What are my odds? Forum

[bk1]

3.9, 179

What are my chances at Cooley? Should I retake? didn't expect such a low score.

funny

[zarathustra25]

Finally applying and looking, yet again, for some opinions:

GPA: 3.78
LSAT: 163/163 retake
Softs: Consumer protection intern at Iowa AG's office; research assistant to UG prof; precinct captain on a presidential campaign, presented some conference papers at national uni's and been published a few times; all the typical honors societies.

I would like to work either in the Midwest, the North East, the South East, the North West, the West Coast, the East Coast, and everywhere else you can think of that isn't the South West outside of California (like AZ, NM, and I actually also haven't enjoyed my time in Texas at all)

Interested in:
Iowa
UC Davis
Minnesota
Irvine (dream school, can do JD/PhD in a program I'd love)
BU/BC
GW
WUSTL
UCLA (any possibility at all?)
USC (any possibility at all?)
Michigan (any at all?)
W&M
Cornell (no shot?)
Loyola
UC Boulder
U of Washington
U of Georgia (not in-state, but could also do my PhD there)

I realize most of these are long shots, but I have a fee waiver from LSAC, so I just want to know how many are guaranteed outs and how many are worth a risk and which could be 50/50. Knowing several people in/just graduated from Iowa, I believe that one would be a good fit, but I really do love Southern California.

As always, thanks a lot.

[#1volfan08]

I attend a large state school in the south. I'm earning dual bachelor's degrees. I have a 3.75 GPA/161 LSAT. Any thoughts on my chances at: Florida, American, Iowa, Tulane, Irvine, UNC? Thanks.

[zarathustra25]

Of course there are more factors than LSAT and GPA going into it, and I'm always an optimist. In my opinion, based on lawschoolpredictor, the last two cycles at lawschoolnumbers, and hearsay I'd predict:

Iowa - WL/In w/ decent softs
UC Irvine - Out
Florida - WL/In w/ decent softs
American - WL/In
Tulane - In
UNC - WL/Out (Unless in-state) but worth the app fee

Note: I am attending ugrad in Iowa and two friends of mine are currently attending UI's law school with very similar numbers. One went to UVA ugrad and the other Drake U. They were both from Iowa, though. I've never heard of in-state being a huge bump at Iowa, but it's possible. Also, Irvine seems less predictable; I'd throw in an app and maybe mention their great dean/professors and how much you want to be a part of building the program and school culture.

[JamMasterJ]

Finally applying and looking, yet again, for some opinions:

GPA: 3.78
LSAT: 163/163 retake
Softs: Consumer protection intern at Iowa AG's office; research assistant to UG prof; precinct captain on a presidential campaign, presented some conference papers at national uni's and been published a few times; all the typical honors societies.

I would like to work either in the Midwest, the North East, the South East, the North West, the West Coast, the East Coast, and everywhere else you can think of that isn't the South West outside of California (like AZ, NM, and I actually also haven't enjoyed my time in Texas at all)

Interested in:
Iowa
UC Davis
Minnesota
Irvine (dream school, can do JD/PhD in a program I'd love)
BU/BC
GW
WUSTL
UCLA (any possibility at all?)
USC (any possibility at all?)
Michigan (any at all?)
W&M
Cornell (no shot?)
Loyola
UC Boulder
U of Washington
U of Georgia (not in-state, but could also do my PhD there)

I realize most of these are long shots, but I have a fee waiver from LSAC, so I just want to know how many are guaranteed outs and how many are worth a risk and which could be 50/50. Knowing several people in/just graduated from Iowa, I believe that one would be a good fit, but I really do love Southern California.

As always, thanks a lot.

you will get into Iowa dude. Retake and aim higher IMO

[FastForwardMe]

Finally applying and looking, yet again, for some opinions:

LSAT: 163/163 retake

you will get into Iowa dude. Retake and aim higher IMO

^This.

[zarathustra25]

I appreciate the replies. I would love to retake, but there are some problems with that:

Rambling starts now; skip what's in the brackets if you prefer:

[It is too late to register for the December LSAT and I am 26, have been in undergrad for 6 years at this point, plan to go on to a PhD, and would prefer not to take a year out of school. Even if it weren't too late to register, it is certainly too late to bring up my logic games score, which is where something like 92 per cent of my mistakes were made. I've done all the research on my chances given my LSAT and GPA, but I am posting here in the hopes that someone who frequents these boards might have information about how much my softs will boost me. I am aware that LOR's are seldom (maybe never) an overriding factor, but as an aside anyway, the assistant AG, a Michigan alum, has written me a letter, along with my adviser for whom I work and another professor I hang out and talk shop with often. If necessary, I can switch out that last one with one from my field organizer to provide some variety]

I am hoping at this point that someone in the know will tell me that an interesting, sincere, well-written series of essays will put me over the top at a good t-20 school. However, even if my dream schools like Berkeley and UCLA are less splitter and academic-friendly than I'd like to believe, I'd still be happy to attend Davis or Iowa if I could get a little need-based money. I need to cut my list down to exactly 8 schools, maybe 9 if I can come up with a little more cash. Thanks for the time.

