ZERO softs. what to do? Forum

[wolfpack37]

Hey everyone,

TLDR VERSION: 3.5 LSAC GPA, 172 LSAT, mediocre-poor LORs, no softs. Applying in the fall. Advice?

I slacked pretty hard my freshmen year, and ended it with a 2.77 GPA (maybe 2.76 LSAC). Anyways, my sophomore year I started realizing that I was a jackass, and picked it up a bit, but not as drastically as I probably should have. Anyways, it was near the end of sophomore year that I really decided I wanted to go to law school (it was always a sort of far off dream). I decided that the route to take was improving my GPA, and honestly I was just too lazy to pursue any soft factors that could benefit my application. Regardless, by the time I realized it might become an issue, I was in GPA-improvement mode, taking as many classes as possible. In the fall I took 20 units, and in the spring I took 28 (for reference a regular courseload is 15 units). The courseload that I've had this year is my only thing that is remotely out of the ordinary. That puts me here, now. I'm not at a great school (a state school), my major isn't especially difficult (Finance, minor in Psychology), and I really feel like my applications, beyond the numbers, are set up to be horrific right now. I plan to apply in the fall. I'd really appreciate some advice, especially from someone who may have been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

[MURPH]

Just write a decent PS and apply early. No one gives a shit about your softs. Go to whatever school offers you the $$$$. You can have a life later.

[Wade LeBosh]

I don't mean to hijack your thread but this ties in. I'm a year away from applications with only music-related softs (I'm a music major). Considering I don't apply until Fall 12 would it be worth it to reallocate sometime to student organizations? I'm into politics so I could would a political organization (do schools care about political affiliation?), but I'm not very big on "volunteering" because music courses and LSAT are so time-consuming. I don't want it to look like all I did in college was play piano and study for LSAT (I also drank a lot, but I won't put that in the app ). Keep in mind that I'm an AA Male

[Kilpatrick]

172 LSAT

You don't need softs when you have this.

[TTH]

172 LSAT

You don't need softs when you have this.

[Wade LeBosh]

172 LSAT

You don't need softs when you have this.

Even for T10 schools?

[TTH]

172 LSAT

You don't need softs when you have this.

Even for T10 schools?

Well, not for you. Your atrocious username will result in auto-dings from every reputable school in the country.

[Kilpatrick]

Softs matter for HYS, but 3.5/172 probably wasn't going to get you there any way. But you're virtually assured at least one T14, especially if you're app is already to go and you submit on the first day possible

[SG09]

Just about every updated profile on LSN this cycle with a 172 LSAT and a GPA between 3.5 and 3.6 got into a top 6 school.

So you're probably in pretty good shape. Just make sure to apply early.

[almightypush]

Well, not for you. Your atrocious username will result in auto-dings from every reputable school in the country.

god, this reply is SO credited.

[futurelawstudent1]

Just about every updated profile on LSN this cycle with a 172 LSAT and a GPA between 3.5 and 3.6 got into a top 6 school.

So you're probably in pretty good shape. Just make sure to apply early.

Yes, but the vast majority of them had at least some softs, probably significant ones. The top law schools do care about softs; they just aren't obsessed with them like undergraduate schools are.

Also, telling the OP he is likely to get into a T6 is horribly misleading. The only T6 where he has a decent shot is NYU.

[094320]

..

[SG09]

...

[bostonlawchick]

Did you have a part time job or did you just focus on schoolwork? I had no softs at all either (not one EC while in college) and I think I did exactly how my numbers predicted I should have.

[wolfpack37]

Did you have a part time job or did you just focus on schoolwork? I had no softs at all either (not one EC while in college) and I think I did exactly how my numbers predicted I should have.

I've had a part-time job for 2 of 6 semesters.

Thanks for the advice everyone! It's really uplifting. And ya, I've looked at LSN profiles with similar numbers to me, and almost all of them have significant other softs, WE, better UG institution, etc. I just really feel like what is backing my #'s is noticeably worse than others', so hopefully y'all are correct and everything works out!

[Odd Future Wolf Gang]

Don't need softs when you got that 170+ LSAT SWAG bro.

[Deuce]

I don't mean to hijack your thread but this ties in. I'm a year away from applications with only music-related softs (I'm a music major). Considering I don't apply until Fall 12 would it be worth it to reallocate sometime to student organizations? I'm into politics so I could would a political organization (do schools care about political affiliation?), but I'm not very big on "volunteering" because music courses and LSAT are so time-consuming. I don't want it to look like all I did in college was play piano and study for LSAT (I also drank a lot, but I won't put that in the app ). Keep in mind that I'm an AA Male

Your username..... nice.

[CanadianWolf]

May hurt at a few highly selective law schools, but the 172 & respectable GPA will satisfy the rest.

[Wade LeBosh]

Well, not for you. Your atrocious username will result in auto-dings from every reputable school in the country.

I'm born and raised in Miami-Wade county, I have the right

I'm starting to think I should not worry about ECs. It would be kind of silly to do something only for the sake of applications right?