summer classes to boost GPA or LSAT study? Forum

[cavalier2015]

at the end of my junior year I have a 3.395. I have the opportunity to raise that to either a 3.416 (with one summer class) or a 3.435 (with two summer classes). I plan to take the LSAT in september and apply as early as possible. My dream school is NYU. Do you guys suggest I aim for the highest LSAT possible with my current GPA or try to take the summer classes to boost my GPA alongside study for LSAT?

[SnakySalmon]

NYU's 25th GPA percentile is 3.57. If you're really set on going there, I'd pump your GPA up until you reach that, and then score above the 75 percentile on the LSAT.

[cavalier2015]

i really appreciate the reply. based on the conversation I had with my academic advisor, she suggested to focus on just having the LSAT above the 75th percentile because she believes from her experience that NYU focuses heavily on LSAT than most other schools and when coupled with applying early in the cycle and the drop in applicants she feels like my GPA won't hurt too much.

Do you guys feel this is something that's true of admissions at NYU currently?

[midwest17]

If you can afford them, take the summer classes and put the effort in that you need to get As. Don't worry about taking the LSAT in October. Wait until December of June, or next September, depending on when you have the most time to study. Use your senior year to continue getting your grades up. Sit out a year and apply while getting some real-world work experience.

[cavalier2015]

i will definitely consider that. i came across this tool, does TLS recommend it to be helpful in gauging chances?

http://mylsn.info/iph4x4/

(i used my current GPA and an LSAT over the 75th percentile).

[midwest17]

Use mylsn.info. Even if you manage a 173 (one point above NYU's 75th) with your current GPA you don't have a great shot. If you can get your GPA up to a 3.44, you'll probably get in but you'll be paying sticker. If you get it up to a 3.5, on the other hand (still with that 173) you could be starting to look at scholarship money.

TL;DR: Don't go K-JD. Wait to apply so you can use your senior year to boost your GPA. That will give you plenty of time to study for the LSAT, so don't take it until you're consistently scoring in the 170s on PTs.

ETA: your post came in while I was typing. Yes, mylsn is useful. Don't just rely on the searches, though, click through and look at the profiles.

[SnakySalmon]

i will definitely consider that. i came across this tool, does TLS recommend it to be helpful in gauging chances?

http://mylsn.info/iph4x4/

(i used my current GPA and an LSAT over the 75th percentile).

That's accurate, but shows the full range between 173-180. If you reduce it to 173-175, which are still amazingly high scores, you would only have a 60% chance of getting in with that GPA.

Remember, you can take the LSAT 3 times in two years. Your GPA is forever. Focus on it while you're still in school, instead of insisting on being a KJD, which can only hurt you when you look for work.

[McAvoy]

Take lots of summer classes and max out your course load next year. Get a 4.0 in all of that. Consider doing a victory lap and adding another major with more summer classes and a maxed-out course load. Work for two years and take the LSAT while doing that. Profit.

[cavalier2015]

is there a september LSAT or an october LSAT? and would either be fine to apply for the upcoming cycle?

I know a advice is to apply early in the cycle, but when exactly does TLS recommend is "early"? And would taking the september/october LSAT allow me to apply in this early timeframe, given I get my other parts of the application done?

[midwest17]

is there a september LSAT or an october LSAT? and would either be fine to apply for the upcoming cycle?

I know a advice is to apply early in the cycle, but when exactly does TLS recommend is "early"? And would taking the september/october LSAT allow me to apply in this early timeframe, given I get my other parts of the application done?

There's an October LSAT. It's the first week of October, generally. It may have been the last week of September some years, but I'm not sure. Taking the October LSAT lets you get your applications in by the end of October, which is still early but not super early.

You're much better off taking December or June, using the extra classes to raise your GPA, and applying the day the applications open for c/o 2019.

Or even waiting longer than that. Having a loose plan on when to take the LSAT is fine, but you shouldn't register and lock yourself into a date until you're comfortably PTing in your target range. You don't know how much studying you'll need to do, so you're getting ahead of yourself.

[Tiago Splitter]

i really appreciate the reply. based on the conversation I had with my academic advisor, she suggested to focus on just having the LSAT above the 75th percentile because she believes from her experience that NYU focuses heavily on LSAT than most other schools and when coupled with applying early in the cycle and the drop in applicants she feels like my GPA won't hurt too much.

Do you guys feel this is something that's true of admissions at NYU currently?

Unlike most advisors this one seems to have a decent handle on law school admissions. If you score high enough on the LSAT you'll get into NYU. That said, the other people are all absolutely right that you should wait an extra year to apply so that you can come in with the highest GPA possible. Work experience also helps. If you're going to do well on the LSAT you'll do well whether you take it this year or next, so you might as well pair it with the best GPA you can.

[jbagelboy]

Whoa what? If your gpa sucks just finish your senior year and take some easy A's. Get a job and apply in 2015. Your plan is totally counterproductive and you'll definitely regret it. You could probably get your gpa up over 3.5, which would be huge for T14. Also don't take the LSAT as a college student.

[ForLawSchool]

Edited to omit personal info.

[xylocarp]

is there a september LSAT or an october LSAT? and would either be fine to apply for the upcoming cycle?

Some years it's in October, some years it's in September. This year it's in September.

In general, I agree with everyone that you'd really, REALLY do best to wait until the cycle after next to apply. Your GPA right now is low but not unsalvageable — applying after a fantastic senior year (does your school give A+ grades? Try for those) could make an ENORMOUS difference in your results. Seeing as being K-JD is a negative on admissions (not to mention employment) already, there are really only upsides to you waiting a year.

[cavalier2015]

what exactly is a k-JD?

[ScottRiqui]

what exactly is a k-JD?

"Kindergarten through JD", as in someone who goes right from high school to undergrad to law school, with no significant breaks.

[xylocarp]

what exactly is a k-JD?

"Kindergarten through JD", as in someone who goes right from high school to undergrad to law school, with no significant breaks.

Yeah. It can be detrimental for employment post-law school since employers favor full-time work experience, and partly for that reason it can also sometimes be detrimental for admissions. The majority of students at most top law schools have at least one year of work experience after undergrad.

[sims1]

what exactly is a k-JD?

"Kindergarten through JD", as in someone who goes right from high school to undergrad to law school, with no significant breaks.

Yeah. It can be detrimental for employment post-law school since employers favor full-time work experience, and partly for that reason it can also sometimes be detrimental for admissions. The majority of students at most top law schools have at least one year of work experience after undergrad.

I think that's a bit extreme. Employers want good grades and someone who is able to interview decently well. Everyone I know that has went K-JD has done more than fine in recruiting.

But yea, taking a year off can't hurt admissions. Then again, there isn't really much of a downside to applying in your senior year if you have a solid LSAT. Worst case scenario you fall flat and reapply with a rewrite.

[xylocarp]

you can find me at www.top-law-schools.com!