Advice on Admissions Process & Decision
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:38 pm
Hi everyone,
With my LSAT test date fast approaching (June 12th), I am weighing my options on how to approach the admissions process. I will spare you all the details (I've written two other posts detailing my circumstances if you wish to look) but the quick sparknotes version is that I'm in a situation where I have to deal with a sub 3.0 GPA due to a very poor freshman-sophomore year period. I finished strong in the latter half of undergrad, but I'm aware that matters little to admissions as they mostly like at the overall GPA. I have been working for 3 years now, most recently at a mobile tech startup in Manhattan. I am shooting for a 170 on the LSAT, but realistically I'll probably get around 160-165 if I had to guess.
I have been speaking with admissions deans from a variety of schools to get an idea of what the process looks like and what schools would be realistic goals for me. My more notable conversations were with Boston College (my alma mater) and Pace University. When speaking with BC, I simply was asking for advice as an alumnus. They had my grades on file and were aware of the issues I was dealing with at the time. They said I built up a strong story in my last 2 years as my grades greatly improved, and they also stated that my work experience was very valuable to them and would look favorably in the admissions process. I'm curious from your experiences how genuine they are being with me. Is this all just fluff or can my personal statement and WE amend a weak GPA and keep me in consideration for T1 schools? Of course, this would also require a strong LSAT score.
When speaking to Pace Law, which I know is not reputable at all, the dean indicated that I would either have to have a 3.0 GPA or a 152 LSAT or higher to be admitted. I'm very confident I can surpass that 152 LSAT, so while I do not take anything for granted I know that Pace would give me a great chance for admission and possibly scholarship money. The dean at Pace also stated that they would accept my June LSAT score for this upcoming fall's class which is appealing to me. I would like to start law school ASAP as I believe the longer I wait, the easier it is to delay it until I eventually don't do it at all.
My question is should I shoot to go to Pace or another equally ranked school so that I can start as early as this fall and perhaps get scholarship money or do I wait another year for the possibility of getting into a better ranked school with little to no possibility of any scholarship money? And if I do decide to go with the first option, is transferring from a Pace to a better school after the first year a viable/possible option? Would appreciate your thoughts and advice. Thank you!
With my LSAT test date fast approaching (June 12th), I am weighing my options on how to approach the admissions process. I will spare you all the details (I've written two other posts detailing my circumstances if you wish to look) but the quick sparknotes version is that I'm in a situation where I have to deal with a sub 3.0 GPA due to a very poor freshman-sophomore year period. I finished strong in the latter half of undergrad, but I'm aware that matters little to admissions as they mostly like at the overall GPA. I have been working for 3 years now, most recently at a mobile tech startup in Manhattan. I am shooting for a 170 on the LSAT, but realistically I'll probably get around 160-165 if I had to guess.
I have been speaking with admissions deans from a variety of schools to get an idea of what the process looks like and what schools would be realistic goals for me. My more notable conversations were with Boston College (my alma mater) and Pace University. When speaking with BC, I simply was asking for advice as an alumnus. They had my grades on file and were aware of the issues I was dealing with at the time. They said I built up a strong story in my last 2 years as my grades greatly improved, and they also stated that my work experience was very valuable to them and would look favorably in the admissions process. I'm curious from your experiences how genuine they are being with me. Is this all just fluff or can my personal statement and WE amend a weak GPA and keep me in consideration for T1 schools? Of course, this would also require a strong LSAT score.
When speaking to Pace Law, which I know is not reputable at all, the dean indicated that I would either have to have a 3.0 GPA or a 152 LSAT or higher to be admitted. I'm very confident I can surpass that 152 LSAT, so while I do not take anything for granted I know that Pace would give me a great chance for admission and possibly scholarship money. The dean at Pace also stated that they would accept my June LSAT score for this upcoming fall's class which is appealing to me. I would like to start law school ASAP as I believe the longer I wait, the easier it is to delay it until I eventually don't do it at all.
My question is should I shoot to go to Pace or another equally ranked school so that I can start as early as this fall and perhaps get scholarship money or do I wait another year for the possibility of getting into a better ranked school with little to no possibility of any scholarship money? And if I do decide to go with the first option, is transferring from a Pace to a better school after the first year a viable/possible option? Would appreciate your thoughts and advice. Thank you!