What are the Best Schools to Hunt for Scholarships At with a 3.8 172?
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:28 pm
Hi, I am a prospective KJD with a 3.8 and a 172 LSAT. I am retaking the LSAT in September and the GPA could fluctuate a hair this year, but need to finalize my list of schools to apply to this cycle soon. Barring acceptance to Harvard, Yale, or Stanford I am hoping to end up with a full tuition scholarship at as good of a school as I can.
I am trying to narrow down and finalize the list of schools I will apply to in order to maximize my position. If you have any reasons I should remove or add any I would appreciate feedback. I tried to provide my current rational.
A=Apply, R=Reject them before they can reject me by not applying, ?=Not Sure
Yale-A Why not, worth the risk on the LRAP if I get a higher LSAT on my retake or my bold 250 pays off.
Stanford-R Not Currently Applying. My GPA is too low and my work experience too negligible. My odds might be better at Yale.
Harvard-A See Yale, but with a slightly better shot.
Chicago-A Applying for the outside shot at a great scholarship and the reasonable shot at an admission I could use to leverage lower ranked schools.
Columbia-A See Chicago reasons
NYU-A Same logic as Chicago and Columbia, but more scholarships and better odds of admission.
University of Pennsylvania-? Not fully sure. They don't seem to give a lot of bug scholarships and are above my median GPA.
University of Michigan-A Definitely applying. I am a Michiganian. I am mainly retaking the LSAT for T6 admissions as leverage and a better shot at the Darrow.
University of Virginia-? Not Sure. Loosely the same feeling as Penn, though I might like being closer to the Government jobs in DC.
University of California Berkeley-R Low chance at scholarships, high cost of living.
Duke-? Leaning apply. Don't see a ton of evidence on Law School Numbers of scholarships, but there seem to be some and I should be slightly above median GPA and above 75th LSAT. I also need at least some schools to leverage against each other if I strike out at the Top 6, and I liked the area when I visited UNC before undergrad.
Northwestern-A Barring a nearly perfect LSAT on my retake I am applying early decision. I don’t have any WE so I'm not expecting to get the ED acceptance. However, I heard they have offered full tuition scholarships contingent on a deferral in years past.
Cornell-? Leaning apply. Same logic as Duke.
Georgetown-R I see little evidence that I have any chance at a scholarship here. If anyone knows of any that I might get, I would reconsider. I have seen and love the campus and its proximity to DC.
University of Texas Austin-A They seem to give a fair number of large scholarships. And though I don't like the South all that much, I could enjoy nice weather for three years.
Vanderbilt-A Same logic as Texas, but with the additional reasons that I like their programs in Law and Economics, they gave me a fee waiver, and mountains are cool.
UCLA-A They seem to give out more money than UC Berkeley, my sister might be in grad school there, and I should be above median GPA.
WUSTL-A This is the only individual school I really feel I have a moderately high chance of winding up at.
USC-R Same logic as Berkey, but less ranking temptation.
Boston U-? Leaning reject. There just don't seem to be that many full tuition scholarships especially compared to WUSTL. It's in a great city though.
University of Iowa-A decent chance at scholarships, get to dabble in Presidential primary politics, low base cost, and low cost of living.
Notre Dame-R Just doesn't have the same scholarship potential as far as I can tell.
Emory-R Remember what I said about the South with Texas. The last time I was in Georgia, I was sick with the flu and saw 4 straight public restrooms with KKK propaganda. I'm glad there are people going to law school in the south, but I'd rather confront injustice and racism where it is just a little more manageable.
University of Minnesota-A I am somewhat interested in health law, they seem to give a reasonable number of full tuition scholarships, and there is a chance my sister will end up here too.
I haven't carefully considered all of the schools ranked much lower than Minnesota. This is at least in part because the thought of being at a school close in the rankings to Ohio State makes me shudder. I saw it waiting during my law school search and decided that the caliber of law schools must drop off dramatically between those I am considering and that retched place. If anyone more tolerant of buckeyes than I has found good opportunities for full scholarships hidden among these schools then I would appreciate your advice?
As it stands-
Apply: Yale, Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, Northwestern, Texas, Vanderbilt, UCLA, WUSTL, Iowa, Minnesota
Waffling: Penn, Virginia, Duke, Cornell, Boston U
Not Apply:Stanford, Berkeley, Georgetown, USC, Notre Dame, Emory, and every other law school in the country.
Thanks for the help. I hope this can serve as a little bit of a guide for both me and my fellow scholarship hunters.
The below is for anyone questioning my motives.
Rationale for Applying as a KJD: I think the actions of Harvard and Northwestern demonstrate the LSAT is about to get less important. I'm taking advantage of my score while I can.
Reasons for Extreme Scholarship Seeking Desire: I am planning on pursuing public interest or possibly government law, but not Big Law. I only trust the government so far on the LRAP's. I want to go into Law to do tangible good in the world. If in 5 or ten years I find that it is not satisfying, I would rather not be trapped. While a stipend would obviously be great, thanks to a full tuition undergraduate scholarship I still have access to about $50000 in a mix of savings which are a combination of my earnings and money that my parents earmarked for my education so combined with frugal living I should be able to make it out of Law School close to debt free if I secure a full tuition scholarship. I note all this because I possess the classic motivations of person who would ordinarily be told not to go to Law School, but find the law fascinating and believe that with my LSAT score I should be able to go to Law School in a way that prevents it from being a trap. Additionally, you may have noticed that I am not wed to any particular location and would consider schools with good enough opportunities even in locations which I despise.
