2.8/171 locked out of t14? Forum

[alwayssunnyinfl]

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[Nelson]

Why not take a year off to get work experience for Northwestern? You probably need to retake for a better LSAT anyway. I think super splitters usually need a mid 170s score to feel comfortable.

ETA: NU is your best shot, but I think you also have a chance at GULC as well.

[Miracle]

Why would you be locked out of T-14?

[Doorkeeper]

You're pretty much locked out with a 171 and under a 3.0 GPA. You have a small chance at NU or GULC. I would not ED to UVA. If you're ok with sticker, I would ED to GULC. If you can bump your LSAT to a 174+, you'd have a much better chance. Also, do all you can to get your GPA to 3.0, if possible.

Other schools to target: WUSTL, GWU, Indiana

[alwayssunnyinfl]

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[alwayssunnyinfl]

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[Samara]

Sorry dood, but it doesn't sound like you have the post-UG WE that NU is looking for. It's worth the app though.

If you're okay with paying sticker, ED to UVa -> ED to GULC. You should get one of them to bite. UVa has been known to be sympathetic to addenda. Also, (I'm assuming you mean the '12-'13 cycle) this should be another down cycle, which bodes well.

If you're okay with a year off, but would prefer to apply this cycle, I would apply to UVa, Mich, NU, Cornell, GULC and see what happens. If you don't get into a T14, consider retaking, get some post-UG WE and reapply. I don't think it would hurt your cycle to reapply because your app would be substantively improved with the added WE.

[BVest]

The problem with NU is that -- yes, they like the WE -- but that's also their big attraction. As a result you're up against a bunch of people with t14ish numbers with WE, while you don't have those.

I'm not saying don't apply... I did with my 171 and sub-3.0 (with 17 years of WE), and would have gone to NU over any other school.

Alas, despite my WE, my apps broke down by the numbers:

Top 20: dinged
20-40: WL (exception Hastings, UNC)
40-55: In... some with good $$$ (some off WL, but already in off WL)

And I had a big enough sample size for the results to be meaningful... after all, I didn't really know where I stood with my big-league splitter numbers and years of senior exec WE. And if someone I considered but wasn't on my initial list gave me a waiver, I took them up on it (WUSTL, Hastings -- both dings; well played on their statisticians part).

[chipcope]

1) Definitely plan on ED'ing UVA, but for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 cycles, LSN only reports one admit with a 171 and sub-3.0.

I am that one admit. I'd suggest you spend a year or two before law school working. I really don't think what you actually do matters as much as the fact that you've spent a couple of years in the working world and still want law school.

Obviously, my case is anecdotal, and no one should ever count on getting in this way. However, I get the impression that adcomms like to see a couple years of work experience regardless of what the job actually is.

EDIT: Also, with the recent drops in testtakers, don't underestimate what a 171 will get you.

[Samara]

There was a 2.99/170 non-URM RD admit to UVa this year, too. PS played a big role.

[bp shinners]

1) Definitely plan on ED'ing UVA, but for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 cycles, LSN only reports one admit with a 171 and sub-3.0.

I am that one admit. I'd suggest you spend a year or two before law school working. I really don't think what you actually do matters as much as the fact that you've spent a couple of years in the working world and still want law school.

Obviously, my case is anecdotal, and no one should ever count on getting in this way. However, I get the impression that adcomms like to see a couple years of work experience regardless of what the job actually is.

EDIT: Also, with the recent drops in testtakers, don't underestimate what a 171 will get you.

Additionally, taking that year off to get the WE will let your final grades count in your LSAC GPA, which you seem to suggest will bring you above 3.0 (I didn't do the maths). That will also seriously increase your chances.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

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[Tiago Splitter]

Good thinking OP. Definitely crush this year to get that GPA over 3.0 and take the year off so everything counts.

[Doorkeeper]

If you're okay with paying sticker, ED to UVa -> ED to GULC. You should get one of them to bite. UVa has been known to be sympathetic to addenda. Also, (I'm assuming you mean the '12-'13 cycle) this should be another down cycle, which bodes well.

If you're okay with a year off, but would prefer to apply this cycle, I would apply to UVa, Mich, NU, Cornell, GULC and see what happens. If you don't get into a T14, consider retaking, get some post-UG WE and reapply. I don't think it would hurt your cycle to reapply because your app would be substantively improved with the added WE.

This strategy is credited.

[Tiago Splitter]

Is the difference between a 2.9 and a 3.0 that significant to splitter-friendly schools?

I'd say yes at UVA and GULC, especially with no work experience and only a 171.

[MarcusAurelius]

With the fall quickly approaching, I figured it was time for me to make one of these threads. Right now my predicted LSAC GPA is somewhere between a 2.7 and 2.8 due to a handful of WFs. I haven't seen what they've done with my abysmal CC transcripts yet, we'll see in a couple of weeks once they process them, but 2.7 is the worst case scenario. I'm taking a full load this summer, so hopefully it'll come up to a 2.8/9 by the fall. 164/171 on the LSAT.

1) Definitely plan on ED'ing UVA, but for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 cycles, LSN only reports one admit with a 171 and sub-3.0. My first year at CC bombed my LSAC GPA, and I have been consistently getting more A's than B's since transferring to university. My parents separated during my time at CC, and one of them passed away in a car accident, so I'm definitely writing an addendum, but it feels like pulling teeth trying not to sound like I'm using that as an excuse. Also, will the adcomms recognize the very real possibility that my GPA will be above a 3.0 (possibly a 3.1) by the time I graduate next spring and is that something I should mention in the addendum? ("er, hey guys, in case you can't do maths...")

2) With NU, people seem to be all over the place in regards to relevant work experience. Throughout highschool and undergrad, I've consistently had a full-ish time job, but never outside the service sector. I have about 3 years at a national coffee chain, 2 of them as a supervisor, almost 2 years as a server at a restaurant, and about a year of upscale retail between two jobs. All of these jobs were 30-40 hours concurrent with school, and there was one semester where I was working a total of about 60 hours between 2 jobs while going to school. I lost access to financial aid after the stupid decisions I made my first semester, and had to make it on my own until I got my pass/fail ratio back to FAFSA standards. Will NU count this as valid w/e, or does it just depend on how I play it up? Also, while I would technically be going straight from undergrad, I have taken time off and will be 25 next fall. Will I have the same stigma as a K-JD in their eyes?

3) Are there any other schools I should be focusing on hardcore? I plan on blanketing the schools I have a chance at and that will give me a fee waiver. I'm also not at all against taking a year off if I strike out to get my GPA up and get some solid work experience under my belt. Any advice on strategy and framing of my application would be extremely appreciated!

Yes.