Choices for a 3.8 161 URM? Forum

[ali & ali]

I need advice for a guy who I'm tutoring for the LSAT. He's an AA with a 2.7 GPA in UG and a 3.8 GPA in grad school (for his masters). I'm trying to dissuade him from taking the LSAT right away because he's only getting around 153, and he's constantly confused by what his outdated (and frankly, ineffective) Kaplan books have taught him. I think he could snag a T14 even if he only improved his LSAT a few points. Realistically, what kinds of schools could he get into if he got a 160-163 on the LSAT and completed his masters with a 3.8?

I appreciate the help!


PS: His work experience is pretty cool...he's a music producer, and he has his own studio. The masters has something to do with music business, and he wants to delve into the legal side of music.

[ali & ali]

BUMP

Opinions, please!

[jerjon2]

I need advice for a guy who I'm tutoring for the LSAT. He's an AA with a 2.7 GPA in UG and a 3.8 GPA in grad school (for his masters). I'm trying to dissuade him from taking the LSAT right away because he's only getting around 153, and he's constantly confused by what his outdated (and frankly, ineffective) Kaplan books have taught him. I think he could snag a T14 even if he only improved his LSAT a few points. Realistically, what kinds of schools could he get into if he got a 160-163 on the LSAT and completed his masters with a 3.8?

I appreciate the help!

PS: His work experience is pretty cool...he's a music producer, and he has his own studio. The masters has something to do with music business, and he wants to delve into the legal side of music.

Grad School GPA doesn't matter so for all intents and purposes his GPA is a 2.7. If he wants a T14 he will probably need to break 170 since his GPA is sub 3.0. Beyond that, it's going to be case by case to see who is willing to take a chance. That GPA makes almost nothing in the T14 a sure thing. The best way to prepare for the LSAT is to take practice tests.

[holydonkey]

No chance at T14. 45+ with a 162-163.

[Cakes29k]

I highly doubt he could get a T14 with an UG gpa of 2.7. LSAT of 160-163 isn't bad, but those schools are ridiculously competitive. With his low UG gpa he'd probably need upwards of 169+ to even have a shot, and if he's practicing at 153 I doubt he'll get there - study aids like kaplan are helpful, but they can't increase your score by that wide a margin.

Not sure how much a high Masters GPA comes in handy, but as I have a 3.87 in grad school I would be happy to hear if someone thinks it is helpful. My impression, however, is that they take UG gpa first, and look at grad gpa as bonus.

Probably ought to look at T40-50 range instead...

[BlankC]

I don't know, but maybe a low UGPA and high grad GPA would be the time to write that "grades not reflective of potential" addendum that schools always invite you to write?

If you've shown improvement, I feel like that's one of the things they probably want you to use that question for.

[PDaddy]

If his 2.7 was in Physics, that might be a different story. And if he sucked in his first two UG years, dropped out and got some really outstanding work experience, and then came back with renewed focus and got all or mostly A's (but his GPA wound up at 2.7) a school might be inclined to apply significant weight to his last two years and look past his frosh and sophomore years. Those are really two different students at that point.

The grad degree helps a little, but not much. It shows that he has matured.

Strong W.E. would definitely be a plus.

If he's aiming for T14, he's looking at 165+ and strong essays and recos, and that's assuming the upward grade trend in a challenging major that I was talking about up above. In short, he needs everything working for him. HYS? Forget it.