Top Law Schools

What exactly goes into the USNWR ranking? From what I've read it seems like the LSAT median and GPA median account for like 25% of the ranking. What else about GPA goes into the ranking?

I ask this because I'm a splitter with very good softs. (My GPA would be 3.5+ if I could magically throw out two semesters of Unofficial Withdrawals (school counts them punitive) that occurred 9 years ago, and were separated from my current school career by 2.5 years of full-time work experience. So my LSAC GPA is 2.6.

What effect does an acceptance to this kind of GPA have on ranking? I just want to know how much my stark (and explainable) upward trend in GPA, coupled with a lot of work experience can overcome the dismal LSAC GPA?

I know that any GPA below median can potentially drop the median, and any GPA before the 25% can potentially lower the 25% (depending on if there are repeat GPAs at the median and 25% points). Is there a "GPA average" that goes into ranking also?

I'm probably going to reach pretty high and hope my PS, LORs, and soft factors give me a shot, plus I have an LSAC fee waiver, so applying to most schools is only $12 an app.

Still not sure of my LSAT, but I'll get it tomorrow at 3:14 pm according to dude at LSAC. I'm expecting 168+.

There's not a median for LSAT AND GPA (like the LSAC index) that is considered in the USNWR rankings, so the school's numbers won't really take a hit if you are a splitter. The problem is that they will likely have other splitters applying, with slightly better numbers and a pretty good excuse. I think your numbers will only hurt you in comparison to other applicants, and not based on the possible effect on their LSAT and GPA medians.

http://agoraphilia.blogspot.com/2009/07 ... n-law.html

What goes into the USNews rankings:

Peer scores (25%)
Bar Passage Rate (15%)
Employment rate
Expenditures (faculty, building a new facility, etc.)
Student: Faculty ratio
Financial aid expenditures
Library volume

Oh, I read an adcomm on this board saying something about LSAT and GPA making up 25% of the ranking. What stats go into the rank?

postitnotes wrote:http://agoraphilia.blogspot.com/2009/07 ... n-law.html

What goes into the USNews rankings:

Peer scores (25%)
Bar Passage Rate (15%)
Employment rate
Expenditures (faculty, building a new facility, etc.)
Student: Faculty ratio
Financial aid expenditures
Library volume

so nothing to do with incoming class stats? apparently i misunderstand why stats are so important to adcomms (besides being a predictor of good performance.)

kswiss wrote:

postitnotes wrote:http://agoraphilia.blogspot.com/2009/07 ... n-law.html

What goes into the USNews rankings:

Peer scores (25%)
Bar Passage Rate (15%)
Employment rate
Expenditures (faculty, building a new facility, etc.)
Student: Faculty ratio
Financial aid expenditures
Library volume

do nothing to do with incoming class stats? apparently i misunderstand why stats are so important to adcomms (besides being a predictor of good performance.)

I didn't list that because you already did. Class stats (including LSAT and GPA) are only 22.5% (not 25%) of the total eqn. Other factors matter a lot more, including peer scores.

ah sweet. Thanks for the info.