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So, I'm having an 11th-hour second-guessing episode as to where to apply under binding early decision. My first impulse was Northwestern, but there's a lingering doubt in the back of my head that is saying UVA.

Stats - URM (Black/Mexican), GPA under 3.0, 168 best LSAT (retake is not an option), 3 years WE (Political consulting, multiple promotions, management level),

I know on paper NU makes the most sense of any of the T14. Any T14 is probably a longshot, so i'm trying to improve my odds with the ED applications. I enjoyed NU it when I visited and interviewed on campus, but for some indefineable reason I feel like based on the application elements and supplementary essays, my UVA application would look stronger.

I am equally interested in both schools, it's simply a matter of which one would be more likely to grant me admission. Any and all advice is appreciated.

NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

Too late for northwestern ED, no?

In at either. Pick which you like better.

whymeohgodno wrote:NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

I don't think so. They dinged a <3.0/177 URM (Mex) ED this cycle.

I vote for NU since they're much more forgiving of sub-3.0 GPAs. Your 3 years of management-level WE would help there too.

plenipotentiary wrote:

whymeohgodno wrote:NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

I don't think so. They dinged a <3.0/177 URM (Mex) ED this cycle.

Flame.

rayiner wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote:

whymeohgodno wrote:NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

I don't think so. They dinged a <3.0/177 URM (Mex) ED this cycle.

Flame.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5#p3180275
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4#p3576264

plenipotentiary wrote:

whymeohgodno wrote:NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

I don't think so. They dinged a <3.0/177 URM (Mex) ED this cycle.

I didn't look at that but OP said he's Black/Mexican. Black and Mexican is way different than just Mexican. ED at either should get him in. However, from reading his post and looking at his background he should go to NU. I am curious where he's interested in working though. To be safe I would probably just put Black on his app if I were him. If he does that he has a legit shot at any school outside of HYS Berkely and Duke.

BruceWayne wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote:

whymeohgodno wrote:NU probably. I've heard UVA has a soft floor at 3.0. I don't know if they break it for URM's though.

I don't think so. They dinged a <3.0/177 URM (Mex) ED this cycle.

I didn't look at that but OP said he's Black/Mexican. Black and Mexican is way different than just Mexican. ED at either should get him in. However, from reading his post and looking at his background he should go to NU. I am curious where he's interested in working though. To be safe I would probably just put Black on his app if I were him. If he does that he has a legit shot at any school outside of HYS Berkely and Duke.

AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing.

Yeah the trend generally seems to be that URM's get excused more for lower LSATs and high GPAs than high LSAT and sub 3.0 GPAs.

whymeohgodno wrote:Yeah the trend generally seems to be that URM's get excused more for lower LSATs and high GPAs than high LSAT and sub 3.0 GPAs.

which makes sense given the 5-10 point LSAT achievement gap for URMs compared to the much smaller GPA achievement gap. In other words, LSAT may underpredict URM performance in law school, but not GPA.

I vote NU

plenipotentiary wrote: AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing

Trust me, I know from personal experience, unless he has something sub 2.8 he'll get NU doing ED. Hell at NU he might still get in sub 2.8. UVA is the one that's a bit iffy, but NU sounds like a better fit for him. A 168 is an extremely high LSAT score for a Black male applicant and NU doesn't care about GPA much if you have substantive WE combined with a good LSAT. They'll gobble him up.

BruceWayne wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote: AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing

Trust me, I know from personal experience, unless he has something sub 2.8 he'll get NU doing ED. Hell at NU he might still get in sub 2.8. UVA is the one that's a bit iffy, but NU sounds like a better fit for him. A 168 is an extremely high LSAT score for a Black male applicant and NU doesn't care about GPA much if you have substantive WE combined with a good LSAT. They'll gobble him up.

Ironically, my LDAS GPA is actually 2.68 (School GPA is a 2.9).

Is it that dramatic of a difference?

Flustercluck wrote:

BruceWayne wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote: AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing

Trust me, I know from personal experience, unless he has something sub 2.8 he'll get NU doing ED. Hell at NU he might still get in sub 2.8. UVA is the one that's a bit iffy, but NU sounds like a better fit for him. A 168 is an extremely high LSAT score for a Black male applicant and NU doesn't care about GPA much if you have substantive WE combined with a good LSAT. They'll gobble him up.

Ironically, my LDAS GPA is actually 2.68 (School GPA is a 2.9).

Is it that dramatic of a difference?

I'd say chances are still good, but not great.

Flustercluck wrote:

BruceWayne wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote: AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing

Trust me, I know from personal experience, unless he has something sub 2.8 he'll get NU doing ED. Hell at NU he might still get in sub 2.8. UVA is the one that's a bit iffy, but NU sounds like a better fit for him. A 168 is an extremely high LSAT score for a Black male applicant and NU doesn't care about GPA much if you have substantive WE combined with a good LSAT. They'll gobble him up.

Ironically, my LDAS GPA is actually 2.68 (School GPA is a 2.9).

Is it that dramatic of a difference?

I think UVA is a reach even with super URM status with that GPA.

Flustercluck wrote:

BruceWayne wrote:

plenipotentiary wrote: AA gets a bigger boost than MX. However, we don't know how far below 3.0 he is. And the boost helps more with LSAT than GPA. And 168 is much less impressive than 177.

I'm not saying that it's impossible. Maybe there was something wrong with the other guy's app. But it's not a sure thing

Trust me, I know from personal experience, unless he has something sub 2.8 he'll get NU doing ED. Hell at NU he might still get in sub 2.8. UVA is the one that's a bit iffy, but NU sounds like a better fit for him. A 168 is an extremely high LSAT score for a Black male applicant and NU doesn't care about GPA much if you have substantive WE combined with a good LSAT. They'll gobble him up.

Ironically, my LDAS GPA is actually 2.68 (School GPA is a 2.9).

Is it that dramatic of a difference?

With that low of a GPA, NU is definitely the better bet.

Forget about UVA OP. Honestly, if you want top 14 ED to NU last month. Good luck.

Ended up applying to NU (Deadline Dec. 1). We'll see how things go, thanks to everyone for the advice!

Flustercluck wrote:Ended up applying to NU (Deadline Dec. 1). We'll see how things go, thanks to everyone for the advice!

Good luck!