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Hey guys, wondering what my chances are of getting into Harvard Law. I'm an AA female (half Turkish, half African American) but I usually claim AA only. Numbers: LSAT: 176 (taken only once) LSAC GPA: 3.09. I know GPA is suuuuper low. I had a low GPA from my community college (mostly C's); I brought it up the latter half of my college career and graduated with Honors from my University. But still, I don't know if thats enough for Harvard. Wondering if I should take the LSAT again and try to get a higher score? I'm attaching an addendum that explains that I was balancing two jobs, school etc. But I feel as though they've heard all of that before…. not sure if it'll make too much of a difference.

Out at Yale and Stanford.

You've got a decent chance at Harvard.

Probably in almost everywhere else.

Also, you must and should check all racial boxes that apply, not just the one that benefits your admissions chances.

And don't write the addendum, that's not really a reason that's going to have any mitigating impact.

I grew up in a predominately AA household and don't communicate with my mother. I'm certain she's primarily Turkish; but I've heard from various family members that there are other ethnicities in her bloodlines….so that's why I just stuck with AA. But thanks for the advice!

You're in at Harvard. Your GPA is low but not low enough that they reject a 176 AA.

aboutmydaylight wrote:You're in at Harvard. Your GPA is low but not low enough that they reject a 176 AA.

Probably true, but may as well apply at CLS and NYU as safeties. Email their admissions offices and ask for a fee waiver and you can probably get one, if that's holding you up.

urmsplitter2188 wrote:Hey guys, wondering what my chances are of getting into Harvard Law. I'm an AA female (half Turkish, half African American) but I usually claim AA only. Numbers: LSAT: 176 (taken only once) LSAC GPA: 3.09. I know GPA is suuuuper low. I had a low GPA from my community college (mostly C's); I brought it up the latter half of my college career and graduated with Honors from my University. But still, I don't know if thats enough for Harvard. Wondering if I should take the LSAT again and try to get a higher score? I'm attaching an addendum that explains that I was balancing two jobs, school etc. But I feel as though they've heard all of that before…. not sure if it'll make too much of a difference.

Congrats on full rides at at least half the T-14 and probable acceptance to HLS with $ and better than a hail mary chance at Standford and Yale

John_rizzy_rawls wrote:Also, you must and should check all racial boxes that apply, not just the one that benefits your admissions chances.

Identity is personal. No one can tell you how to identify.

subtle wrote:

John_rizzy_rawls wrote:Also, you must and should check all racial boxes that apply, not just the one that benefits your admissions chances.

Identity is personal. No one can tell you how to identify.

Yeah, I'm not sure that you must check everything that could apply to you. I've heard of quite a few mixed-race people who only checked the box they most identified with, and I don't think it ever affected any of them. Like, don't lie and say you're something you're not, but I don't think the rules are that hard and fast.

Besides, I don't remember there being an option for something that "Turkish" would clearly fit under. LSAC includes "Middle Eastern" in its definition of "White/Caucasian" but many people from the Middle Eastern region don't identify as "white", and it's a touchy issue for them.

Thank you all for the awesome advice!

urmsplitter2188 wrote:Thank you all for the awesome advice!

hows it going?

How did you do?

It would be interesting to know how she did.