Current Ph.D. student considering law school. How realistic are my chances? Forum

[drg5]

I am:

Currently in a Ph.D. program in the sciences at a large state university, been here for past 4 years
Will get my masters if I drop out of the program
No job experience outside of summer jobs I had in college
3.5 undergrad GPA at another state school, slightly lower grad school GPA
No scientific publications
Not interested in patent law or anything like that
Not URM
High 160's on cold practice LSATs I have taken

Is there a chance for me at the top schools(like, top 8 or even HYS) if I can manage to bring my LSAT to mid-late 170's? I am primarily concerned about the effect of my uninspired grad school years on my application. Kind of ironic because I wouldn't have started considering law school if I was satisfied with it

Thank you!

[john1990]

Law schools will not care about your graduate gpa, but you undergrad gpa is on the low side too

[ObiWahooKenobi]

If you can score in the low to mid 170's, you should be able to get into NYU and Columbia (or have scholarship opportunities at some other great schools). If your cold test is in the high 160's, this should be achievable. Good luck!

[Blueprint Mithun]

I am:

Currently in a Ph.D. program in the sciences at a large state university, been here for past 4 years
Will get my masters if I drop out of the program
No job experience outside of summer jobs I had in college
3.5 undergrad GPA at another state school, slightly lower grad school GPA
No scientific publications
Not interested in patent law or anything like that
Not URM
High 160's on cold practice LSATs I have taken

Is there a chance for me at the top schools(like, top 8 or even HYS) if I can manage to bring my LSAT to mid-late 170's? I am primarily concerned about the effect of my uninspired grad school years on my application. Kind of ironic because I wouldn't have started considering law school if I was satisfied with it

Thank you!

Your UGPA is on the lower end for the top schools, but it's still very achievable. If you can pull a 170+ then you've got a decent shot, and the closer to 180 you get, the better your chances are.

[bretby]

Law schools will not care about your graduate gpa, but you undergrad gpa is on the low side too

This is true, but partly because most people have very high grad GPAs - it might be a bit of a red flag if you don't.

[cavalier1138]

Law schools will not care about your graduate gpa, but you undergrad gpa is on the low side too

This is true, but partly because most people have very high grad GPAs - it might be a bit of a red flag if you don't.

It's not so much because they're generally high as because every program grades on a radically different scale.

So it doesn't matter if it's high or low. Graduate GPA is not factored in. Only the degree matters.