[JamMasterJ]

I appreciate the replies. I would love to retake, but there are some problems with that:

Rambling starts now; skip what's in the brackets if you prefer:

[It is too late to register for the December LSAT and I am 26, have been in undergrad for 6 years at this point, plan to go on to a PhD, and would prefer not to take a year out of school. Even if it weren't too late to register, it is certainly too late to bring up my logic games score, which is where something like 92 per cent of my mistakes were made. I've done all the research on my chances given my LSAT and GPA, but I am posting here in the hopes that someone who frequents these boards might have information about how much my softs will boost me. I am aware that LOR's are seldom (maybe never) an overriding factor, but as an aside anyway, the assistant AG, a Michigan alum, has written me a letter, along with my adviser for whom I work and another professor I hang out and talk shop with often. If necessary, I can switch out that last one with one from my field organizer to provide some variety]

I am hoping at this point that someone in the know will tell me that an interesting, sincere, well-written series of essays will put me over the top at a good t-20 school. However, even if my dream schools like Berkeley and UCLA are less splitter and academic-friendly than I'd like to believe, I'd still be happy to attend Davis or Iowa if I could get a little need-based money. I need to cut my list down to exactly 8 schools, maybe 9 if I can come up with a little more cash. Thanks for the time.

If you want someone to tell you THAT your softs will boost you, then I can't help you.
If you want someone to tell you WHETHER your softs will boost you, then the answer is no.

[Bashy]

GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 170
Minimal softs (2yrs intern, volunteering)
Non-URM.

Applying to:

UNC (NC resident)
Wake
W&L
W&M
George Mason


Top choice is UNC. Think it's possible? Kind of worried about my shit GPA.

[zarathustra25]

Thanks Jam.

Bashy, there are people on LSN in your same situation in the past few cycles with names like "nervoussplitter" who seem to have had pretty good luck, for what that is worth.

[JamMasterJ]

GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 170
Minimal softs (2yrs intern, volunteering)
Non-URM.

Applying to:

UNC (NC resident)
Wake
W&L
W&M
George Mason


Top choice is UNC. Think it's possible? Kind of worried about my shit GPA.

Bash, you know there are better schools you could get into, depending on willingness to move/pay big money

[Bashy]

Bash, you know there are better schools you could get into, depending on willingness to move/pay big money

I imagine you're right, but I plan to practice/live in NC so I can't justify dropping tons of money on UVa or WUSTL when UNC would put me in an equally good (if not better) position to work in NC.

ETA: Egregiously long sentence. Oh well.

[89vision]

158 (retake tomorrow)/3.42LSAC/3.506 UGPA (3.6 by the end of the semester)

Pitt (top choice)
UC
PSU
Temple
George Mason
Syracuse
MSU

Thanks.

[zarathustra25]

I cannot speak to your chances at most of those schools, but I can provide anecdotal evidence that you might have a good shot at Syracuse. A student I know at my university was recently admitted to Syracuse with numbers lower than yours, though he did have excellent extracurriculars.

Additionally, I am sure you have already checked LSP, but it has you as a "weak consider" at George Mason, Penn State, and Temple. I believe the percent of people admitted at that level is listed somewhere on the internet and is around 15 - 20 per cent, so the retake is going to be your best option, I think.

[89vision]

I cannot speak to your chances at most of those schools, but I can provide anecdotal evidence that you might have a good shot at Syracuse. A student I know at my university was recently admitted to Syracuse with numbers lower than yours, though he did have excellent extracurriculars.

Additionally, I am sure you have already checked LSP, but it has you as a "weak consider" at George Mason, Penn State, and Temple. I believe the percent of people admitted at that level is listed somewhere on the internet and is around 15 - 20 per cent, so the retake is going to be your best option, I think.

EC's:

3 year executive board and founder group 1
President and founder group 2
2 officer positions and chair of group 3
writer for 4 years at paper, 3 semesters bi weekly columnist
1 year varsity sport
founding member of 2 clubs
6 jobs

Yep, I checked LSP. My PT average is 163, range of 161-167. There is definitely a reason why my actual Oct. score was low, and that reason won't happen again.

Two of my advisers said I was a strong candidate for my schools (didn't list GMU though, I know I'm low for them), had one great rec, very good resume, and vivid narrative for my PS. I don't know how reliable that info is, and if it will even count. My pre law adviser said I'm in at Case and all the schools ranked lower. Again, I don't know how solid the advice is, but I know apps are down 10-11%, and was wondering if that'd increase my chances at all.

I also applied to Northeastern, Kentucky, Case, Seton Hall, and Richmond (definitely a reach, I know).

I am going to send one to WVU also (I'm a good bit over the medians), just waiting for a third LOR.

I am most interested in Pitt. That's my top choice, and I'm at there medians. If I got in, that's where I'd most likely go. I'm pretty much applying to places near Pittsburgh or that sent me fee waivers and are in cities I wouldn't mind living.