I am trying to narrow down and finalize the list of schools I will apply to in order to maximize my position. If you have any reasons I should remove or add any I would appreciate feedback. I tried to provide my current rational.
A=Apply, R=Reject them before they can reject me by not applying, ?=Not Sure
Yale-A Why not, worth the risk on the LRAP if I get a higher LSAT on my retake or my bold 250 pays off.
Stanford-R Not Currently Applying. My GPA is too low and my work experience too negligible. My odds might be better at Yale.
Harvard-A See Yale, but with a slightly better shot.
Chicago-A Applying for the outside shot at a great scholarship and the reasonable shot at an admission I could use to leverage lower ranked schools.
Columbia-A See Chicago reasons
NYU-A Same logic as Chicago and Columbia, but more scholarships and better odds of admission.
University of Pennsylvania-? Not fully sure. They don't seem to give a lot of bug scholarships and are above my median GPA.
University of Michigan-A Definitely applying. I am a Michiganian. I am mainly retaking the LSAT for T6 admissions as leverage and a better shot at the Darrow.
University of Virginia-? Not Sure. Loosely the same feeling as Penn, though I might like being closer to the Government jobs in DC.
University of California Berkeley-R Low chance at scholarships, high cost of living.
Duke-? Leaning apply. Don't see a ton of evidence on Law School Numbers of scholarships, but there seem to be some and I should be slightly above median GPA and above 75th LSAT. I also need at least some schools to leverage against each other if I strike out at the Top 6, and I liked the area when I visited UNC before undergrad.
Northwestern-A Barring a nearly perfect LSAT on my retake I am applying early decision. I don’t have any WE so I'm not expecting to get the ED acceptance. However, I heard they have offered full tuition scholarships contingent on a deferral in years past.
Cornell-? Leaning apply. Same logic as Duke.
Georgetown-R I see little evidence that I have any chance at a scholarship here. If anyone knows of any that I might get, I would reconsider. I have seen and love the campus and its proximity to DC.
University of Texas Austin-A They seem to give a fair number of large scholarships. And though I don't like the South all that much, I could enjoy nice weather for three years.
Vanderbilt-A Same logic as Texas, but with the additional reasons that I like their programs in Law and Economics, they gave me a fee waiver, and mountains are cool.
UCLA-A They seem to give out more money than UC Berkeley, my sister might be in grad school there, and I should be above median GPA.
WUSTL-A This is the only individual school I really feel I have a moderately high chance of winding up at.
USC-R Same logic as Berkey, but less ranking temptation.
Boston U-? Leaning reject. There just don't seem to be that many full tuition scholarships especially compared to WUSTL. It's in a great city though.
University of Iowa-A decent chance at scholarships, get to dabble in Presidential primary politics, low base cost, and low cost of living.
Notre Dame-R Just doesn't have the same scholarship potential as far as I can tell.
Emory-R Remember what I said about the South with Texas. The last time I was in Georgia, I was sick with the flu and saw 4 straight public restrooms with KKK propaganda. I'm glad there are people going to law school in the south, but I'd rather confront injustice and racism where it is just a little more manageable.
University of Minnesota-A I am somewhat interested in health law, they seem to give a reasonable number of full tuition scholarships, and there is a chance my sister will end up here too.
I haven't carefully considered all of the schools ranked much lower than Minnesota. This is at least in part because the thought of being at a school close in the rankings to Ohio State makes me shudder. I saw it waiting during my law school search and decided that the caliber of law schools must drop off dramatically between those I am considering and that retched place. If anyone more tolerant of buckeyes than I has found good opportunities for full scholarships hidden among these schools then I would appreciate your advice?
As it stands-
Apply: Yale, Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, Northwestern, Texas, Vanderbilt, UCLA, WUSTL, Iowa, Minnesota
Waffling: Penn, Virginia, Duke, Cornell, Boston U
Not Apply:Stanford, Berkeley, Georgetown, USC, Notre Dame, Emory, and every other law school in the country.
Thanks for the help. I hope this can serve as a little bit of a guide for both me and my fellow scholarship hunters.
The below is for anyone questioning my motives.
Rationale for Applying as a KJD: I think the actions of Harvard and Northwestern demonstrate the LSAT is about to get less important. I'm taking advantage of my score while I can.
Reasons for Extreme Scholarship Seeking Desire: I am planning on pursuing public interest or possibly government law, but not Big Law. I only trust the government so far on the LRAP's. I want to go into Law to do tangible good in the world. If in 5 or ten years I find that it is not satisfying, I would rather not be trapped. While a stipend would obviously be great, thanks to a full tuition undergraduate scholarship I still have access to about $50000 in a mix of savings which are a combination of my earnings and money that my parents earmarked for my education so combined with frugal living I should be able to make it out of Law School close to debt free if I secure a full tuition scholarship. I note all this because I possess the classic motivations of person who would ordinarily be told not to go to Law School, but find the law fascinating and believe that with my LSAT score I should be able to go to Law School in a way that prevents it from being a trap. Additionally, you may have noticed that I am not wed to any particular location and would consider schools with good enough opportunities even in locations which I despise.
