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- In Good Faith
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Dec 25, 2013 9:47 pm
Splitter Question
Hello everyone i have a question regarding school selection. I received a 170 on the LSAT, but my GPA is a 2.3 after Junior year. It is possible to reach a 3.0 by the end of senior year.However realistically i'll end up with a 2.85 or 2.9. I would like to attend USC but i heard that they are sticklers for GPA. Should i just retake and shoot for higher score or forgo an application to USC all together?
Thanks for any input.
Thanks for any input.
Last edited by In Good Faith on Wed May 28, 2014 10:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- ScottRiqui
- Posts: 3633
- Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:09 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Definitely don't skip the application - make them tell you "no". Also, with the decline in applicants over the past cycle or two, the admissions game has really turned into a crap shoot, even more so for URM applicants. Even as a non-URM, I got into UT this cycle with a 170/2.6, and up until recently, UT also had the reputation for being very picky when it comes to uGPA.
- Nova
- Posts: 9102
- Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:55 pm
Re: Splitter Question
What kind of urm are you?
I know sub3 167+ urms who have gotten money from usc. Good money from umn/wustl is almost a slam dunk.
Higher score would increase your odds, but I'm guessing only incrementally at this point
I know sub3 167+ urms who have gotten money from usc. Good money from umn/wustl is almost a slam dunk.
Higher score would increase your odds, but I'm guessing only incrementally at this point
- In Good Faith
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- Joined: Wed Dec 25, 2013 9:47 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA Male
- Attax
- Posts: 3589
- Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:59 am
Re: Splitter Question
This, and also what Scott said. The LSAT and making your app otherwise flawless can really make up for that. While USC seemed, at least to me, to care more about GPA this cycle (I'm 2.85, 168) and I got waitlisted, I had great options from UMN, WUSTL, UT and other schools in that general range. But, as a URM, you should be better off than I was and have a bit of a boost from that which would also definitely help.Nova wrote:What kind of urm are you?
I know sub3 167+ urms who have gotten money from usc. Good money from umn/wustl is almost a slam dunk.
Higher score would increase your odds, but I'm guessing only incrementally at this point
- Lacepiece23
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Dude if you get close to a 3.0 with that LSAT your in at Harvard probably. even below 3.0 I would still blanket the T14.In Good Faith wrote:Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA Male
- pertristis
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:29 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Doubtful.Lacepiece23 wrote:Dude if you get close to a 3.0 with that LSAT your in at Harvard probably. even below 3.0 I would still blanket the T14.In Good Faith wrote:Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA Male


Do you think you've maxed out your LSAT score? Something around a 175 improves outcomes dramatically.
- Fiero85
- Posts: 1983
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:38 am
Re: Splitter Question
Tso wrong...Lacepiece23 wrote:In Good Faith wrote:Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA MaleDude if you get close to a 3.0 with that LSAT your in at Harvard probably. even below 3.0 I would still blanket the T14.
OP don't waste your time/money applying to HYS, or even CCN realistically.
Get that GPA up as close to 3.0 as possible and blanket apply to like #7-20.
USC is definitely possible with 170, sub 3.0 GPA. Retaking could get you higher though if you feel like you got room to improve.
- Lacepiece23
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- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Are you serious? Did you read the part where he said he was a black male? I've definitely heard of black males getting into H with a 3.0 170 and definitely CCN with those stats. You must be a 0L.Fiero85 wrote:Tso wrong...Lacepiece23 wrote:In Good Faith wrote:Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA MaleDude if you get close to a 3.0 with that LSAT your in at Harvard probably. even below 3.0 I would still blanket the T14.
OP don't waste your time/money applying to HYS, or even CCN realistically.
Get that GPA up as close to 3.0 as possible and blanket apply to like #7-20.
USC is definitely possible with 170, sub 3.0 GPA. Retaking could get you higher though if you feel like you got room to improve.
- Fiero85
- Posts: 1983
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:38 am
Re: Splitter Question
First of all, OP said "realistically i'll end up with a 2.85 or 2.9". So even he thinks 3.0 is a stretch.Lacepiece23 wrote:Are you serious? Did you read the part where he said he was a black male? I've definitely heard of black males getting into H with a 3.0 170 and definitely CCN with those stats. You must be a 0L.Fiero85 wrote:Tso wrong...Lacepiece23 wrote:In Good Faith wrote:Thanks for the feedback, I am an AA MaleDude if you get close to a 3.0 with that LSAT your in at Harvard probably. even below 3.0 I would still blanket the T14.
OP don't waste your time/money applying to HYS, or even CCN realistically.
Get that GPA up as close to 3.0 as possible and blanket apply to like #7-20.
USC is definitely possible with 170, sub 3.0 GPA. Retaking could get you higher though if you feel like you got room to improve.
Besides that, there are no data points supporting HYS or even CCN acceptances online. There's one Columbia waitlist. That's all I can really go by.
