3.8, 159 Forum

[TracyLynn]

First time poster, wanted to get some opinions on my chances...i'm not a urm. nys resident. I took a prep course while working full time and I don't want to delay my cycle for another year. Unfortunately, I don't have a few months to take off to prepare. I have a 3.8 undergraduate, 159 LSAT, softs include paralegal experience, college resident assistant, and other leadership positions. What are my chances?

1. UNC
2. Ohio State
3. American
4. Maryland
5. Connecticut
6. Brooklyn
7. Temple
8. Northeastern
Applying to University at Buffalo, Syracuse, Case Western as safeties... maybe New York Law as well

[jeeptiger09]

First time poster, wanted to get some opinions on my chances...i'm not a urm. nys resident. I took a prep course while working full time and I don't want to delay my cycle for another year. Unfortunately, I don't have a few months to take off to prepare. I have a 3.8 undergraduate, 159 LSAT, softs include paralegal experience, college resident assistant, and other leadership positions. What are my chances?

1. UNC
2. Ohio State
3. American
4. Maryland
5. Connecticut
6. Brooklyn
7. Temple
8. Northeastern
Applying to University at Buffalo, Syracuse, Case Western as safeties... maybe New York Law as well

UNC--out since you're not a resident
OSU--50/50, depends on softs
American--in
Maryland--50/50
UConn--in
Brooklyn--in
Temple--in
Northeastern--in

[TracyLynn]

Thanks for the response! I agree in terms of UNC..I should have applied earlier if I wanted to have a chance. If anyone has any other suggestions for schools.. feel free to post.

[OneKnight]

First time poster, wanted to get some opinions on my chances...i'm not a urm. nys resident. I took a prep course while working full time and I don't want to delay my cycle for another year. Unfortunately, I don't have a few months to take off to prepare. I have a 3.8 undergraduate, 159 LSAT, softs include paralegal experience, college resident assistant, and other leadership positions. What are my chances?

1. UNC - Out (would've been IN if in-state)
2. Ohio State - WL (maybe IN)
3. American - WL (almost certainly)
4. Maryland - WL/IN
5. Connecticut - WL/Out
6. Brooklyn - WL/IN
7. Temple - IN/WL
8. Northeastern - IN
-------------------------------
University at Buffalo - IN
Syracuse - IN
Case Western - IN/WL
New York Law - IN

EDIT: I'm not trying to be pessimistic. I think this estimate is realistic, and I speak from experience. I applied a couple years ago with a 159 and a higher GPA than 3.8x (to many of these same schools) and was in waitlist city (Except for the TTT schools. You'll get into those no problem, but I wouldn't recommend wasting your high GPA on them).

[TracyLynn]

I'm curious..I thought I had better chances at Connecticut with a median of only 161

[OneKnight]

I'm curious..I thought I had better chances at Connecticut with a median of only 161

I'm definitely not saying it's out of the question, especially if you have some compelling soft factors. If you take a look at http://uconn.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/0809/, you'll see you are right on the border between accept and reject (that is, for non-Urms). 159 appears to be the bare minimum for non-Urms, with a GPA cutoff right above 3.8 (so it could go either way). That said, if I had to break it down, I'd say your chances are greatest for a WL, followed by an equal chance of IN as OUT (again, depending on your soft factors).

EDIT: FWIW, I was waitlisted with a 159/~4.0. Then again, I was fresh out of undergrad with few compelling softs.

[TracyLynn]

Do you think I'm aiming too high? Should I add some? I think i'm going to pitch American. I'm going to add Penn State-- better chances there, and I'll feel better having more schools closer to my range

[TracyLynn]

Ok I edited my list a bit and wanted to see if anyone else would like to chance me, 3.8, 1.59, paralegal experience

Penn State
Ohio State
Northeastern
Temple
Brooklyn

Applying U at Buffalo, Hofstra and Case Western as safeties

[deadpanic]

Ok I edited my list a bit and wanted to see if anyone else would like to chance me, 3.8, 1.59, paralegal experience

Penn State
Ohio State
Northeastern
Temple
Brooklyn

Applying U at Buffalo, Hofstra and Case Western as safeties

Same as what OneKnight said. As far as Penn State, I am almost positive you will get in.

[steubenville]

Apply to the University of Illinois. They love 3.8+ GPAs. No joke.

[TracyLynn]

Really? I never looked at them..maybe I will now.

[TracyLynn]

bump

[misformafia]

I literally had your exact same #s (non-urm) last cycle. Here's what happened to me:

EDIT - I applied to all the schools except LOYOLA in November. I'm straight out of UG at a small unknown private college.

Michigan - WL/ Out
UVA - WL/ Out
Cornell - Out
Duke - Out
UCLA - Out
USC - Out
Emory - Out
Notre Dame - WL/ Withdrew
W&L - WL/ In
Fordham - Out/ changed app to PT/ Out
Hastings - WL/ Withdrew
Cardozo - WL/ Withdrew
Brooklyn - WL/ Offered me a spot PT/ Withdrew
Loyola LA - In

Moral - RETAKE. If not cross your fingers and get ready to ride some crazy waitlists.

[TracyLynn]

Ok my new list is the following:

Brooklyn
Ohio State
Penn State
New York Law
Hofstra
UConn
UBuffalo
Case Western
Indiana- Bloomington
Chicago-Kent
Northeastern
Temple

Thoughts anyone? Better yet-- suggestions for other schools? Esp. ones that will give me money??

3.8, 159, softs: paralegal work experience, employment during college etc.

[jeeptiger09]

Brooklyn--IN
Ohio State--OUT
Penn State--IN
New York Law--IN
Hofstra--IN
UConn--Out
UBuffalo--IN
Case Western--IN
Indiana- Bloomington--Out
Chicago-Kent--50/50
Northeastern--IN, maybe $
Temple--IN

Don't really have suggestions for schools, just start applying ASAP because you're already a little behind in the cycle. Good luck!

[TracyLynn]

Thanks for the response! I apologize-- I forgot to mention my applications have already been received, most in early January..just waiting to go complete.

[BigFatPanda]

try George Mason, they love a GPA like yours.