Be honest, do I have a chance? Forum

[sjgonzalez3]

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to the forum, so if there is a related thread that I simply missed, please let me know.

Anyway, I just graduated from UCSB with a BA in Philosophy 3.68 GPA, have held a 20hr/wk job all 4 years and hold leadership positions in the Volunteer Student Government. I already have a job to be a Paralegal at a mid size law firm in LA. I plan to stay at this job for 2 years to gain experience/travel to foreign countries. I'm currently enrolled in a Kaplan LSAT prep course and am consistently hitting 172 on my LSAT tests and will probably stay there unless I take more time to study.

My dream school is Stanford, but my numbers don't feel strong enough to attend. Given my 2 years of relevant work experience, hard work in Undergrad, and high LSAT score, do I have a shot at Stanford?

If any of your answers are yes, how good are the odds? If not, how far off am I/what can I do in my 2 years until I apply to strengthen my overall application and make myself a strong candidate.

Just to be clear, I have not YET taken the LSAT officially.

Thanks!

[dowu]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=170051

[rinkrat19]

Your GPA is likely too low for Stanford.
http://stanford.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1011/

[aekea]

Are you an URM? If so, you have a chance. If not, you don't really have a chance due to the GPA.

[sjgonzalez3]

I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/2 Euro Caucasian. My father was an illegal immigrant until Clinton granted amnesty and he received citizenship. So from what I understand this makes me an URM.

The GPA is pretty low, I was hoping the LSAT would counter that. I do have the option of putting off taking the LSAT for another year and studying until i get a higher score; though working full time as a paralegal might make this difficult.

[071816]

Euro Caucasian

[sjgonzalez3]

Euro Caucasian

Ah yes, the important part of the thread. Thanks for the input.

[aekea]

I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/2 Euro Caucasian. My father was an illegal immigrant until Clinton granted amnesty and he received citizenship. So from what I understand this makes me an URM.

The GPA is pretty low, I was hoping the LSAT would counter that. I do have the option of putting off taking the LSAT for another year and studying until i get a higher score; though working full time as a paralegal might make this difficult.

Cool, so as a URM you definitely have a shot. There isn't a whole lot of data for URMs with your numbers applying to Stanford. I only found two on Law School Numbers, but both of them got in, so that's a good sign. The GPA is low for Stanford, but they're more forgiving for URM applicants. Focus on getting a good LSAT score.

[sjgonzalez3]

I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/2 Euro Caucasian. My father was an illegal immigrant until Clinton granted amnesty and he received citizenship. So from what I understand this makes me an URM.

The GPA is pretty low, I was hoping the LSAT would counter that. I do have the option of putting off taking the LSAT for another year and studying until i get a higher score; though working full time as a paralegal might make this difficult.

Cool, so as a URM you definitely have a shot. There isn't a whole lot of data for URMs with your numbers applying to Stanford. I only found two on Law School Numbers, but both of them got in, so that's a good sign. The GPA is low for Stanford, but they're more forgiving for URM applicants. Focus on getting a good LSAT score.

Nice! Thanks for the help, I can hold on to my dream school after all.

[071816]

Euro Caucasian

Ah yes, the important part of the thread. Thanks for the input.

Any time, champ.

[TTTLS]

Getting in here before TLS tries to completely shoot down someone with 3.68 GPA and hitting 172 on PTs. Glad to see Jags Guy ITT.

Just do Berkeley, bro.