3.5, Pure Math, 179, Canadian Aboriginal Forum

[CalMc]

mylsn.info

Thanks. I looked, even though there's a very small sample size with my divergent scores, but part of my question is how I will be viewed as a non-status Canadian Aboriginal (perhaps a better question for each school directly, but thought someone might have some insight).

Probably won't affect anything

Thanks for the quick reply.

Canadian Aboriginal is considered an URM. It will be a boost. As long as you put together a good PS and don't come across as a prick, you got at least one of HYS

Thanks for the reply and I appreciate the Sunny in Philadelphia pic.

[CalMc]

Confused about why OP doesn't qualify as URM. I don't know much about it but assume being a non-status Indian in Canadian is similar to being a Native American who isn't enrolled in a federally recognized tribe in the US.

Would US law schools really give a NA boost to members of federally recognized tribes in the US but not to members of First Nations tribes in Canada?

I assumed it wouldn't truly qualify for URM because of being in Canada, although my First Nations tribe did stretch into the U.S, and being non-status and off-reserve.

[everton125]

Have fun at Harvard dude

Thanks for the reply. Surprised at how confident people seem to be given that TLS is full of talk of people with 180s not getting into HYS (often because of their GPAs, I assume).

I would bet you get into Harvard given your high LSAT, along with your work experience, difficult major, and URMish status. With regards to Stanford and Yale -- you have a shot, and I would definitely apply if I were you, but I suspect you are more likely to get wait-listed or dinged at both. Assuming you don't put together a completely horrible application, you are very, very likely to get into NYU and Columbia. Actually, you are likely to get into both even if you do put together a bad application, given how much they like high LSATs and their lower GPA median. Penn, Berkley, and Chicago all like higher GPAs, so you are much more likely to get wait-listed/yield-protected at those schools (though I would suspect you still have a decent chance at getting in due to your great LSAT score). Unless you get yield-protected, which is a real possibility at UVA and Michigan in particular, you are pretty likely to get into the rest of the T-14. I would suspect, if they don't yield-protect you, UVA and Duke might throw a lot of money your way. I would guess that you would even have a shot at the Mordecai from Duke and the Darrow from UVA (i.e., full rides), though I am not 100% sure if either school give full scholarships to applicants with sub median GPAs (others likely have this info).

[everton125]

do you have some really compelling reason to go to an american law school? even going to harvard law is probably on the less desirable end of your career prospects. I'd pretty strongly advise trying out another path first; law school will always be there.

but killer score dude, no school is out of the running for you.

Thanks very much. I've churned through a lot of prospective careers and have been fortunate/lucky enough to have had immersive experiences in many of these areas. I do have very specific reasons for going south of the border. Still a bit surprised no one is viewing my GPA as being a large, consequential impediment to getting into a T-14 school. Is my LSAT really enough with a final GPA that will likely be between 3.45-3.55 when I'm done my undergrad?

Not sure what you're looking at but people get into every non-HYS T14 with GPAs like yours. At this point you're basically guaranteed Columbia and NYU and very likely in at a few others. And Harvard is a real possibility if you get some solid LORs and put together a strong application.

Are you sure you can't take any easy classes to pad the GPA? It probably won't make much of a difference at this point, but every little bit helps.

If I had to bet I'd say my GPA will sink lower, not higher. I'm doing this all accelerated - so there will be no electives, five courses a term going towards pure math - as I started off in a life science degree back when I wanted to be a doctor.

Is there a reason why people keep talking about Harvard, rather than Yale and Stanford? Are they less inclined to take someone with this low of a GPA, irrespective of LSAT, etc.?

Maybe consider not doing it accelerated and take some GPA boosting courses.

You started off in a life science degree? Are you taking into consideration the grades you received towards that degree when calculating your "3.5" GPA? Those will likely count, as LSAC is supposed to take into account all undergraduate grades received prior to graduation.

[Traynor Brah]

if you are set on law school then why screw around with this major. it's not going to do you any good in law; at least get off the accelerated path and enjoy life a little bit.

[CalMc]

if you are set on law school then why screw around with this major. it's not going to do you any good in law; at least get off the accelerated path and enjoy life a little bit.

I greatly enjoy my studies (just don't want to pursue graduate work in math) and am pretty set on finishing it without reducing down to a major/liberal program or switching to an easier mathematics track. I've looked at what my GPA would look like if I went and took these routes and it'll get up to rounding to a 3.6 at very best, not sure how much weight that sway things at HYS.

[CalMc]

Have fun at Harvard dude

Thanks for the reply. Surprised at how confident people seem to be given that TLS is full of talk of people with 180s not getting into HYS (often because of their GPAs, I assume).

I would bet you get into Harvard given your high LSAT, along with your work experience, difficult major, and URMish status. With regards to Stanford and Yale -- you have a shot, and I would definitely apply if I were you, but I suspect you are more likely to get wait-listed or dinged at both. Assuming you don't put together a completely horrible application, you are very, very likely to get into NYU and Columbia. Actually, you are likely to get into both even if you do put together a bad application, given how much they like high LSATs and their lower GPA median. Penn, Berkley, and Chicago all like higher GPAs, so you are much more likely to get wait-listed/yield-protected at those schools (though I would suspect you still have a decent chance at getting in due to your great LSAT score). Unless you get yield-protected, which is a real possibility at UVA and Michigan in particular, you are pretty likely to get into the rest of the T-14. I would suspect, if they don't yield-protect you, UVA and Duke might throw a lot of money your way. I would guess that you would even have a shot at the Mordecai from Duke and the Darrow from UVA (i.e., full rides), though I am not 100% sure if either school give full scholarships to applicants with sub median GPAs (others likely have this info).

Thanks very much for such a comprehensive run down. Too bad about this GPA, I suppose, but good to see quite a few open doors (hopefully).

[landshoes]

You sound like the perfect Yale snowflake, IMO. I wouldn't count it out.

[CalMc]

You sound like the perfect Yale snowflake, IMO. I wouldn't count it out.

Thanks very much, would be the dream.