How important are LSAT and GPA really? Forum
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How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Hey guys I've been browsing a while now and based off some recent reads here and elsewhere it seems that schools are purposefully trying to select applicants solely to fill certain gpa/lsat quotas. If this is really the case, as others seem to agree, then how much does the personal statement, c&f, rec letters, etc. really matter? And is it fair to say they don't matter at all? Is the process really that mechanical or do these things ever matter for these schools trying to fill the quotas?
- whitespider
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
- WichitaShocker
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2013 3:21 am
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
This sounds about right, but I do think it is worth mentioning, that you may get the equivalent to a 1-2 lsat increase IF you have a VERY unique story AND an already competitive LSAT.whitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
- A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
The Everything Else matters if a school has to decide between you and someone else with the same numbers. That's where you can get a bump. I don't think a unique story gets you a bump in a vacuum, just compared to someone else.
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- whitespider
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- Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:37 am
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Agreed. They can't really help you that much, but a terrible PS or negative LOR could def ding you.smccgrey wrote:I think if a PS is poorly written or has a lot of grammatical mistakes, it would have a bigger impact than an excellent, beautifully constructed PS.
If your numbers are strong and your application is decent overall, you're fine. If your numbers are strong and your PS or LORs are a disaster, you'll probably get dinged.
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Doesn't this kind of contradict what you were just saying though? I mean, if a school is so intent on meeting certain number quotas and have a limited applicant pool, then why would they ding someone for this stuff given their numbers being sufficient? I guess the same applies to behavioral issues then too?whitespider wrote:Agreed. They can't really help you that much, but a terrible PS or negative LOR could def ding you.smccgrey wrote:I think if a PS is poorly written or has a lot of grammatical mistakes, it would have a bigger impact than an excellent, beautifully constructed PS.
If your numbers are strong and your application is decent overall, you're fine. If your numbers are strong and your PS or LORs are a disaster, you'll probably get dinged.
- whitespider
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
I think my first comment applies to the vast majority of applicants. As long as you write somewhat coherently in your ps, you don't have C&F or Academic behavioral issues, and none of your recommenders actively sabotage you, then its all about numbers.marcsf092 wrote:Doesn't this kind of contradict what you were just saying though? I mean, if a school is so intent on meeting certain number quotas and have a limited applicant pool, then why would they ding someone for this stuff given their numbers being sufficient? I guess the same applies to behavioral issues then too?
But if theres a serious red flag on your application, then things start to change. Keep in mind, things like employment and bar passage also influence USNWR rankings. If they suspect you're going to be a problem, they might not want you.
- JCougar
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
LSAT/GPA are pretty much 100% of the picture. Stuff like personal statements, LOR, etc. aren't really positives...they can only be negatives if they're done poorly or reflect badly on you as an applicant.
Law schools exist for two reasons: 1) to rise in the rankings, and 2) to cash in on the federal loan money your digital signature will release into their bank accounts. And the only admissions criteria that matter in the rankings are LSAT and GPA.
Law schools exist for two reasons: 1) to rise in the rankings, and 2) to cash in on the federal loan money your digital signature will release into their bank accounts. And the only admissions criteria that matter in the rankings are LSAT and GPA.
- RZ5646
- Posts: 2391
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2014 1:31 pm
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
The breakdown for non-numerical app components is probably like:
85% no effect
10% help
5% hurt
85% no effect
10% help
5% hurt
Last edited by RZ5646 on Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Mack.Hambleton
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
id weight LSAT morewhitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
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- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:19 pm
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Yeah, since splitters generally have more success than reverse-splitters.james.bungles wrote:id weight LSAT morewhitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
- Mack.Hambleton
- Posts: 5414
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:09 am
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
which is a result of there being a lot more high GPAs than high LSATsDirigo wrote:Yeah, since splitters generally have more success than reverse-splitters.james.bungles wrote:id weight LSAT morewhitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
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- TheSpanishMain
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Generally agree, although URM status throws a wrench in that formula. There are a few softs that provide a legitimate boost, too.whitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
(Thinks military service got him in at GULC)TheSpanishMain wrote:Generally agree, although URM status throws a wrench in that formula. There are a few softs that provide a legitimate boost, too.whitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Being a resident of Texas or North Carolina probably affects the equation for UT and UNC, respectively, right?
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Definitely UT and UVA.jcdetroit wrote:Being a resident of Texas or North Carolina probably affects the equation for UT and UNC, respectively, right?
I didn't know about UNC, but possible. Do they have a % resident matrics threshold requirement?
