Am I crazy (2.5 gpa) Forum

[Bud2003]

2.54 UGPA (from military college in South Carolina; played 4 years of college football)
160 LSAT
3.66 GPA Masters Degree (Sport Management; from large Big East school)
7 years work experience (acct/production management)
Some softs - mentoring middle school students
29 year old URM

Apps at:
Howard University
George Mason
University of Maryland
University of South Carolina

Do I have a chance at any of these? I know these are long shots....but I hold out for hope.

[TommyK]

2.54 UGPA (from military college in South Carolina; played 4 years of college football)
160 LSAT
3.66 GPA Masters Degree (Sport Management; from large Big East school)
7 years work experience (acct/production management)
Some softs - mentoring middle school students
29 year old URM

Apps at:
Howard University
George Mason
University of Maryland
University of South Carolina

Do I have a chance at any of these? I know these are long shots....but I hold out for hope.

I think you're in at all of them.

[androstan]

You're not looking at a lot of good options there. Do you hate your job?

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

[Bud2003]

2.54 UGPA (from military college in South Carolina; played 4 years of college football)
160 LSAT
3.66 GPA Masters Degree (Sport Management; from large Big East school)
7 years work experience (acct/production management)
Some softs - mentoring middle school students
29 year old URM

Apps at:
Howard University
George Mason
University of Maryland
University of South Carolina

Do I have a chance at any of these? I know these are long shots....but I hold out for hope.

I think you're in at all of them.

Thanks for easing my anxiety. I'm not expecting any $$$, just hoping to get in. Married guy trying to make a career change has been a bit stressful.

[TommyK]

2.54 UGPA (from military college in South Carolina; played 4 years of college football)
160 LSAT
3.66 GPA Masters Degree (Sport Management; from large Big East school)
7 years work experience (acct/production management)
Some softs - mentoring middle school students
29 year old URM

Apps at:
Howard University
George Mason
University of Maryland
University of South Carolina

Do I have a chance at any of these? I know these are long shots....but I hold out for hope.

I think you're in at all of them.

Thanks for easing my anxiety. I'm not expecting any $$$, just hoping to get in. Married guy trying to make a career change has been a bit stressful.

Okay, maybe not all of them, but I think you'll get into at least 2-3 of them. nontraditional/URM cycles can be unpredictable. Hope you're not applying for this cycle.

[Bud2003]

You're not looking at a lot of good options there. Do you hate your job?

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

It's not that I hate my job, it's just not that fulfilling. I enjoy my co-workers and the business relationships I have established, but I don't see myself working for somebody for the rest of my life.

I think these options are right for me, and based on some personal aspirations Howard University is really my #1

[ahduth]

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

[LHC]

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

+1
I agree. And it's worth considering waiting until next cycle to apply so you can get your apps in early.

[androstan]

You're not looking at a lot of good options there. Do you hate your job?

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

It's not that I hate my job, it's just not that fulfilling. I enjoy my co-workers and the business relationships I have established, but I don't see myself working for somebody for the rest of my life.

I think these options are right for me, and based on some personal aspirations Howard University is really my #1

You don't have to go to LS to go into business for yourself. An MBA is probably more appropriate, assuming you even need more school.

[Bud2003]

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

+1
I agree. And it's worth considering waiting until next cycle to apply so you can get your apps in early.

Considering that I am applying in this late of cycle, and if I am rejected at all 4. Am I, somehow, putting myself at a disadvantage at these schools if I were to apply a second time for the next year? (Outside of taking the LSAT again; and presumably scoring higher)

[ClayDavis]

You're not looking at a lot of good options there. Do you hate your job?

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

It's not that I hate my job, it's just not that fulfilling. I enjoy my co-workers and the business relationships I have established, but I don't see myself working for somebody for the rest of my life.

I think these options are right for me, and based on some personal aspirations Howard University is really my #1

You don't have to go to LS to go into business for yourself. An MBA is probably more appropriate, assuming you even need more school.

Take this dude's advice: Go get an MBA. Seriously. It will give you so many more options, it only takes 2 years and thus costs less, and with 7 years of good WE, you could get into a better program (especially considering UGPA counts for far less in bschool apps). Law is a dying field; if you can't get into an elite school at a discount, the risk you're taking is far too great.

[niederbomb]

If you're an AA, Howard can be a very good choice. Many employers who recruit at top schools also recruit there to bring diversity to their firms. Howard may not be a T1, but it's still a decent choice, far superior to some T1's, if you fit the right profile.

