Can I get into a good law school with a low GPA? Forum

[yomisterd]

You might be able to get into t14s but they'd cost you a ton of money. I know some people with sub 3.0 GPAs have gotten small scholarships to Northwestern before (60k and under).

Why do you want to go to law school so bad? Your current gig doesn't sound awful.

It's a nice job and have been referred to as a rising star within the company, but I just don't see myself doing this type of work for the rest of my life. I can't help shake a feeling that i have a calling for something else. When I think of law school, I am filled with a burning desire to pursue it. I can't explain it and I'm sure it sounds whimsical to outsiders, but I'm sticking with my gut. Doing so in all aspects of my life seems to have worked well for me so far.

You'd be taking full debt (300K) to go to a school where you might maybe probably not have a shot at sports management. Then you'd maybe possibly get a job that allows you to service that debt. Working on stuff that probably don't fill you with a "burning desire."

A couple law school classes in college are bad bad bad proxies.

Why not keep plugging away at your job and keep an eye out for sports marketing/communications gigs? Your choice is not THIS JOB FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE or law school. Don't make bad choice.

[BCEagles2014]

I was pretty timid about reaching out to strangers on here as I've never done this before. I was really hoping to hear some encouragement and advice. All I've heard though is that it's pointless to go to law school, I'll be drowned in debt, my undergraduate education sucks and I'm an idiot for even thinking about law school. Thanks for everything guys, sorry I'm not as great as all of you.

[BCEagles2014]

You can say whatever you want, but I'm going to study my butt off for the LSAT and do the best I can.

[Nekrowizard]

Post removed.

[Rigo]

I was pretty timid about reaching out to strangers on here as I've never done this before. I was really hoping to hear some encouragement and advice. All I've heard though is that it's pointless to go to law school, I'll be drowned in debt, my undergraduate education sucks and I'm an idiot for even thinking about law school. Thanks for everything guys, sorry I'm not as great as all of you.

We aren't saying you're inferior to us whatsoever. We're simply giving you honest feedback that even the best case scenarios here are pretty bleak given your GPA and the debt it would likely lead to. That's just the nature of the beast.

If you wish, REALLY buckle down and knock the LSAT out of the park. Maybe you could cop some decent money at WUSTL, Emory, or lower ranked Midwest schools like Iowa or UIUC. Those schools don't reliably place in NYC biglaw though--high paying (and soul sucking, according to lawyers on this site) jobs you would need to service your debt load.

Sorry dude. Don't let it get you down. It's way better to be realistic than foolishly optimistic though. Go over to the LSAT Prep forum if you choose to embark on this journey regardless of the feedback.

[jepper]

First, it is probably in your best interest to not refer to yourself as a "rising star". That is socially retarded.

Second, don't be so sensitive. You came looking for advice. No one is here to hurt your feelings or embarrass you, but to simply help you. Can you become a lawyer with a reasonably successful career and not be in massive debt given your GPA? Absolutely. But it is going to be incredibly difficult and likely to be a quite different outcome than you currently envision.

[Petrichor]

It is times like these that make me reflect on how much my perspective has changed since discovering this site. So much to learn young OP. For a bit of that perspective, let me share some hopefully helpful information. My GPA is 3.0x and a 170 lsat. I've been out of school for a few years, done some pretty "unique" things, and accumulated some relevant work experience. Took a shit ton of time on my applications and applied the day apps were open. And yes, I got into some really great schools. A lot better schools than I would have thought at the beginning of the process. However, the $$$ they give to a splitter like me, and to a greater extent you (assuming you get a 170+ LSAT), is SHIT. Sure you'll get a great scholarship to a T30 school. You get excited. You start researching these new and "great" options. Guess what happens next.. You realize the options are actually shit for your goals. So then you are stuck with attending the T14 schools at sticker, which is a certifiably insane idea, or your local regional on the cheap. Then you are left with three choices, go into soul-crushing debt, adjust your goals, or don't go.

which of the 3 options did you end up choosing?

[jepper]

It is times like these that make me reflect on how much my perspective has changed since discovering this site. So much to learn young OP. For a bit of that perspective, let me share some hopefully helpful information. My GPA is 3.0x and a 170 lsat. I've been out of school for a few years, done some pretty "unique" things, and accumulated some relevant work experience. Took a shit ton of time on my applications and applied the day apps were open. And yes, I got into some really great schools. A lot better schools than I would have thought at the beginning of the process. However, the $$$ they give to a splitter like me, and to a greater extent you (assuming you get a 170+ LSAT), is SHIT. Sure you'll get a great scholarship to a T30 school. You get excited. You start researching these new and "great" options. Guess what happens next.. You realize the options are actually shit for your goals. So then you are stuck with attending the T14 schools at sticker, which is a certifiably insane idea, or your local regional on the cheap. Then you are left with three choices, go into soul-crushing debt, adjust your goals, or don't go.

which of the 3 options did you end up choosing?

Adjusted my goals.

[Hikikomorist]

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[BCEagles2014]

First, it is probably in your best interest to not refer to yourself as a "rising star". That is socially retarded.

Second, don't be so sensitive. You came looking for advice. No one is here to hurt your feelings or embarrass you, but to simply help you. Can you become a lawyer with a reasonably successful career and not be in massive debt given your GPA? Absolutely. But it is going to be incredibly difficult and likely to be a quite different outcome than you currently envision.

Sorry I did not mean to call myself a star. I'm just saying what the partners at my company have called me. I would never boast and compliment myself like that.

[BNA]

How old are you? Spend 4 years in the military, beef up your life/work experience a little more, then have Uncle Sam pay for any school you can get into with a great last.