I am in fact a 0L, so I apologize for not having as much of an ear to the ground about the stories not posted in the database (seriously). I suppose I shouldn't have been so bold, but mylsn just does not look encouraging at all:


- August Wilson
- Posts: 548
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:59 am
Re: Splitter Question
you're not wrong.Fiero85 wrote:First of all, OP said "realistically i'll end up with a 2.85 or 2.9". So even he thinks 3.0 is a stretch.Lacepiece23 wrote:Are you serious? Did you read the part where he said he was a black male? I've definitely heard of black males getting into H with a 3.0 170 and definitely CCN with those stats. You must be a 0L.Fiero85 wrote: Tso wrong...
OP don't waste your time/money applying to HYS, or even CCN realistically.
Get that GPA up as close to 3.0 as possible and blanket apply to like #7-20.
USC is definitely possible with 170, sub 3.0 GPA. Retaking could get you higher though if you feel like you got room to improve.
Besides that, there are no data points supporting HYS or even CCN acceptances online. There's one Columbia waitlist. That's all I can really go by.
I am in fact a 0L, so I apologize for not having as much of an ear to the ground about the stories not posted in the database (seriously). I suppose I shouldn't have been so bold, but mylsn just does not look encouraging at all:
- Lacepiece23
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: Splitter Question
I didn't mean that OP would def get into H I just strongly think that he should apply. And as a black male in law school I can tell you that LSN is not great for us. We are the most underrepresented group and from my understanding LSN takes into account all Underrepresented groups such as black females, and both Mexican males and females. So I wouldn't really judge his chances according to LSN. If I did I would not be at a T14.
And if he does break a 3.0 he would be absolutely crazy not to apply from H down with a 170. Shit most his waivers will probably be free.
And if he does break a 3.0 he would be absolutely crazy not to apply from H down with a 170. Shit most his waivers will probably be free.
- August Wilson
- Posts: 548
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:59 am
Re: Splitter Question
With a 170 he should apply everywhere from CCN down, but H (which doesn't give fee waivers based on LSAT) just won't be in the cards with a 3.0.
ETA: if he had a 175-180, I'd say apply.
ETA: if he had a 175-180, I'd say apply.
- Lacepiece23
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: Splitter Question
Well we went from me being "so wrong" to applying everywhere, but one school I suggested. My OP wasn't clear, but when I said blanket the T14 I meant everywhere but YS because I said he was probably in at H. Shit your probably right about him not getting in, but I still think he should apply. Who wouldn't want to apply if the had a small shot.August Wilson wrote:With a 170 he should apply everywhere from CCN down, but H (which doesn't give fee waivers based on LSAT) just won't be in the cards with a 3.0.
ETA: if he had a 175-180, I'd say apply.
- Fiero85
- Posts: 1983
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:38 am
Re: Splitter Question
Yeah you're right, it's more of a lack of data than anything. Using "AA only" hardly got any results at all. There's no gender filter either. So really "URM only" isn't completely on point for an AA male.Lacepiece23 wrote:I didn't mean that OP would def get into H I just strongly think that he should apply. And as a black male in law school I can tell you that LSN is not great for us. We are the most underrepresented group and from my understanding LSN takes into account all Underrepresented groups such as black females, and both Mexican males and females. So I wouldn't really judge his chances according to LSN. If I did I would not be at a T14.
And if he does break a 3.0 he would be absolutely crazy not to apply from H down with a 170. Shit most his waivers will probably be free.
Since you're a URM actually in the T14 I'll defer to you. Especially since I think you're addressing my post of "don't waste your time" rather than his chances being low, which you admit they are.
OP: Blanket T14 plus UCLA and USC if you're looking for Cali. Especially if you get mad fee waivers, which you likely will from your high LSAT alone. I should have said, "don't get your hopes up" rather than "don't waste your time" with applying to #1-6. Especially if you can earn a 3.0 overall that'd be great for your cycle.
Good luck!
- Lacepiece23
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: Splitter Question
I still really think OP gets in somewhere 3-6 and probably not Berkley. But alls well that ends well. Good luck OPFiero85 wrote:Yeah you're right, it's more of a lack of data than anything. Using "AA only" hardly got any results at all. There's no gender filter either. So really "URM only" isn't completely on point for an AA male.Lacepiece23 wrote:I didn't mean that OP would def get into H I just strongly think that he should apply. And as a black male in law school I can tell you that LSN is not great for us. We are the most underrepresented group and from my understanding LSN takes into account all Underrepresented groups such as black females, and both Mexican males and females. So I wouldn't really judge his chances according to LSN. If I did I would not be at a T14.
And if he does break a 3.0 he would be absolutely crazy not to apply from H down with a 170. Shit most his waivers will probably be free.
Since you're a URM actually in the T14 I'll defer to you. Especially since I think you're addressing my post of "don't waste your time" rather than his chances being low, which you admit they are.
OP: Blanket T14 plus UCLA and USC if you're looking for Cali. Especially if you get mad fee waivers, which you likely will from your high LSAT alone. I should have said, "don't get your hopes up" rather than "don't waste your time" with applying to #1-6. Especially if you can earn a 3.0 overall that'd be great for your cycle.
Good luck!