Admissions Probability Forum

scooter123 · Post by **scooter123** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:28 am

Hey Everyone,

Just got my June LSAT score back today and I was extremely disappointed. I made a 154 (60% percentile) . I plan on retaking it in September and I am taking a prep course through TestMasters but I wanted to know what y'all thought about my current admission possibilities. I am originally from South Carolina but I currently live and go to school in Alabama (University of Alabama). What do y'all think are my chances of getting into South Carolina Law School and what others schools would I most likely be accepted into? (My top choices are: South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Wake, UNC, Vandy, and UGA)

-GPA: 4.099
Majors: History and Criminal Justice (Pre-Law track)
-Honors Student

Thanks!

malleus discentium · Post by **malleus discentium** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:33 am

http://mylsn.info/vlriif/

With that GPA every school is in play. Do not even bother applying with a 154. Study your ass off and enjoy a T14 with money.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 2:06 am

Post removed.

chuckbass · Post by **chuckbass** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 2:46 am

I agree, TCR is to retake. You have an amazing GPA, and you have more than enough time to buckle down and do better on your next LSAT in the fall. Regardless of whether you want to go back and practice in South Carolina or elsewhere in the country, you should be able to get solid money at t14s and full rides at some of those regionals that you're interested, and these options are infinitely better than the options afforded to you with your current score. Along with the prep course, make sure to take advantage of the wealth of LSAT prep resources found on TLS. Good luck.

scooter123 · Post by **scooter123** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:16 am

Thanks guys!
I really appreciate the advice.

WaltGrace83 · Post by **WaltGrace83** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:15 am

scooter123 wrote:Thanks guys!
I really appreciate the advice.

Just don't become one of those people that says, "I'm just so DONE studying. I'm just gonna go!"

This happens way too often with our generation, sadly (not comparing generations here 'cause I'm sure it happened before too). With a 4.xx you can do GREAT things. Yale is not out of the question with a 172. Anecdotal, but my friend got into Yale with a 171 and a 4.0. My other friend got into Harvard with a 169 and a 3.9x.

Is having the chance at an infinitely better career worth a few months of studying?

Louis1127 · Post by **Louis1127** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:28 am

1. Roll Tide
2. This:

malleus discentium wrote:Study your ass off

gnomgnomuch · Post by **gnomgnomuch** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:56 am

I'd kill for your gpa.

study for however long you need, lock up a 172+ lsat and enjoy either HYS or a full ride at lower t-14's.

There are SO many amazing guides on TLS with Pithypike and Noodley1's widely considered the best. Use 7sage for LG, manhattan for LR/RC. Buy the cambridge super set to get prep tests 1-38 separated by question type and difficulty level for drilling and prep tests 39-71 for actually taking tests and working on timing.

With your GPA, you shouldnt settle for anything lower than a full ride at a t14.

The LSAT is extremely learn-able, its just a matter of studying.
Good Luck =)

HRomanus · Post by **HRomanus** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 11:57 am

What part of the state are you from?

I have a college classmate who got into South Carolina Law with a low scholarship with a 4.0 and low 150s (she wouldn't fully disclose), so you're in decent (albeit not great) shape with your numbers. I got a full scholarship with a 4.0/165. SC Law is also one of the best T2s because it dominates the state market, which includes good employment in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston. The risk is that you can be stuck in bumf* nowhere making a horrible salary really easily.

TCR is to retake, but South Carolina Law isn't a horrible outcome for an SC native.

Louis1127 wrote:1. Roll Tide.

"Go Cocks" is hard to beat.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:23 pm

Post removed.

HRomanus · Post by **HRomanus** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:39 pm

MistakenGenius wrote:Come on Romanus. We've had great conversations but this is just wrong. Yes, we both know South Carolina is super insular, but the best firms in SC, Nelson Mullins and Ogletree Deakins, aren't going to touch anyone but maybe the valedictorian at USC. OP's not getting HYS with a 154 on his record, but a full ride to Duke or a Ruby/Hamilton is worth 1000x more than USC ever could be. South Carolina Law is a horrible outcome for the OP since he could get so much more.

First, I wholeheartedly agree OP should retake and should not go to South Carolina Law, especially at the COA he'll have with a 154.

But I disagree with your characterization of the SC employment. SC Law dominates a state whose business (and therefore legal) opportunities are growing, especially in the Greenville and Charleston areas. SC's cost of living is low for a good quality of life. If OP still has SC residency, the COA is good with just a 158-160. This to say: OP wouldn't have to make it to Nelson Mullins or Ogeltree Deakins to have a good quality of life in the state.

That being said, the downside to SC Law is that there's a steep drop from good outcomes to horrible outcomes.

BTW, as an SC native it's pretty galling to have to refer to University of South Caorlina as "SC Law" or "South Carolina Law" rather than USC.

