Top Law Schools

So here is the thing. Im a nontrad student with a very easy-to-get undergrad (both major and school are very low ranked), my GPA is about 3.4 so my hope was to score big on LSAT. I scored 158 (NOT big!). I HAVE to go to a 1st tier school. doesnt need to be a top school by should be a 1st tier.
Now, I can retake my LSAT in October, however this will require me to make some time sacrifices which might push my graduation date further away and might force me to postpone my law school attendance by a year.
So, basically, here is my question: do you think that with my numbers and facts I can (realistically!) get into the 1st tier, or should I make some difficult sacrifices and retake LSAT (if that is my only chance)? its an important choice for me since I'm an older student and dont want to lose an extra year...
If you do think I have a chance with the current situation, which school would you recommend? I would prefer to stay in CA, but dont have to...
I did check different web sites, like lawschoolnumbers.com and so on, but how about realistic approach?
thanks guys!

It's theoretically possible to get into a T1 with those numbers, but if you want any money or a better-than-decent shot, you need to re-take and get into the low 160's, at least.

Retake.

..

retake

if you want to konw for sure what your chances are of getting into the schools then apply anyways while studying for the test, but it would be the better choice to save your money and wait until you do better on the lsat

Why MUST you go to a Tier 1?

I think the answer is the re-take, but you should consider seriously going to a Teir 2 with scholarship money in this economy. For example, this year I would rather have a half tuition scholarship at Temple than pay full sticker at Tulane.

/self

What do you guys think? Need advice

masturbate more.


oh, and retake.

Here is some advice.. Stop thinking that a T1 (i.e. a school ranked 40 to 50), is any less of a toilettt than a T2 or a T3 for that matter. Your numbers are getting you into an average law school (those ranked below T20 and above ABA non-approved status). To get a GREAT job, you'll need to be top 5%. To get an okay job, you'll have to be a hustler baby and make it happen on your own without the help of OCI. That said, if none of that sounds super-awesome, don't go to law school. Or go, but be warned.

thanks guys! unfortunately it seems that I do need to retake, however, it is going to be hard. I think I will apply this year and include T2, and see what happens. if not - will wait for a year and retake....
thanks for your advices

If you don't mind my asking, what exactly will be the difficulty in retaking?

vespertiliovir wrote:If you don't mind my asking, what exactly will be the difficulty in retaking?

Well, the problem is time for studying. I did not get to study for my first take at all, and I know if I retake it again without study I will not score any different. Until next may I will not have any time to study because I work full time and (until next May) am a full time student. So the first opportunity for me to actually study for the lsat is next summer which puts me to a 2012 admission cycle. By that time I 'm going to be 32, so time is important...

You took it without studying?

reasonable_man wrote:Here is some advice.. Stop thinking that a T1 (i.e. a school ranked 40 to 50), is any less of a toilettt than a T2 or a T3 for that matter. Your numbers are getting you into an average law school (those ranked below T20 and above ABA non-approved status). To get a GREAT job, you'll need to be top 5%. To get an okay job, you'll have to be a hustler baby and make it happen on your own without the help of OCI. That said, if none of that sounds super-awesome, don't go to law school. Or go, but be warned.

This advice is, well...perfect.

kalvano wrote:You took it without studying?

Unfortunately, yes. I took Thursday and Friday off from work the week before the LSAT and studied, but that was not enough. I'm in college every night (including summer), so thats why if I retake it this year - it will most likely not make a difference...

052106 wrote:

kalvano wrote:You took it without studying?

Unfortunately, yes. I took Thursday and Friday off from work the week before the LSAT and studied, but that was not enough. I'm in college every night (including summer), so thats why if I retake it this year - it will most likely not make a difference...

It's one of the most important tests you will ever take. Make time.

Or don't go to law school, because if you can't figure out how to make time to study for the definitive test of the admissions process, you won't be able to figure out how to make time to do all the studying you need to do for school.

I have a hard time believing you, there's no way you got a 158 after only studying for two days AND only took the time to study two days for the most important test in your life. Nobody is that smart and that retarded simultaneously.

naterj wrote:I have a hard time believing you, there's no way you got a 158 after only studying for two days AND only took the time to study two days for the most important test in your life. Nobody is that smart and that retarded simultaneously.

+1, total flame.

naterj wrote:I have a hard time believing you, there's no way you got a 158 after only studying for two days AND only took the time to study two days for the most important test in your life. Nobody is that smart and that retarded simultaneously.

Lots of people score higher than that on their first try. Lots of people don't study. Sometimes those groups intersect. It's really not that shocking.

Yea, there are plenty of people on here whose diagnostic scores run well into the upper 160s -- scoring a 158 without studying doesn't necessarily indicate anything.

OP, assuming you aren't a flame (which I haven't entirely ruled out), take the time to study. If you're dead-set on a good T1 law school, the LSAT is truly the key. Even if your GPA takes a slight hit, a score in the 170s would more than make up for it.

masturbate more.

But seriously, just study, take a year off and study if you have to.

Here is some advice.. Stop thinking that a T1 (i.e. a school ranked 40 to 50), is any less of a toilettt than a T2 or a T3 for that matter. Your numbers are getting you into an average law school (those ranked below T20 and above ABA non-approved status). To get a GREAT job, you'll need to be top 5%. To get an okay job, you'll have to be a hustler baby and make it happen on your own without the help of OCI. That said, if none of that sounds super-awesome, don't go to law school. Or go, but be warned.

Considering this, the LSAT should be the most important thing for you. Do not rush it.

For the record, my diagnostic LSAT was in the 160s, so it is easily possible to take it and break 158.

Hey, it is possible to be both stupid enough not to prep substantially, and smart enough to score a 158 w/o substantial prep. You guys have to remember that there is a lot of terrible advice out there. The pre-law advisor at the school I now work for said in the college newspaper to "do what feels comfortable" with prep before the LSAT, and this even includes (he explicitly claimed) taking it cold. It is just a matter of not knowing what in the hell is going on and getting one's priorities all wrong.

Not a flame I'm not smarter than anybody else, I just got lucky I think.
Also, not stupid not to prepare for lsat, just between the F/T job, F/T college, F/T family and a kid.... well, you got the picture. But starting next year, I will be done with UG and will go to PT job instead of FT, so I hope to have enough time for law school...
Thanks for all the replies, guys. I appreciate the input.

make sure you know how to balance law school with your childcaring duties... As food for thought, can you handle the expenses stresses of childcare and lawschool? If you are going to law school full time, it will be very difficult, if not impossible to work and do well at school. Have you taken this into consideration? If time management is an issue, you must realize that you will have to balance your child, your studies, and your sanity in law school. Can you book out an hour or 2 a day for lsat study so you can take the test in December? If so, I think there is enough time to prepare for the dec test and get your applications in to the schools of your choices? Good luck in all you do.

You still haven't explained why you must get into a tier 1. Is it an ego thing or what? As other posters have suggested, there is little to no difference between a lower ranked tier 1 and a tier 2/tier 3.