Fulbright/Business Experience a Factor? Forum

[ndls]

I'm applying to law school for the upcoming cycle, currently researching programs. I graduated with a 3.62 and honors from an elite (non-ivy) private university, as a business major, and did a Fulbright ETA. I've worked in finance for the past year. I haven't taken the LSAT yet, but expect a 165+ (I scored very highly on the SAT).

Will my soft factors of having done a Fulbright and having good work experience significantly benefit my application, perhaps making up for a GPA that could be a bit higher?

Will I be competitive for T-14 schools?

Appreciate any help, and thanks

[yossarian]

A Fulbright is on the high end of softs. As in the difference may be tangible, but it will still be at the margins. Common sense says that softs are tiebreakers. This will still generally be true even w/ a fulbright. However, that is very important w/ your GPA.

Your GPA + softs put you well w/in reach of every t7-14 if you do well on the LSAT and if you crush the LSAT t1-6 are in play. Speculation is premature before an LSAT score though. SAT and LSAT correlate but not super strongly. You'll have to study to get the score you want. Study now, study often. Kick ass on the LSAT and the world is your oyster.

To get an idea of what LSAT you need at each of the t14, play around with http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com and http://www.mylsn.info.

For reference, here is your admissions matrix with your GPA and a 165.


Here it is with your GPA and a 170.


And w/ a 176


Moral of the story? Study. It's learnable, and it makes all the difference.

[ndls]

Moral of the story? Study. It's learnable, and it makes all the difference.

yossarian71: Thanks a bunch!

[yossarian]

Yeah. And I wasn't thinking and used hard LSAT ranges. ie, 170-170. Those sample sizes are small. To give yourself a better picture use 3 point ranges like 168-171.

But again. Don't approach it as I need 17x score. Approach it as I am going to do the best I possibly can and then look at what schools are great options.