3.3 GPA, 160 LSAT, Where To Apply? Forum

[mlorinczj]

I need some TLS advice guys and gals. What schools should i shoot for with those numbers? I'm looking for your opinions on which ones are worth paying sticker for assuming i'm admitted, or which ones i could possibly recieve money to. Region isn't a huge deal to me, but i'm from Ohio and i'm not interested in the west coast. So what do you think?

[fl0w]

I need some TLS advice guys and gals. What schools should i shoot for with those numbers? I'm looking for your opinions on which ones are worth paying sticker for assuming i'm admitted, or which ones i could possibly recieve money to. Region isn't a huge deal to me, but i'm from Ohio and i'm not interested in the west coast. So what do you think?

if you are URM shoot for top 25. If not.... retake? Unless you're cool with lower rank

[mlorinczj]

I'm not a URM, but i have considered retaking. To be honest i never really was shooting for any school ranked higher then UNC. My GPA should be a 3.7, but those silly F's from freshman year have come back to haunt me.

[dukelawguy144]

Possibly Fordham GW part time. I would seriously reconsider law school with your numbers.

[mlorinczj]

Because it's impossible to get into a decent school with my numbers amirite?

[modestsquirrel]

Yes, you are correct.

[fl0w]

Because it's impossible to get into a decent school with my numbers amirite?

define decent. almost certainly not a top25 full time program unless you figure out how to stop the BP oil spill and write about it in your personal statement.

[mlorinczj]

Lol, that was pretty good. I was never shooting for top 25, i'm not really interested in BIG LAW and 150k worth of debt scares the hell out of me with the job market. I really have been considering retaking the LSAT, i think i could hit 165 with more study time. So i guess what i'm asking you guys (and i may have come to the wrong place knowing the TLS attitude of T14 or bust), is whether schools like Florida, Cincinnati, Kentucky or Pitt are worth paying sticker for? And if not where should i be applying?

[MJMD]

There was a long thread here about whether or not Pitt was worth sticker, which you may find enlightening:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=120751

Florida kicks ass for tax: if you knew you wanted to be a tax lawyer, I suppose it would be worth paying sticker for.

What about getting your LSAT a little higher and applying to Ohio State? Or is your purpose in going to law school to get the hell out of Dodge?

[Grizz]

My GPA should be a 3.7, but those silly F's from freshman year have come back to haunt me.

Wow way to sound entitled.

[Grizz]

Florida kicks ass for tax: if you knew you wanted to be a tax lawyer, I suppose it would be worth paying sticker for.

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

[MJMD]

Florida kicks ass for tax: if you knew you wanted to be a tax lawyer, I suppose it would be worth paying sticker for.

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

The expert has shot me down: I defer.

(Good thing I didn't apply there, then, I guess.)

[mlorinczj]

I've absolutely considered the OSU option, it was my #1/#2 choice pre-LSAT. But i've also been wrestling with the "get the hell out of dodge" option. I'd love a change of scenery, however slight it may be. But that's the reasons i've come to the forums, to get the honest opinions of people who can identify with my situation.

[Grizz]

Florida kicks ass for tax: if you knew you wanted to be a tax lawyer, I suppose it would be worth paying sticker for.

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

The expert has shot me down: I defer.

(Good thing I didn't apply there, then, I guess.)

I mean don't get me wrong, it's a good school, but FL is hurting so bad these days that even with in-state + COL I'd be nervous.

[mlorinczj]

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

That hard to gain in-state tuition? Or is Florida not worth 65k?

[Grizz]

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

That hard to gain in-state tuition? Or is Florida not worth 65k?

Anecdotally it's not that hard, but it's more like $65k + COL, which could put you close to $100k in the hole. This would not be good.

[mlorinczj]

Anecdotally it's not that hard, but it's more like $65k + COL, which could put you close to $100k in the hole. This would not be good.

Lets exclude COL for the equation, i've got about 30k saved and a fiance willing to foot COL bills. That being said, is Florida still that bad?

