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Hello all,

I am new to the forum and seeking some advice. Through some research I stumbled upon URM status, which then lead me to this forum. I really don't know much about if/how it may help my applications, so that is why I am here. I recently received my LSAT scores and was excited to see I scored a 172. I have been out of school since 2012 working in financial services, with the last 2 years working in the Investment Bank at JP Morgan. I understand my undergraduate GPA isn't as high as most, but there is a significant reason for that (family health, frequent nights at hospital). Aside from all of that, I would like to know what schools I should apply to, and expect to get accepted to? I know the cost of school is rather expensive so I plan on working another year and applying this coming September. All help would be gladly appreciated.

More specifically, are UPenn, NYU, Columbia realistic options? Or should I focus my efforts on Cornell and Georgetown? I assume that my GPA would put me at a severe handicap for T3 schools, but I may be wrong. Hopefully this helps generate some feedback. Thanks again everyone

First, your URM status is definitely going to help. Really can't say with much certainty how much, but you'll definitely get some help. Just for a rough initial sense I'd look at your cycle as similar to a non-URM "splitter" with a 1-4 pt. higher LSAT. Here's what mylsn tells us about that person (I had to push the GPA range because mylsn just doesn't have many applicants at 3.0 and 173+ LSAT:



So from this, I honestly think you're wasting your money applying to Yale and Stanford. You might as well try Harvard because they tend to emphasize LSAT a little more. I'd also avoid Chicago. Apply everywhere else and just be prepared for anything. You'll almost certainly get into one or more t-14s and might even get some fantastic money, but you'll also be w/l and straight rejected from some other schools. Just keep yourself sane...only thing left for you, really is to put together the best applications you can.

I PM'd you, but I assume 3.0/172 is roughly equivalent to my 3.10/171. If anything, you're a slightly better applicant in that regard.

Obviously your URM status is a wildcard I can't speak to, but I think you should hold your own through much of the t14.

Fliptrip, thanks that really helps to put things in to perspective from a statistical standpoint. If it were up to me Columbia or Penn would be my pick. James.K.Polk has been so kind to share with me his current application results, and they seem to fall in line with the stats you provided.

Hopefully the URM status can help put me over the top in a WL situation, or help with some financial aid, but only time will tell. I'd like to thank you both for your help.

nwahau24 wrote:Hello all,

I am new to the forum and seeking some advice. Through some research I stumbled upon URM status, which then lead me to this forum. I really don't know much about if/how it may help my applications, so that is why I am here. I recently received my LSAT scores and was excited to see I scored a 172. I have been out of school since 2012 working in financial services, with the last 2 years working in the Investment Bank at JP Morgan. I understand my undergraduate GPA isn't as high as most, but there is a significant reason for that (family health, frequent nights at hospital). Aside from all of that, I would like to know what schools I should apply to, and expect to get accepted to? I know the cost of school is rather expensive so I plan on working another year and applying this coming September. All help would be gladly appreciated.

What are your career goals? You have some decent options as a URM splitter--you have a good shot at getting into the T14 if you craft your applications right. You can probably also get full-rides to schools outside the T14. So what you want to do long term will help you choose.

Having said that, if you do want to get into the best school possible, you should dedicate your entire application to making yourself as attractive as possible. Write a strong personal statement and line up some stellar recs. Dump your low GPA explanations in an addendum. Remember to not get ahead of yourself--there's a lot of room for you to get yourself shut out of the T14. E.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmis ... is_if_you/

ever considered bschool? why do u want to become a lawyer?

This guy on reddit simply did not apply to enough schools, it seems. I don't think you should be picky. Get as many lottery tickets as you can, as it were. You just never know who is going to need your URM 172 to let them take the non-URM reverse spiltter that the entire admissions office just loves. There's considerable overlap in the applicant pools of the various schools, but there is still considerable variation. Give yourself as many shots as possible.

Also, I'm not sure that with OP's GPA that b-school won't be a problem too. Of course, OP can get in somewhere, but would that help him take the next step in banking?