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So, final grades got posted today and I didn't do as well as I thought I would. My LSAC GPA at the end of my summer courses should be ~2.87, and when I graduate in December (4.5 yrs) my LSAC GPA will be ~2.91. I'd assume it wouldn't be worth it to bust my ass and take 21 credit hours in hopes of breaking 2.95 since it's still below a 3.

Should I take an extra semester in hopes of breaking 3.0 and apply Fall 2011 (don't know how I'd convince my parents on that) or graduate in December and apply this fall?

I'm trying to gauge if it would be better for my chance at a T14 admission (or GW) if I took the extra semester to break 3.0 or used that time to gain work experience and apply in a couple years to NU.

My major is aerospace engineering and I haven't taken the LSAT yet. I've been testing ~174-176 and I am taking in June. I don't really plan on applying unless I score higher than 170.

So if I hit my goal of 172, will I have a decent shot at either UVA ED or GW RD? (With my end of summer GPA of 3.87)
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supposedly UVA has an imaginary 3.0 cutoff. I don't know much about it, so i'd research it.

Yeah that's what I hear too

If you can swing the extra time, I think breaking a 3.0 is invaluable. While some schools will take sub-3.0 with high LSATs it seems like there is enough of a floor in the T14s to make the extra time and expense worthwhile.