Top Law Schools

Decided to stay at my current school, but if anyone has a second im curious how I would have done by your estimation.

T2 (70s-80s)

1L GPA: 3.5
1L Rank: Top 12%
Honors: Law Review

How big of a jump was possible? Right decision not to give up scholarship money?

Others may disagree, but I would imagine you'd land in the 20s-40s depending on your personal statement, work experience, other extra curriculars, etc. It's a lot more complicated than just straight GPA and rank. I know a number of students at a 70s-80s school with 3.5ish GPAs and similar rank who got into GW but were rejected from Gtown. I also know a guy who smoked everyone at an 80s school and just transferred into Harvard.

So with those numbers, I'd say you could have hit in the 20s but no higher. Keeping the money was probably the right decision - so long as you bump your grades a bit and do Law Review (and I suggest moot court/trial ad). Biglaw still interviews the top 5ish% of 80s law schools, so boost your grades and you could still end up with a fantastic offer sans debt.

My two cents.

Yeah thanks for the input. I was thinking along those lines too. Significant jump, but not enough to make T14 and have it be worth the money.