Does Ph.D. in chemistry help? Forum

[screamn02]

Just taking a poll! Law School Predictor is scaring me...
LSAT 164
GPA 3.05 from top engineering school
Ph.D. chemistry from top program
Work at a AmLaw 100 firm as a Patent Agent.

Thoughts?? Thanks!

edited to add: submitted applications mid-January.

[gaud]

The PhD will help you get a job while you're in law school, but I'm not sure it will do too much to get you in.

[RhymesLikeDimes]

If you can sell them on wanting to be an IP lawyer, it could help. But that LSAT/GPA is going to keep you out of the T14 in all likelihood.

[A. Nony Mouse]

The PhD will help you get a job while you're in law school, but I'm not sure it will do too much to get you in.

This. For admissions, the PhD is maybe the equivalent of a half-point to a (maybe) a point on the LSAT? Maybe. (I have a Ph.D. - admittedly not in chemistry - and got in everywhere my UGPA and LSAT said I'd get in, and no where they didn't.)

[Crocodile Duck]

Can you say what school you got your PhD? That makes a difference...

[A. Nony Mouse]

Can you say what school you got your PhD? That makes a difference...

Not for admission to law school.

[ManOfTheMinute]

I could see northwestern...

[rinkrat19]

I could see northwestern...

Not with that LSAT.

[pacifica]

In my limited experience, a PhD gets you to the front of the line once you hit a school's medians; i.e. you'd be treated like a 180/4.0 candidate in terms of $, response time, personal attention and wooing as long as you meet that school's 50% in LSAT and median. If you don't, sadly, I think it's just like another significant extracurricular activity...

[cinephile]

Nope. Law school is not like other graduate programs.

[reasonable_man]

PhD in chemistry, working as a patent agent already ... Who cares where you go; your're in good shape job-wise afterward. Go to a slightly lower ranked school with a scholarship and you're probably fine..