Any advice on where else to apply? I was thinking about IU-Indy, Tulane (again, I know it's a reach, but they sent me a waiver), Miami, Marquette, DePaul, Denver, because I have fee waivers and my numbers are close to their medians. Any advice would be great. I know that if I want to work in PGH, Pitt is by far the best option, but I want to have other options or offers to increase scholarship money.

I appreciate any feedback, I'm new to all of this.

[soitgoes9]

If you get a 161 or up you on the retake you could be looking at money at Pitt. Even still i think you have a shot.

[john1990]

166/3.3 - 4 misdemeanors from when i was 17, nothing since

George Washington
Fordham
Emory
Washington and Lee
William and Marry
U Georgia
Yeshiva

[vissidarte27]

166/3.3 - 4 misdemeanors from when i was 17, nothing since

George Washington
Fordham
Emory
Washington and Lee
William and Marry
U Georgia
Yeshiva

I have almost the same stats (166/3.2) and I applied to a couple of those schools. Here's how it's gone for me:

Washington and Lee: IN
William and Mary: Haven't heard anything yet and I applied fairly early, so I'm expecting to be waitlisted
UGA: IN
Emory: No word yet -- they're really late with admissions decisions.

Good luck with your cycle.

[Onthebrink]

I am blanketing the t-14. I have a 3.98 and a 167 on the June LSAT. I took the December LSAT, so will probably have to update this in a few days (hopefully happily.)

Good Softs: A few prestigious fellowships including one from Oxford. Rec Letters from heads of departments and a partner at a law firm who happens to be my mock trial coach. Leader of student organizations. Decent Resume and a PS I am proud of. Well there I am TLS. Thank you for the help.

[JamMasterJ]

I am blanketing the t-14. I have a 3.98 and a 167 on the June LSAT. I took the December LSAT, so will probably have to update this in a few days (hopefully happily.)

Good Softs: A few prestigious fellowships including one from Oxford. Rec Letters from heads of departments and a partner at a law firm who happens to be my mock trial coach. Leader of student organizations. Decent Resume and a PS I am proud of. Well there I am TLS. Thank you for the help.

apply to Vandy as well, in case you don't get Mich, Cornell, etc.

[CactusPuppy]

I am blanketing the t-14. I have a 3.98 and a 167 on the June LSAT. I took the December LSAT, so will probably have to update this in a few days (hopefully happily.)

Good Softs: A few prestigious fellowships including one from Oxford. Rec Letters from heads of departments and a partner at a law firm who happens to be my mock trial coach. Leader of student organizations. Decent Resume and a PS I am proud of. Well there I am TLS. Thank you for the help.

We have almost identical numbers. I applied to entire T14 except HYS, Berkeley, Northwestern. No school rejected me outright. I was wait-listed at the ones that did not accept. Selected my school and withdrew from pending wait-lists. So you should be in great shape!!

Bizarrely, the only school that rejected me was an emergency back-up school ranked in the 20s. Maybe I screwed something up on the app.

[moxy]

<<>>

[Tiago Splitter]

LSAT: 167 (Dec 2011)
GPA: 3.98

Undergrad in Business Admin/ Finance. 3 years of work experience. Multiple Professional Certifications (CPA - Certified Public Accountant, CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner, CIA - Certified Internal Auditor), Board Member - 2 Industry Groups , Excellent LOR's / Evaluations, Very strong non profit work experience (domestic and international), Multi-lingual.

Applying To:

UC Berkeley
Northwestern
Cornell
UPenn
Georgetown
UCLA
Vanderbilt
USC
George Washington U
BC and BU

Do I have a shot at any of these schools? Your input is much appreciated.

You're in good shape at the non T-14s, with some chance at Berkeley and a decent shot at Cornell. Now it's time to get serious about the LSAT and enjoy YHS. Good luck!

[moxy]

LSAT: 167 (Dec 2011)
GPA: 3.98

Undergrad in Business Admin/ Finance. 3 years of work experience. Multiple Professional Certifications (CPA - Certified Public Accountant, CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner, CIA - Certified Internal Auditor), Board Member - 2 Industry Groups , Excellent LOR's / Evaluations, Very strong non profit work experience (domestic and international), Multi-lingual.

Applying To:

UC Berkeley
Northwestern
Cornell
UPenn
Georgetown
UCLA
Vanderbilt
USC
George Washington U
BC and BU

Do I have a shot at any of these schools? Your input is much appreciated.

You're in good shape at the non T-14s, with some chance at Berkeley and a decent shot at Cornell. Now it's time to get serious about the LSAT and enjoy YHS. Good luck!

Thank you. I am really hoping to get into Berkeley or Cornell.

[Onthebrink]

Hey guys,

Happily updating. Still blanketing the t-14. Still have good softs, a minority but not a URM but some cool fellowships and academic programs as well as a decent resume. New LSAT Score 171. GPA 3.99. Here is hoping CCN. Maybe Stanford.