Top Law Schools

I'm relatively new to this forum and I am curious as to what (ball park) LSAT I would need to get in order to have a decent shot at the University of Texas Law School.

My UGPA is 3.6 - I know it doesn't mean much, but there is a strong upward trend (I graduated MagnaCumLaude from my final university after transferring)

I am not a URM, but I am a Texas resident.

My back up plan is the University of Houston Law Center. Does anyone have any ideas on how high of a LSAT score I would need to get in order to receive a decent scholarship there?

Lastly, say I go to UH Law; what would I need to do in order to transfer to UT Law after my first year.

I am interested in public interest law for the most part, but as a 0L I can't accurately pin point what I'll be interested in until i'm in law school and see for myself. Any advice would be a big help. Thanks!

UT's median LSAT is a 167 -- which is probably the bare minimum you'll need to get in (though it pretty much guarantees you admission). This is reflected here: http://mylsn.info/x1xtv4/
Going down to a 166 is a death sentence with your current GPA.

Your GPA trend is going to be inconsequential, but you're probably helped by the fact you are in-state (as UT Law mandates a 35% OOS quota). I'd say shoot for at least a 170 -- with numbers above the 25th GPA (3.48 last cycle) and 75th (169), you'll be in good standing for a lot of $$. Definitely apply broadly outside of Texas though. Even if you are fixated in attending in-state, it doesn't hurt to have some negotiation power through your other offers.

Don't shoot for UH -- you have the potential to get full rides at much better schools.

I have an 18 week study plan for the Dec 3 LSAT. Hopefully I can work my way up to a 170+ by then.

One thing to consider, I will be using the Hazelwood Act, which I have 96 credits left on (just enough for a J.D.)

That being considered, do you suggest that if I don't get the LSAT i need by December that I continue to study for the Feb or June LSAT and get my score up?

Thank you for the advice. It's much needed at this time because of how conflicted I am on what I should do. I wouldn't mind taking another year off (If I have to retake in June) and doing Americorps or something similar.

Thanks again!

Polarbear1993 wrote:I have an 18 week study plan for the Dec 3 LSAT. Hopefully I can work my way up to a 170+ by then.

One thing to consider, I will be using the Hazelwood Act, which I have 96 credits left on (just enough for a J.D.)

That being considered, do you suggest that if I don't get the LSAT i need by December that I continue to study for the Feb or June LSAT and get my score up?

Thank you for the advice. It's much needed at this time because of how conflicted I am on what I should do. I wouldn't mind taking another year off (If I have to retake in June) and doing Americorps or something similar.

Thanks again!

A year off sounds like a great idea. Even though you'll be getting full aid, definitely still shoot for a high a score as possible. UT will offer you tons of money (stipends) regardless of the Hazlewood, which is fantastic. Probably wrong: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=244424

If you are using hazelwood, it is my understanding that you simply need to gain admission, and you should be set.

However, that still means you should get a 167. So, yes, take the test as many times as possible to get into UT, and then go to UT, irrespective of your scholarship offer. You kind of win the law school game by default in this circumstance. I agree with the other poster in that you should not settle for a non-UT school in this circumstance, and, barring an exceptional LSAT and a desire to practice outside of Texas, UT with hazelwood will probably be the best option you find.

tzzzok wrote:Your GPA trend is going to be inconsequential, but you're probably helped by the fact you are in-state (as UT Law mandates a 35% OOS quota)

Not to be pedantic, but this is misstated: the Texas legislature requires UT Law to have at least 65% in-state students; it's not a UT Law policy, and it operates as a floor on the in-state population, not a ceiling.

tzzzok wrote:A year off sounds like a great idea. Even though you'll be getting full aid, definitely still shoot for a high a score as possible. UT will offer you tons of money (stipends) regardless of the Hazlewood, which is fantastic.

Not to follow you around and correct you, but I'm also pretty sure this is incorrect. My understanding is you do not get scholarships or "stipends" from UT on top of your hazelwood funding. But there are posters on this site utilizing Hazelwood, OP, and you should contact them. The "UT class of" threads on this forum should have some helpful people lurking.

Traynor Brah wrote:If you are using hazelwood, it is my understanding that you simply need to gain admission, and you should be set.

However, that still means you should get a 167. So, yes, take the test as many times as possible to get into UT, and then go to UT, irrespective of your scholarship offer. You kind of win the law school game by default in this circumstance. I agree with the other poster in that you should not settle for a non-UT school in this circumstance, and, barring an exceptional LSAT and a desire to practice outside of Texas, UT with hazelwood will probably be the best option you find.

tzzzok wrote:Your GPA trend is going to be inconsequential, but you're probably helped by the fact you are in-state (as UT Law mandates a 35% OOS quota)

Not to be pedantic, but this is misstated: the Texas legislature requires UT Law to have at least 65% in-state students; it's not a UT Law policy, and it operates as a floor on the in-state population, not a ceiling.

Whoops, you're totally right. I meant Texas.


From what I read, Hazlewood isn't going to give you additional money for tuition, but it didn't exempt you from money for cost of living. But yeah, definitely check with some UT students.

Thanks for all the advice! Even if it's true that I can't receive scholarships from UT on top of the Hazelwood Act, that's still all 3 years of tuition free law school. I'm going to take the time and gun for UT.

Any advice on best options for spending my year or two off? I have a lot of education based work experience so perhaps I should take the LSAT and try for Teach For America? I know the numbers are king when it comes to admittance, but anything that could help me get past the hurdle would help.

Hopefully someone knows more about the Hazelwood Act thing and scholarships. It'd be badass to have tuition free and living expenses eased with a decent scholarship.

Any other info regarding UT is much appreciated.

Thanks, everyone!

For your year or two off, don't worry about doing something that will improve your chances or admission or "appear" interesting; the lsat and gpa are all that matter, so long as you do well enough.

Do something that genuinely interests you. Even if that means sitting on a beach for a year.

Traynor Brah wrote:

tzzzok wrote:A year off sounds like a great idea. Even though you'll be getting full aid, definitely still shoot for a high a score as possible. UT will offer you tons of money (stipends) regardless of the Hazlewood, which is fantastic.

Not to follow you around and correct you, but I'm also pretty sure this is incorrect. My understanding is you do not get scholarships or "stipends" from UT on top of your hazelwood funding. But there are posters on this site utilizing Hazelwood, OP, and you should contact them. The "UT class of" threads on this forum should have some helpful people lurking.

Scholarship and need-based aid in addition to Hazelwood is definitely a thing.

Source: Very close to someone who receives these benefits and lurks around these fora.

If this cycle was any indication, the LSAT is the main factor that UT looks at. I echo the 167+ sentiment especially given your GPA. If you look at LSN, hardly anyone got in this year with an LSAT under 167 unless they were an URM, but lots of lower GPAs. So UT is pretty straight forward about what they are after.

I'm headed to UT this fall. Using GI Bill for the first semester and then using Ch. 35 Benefits for the rest of school. These won't affect your merit-based aid (you must be enrolled in order to file all the paperwork for VA Benefits, so you'll have already accepted your merit-based scholarships). It might affect your need-based aid (the amount of federal grants and loans you're offered) but mine hasn't been affected yet and I'm not sure that's necessarily a bad thing.

Do shoot for a high LSAT regardless so that your merit-based aid + Hazlewood limits the amount of need-based aid (debt) you'll require as much as possible.

Thanks, everyone! This is very helpful to me.