3.8/167 from Oklahoma - chances at Berkeley? Forum

[TreyG]

Hey guys,

I have a GPA of 3.8 (double major in sociology and finance), and an LSAT score of 167. I recently applied to Berkeley - admissions calculators give me a 50% shot.

My main question is if it helps that I am from Oklahoma; I would imagine that Boalt doesn't matriculate many students from my state. I've also studied for two months in India, worked 15 hours per week as a legal assistant, and have leadership roles in an extracurricular (my university's student investment fund). What are my chances?

Thanks!

PS. I also applied to:

Texas
Wash U (Saint Louis)
UCLA
Oklahoma
University of Tulsa (my undergrad college)

[kalvano]

Berkeley, I don't know. Don't know much about California schools.

But you seem to be undershooting as far as schools go. Those are pretty solid numbers.

[Steven Perry]

Your LSAT is a little low for Berkeley, but they can be weird with admissions. You have a shot, but I wouldn't bank on it.


I think you may be aiming a little low with your other schools. I'd give Cornell, Boston U, Boston C, UCLA (especially if you're looking to be on the West Coast), and maybe ED for Michigan and UVA.

[TreyG]

Thanks for the input. I'm still especially interested in Berkeley, but I might apply to a couple more schools this week.

How much of a reach is Northwestern?

[kalvano]

I would say better than even at Northwestern.

[im_blue]

You're just under both medians (3.83/168) so Berkeley will be a reach unless you have a great 4-page PS and softs. Your best bets in the T14 are Cornell, Michigan, and Northwestern (with WE), but your main targets will be T20-30 schools like USC, BC/BU, GWU, Fordham, and WUSTL.

[englawyer]

you have a good chance at getting into a T13

[najumobi]

Hey guys,

I have a GPA of 3.8 (double major in sociology and finance), and an LSAT score of 167. I recently applied to Berkeley - admissions calculators give me a 50% shot.

My main question is if it helps that I am from Oklahoma; I would imagine that Boalt doesn't matriculate many students from my state. I've also studied for two months in India, worked 15 hours per week as a legal assistant, and have leadership roles in an extracurricular (my university's student investment fund). What are my chances?

Thanks!

PS. I also applied to:

Texas
Wash U (Saint Louis)
UCLA
Oklahoma
University of Tulsa (my undergrad college)

i don't think being from oklahoma is going to make a difference. based just on numbers, i think:

unrealistic reach:
YHSCCN, penn, uva, Northwestern (no FT WE)

realistic reach:
Berkeley, georgetown, michigan, duke

target:
ucla

strong target:
vanderbilt, cornell

safety:
usc, texas,Oklahoma, Tulsa

[TreyG]

Thanks for the input guys. I applied to a couple more schools, including Northwestern.

I've been looking here http://berkeley.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats for my Berkeley chances. I am just barely within the accepted area, but nearly everyone else near the edge is an URM. Oh well, I'm crossing my fingers.

[Vincent Vega]

The fact that you're from Oklahoma does not affect your odds at all. Except that it might hurt you a little versus an identical candidate from California because Berkeley is a public school.