I was wondering your thoughts on where I stand for getting accepted to the following schools.
I have a UGPA of around a 2.9. I go to a very well known SEC school. My grades were low at the start of college because I had no clue what I wanted to do, but I changed it around once I figured out I wanted to pursue law.
My grade progression has been as follows.
1 Semester 2.59 (Accounting)
2 Semester 2.37 (Accounting)
3 Semester 2.54 (Accounting)
4 Semester 2.66 (Communication)
5 Semester 3.38 (Communication and Political Science)
6 Semester 3.59 (Communication and Political Science)
7 Semester 3.85 (Communication and Political Science)
My overall GPA is a 3.1
My major GPA's are a 4.0 and a 3.61. (Gen ed killed me)
My LSAT is low.
June 2015 - 151
October 2015 -TBD
My extracurricular are incredible.
President of Fraternity
Vice President of Fraternity
VP of Fraternity School Council
Director of Fraternity School Council
Public Relations Student Society of America
Best Buddies Program
Resume Advisor
National Recruiter for AG Club
PAD Pre-law fraternity
Communication Club
I have very good letters of rec:
PHD in Political Science from Cornell
PHD in Political Science from Univ. of Tennessee
Student Conduct attorney director
director of development for my college/Fraternity advisor
col in u.s army/friend/director of local fair
Will they really look at all of my strengths?
I am looking at the follow schools.
-Alabama
-Belmont
-Campbell
-Elon
-Florida
-Georgia
-Louisville
-LSU
-Kentucky
-Memphis
-Mercer
-North Carolina
-Samford
-South Carolina
-Tennessee
-Wake Forrest
-Washington and Lee
-West Virginia
Let me know your honest opinions and thoughts.
Where do I stand? Forum
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pancakes3
- Posts: 6619
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:49 pm
Re: Where do I stand?
Your LSAC GPA is pretty much all admission counselors care about - not an upward trend, or if you needed time to find yourself, or if you were in an ill-fitting major.
Your LSAT needs to be much higher and don't be afraid to retake. And by retake I mean seriously sitting down and spending a couple hours day doing practice tests for a few months on end. This is do-able with a full time job.
Your extracurriculars aren't incredible and would give no advantage for admissions.
Your letters of recommendation are average and would give no advantage for admissions.
You seem to want to stay in the south - which is fine, but you should figure out where, what work you want to do, and why you want to be a lawyer. Residency also plays a part.
Out of your list, only Alabama, UNC, and Florida are worth considering - pending your career goals and debt load and even then you'll need a 165+ so you're eligible for scholarship negotiations. If you do well your 8th semester (is your 7th semester this semester and only an estimate?) and get on the right side of 3.0, I would take a year off - work as a paralegal or something and go hard at the LSAT for a 170+ and aim for UVa/Duke/Vandy/Emory.
Your LSAT needs to be much higher and don't be afraid to retake. And by retake I mean seriously sitting down and spending a couple hours day doing practice tests for a few months on end. This is do-able with a full time job.
Your extracurriculars aren't incredible and would give no advantage for admissions.
Your letters of recommendation are average and would give no advantage for admissions.
You seem to want to stay in the south - which is fine, but you should figure out where, what work you want to do, and why you want to be a lawyer. Residency also plays a part.
Out of your list, only Alabama, UNC, and Florida are worth considering - pending your career goals and debt load and even then you'll need a 165+ so you're eligible for scholarship negotiations. If you do well your 8th semester (is your 7th semester this semester and only an estimate?) and get on the right side of 3.0, I would take a year off - work as a paralegal or something and go hard at the LSAT for a 170+ and aim for UVa/Duke/Vandy/Emory.
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CanadianWolf
- Posts: 11442
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:54 pm
Re: Where do I stand?
From your list of law schools, Georgia, Wash & Lee & UNC, unfortunately, are not currently within your reach.
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AKSN1146
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:03 pm
Re: Where do I stand?
Thanks for your opinions! Any other thoughts?
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unsweetened
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 4:12 pm
Re: Where do I stand?
Do everything within your power to raise your LSAT score. Between that and your GPA, it's the only thing that you can change. Softs won't help unless your are borderline, so you still need the numbers to be seriously considered. Try to go to school where you want to practice.AKSN1146 wrote:Thanks for your opinions! Any other thoughts?
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BigZuck
- Posts: 11730
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:53 am
Re: Where do I stand?
Numbers are basically all that matters. Check out www.mylsn.info for chances.
I would narrow down your list of schools and limit it to the state you most want to practice in and/or have significant ties to. Being flexible or wanting to work in the monolithic "The South" isn't going to help your chances of getting a job. When looking at regional schools, you need to give yourself the best chance of getting a job, because your chances of getting a job aren't all that good to begin with.
I would narrow down your list of schools and limit it to the state you most want to practice in and/or have significant ties to. Being flexible or wanting to work in the monolithic "The South" isn't going to help your chances of getting a job. When looking at regional schools, you need to give yourself the best chance of getting a job, because your chances of getting a job aren't all that good to begin with.
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jdcumlaude
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:44 am
Re: Where do I stand?
Numbers I are the key to the law school door.
You can get into Campbell, but don't do it. I graduated cum laude a few years ago and have had to move on to a new line of work. Campbell's career possibilities or horribly limited. A large portion of their "good numbers" reflect those who have been "encouraged" to hang a a shingle because that still counts as employed in a position that requires a law license. Elon is not much better from what I hear.
You scores are mediocre. Unless you can get in on a diversity scholarship or similar device to a better ranked school I would just wait, or better yet not go to law school. Hit up jdunderground.com and abovethealw.com to see the information that is not tainted by law school recruiters and propaganda. Do not put yourself into six figure debt so you can say that you are an attorney. It is not worth it.
You can get into Campbell, but don't do it. I graduated cum laude a few years ago and have had to move on to a new line of work. Campbell's career possibilities or horribly limited. A large portion of their "good numbers" reflect those who have been "encouraged" to hang a a shingle because that still counts as employed in a position that requires a law license. Elon is not much better from what I hear.
You scores are mediocre. Unless you can get in on a diversity scholarship or similar device to a better ranked school I would just wait, or better yet not go to law school. Hit up jdunderground.com and abovethealw.com to see the information that is not tainted by law school recruiters and propaganda. Do not put yourself into six figure debt so you can say that you are an attorney. It is not worth it.
