MrSam wrote:Statu$studios wrote:I went 149 with 3.93 GPA. Non-URM. No T14, but WL at two T20s, admitted to one T20--but went to a lower ranked school, then transferred into another T20 after 1L for unrelated personal reasons.
So, it can make up for it a little bit. But, even if you go to a school above your baseline credentials, you still end up thinking you could have committed more time towards the LSAT.
That being said, I feel good about my path. But, I wouldn't recommend it if you know you will kick yourself later with "what ifs" or incur debt you're not comfortable with.
Also,more on point to the GPA/LSAT discussion, I went to a T40 undergrad with a fairly-low median GPA. (Someone brought this up before I think)
Thanks, Statu$studios. Am I reading your post right? You are a non-URM who was admitted to a T20 with a 3.93 GPA and 149 LSAT? If so that gives me a ton of hope. In any case, I am going to commit the maximum amount of time possible to the LSAT - I'll know it's time to stop studying and take the test when I am about to lose my sanity from studying?
Do you think there were other factors that contributed to your T20 acceptance? Where you went for UG, work-experience, etc.?
I keep hearing from family members who graduated from T14 schools that I shouldn't bother applying to a T25 without at least a 160. I don't mind busting my butt for the next few months, but knowing that there's a chance of getting in with lower than a 160 would ease the stress - Note: That's not to say that I am going to aim low.
Yeah, that's all correct. And yes, I imagine the different committees considered my "softs" (as I think is the lingo here goes) were relatively strong.
Speaking in general terms, my undergrad was a top-40 school, heavy research-oriented school, with little grade inflation as compared to other schools. I was a college athlete at a successful program. I chaired a couple of campus organizations, each of which became successful under my tenure. I won awards in my sport, for my class work, and for my organizational work. I did some research in political science that challenged a few basic assumptions about party-ID, and backed it with a very big statistical study.
Work-wise, I worked in the offices of a local nonprofit during my first few college summers until they let me do real substantive work. Then, I got a big government internship overseas where I lucked out and got a boss who gave me work above my pay-grade. Then, I interned in Congress and ended up doing good enough work to earn a rec letter that wasn't broad and generic.
Also, the admissions counselors I talked to back then thought it was interesting that I had a minimally successful rap career and a completely separate stint advising and writing-for a friend's equally successful country band.
As far as background--not a URM, but I was a first-in-family to go to 4 years of college. I had a few big family events not worth mentioning here, but suffice it to say that my family overcame and preserved in many ways.
So yeah, all that stuff above got me in the door. I got into one (and eventually two via the transfer I mentioned) of the better T20 players where you're looking.
However, all my advice is tempered by what everyone above is saying. Only consider my path if you can handle the finances (something I fortunately could), you're ok with the non-T14 big law number disparity, and you won't kill yourself with "what ifs". Also, note that waiting to attend law school doesn't hurt your employment prospects or admission chances--as people on this site often say.
But, for what it's worth, yes--I convinced schools with 165-168 LSAT medians that they should take a 149 LSAT