[northwood]

If you're serious about the LS thing study hard for the LSAT and retake. Try to add at least 5 or 10 points to it.

+1
I agree. And it's worth considering waiting until next cycle to apply so you can get your apps in early.

Considering that I am applying in this late of cycle, and if I am rejected at all 4. Am I, somehow, putting myself at a disadvantage at these schools if I were to apply a second time for the next year? (Outside of taking the LSAT again; and presumably scoring higher)

no. you can always reappply to the schools again if you dont get in.

[dddhhh]

& apply early! It can make a difference at some schools.

[Bud2003]

Thanks for all of your advice and feedback.

[TheTallOne0602]

Take this dude's advice: Go get an MBA. Seriously. It will give you so many more options, it only takes 2 years and thus costs less, and with 7 years of good WE, you could get into a better program (especially considering UGPA counts for far less in bschool apps). Law is a dying field; if you can't get into an elite school at a discount, the risk you're taking is far too great.

That is melodramatic even for TLS.

[Bud2003]

Take this dude's advice: Go get an MBA. Seriously. It will give you so many more options, it only takes 2 years and thus costs less, and with 7 years of good WE, you could get into a better program (especially considering UGPA counts for far less in bschool apps). Law is a dying field; if you can't get into an elite school at a discount, the risk you're taking is far too great.

That is melodramatic even for TLS.

I agree...it seems be a fad to say that on this forum.

Sheeeeeiiiiiiiiiit, (lol @ Sen. Clay Davis reference) if anything, law is an evolving field. Different career paths are opening to folks with legal experience.

[2011L1]

I think your shooting too low. You're undergrad gpa isn't that much of a factor with all the work exp and 160 on the lsat 7 years later you are a completely diff person. 160 lsat for a URM male u are a unicorn and good schools admit younger men with less. pm me if you want specifics. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

[TheTallOne0602]

I think your shooting too low. You're undergrad gpa isn't that much of a factor with all the work exp and 160 on the lsat 7 years later you are a completely diff person. 160 lsat for a URM male u are a unicorn and good schools admit younger men with less. pm me if you want specifics. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

His undergrad GPA IS a big factor. Saying otherwise is just wrong.

[2011L1]

I think your shooting too low. You're undergrad gpa isn't that much of a factor with all the work exp and 160 on the lsat 7 years later you are a completely diff person. 160 lsat for a URM male u are a unicorn and good schools admit younger men with less. pm me if you want specifics. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

His undergrad GPA IS a big factor. Saying otherwise is just wrong.

How many years ago was that? and the 3.66 gpa from masters does factor in. he's 29 not 21 or 22. married and active in the community

[androstan]

I think your shooting too low. You're undergrad gpa isn't that much of a factor with all the work exp and 160 on the lsat 7 years later you are a completely diff person. 160 lsat for a URM male u are a unicorn and good schools admit younger men with less. pm me if you want specifics. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

His undergrad GPA IS a big factor. Saying otherwise is just wrong.

How many years ago was that? and the 3.66 gpa from masters does factor in. he's 29 not 21 or 22. married and active in the community

If I were an adcom I would keep an eye toward the USNWR rankings and, by extension, my GPA/LSAT 25/50/75. With that said, I would also be keeping an eye toward graduating professionals that will do well.Their performance reflects on my school and can effect which firms recruit at my institution, among other highly relevant factors.

Since the 25/50/75 are percentiles, I can admit a certain number of people below these numbers while still maintaining the numbers for rankings purposes. Obviously a certain number of these are URMs, but not all of them have to be. Students with life and work experience bring diversity too. If there are applicants with weak numbers but other indicators that they will do well after graduation, I look there. There are probably a very limited number of spots available to admit such students without detrimentally influencing GPA/LSAT, but there may be some spots.

It would vary from year to year I'm sure. Some years there may be even fewer spots for such students. The main point, however, is that maximizing USNWR rank can sometimes involve taking students with lower numbers. If those lower numbers don't influence your LSAT/GPA quartiles, but they do bring someone with a high likelihood of reflecting well on the school and boosting employment stats, a smart adcom picks up a few of those. Those few spots are just likely to be very competitive in terms of "softs". The higher quality WE, the better. The better their recommendations, the more convinced the adcom is that they have found a snowflake.

Edit: With all that said, retake.

[2011L1]

Agreed with everything but retake