Top Law Schools

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dmarieb wrote:So LSAC just analyzed my transcripts. I have a degree GPA of 3.22 but my LSAC (Cumulative) GPA is a 2.66. I went to community college and my grades sucked but when I transferred to a University my grades were much better. Is there anything I can do?? Should I write an addendum or something, and if so, what would I say? I was an idiot when I went to community college??

Please help!!

There is nothing you can do. You can write an addendum, but your LSAC GPA is your LSAC GPA. Which schools are you aiming for and what did you get on the LSAT?

My degree gpa was way higher than my lsac gpa too. Shit sucks, move on and do well on the LSAT.

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no, it won't be taken seriously. don't write one.

dmarieb wrote:

Seoulless wrote:

dmarieb wrote:So LSAC just analyzed my transcripts. I have a degree GPA of 3.22 but my LSAC (Cumulative) GPA is a 2.66. I went to community college and my grades sucked but when I transferred to a University my grades were much better. Is there anything I can do?? Should I write an addendum or something, and if so, what would I say? I was an idiot when I went to community college??

Please help!!

There is nothing you can do. You can write an addendum, but your LSAC GPA is your LSAC GPA. Which schools are you aiming for and what did you get on the LSAT?

I haven't taken it yet, but I'm PTing mid 150s right now. I'm hoping for a 160. My goal is Miami because I have to stay in South Florida. I'm also applying to Nova Southeastern and Florida International, as backups.

Will an addendum be taken seriously? I don't have an excuse and I really don't want to make any.. I know it is what it is. I wasn't a serious student for the first couple years and now I'm paying for it.. I just wonder if an addendum would help at all.

Don't write an addendum, and anything below a 168 should be an auto-retake.

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dmarieb wrote: Why below a 168? I'm not trying to go to a top school, like I mentioned, my goal is Miami, I HAVE to stay in South Florida. Miami typically gives scholarships to anyone over 160 (not sure if that would still be true with my GPA). But anyway, why 168 or retake?

168 is generally what is needed to get into a top 14 school. Once you move beyond that, the probability of your being a janitor with a law degree increases substantially. I'm not saying this to be rude - nobody is - but there is a serious crisis in the legal profession right now.

For Miami, you'd have a 60% chance of obtaining a full time job that requires a law degree. You have a 14% chance of being unemployed, well above the national average.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/miami/jobs/2013/

Sorry if this seems harsh. Everyone here just has your best interest at heart.

Why do you have to stay in South Florida? You're on an anonymous account so your privacy is assured.

Seoulless wrote:

dmarieb wrote: Why below a 168? I'm not trying to go to a top school, like I mentioned, my goal is Miami, I HAVE to stay in South Florida. Miami typically gives scholarships to anyone over 160 (not sure if that would still be true with my GPA). But anyway, why 168 or retake?

168 is generally what is needed to get into a top 14 school. Once you move beyond that, the probability of your being a janitor with a law degree increases substantially. I'm not saying this to be rude - nobody is - but there is a serious crisis in the legal profession right now.

For Miami, you'd have a 60% chance of obtaining a full time job that requires a law degree. You have a 14% chance of being unemployed, well above the national average.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/miami/jobs/2013/

TCR. Going to Miami gives you a coin flip chance at getting a job.

You want to seriously consider whether or not going to law school is the right decision for you. Why do you want to go?

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What kind of lawyer?

How are you going to pay for law school?

What kind of lawyer? How much money do you want to make a year?

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I believe the starting salary for an ADA in south Florida is between $35-40k. So if your goal is prosecution, you're not going to make much more than your current job.

dmarieb wrote:

BigZuck wrote:What kind of lawyer?

How are you going to pay for law school?

I'd like to work in Family Law or Criminal Law in some capacity. Prosecution. I'm not positive yet, which I think is part of the reason to go to law school.

I will have to take out loans but my husband and I have discussed it.

@ Seoulless We have also discussed the employment prospects from all the schools I am applying to and do not expect that I will be making six figures or anything.

I make 40k right now after working for my company over 2 years, so I'd like to make more than that.

ETA - I'd also like scholarships and like I said with a 160+ (not sure though b/c of GPA) Miami gives money.

If I were you I would continue on at my current job for the year while spending an afternoon or two shadowing attorney's or doing something to explore the field and learn what the job is actually like. Also, study your butt of on the LSAT. After learning all you can about life as an attorney after a year, I would go for it.

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Your odds of becoming a lawyer at all if you attend any of those school are pretty bad. Getting a lawyer job in family or criminal law that will provide a salary much greater than what you're making now is very unlikely. If you could go for free it might make some sense but passing on a decent paying job to take out over 100K in loans to go to one of these schools is unconscionable, in my opinion. But that's for you (and your husband?) to decide, and you only live once I guess.

I would just be very careful about thinking that these schools do a good job creating lawyers and that being a lawyer always = money and success. None of that is true.

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SOOO many loans. How do you breathe at night.

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dmarieb wrote:What else can you do?

Not take out more loans for an uncertain chance at employment.

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Your mind is made up. That's fair. Just to recap: no schools will really care that your undergrad GPA exceeds your LSAC GPA. Take the LSAT, aim for the best score possible and good luck!!!

Don't write an addendum.

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