[modestsquirrel]

Out of state sticker? No. Good way to get screwed.

That hard to gain in-state tuition? Or is Florida not worth 65k?

I think after the first year you can gain residency. Probably still isn't worth the expense. Aim for 167+ and you'll have a decent shot at some great schools, even with your gpa. Where is your target region?

[Grizz]

Anecdotally it's not that hard, but it's more like $65k + COL, which could put you close to $100k in the hole. This would not be good.

Lets exclude COL for the equation, i've got about 30k saved and a fiance willing to foot COL bills. That being said, is Florida still that bad?

$65k wouldn't be terrible, but I could think of a lot better things to spend the $30k on.

[mlorinczj]

I think after the first year you can gain residency. Probably still isn't worth the expense. Aim for 167+ and you'll have a decent shot at some great schools, even with your gpa. Where is your target region?

I guess i'd say midwest, east coast, or the southeast. I'm not extremely partial, but i'd rather not go north of Ohio, winters already suck.

[mlorinczj]

$65k wouldn't be terrible, but I could think of a lot better things to spend the $30k on.

The 30k is really just a COL cushion in case the sh*t hits the fan. I'm more than willing to drop a giant chunk on the loan after i graduate, i just feel better with a safety net.

[Grizz]

$65k wouldn't be terrible, but I could think of a lot better things to spend the $30k on.

The 30k is really just a COL cushion in case the sh*t hits the fan. I'm more than willing to drop a giant chunk on the loan after i graduate, i just feel better with a safety net.

I see what you're saying, but I'd still spend the money elsewhere. Or try to score high enough for some money. With the money saved up and the wife though it wouldn't be a life-ending decision, however.

[modestsquirrel]

$65k wouldn't be terrible, but I could think of a lot better things to spend the $30k on.

The 30k is really just a COL cushion in case the sh*t hits the fan. I'm more than willing to drop a giant chunk on the loan after i graduate, i just feel better with a safety net.

I see what you're saying, but I'd still spend the money elsewhere. Or try to score high enough for some money. With the money saved up and the wife though it wouldn't be a life-ending decision, however.

I would have to agree. All the money I saved from working after UG is going towards a down payment on a house for after law school. See if you can get a few points higher. Your region is broad enough that you could find a strong regional school that might offer you some money.

[mlorinczj]

$65k wouldn't be terrible, but I could think of a lot better things to spend the $30k on.

The 30k is really just a COL cushion in case the sh*t hits the fan. I'm more than willing to drop a giant chunk on the loan after i graduate, i just feel better with a safety net.

I see what you're saying, but I'd still spend the money elsewhere. Or try to score high enough for some money. With the money saved up and the wife though it wouldn't be a life-ending decision, however.

I would have to agree. All the money I saved from working after UG is going towards a down payment on a house for after law school. See if you can get a few points higher. Your region is broad enough that you could find a strong regional school that might offer you some money.

Thanks for the info, i really appreciate it guys. So what schools should i be targeting if i can raise the LSAT a few points?

[MJMD]

If you can get into Florida, you can get into OSU and pay in-state tuition. The only reason I thought Florida might be worth the expense is because of their strength in tax; while it's usually an awful idea to pick a law school because of its specialty (as you might ultimately decide that you hate that specialty), it can serve as a useful career guide if it's the best school you can get into, because it becomes a world-class university in your field despite the low overall USNWR ranking. But if rad law says that out-of-state sticker isn't worth it, I would defer to his judgement.

You're in the 25th GPA percentile for OSU, but you're also just four LSAT points away from the 75th LSAT percentile. I'm currently in the 85th LSAT percentile for my school, but I am also literally in their bottom 1% of GPA scorers; I honestly believe that I was only admitted because I am a resident of the region that pays for my public university.

You may find yourself in a similar situation (but better off in terms of GPA). Retake the LSAT, get a 164+, and apply to Moritz, and you'll almost certainly get in.