Lord Randolph McDuff · Post by **Lord Randolph McDuff** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:58 pm

MistakenGenius wrote:
HRomanus wrote:What part of the state are you from?

I have a college classmate who got into South Carolina Law with a low scholarship with a 4.0 and low 150s (she wouldn't fully disclose), so you're in decent (albeit not great) shape with your numbers. I got a full scholarship with a 4.0/165. SC Law is also one of the best T2s because it dominates the state market, which includes good employment in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston. The risk is that you can be stuck in bumf* nowhere making a horrible salary really easily.

TCR is to retake, but South Carolina Law isn't a horrible outcome for an SC native.

Louis1127 wrote:1. Roll Tide.
"Go Cocks" is hard to beat.
Come on Romanus. We've had great conversations but this is just wrong. Yes, we both know South Carolina is super insular, but the best firms in SC, Nelson Mullins and Ogletree Deakins, aren't going to touch anyone but maybe the valedictorian at USC. OP's not getting HYS with a 154 on his record, but a full ride to Duke or a Ruby/Hamilton is worth 1000x more than USC ever could be. South Carolina Law is a horrible outcome for the OP since he could get so much more.

OP, if you'd like to further discuss your options, shoot me a message. I'm a South Carolinian who was first considering the exact same options as you but was convinced to aim higher. I'm did pretty well for myself and I'd love to help you out.

South Carolina Law is a horrible outcome... Unless OP has different career goals than you? Jesus this site... Look, full ride at a T-14 is great if OP has no idea where he or she wants to live or if OP wants to work in corporate law for some huge firm, far away from his or her home... But what if OP just wants to practice normal people law in normaltown Carolina? The connections made at USC would be invaluable for that type of career. Law is about who you know. Who is OP going to meet at Yale that will send them business in the rural South?

All we know about OP: goes to Bama, from SC, list of top schools were exclusively southern regionals. Then the prestige chasers blast in here with... Go to Yale?

Two things.

1. The most likely result from this onslaught by TLS is that OP is persuaded, but cannot bring his or her LSAT up high enough for a full ride and is later convinced to spend 150k to attend Cornell. I understand this is not the advice that's actually posted, but when people post that USC is a horrible outcome it pushes people up the law school scampipe towards much more expensive options.

2. No one asked OP about his or her goals? Oh right, it's TLS, where just about every mega poster assumes that everyone does or should share their own goals.

scooter123 · Post by **scooter123** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:30 pm

Hey Y'all ,
Thanks for all the great advice. As I rising senior at UA it really means a lot . I am from charleston South Carolina but now my family lives in Birmingham for those who wanted to know. I am really not sure where exactly I should go. I know I want to be live and practice in charleston . That's where all my family and connections are. I keep hearing that I should go to law school in the state in which I want to practice but I know I can get into a really good law school if I study for the lsat the way I know I will. I'm pretty sure if I give it
My all I will be able to get into duke, unc, and maybe UVA with a chance for scholarships. Will it matter if I go to one of those schools and want to practice in charleston. Also, do law schools put much weight into extracurriculars? ( I have been interning with a federal judge for over a year now)

HRomanus · Post by **HRomanus** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:06 pm

scooter123 wrote:Hey Y'all ,
Thanks for all the great advice. As I rising senior at UA it really means a lot . I am from charleston South Carolina but now my family lives in Birmingham for those who wanted to know. I am really not sure where exactly I should go. I know I want to be live and practice in charleston . That's where all my family and connections are. I keep hearing that I should go to law school in the state in which I want to practice but I know I can get into a really good law school if I study for the lsat the way I know I will. I'm pretty sure if I give it
My all I will be able to get into duke, unc, and maybe UVA with a chance for scholarships. Will it matter if I go to one of those schools and want to practice in charleston. Also, do law schools put much weight into extracurriculars? ( I have been interning with a federal judge for over a year now)

Going to SC Law (or any regional) means you have to be content not practicing in a smaller market - like Charleston. There are only so many jobs available each year (especially in large firms) and the competition will be stiff between CSOL, South Carolina, and SC natives attending other schools. The problem with SC is that there are really only three large population centers - Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia - and you're SOL if you don't make it into one of those firms. Are you content with the kind of salary and work will be available in Greenwood, Georgetown, or Aiken?

The best SC firms (with the best salary) hire the best USC grads, so if you strike out in grades you're more limited. Leveraging the prestige of a school like UNC, UGA, Vandy, or Duke means you will be more competitive even if you're not at the top. Check out the firms in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston and see where the new associates went to school and, especially in the case of CSOL and USC, what their academic honors were. That will give you a sense of what you need to be employed.

At least, you need to retake to up your potential scholarship package from USC. Whatever you get at 154 isn't enough. You need to attend USC with at leats a 3/4 scholarship to offset the risk of attending. If you score in the mid-160s and above, better schools become more competitive.