How does my plan look? Forum

[STB]

I am currently a junior at a good (top 50 but not top 25) liberal arts school. I have a 3.92 and expect it to stay somewhere around there; I think my softs are pretty good; I don't have an LSAT score but it shouldn't be too important for my question. My question is whether this plan makes sense...

After I graduate, I will study for the LSAT and take it in the fall. For a year or two I will get a job and build some WE. When I get my LSAT score back I'll apply to my very top choices (HYS and Berkeley) if I have a high score. If I don't get accepted, I will reapply early in the next cycle.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[LoyalRebel]

Many a 4.0 liberal arts major has been humbled by the LSAT.

Having said that, I think it's good you're aiming high. Personally, I think that if you get good enough scores to get into the schools you mentioned, you should accept right away and not worry about the work experience. W/E is good, but you could be doing better things with your time.

[20130312]

Apply to all of MPVB (even if you aren't interested in attending) for the scholarship leverage. Profit.

[Randomnumbers]

You can also study during the summer before your senior year and take a pop at the LSAT in october then. With a 3.92 and a good LSAT score you don't need to take time off and build up WE. Also, some people will be fine on the LSAT without any practice. You are in a very good position to not have to take time off.

That being said, if you want to take time off it is a very good idea. But taking the LSAT earlier will give you more options to change your mind at a later date. At least take a few practice tests and see how you do.

[20130312]

You can also study during the summer before your senior year and take a pop at the LSAT in october then. With a 3.92 and a good LSAT score you don't need to take time off and build up WE to get in to law school. It will come in handy when looking for a legal job, though. Also, some people will be fine on the LSAT without any practice. You are in a very good position to not have to take time off.

That being said, if you want to take time off it is a very good idea. But taking the LSAT earlier will give you more options to change your mind at a later date. At least take a few practice tests and see how you do.

FTFY

[rad lulz]

+1 to IGF, WE is the tits for OCI

[CanadianWolf]

Without an actual LSAT score, your plan looks unrealistic. Try to take the LSAT in June so that you can retake in October if your score is too low for your goals. Focus on getting "As" during the remainder of your undergraduate career & on finding an LSAT prep course.

[rad lulz]

Without an actual LSAT score, your plan looks unrealistic.

Also lol, credited.

[STB]

Thanks for the responses.

So I would be better off applying to more schools after the Sep/oct LSAT if only for the sake of $?

[Paul Campos]

Thanks for the responses.

So I would be better off applying to more schools after the Sep/oct LSAT if only for the sake of $?

No, just apply to Yale, Harvard and Stanford, and then play them off against each other. If you do this right they should be paying you to go to law school.

[20130312]

Thanks for the responses.

So I would be better off applying to more schools after the Sep/oct LSAT if only for the sake of $?

No, just apply to Yale, Harvard and Stanford, and then play them off against each other. If you do this right they should be paying you to go to law school.

Assuming a good LSAT, which is tough to say if you haven't even looked at one yet.

[CanadianWolf]

Yes, apply to more law schools. Check lawschoolnumbers.com Look at the graphs for Yale, Berkeley & Stanford (Harvard is much more predictable regarding admissions decisions because it is very large).

Lawyers need to have & use common-sense, in addition to other factors. A common-sense plan for applying to law school extends beyond Harvard, Yale, Stanford & Berkely.

[rinkrat19]

Thanks for the responses.

So I would be better off applying to more schools after the Sep/oct LSAT if only for the sake of $?

No, just apply to Yale, Harvard and Stanford, and then play them off against each other. If you do this right they should be paying you to go to law school.

Assuming a good LSAT, which is tough to say if you haven't even looked at one yet.

+1
We've seen plenty of high GPAs totally fail at the LSAT. It is not the SATs.

[CanadianWolf]

P.S. I've heard that they teach good law at Columbia, Chicago & a few others as well.

[20130312]

P.S. I've heard that they teach good law at Columbia, Chicago & a few others as well.

OMG, this is totally blatant anti-NYU trolling dood!

[CanadianWolf]

I wrote "a few others as well".

P.S. It's important to let Yale know whether or not that is your first choice school.

[STB]

Yes, apply to more law schools. Check lawschoolnumbers.com Look at the graphs for Yale, Berkeley & Stanford (Harvard is much more predictable regarding admissions decisions because it is very large).

