendum?

Thanks,
Untimely

[Nova]

If you did not score as high as you believe you can, you should definitely retake the LSAT.

Generally, youll need to be in the 160s for a shot at T6.

Check this thread out, http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=195443

And look at these applicants,

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1112

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1011

[EttaJ]

I'm sorry about your illness. Certainly feel free to enclose an addendum if you wish. Unfortunately, I don't think the adcoms will weigh it very heavily because there is no real way for them to gauge how much your being in the hospital truly affected your LSAT score. I think in a situation of that nature, they might expect you to just cancel and push back the test.

I agree with Nova's advice--if you didn't meet the LSAT range you intended, then you should retake. For Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia I would think an LSAT score in the high 160's and up would give you a real shot. Good luck on your cycle!

[Untimely]

Thanks so much. I'll wait for my score next Friday.

Untimely

[John_rizzy_rawls]

If you did not score as high as you believe you can, you should definitely retake the LSAT.

Generally, youll need to be in the 160s for a shot at T6.

Check this thread out, http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=195443

And look at these applicants,

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1112

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1011

Not to hijack the thread but Inuyesa's cycle (http://lawschoolnumbers.com/Inuyesta) seems way off. AA URM (half), 3.4, 170 - waitlisted at UCLA, Duke, Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard? Whereas Operagrl (http://lawschoolnumbers.com/operagrl71), got into Stanford, UCLA, Duke, Berkeley, Penn, and Harvard with a 168, 3.5.

Any explanation for the significant difference? Is it because Inuyesa is mixed race? I hear this doesn't matter but from the few mixed race applications I could find on LSN, it seems to have a minimal effect.

Thoughts?

[dr123]

If you did not score as high as you believe you can, you should definitely retake the LSAT.

Generally, youll need to be in the 160s for a shot at T6.

Check this thread out, http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=195443

And look at these applicants,

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1112

http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1011

Not to hijack the thread but Inuyesa's cycle (http://lawschoolnumbers.com/Inuyesta) seems way off. AA URM (half), 3.4, 170 - waitlisted at UCLA, Duke, Penn, Berkeley, and Harvard? Whereas Operagrl (http://lawschoolnumbers.com/operagrl71), got into Stanford, UCLA, Duke, Berkeley, Penn, and Harvard with a 168, 3.5.

Any explanation for the significant difference? Is it because Inuyesa is mixed race? I hear this doesn't matter but from the few mixed race applications I could find on LSN, it seems to have a minimal effect.

Thoughts?

operagrl is 3-4 yrs out of UG and the other was in UG. Maybe Operagrl has some crazy impressive WE.

[rebexness]

[amc987]

OperaGirl also was HYPS undergrad.

operagrl is 3-4 yrs out of UG and the other was in UG. Maybe Operagrl has some crazy impressive WE.

I think it was probably a combination of Operagirl's UG prestige, solid WE, and her excellent application package (essays, recs, etc.) that put her over the top as rebexness and dr123 suggested. I was more or less her numbers twin (3.55/169) and I didn't do nearly as well as she did during the same cycle. This is just a theory, but I think that for URMs who don't have a stellar GPA or LSAT score, soft factors become much more important/ dispositive in terms of the applicant's chances at the highest-ranked schools.

[Evilalterego]

I'm in the same situation as the OP (different illness on test day though) and I have a follow up question:

I already submitted my apps early from in November. Would retaking in February eliminate whatever advantage I have from early submission?

Stats: 161 in June test, 3.39 from top ten undergrad.

This would be my third retake.

Sorry to hijack your post OP:)

[lanshan75]

[spam]

[Nova]

LOL @ spamming Diablo 3 items

I'm in the same situation as the OP (different illness on test day though) and I have a follow up question:

I already submitted my apps early from in November. Would retaking in February eliminate whatever advantage I have from early submission?

Stats: 161 in June test, 3.39 from top ten undergrad.

This would be my third retake.

I dont think so. If they are going to admit you with your current numbers, they probably will. For instance, Worm got accepted to GULC and Mich after he already signed up for Dec.

There is a lot to be gained by scoring higher in the 160s. Even in Feb.