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Want to practice in California (don't particularly care where). I will most likely include an addendum since my undergrad degree granting institution GPA will be around 3.3. Due to problems I had with online withdrawal from a Statistics course at my CC, I have to factor in 12 units of F to my GPA all for the SAME COURSE. I wasn't even aware I had been given 3 Fs instead of 3 Ws until I requested my transcripts from the CC be sent to LSAC. Some of my soft factors: Justicecorps volunteer involvement, Judicial Internship (undergrad), 3.5 years work experience (legal assistant jobs, ect.).

What are my chances at the following schools: USC, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, Loyola LA?

TYIA

Is 2.6 your LSAC GPA with all the Fs factored in?

2.6 into UCLA..





good luck with that

You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

deadpanic wrote:Is 2.6 your LSAC GPA with all the Fs factored in?

yes.

Joga Bonito wrote:You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

+1 I always get sad when I see people (especially URMs) limiting themselves to certain regions. I mean, I understand it, but it really makes things harder.

Joga Bonito wrote:You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

WHICH ones?

PhillyFan09 wrote:

Joga Bonito wrote:You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

WHICH ones?

I wouldn't be all that surprised by Cornell or Duke, I think generally the top of your list is the right place in the rankings. The problem is that those California schools are tougher with the whole AA thing. This is especially true for UCLA; a school like Vandy or WUSTL would leave you just outside the T14, whereas the California schools might force you to slide a bit lower.

Rand M. wrote:

PhillyFan09 wrote:

Joga Bonito wrote:You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

WHICH ones?

I wouldn't be all that surprised by Cornell or Duke, I think generally the top of your list is the right place in the rankings. The problem is that those California schools are tougher with the whole AA thing. This is especially true for UCLA; a school like Vandy or WUSTL would leave you just outside the T14, whereas the California schools might force you to slide a bit lower.

Interesting. It's not that I will only go to school in CA period no matter what, I would just like to have the best possible chance to work here post law-school and always figured lower ranked CA schools would leave me in a better position to obtain employment than say Duke or Cornell, am I wrong?

PhillyFan09 wrote:Interesting. It's not that I will only go to school in CA period no matter what, I would just like to have the best possible chance to work here post law-school and always figured lower ranked CA schools would leave me in a better position to obtain employment than say Duke or Cornell, am I wrong?

If you're certain you want to work there when you're done then I guess you cant really go wrong.

PhillyFan09 wrote:

Rand M. wrote:

PhillyFan09 wrote:

Joga Bonito wrote:You will get into better schools if you don't limit yourself to cali schools.

WHICH ones?

I wouldn't be all that surprised by Cornell or Duke, I think generally the top of your list is the right place in the rankings. The problem is that those California schools are tougher with the whole AA thing. This is especially true for UCLA; a school like Vandy or WUSTL would leave you just outside the T14, whereas the California schools might force you to slide a bit lower.

Interesting. It's not that I will only go to school in CA period no matter what, I would just like to have the best possible chance to work here post law-school and always figured lower ranked CA schools would leave me in a better position to obtain employment than say Duke or Cornell, am I wrong?

If(and thats a big IF, last year UCLA only accepted one person with a gpa below 2.75 and they had a 170+ lsat) you get into UCLA then I can understand taking them over Cornell or Duke. But under no circumstance should you turn down any T14(maybe even T20) for UC Davis, UC Irvine, Pepperdine or Loyola LA. In my opinion you will be better served in the long run with a better name on your degree. Plus T-14's like the idea that they can place regionally so they will probably help you out a bit and honestly as a urm i think you will have a better oci resutls with west coast firms coming from a t-14 than a local school, for one your class rank will be less important, altough still important, and firms have a thing about prestige especially when it comes to urms. Plus going to a T-14 doesn't confine you to one part of the west coast or one part of cali even like going to UC Davis, UC Irvine, Pepperdine and Loyola LA would. And if you ever decided to leave cali the t-14 will make that easier.

Do I have ANY shot whatsoever at USC with my #s?

Possibly with a kick ass diversity statement?

PhillyFan09 wrote:Do I have ANY shot whatsoever at USC with my #s?

Possibly with a kick ass diversity statement?

I'm not gonna say you don't have a chance... but last year they didn't let in anybody with a gpa lower than 3.0. Sorry man Cali schools suck in that way. But you should still probably apply maybe you will be the one person they did let in.

You situation certainly seems a little unique. If you were to factor-out the 12 hours of failing grades from the one (semester / course?), it would seem as though your GPA would jump at least 0.25 points ... I would certainly write and addendum explaining this as well as any positive trends in recent semesters.

Good luck!

chadwick218 wrote:You situation certainly seems a little unique. If you were to factor-out the 12 hours of failing grades from the one (semester / course?), it would seem as though your GPA would jump at least 0.25 points ... I would certainly write and addendum explaining this as well as any positive trends in recent semesters.

Good luck!

Yeah my hope is that the adcomms will objectively look at my academic record. Other than the stupid non-withdrawal Fs my grades are definitely cum laude at least (at my state school).

Bump bump bump!

any more suggestions/possible outcomes?