Lawyers need to have & use common-sense, in addition to other factors. A common-sense plan for applying to law school extends beyond Harvard, Yale, Stanford & Berkely.

Right. I was just thinking that I would only apply to my top few choices as a sort of "what if" scenario and then wait util earlier in the next cycle to apply to all the schools I would normally apply to. My thought was that I would rather do two years of work (for my own sake more than for my resume) unless I could go to one of my favorite schools after just one year. I just didn't know if it was a good idea to do the two cycles thing.

[CanadianWolf]

Really depends upon your LSAT score or scores & other opportunities. For example, are you also considering MBA school ?
Work experience is typically a good idea before attending law school, but that varies by individual situations.

[Nulli Secundus]

No one will take you serious until you have a real LSAT score. As people have pointed out, a good GPA is in no way a guarantee of a good LSAT score, otherwise we wouldn't have a category like "reverse-splitters" (lol).

Apart from this, even if you get past LSAT, do your damnedest to get all your ducks in a row w/r/t admissions requirements the first time. A rejection on your record will not be endearing when they review your application for the second time.

[johansantana21]

I am currently a junior at a good (top 50 but not top 25) liberal arts school. I have a 3.92 and expect it to stay somewhere around there; I think my softs are pretty good; I don't have an LSAT score but it shouldn't be too important for my question. My question is whether this plan makes sense...

After I graduate, I will study for the LSAT and take it in the fall. For a year or two I will get a job and build some WE. When I get my LSAT score back I'll apply to my very top choices (HYS and Berkeley) if I have a high score. If I don't get accepted, I will reapply early in the next cycle.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Oh god, someone punch this kid.

[hoos89]

/

[jhw219]

your chances will definitely be impacted by the LSAT. Although my GPA isn't nearly as high as yours, there are people with my exact GPA and solid LSAT scores who are getting into Penn, Columbia, etc. while my disappointing score has landed me on the WL at the bottom T14. Also, and I don't mean to belittle your school, but your not applying from one of the top universities and there are definitely going to be people applying from Ivy's and other top 15's who are going to have GPAs just as good as yours so in order to remain competitive you're going to need a solid LSAT.

[hoos89]

/

[jhw219]

your chances will definitely be impacted by the LSAT. Although my GPA isn't nearly as high as yours, there are people with my exact GPA and solid LSAT scores who are getting into Penn, Columbia, etc. while my disappointing score has landed me on the WL at the bottom T14. Also, and I don't mean to belittle your school, but your not applying from one of the top universities and there are definitely going to be people applying from Ivy's and other top 15's who are going to have GPAs just as good as yours so in order to remain competitive you're going to need a solid LSAT.

UG Institution is pretty much meaningless for law school admissions.

i mean, it's by no means going to be the deciding factor, but you can't tell me that an admissions officer is going to treat a 4.0 from an ivy the same way they would treat a 4.0 from a large state school. at the same time, getting a 2.x from an ivy is obviously not going to get you as far as a solid GPA from a less distinguished school. all i'm saying is that having a high GPA won't be enough since there will be other students from (arguably) more difficult schools with great GPAs too.

[20130312]

your chances will definitely be impacted by the LSAT. Although my GPA isn't nearly as high as yours, there are people with my exact GPA and solid LSAT scores who are getting into Penn, Columbia, etc. while my disappointing score has landed me on the WL at the bottom T14. Also, and I don't mean to belittle your school, but your not applying from one of the top universities and there are definitely going to be people applying from Ivy's and other top 15's who are going to have GPAs just as good as yours so in order to remain competitive you're going to need a solid LSAT.

UG Institution is pretty much meaningless for law school admissions.

i mean, it's by no means going to be the deciding factor, but you can't tell me that an admissions officer is going to treat a 4.0 from an ivy the same way they would treat a 4.0 from a large state school. at the same time, getting a 2.x from an ivy is obviously not going to get you as far as a solid GPA from a less distinguished school. all i'm saying is that having a high GPA won't be enough since there will be other students from (arguably) more difficult schools with great GPAs too.

UG, along with your PS and LORs, would serve as a tiebreaker for people with identical numbers. Otherwise, no dice.