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So here’s my situation. I graduated 2013 with a 3.0 in bio/chem major. There’s no excuse but I did mature pretty late and didn’t realize my career was in jeopardy until junior year of college. I finished college strong, 3.75 and 3.975 my last two semesters. I did retake a bunch of classes and dont’ even want to think about my LSAC gpa right now... I was alway interested in debating and defending my arguments, etc. but my parents and grandparents always pushed me towards the health sciences. Bottom line is I’ve decided that I want to practice law.
I plan on taking my LSATs in June and after 4 days of skimming the powerscore bible series book I got a 160 diagnostic on one of the official LSATs. I plan on studying and doing as many problems as I can and shoot for 170+ on the actual exam.

After graduation I found a job in my area and worked in a research laboratory and now have about 4-5 publications with my name on it. If I apply this fall I will have 2 years of work experience.
I really want to stay in Philadelphia or close by and was wondering what my chances of getting into schools like Temple would be.

I am the first US citizen in my family if that matters (I might also write about it in my personal statement?)
Sorry for going all over the place but if anyone can offer any pointers on what I should do between now and July, how to structure my personal statement (I.E., should I mention my grades/upward trend, work experience, etc.) I would be more than gracious.

Play around with this website: mylsn.info a little bit. You can go to Pre-Law, Admissions, Search and type in a GPA and LSAT range to see how people within your GPA range with different LSAT scores have done previously. With strong LORs and a PS and a 170+, Temple would be very much in your grasp, but please make sure you're looking at the career prospects as well (link to Law School Transparency report below). I compared Temple to Villanova and Penn just so you can see the differences.

Shoot for the highest score you possibly can. You'll need your LSAT to carry you. Also, if you do well enough and reconsider moving, Northwestern could be a good bet for you. Best of luck!

http://mylsn.info/pe04ki/

http://www.lstscorereports.com/compare/ ... nova/penn/

If you want to go to Temple make sure you 'definitely' want to stay in the Philadelphia area for a long time. It's a fine school but it's definitely regional/local.

That said, getting in won't be a problem. The problem will be getting money.

Many students at Temple go at sticker. Those who do get money mostly get little, and a quarter who get money end up losing it. All of these are very bad things.

On the plus side, their tuition is reasonable. But this is not a school where you will get a 6-figure job right away. You need very low debt, which means you need a good scholarship. With a bad GPA you need a superb LSAT, in my opinion. The 25% GPA is 3.10 and the 75% LSAT is 162. If you could get your LSAT above 162 and your GPA to 3.10 (remember all classes count until you actually receive a bachelors degree) then you should expect decent money, I think.

thank you all for your quick response. I do intend to stay in the Philadelphia area because my parents and significant other in the suburbs. How important is it to apply as early as I can? Also since I've been out of school, is if necessary to find a lecture professor I had in undergrad to write one of my LORs?

Aim for 172+, ED Penn, apply to Temple/Nova/Rutgers-Camden (if NJ resident only)/Drexel.

I know of someone with a very low GPA and a 17X LSAT who got Penn, and Penn dominates Philly...

phillywc wrote:Aim for 172+, ED Penn, apply to Temple/Nova/Rutgers-Camden (if NJ resident only)/Drexel.

I know of someone with a very low GPA and a 17X LSAT who got Penn, and Penn dominates Philly...

I've heard of this person too.

To OP, as a fellow Chemistry guy with a terrible GPA and a 168, work hard for the LSAT (170+ would be better) and enjoy acceptances to a few T14s, or 15-25 for free.

Attax wrote:

phillywc wrote:Aim for 172+, ED Penn, apply to Temple/Nova/Rutgers-Camden (if NJ resident only)/Drexel.

I know of someone with a very low GPA and a 17X LSAT who got Penn, and Penn dominates Philly...

I've heard of this person too.

To OP, as a fellow Chemistry guy with a terrible GPA and a 168, work hard for the LSAT (170+ would be better) and enjoy acceptances to a few T14s, or 15-25 for free.

You guys are giving me more optimism than I had originally hoped for... But right now I'm just deadfocused on my LSATs come June. I hear many schools are rolling admissions, does this apply for most schools or just a select few. I want to get my application as soon as possible, but in case I don't perform as well on my June exam, I will want to take the September exam, but that sets back my review process a little.

When did you all apply?

again, really appreciate all the input

jayashae wrote:

Attax wrote:

phillywc wrote:Aim for 172+, ED Penn, apply to Temple/Nova/Rutgers-Camden (if NJ resident only)/Drexel.

I know of someone with a very low GPA and a 17X LSAT who got Penn, and Penn dominates Philly...

I've heard of this person too.

To OP, as a fellow Chemistry guy with a terrible GPA and a 168, work hard for the LSAT (170+ would be better) and enjoy acceptances to a few T14s, or 15-25 for free.

You guys are giving me more optimism than I had originally hoped for... But right now I'm just deadfocused on my LSATs come June. I hear many schools are rolling admissions, does this apply for most schools or just a select few. I want to get my application as soon as possible, but in case I don't perform as well on my June exam, I will want to take the September exam, but that sets back my review process a little.

When did you all apply?

again, really appreciate all the input

Send in your apps in between the June and Sep/Oct exam in that case. Then they begin reviewing it once the Sep/Oct exam results get to them. Having your apps start getting reviewed in late October is absolutely fine and won't hurt your chances. I did the exact same thing.

rstahl wrote:

jayashae wrote:

Attax wrote:

phillywc wrote:Aim for 172+, ED Penn, apply to Temple/Nova/Rutgers-Camden (if NJ resident only)/Drexel.

I know of someone with a very low GPA and a 17X LSAT who got Penn, and Penn dominates Philly...

I've heard of this person too.

To OP, as a fellow Chemistry guy with a terrible GPA and a 168, work hard for the LSAT (170+ would be better) and enjoy acceptances to a few T14s, or 15-25 for free.

You guys are giving me more optimism than I had originally hoped for... But right now I'm just deadfocused on my LSATs come June. I hear many schools are rolling admissions, does this apply for most schools or just a select few. I want to get my application as soon as possible, but in case I don't perform as well on my June exam, I will want to take the September exam, but that sets back my review process a little.

When did you all apply?

again, really appreciate all the input

Send in your apps in between the June and Sep/Oct exam in that case. Then they begin reviewing it once the Sep/Oct exam results get to them. Having your apps start getting reviewed in late October is absolutely fine and won't hurt your chances. I did the exact same thing.

Is there somewhere on the application that I can specify like.. "wait for my september LSAT" or do they usually just not make a decision that quickly?