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- TheSpanishMain
- Posts: 4744
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:26 pm
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
(is open to other explanations for a white guy with a 3.3 and a 168 getting UVA and Northwestern)Mal Reynolds wrote:(Thinks military service got him in at GULC)TheSpanishMain wrote:Generally agree, although URM status throws a wrench in that formula. There are a few softs that provide a legitimate boost, too.whitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
- Attax
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Definitely help. I got UT, but not UNC. Am a Texas resident with an LSAT>UNC's 75th.Dirigo wrote:Definitely UT and UVA.jcdetroit wrote:Being a resident of Texas or North Carolina probably affects the equation for UT and UNC, respectively, right?
I didn't know about UNC, but possible. Do they have a % resident matrics threshold requirement?
TBF, I'd consider it more like 60% LSAT, 35% GPA, 5% other special snowflake factor at the majority of schools.
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Do you have reason to believe your situation wasn't YP though? A 168 is very high for UNC.Attax wrote:Definitely help. I got UT, but not UNC. Am a Texas resident with an LSAT>UNC's 75th.Dirigo wrote:Definitely UT and UVA.jcdetroit wrote:Being a resident of Texas or North Carolina probably affects the equation for UT and UNC, respectively, right?
I didn't know about UNC, but possible. Do they have a % resident matrics threshold requirement?
TBF, I'd consider it more like 60% LSAT, 35% GPA, 5% other special snowflake factor at the majority of schools.
- Attax
- Posts: 3589
- Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:59 am
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
I was WL -> released from WL last week. It very well might have been, but I was also GPA <25th for everywhere worth attending which could have contributed as well. Ultimately, the numbers are the best way to gauge the cycle. I slightly outperformed my numbers, but that is likely due to a variety of factors such as a very very slight LGBT URM bump and unique PS that I'd discuss details via PM.Dirigo wrote:Do you have reason to believe your situation wasn't YP though? A 168 is very high for UNC.Attax wrote:Definitely help. I got UT, but not UNC. Am a Texas resident with an LSAT>UNC's 75th.Dirigo wrote:Definitely UT and UVA.jcdetroit wrote:Being a resident of Texas or North Carolina probably affects the equation for UT and UNC, respectively, right?
I didn't know about UNC, but possible. Do they have a % resident matrics threshold requirement?
TBF, I'd consider it more like 60% LSAT, 35% GPA, 5% other special snowflake factor at the majority of schools.
But OP, #s are the best predictors for 99% of all applicants (other than the olympic athlete thread)
Last edited by Attax on Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Because they're really not that selective. Schools are desperate for LSAT scores even between median and 25th.TheSpanishMain wrote:(is open to other explanations for a white guy with a 3.3 and a 168 getting UVA and Northwestern)Mal Reynolds wrote:(Thinks military service got him in at GULC)TheSpanishMain wrote:Generally agree, although URM status throws a wrench in that formula. There are a few softs that provide a legitimate boost, too.whitespider wrote:There's no way to really effectively quantify it, but that's sure not going to stop me...
LSAT - 50%
GPA - 45%
Everything Else - 5%
(Note: That 5% only usually matters at YS)
- TheSpanishMain
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- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:26 pm
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
Maybe. If that's true, though, LSN is way pessimistic. I just checked and it puts my odds at UVA at 0% (5 rejected, not even a WL) and NU at 11% (2 accepted, 4 WL, 11 rejected). I think another vet (Rotor, maybe?) got Berkeley with a 166.Mal Reynolds wrote:
Because they're really not that selective. Schools are desperate for LSAT scores even between median and 25th.
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Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
It's almost like there is an underreporting problem on MyLSN.
Also schools are trying to stabilize their enrollment so if anyone was going to get in, it would be the people with slightly not good enough LSATs.
Also schools are trying to stabilize their enrollment so if anyone was going to get in, it would be the people with slightly not good enough LSATs.
- TheSpanishMain
- Posts: 4744
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:26 pm
Re: How important are LSAT and GPA really?
You'd think they'd throw a bone to a reverse splitter, then, rather than someone who hurts both medians.Mal Reynolds wrote:It's almost like there is an underreporting problem on MyLSN.
Also schools are trying to stabilize their enrollment so if anyone was going to get in, it would be the people with slightly not good enough LSATs.
Anyway, this is obviously anecdotal but most vets I've talked to report overperforming their numbers a little. Not drastically, but somewhat. You could be right, though. No skin in this one for me at this point.
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