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How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:27 pm
by brownpride
My goals in the fall are HY, but after yesterday's LSAT I no longer feel like I have a strong chance at getting into either of these. My GPA is 4.18, but the LSAT could very well have put me into the 160s and I may not be able to rewrite for the rest of the cycle. I'm wondering how much softs will help me out. I have a lot of leadership experience, gone through a few leadership programs, have led many student groups and even founded one, 150 hours of volunteering with my Students Union and 450 hours with a hospital. I've also got varied work experience and a full-time research position for the current summer. The research and many of the student groups are directly related to the area of focus I want to have in law school, so I can definitely put together a sincere and coherent application. I'm also expecting my LORs to be quite strong. How much will these softs help me to compensate for the poor LSAT? Will I still stand a good shot at HY?
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:28 pm
by glitter178
brownpride wrote:My goals in the fall are HY, but after yesterday's LSAT I no longer feel like I have a strong chance at getting into either of these. My GPA is 4.18, but the LSAT could very well have put me into the 160s and I may not be able to rewrite for the rest of the cycle. I'm wondering how much softs will help me out. I have a lot of leadership experience, gone through a few leadership programs, have led many student groups and even founded one, 150 hours of volunteering with my Students Union and 450 hours with a hospital. I've also got varied work experience and a full-time research position for the current summer. The research and many of the student groups are directly related to the area of focus I want to have in law school, so I can definitely put together a sincere and coherent application. I'm also expecting my LORs to be quite strong. How much will these softs help me to compensate for the poor LSAT? Will I still stand a good shot at HY?
are you a URM ? that GPA is golden but you're still going to need an LSAT score in the 170's to get HY, unless URM.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:30 pm
by brownpride
No
I'm Indian, still a minority, but that's not gonna do anything for me is it?
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:31 pm
by bk1
Your softs aren't going to give you a 5-10+ point boost on the LSAT.
You really just need to retake.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:32 pm
by Helicio
Indian is not URM, unfortunately.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:38 pm
by Michaela
brownpride wrote:No
I'm Indian, still a minority, but that's not gonna do anything for me is it?
Nope, Indian is not an UNDER REPRESENTED minority, as far as law schools are concerned. People tend to forget the UR part of URM.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:49 pm
by Corwin
bk187 wrote:Your softs aren't going to give you a 5-10+ point boost on the LSAT.
You really just need to retake.
+1
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:21 pm
by bp shinners
Definitely retake.
And also, don't get all maudlin without seeing your score. If you were testing high, it's normal to feel that you underperformed on test day. Not saying you didn't, but give it a day or two to settle.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:23 pm
by crit_racer
lol at TLS telling ppl who don't even know their score to retake...
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:25 pm
by paratactical
crit_racer wrote:lol at TLS telling ppl who don't even know their score to retake...
Troof. Also lol at the OP running around seeking all kinds of HY advice without a score.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:31 pm
by 094320
..
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:32 pm
by Curry
acrossthelake wrote:Good softs are necessary, but not sufficient, at YLS.
Oh you think you're clever.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:34 pm
by ebeth
Like everyone has said, we can't help you based on your feeling that you may have scored in the 160s. The LAST is designed to wear on you psychologically, and nearly everyone thinks they did worse than they actually did. I wanted to post because I applied last cycle with the exact same GPA. Your softs are going to be necessary (especially for a chance at Yale), but they will not make up for a poor LSAT. Neither will a fantastic GPA.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:38 pm
by Patriot1208
ebeth wrote:Like everyone has said, we can't help you based on your feeling that you may have scored in the 160s. The LAST is designed to wear on you psychologically, and nearly everyone thinks they did worse than they actually did. I wanted to post because I applied last cycle with the exact same GPA. Your softs are going to be necessary (especially for a chance at Yale), but they will not make up for a poor LSAT. Neither will a fantastic GPA.
I thought I did better than I actually did.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:40 pm
by crit_racer
I'd also like to point out that OP is clearly neurotic and, I would be willing to bet, is seriously underestimating his/her LSAT score in this moment of temporary PTSD-induced LSAT self-doubt.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:41 pm
by paratactical
crit_racer wrote:I'd also like to point out that OP is clearly neurotic and, I would be willing to bet, is seriously underestimating his/her LSAT score in this moment of temporary PTSD-induced LSAT self-doubt.
I dunno. I was PTing 12ish points above my diagnostic score and ended up getting my diagnostic. I thought I'd done okay. It's hard to tell and there's no point worrying about it until the score comes.
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:45 pm
by Dany
crit_racer wrote:lol at TLS telling ppl who don't even know their score to retake...
Re: How much do softs help?
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:38 pm
by gens1tb
I normally think the retake crowd is lame, but you have a stellar GPA, it'd be a shame to waste it with impatience and an LSAT below your potential.
Of course, you don't even know your score so this post is basically worthless.
I mean, there's no point in considering how your softs might mitigate your score without even having a score.