3.81/159 chances SMU, Baylor, UH, LSU, Tulane Forum

[horsethief80]

I'm a white male, and I've been out of undergrad since '02. I worked for INS for a couple of years and have been a cop for a couple of years. I started law school at Texas Tech in '02, didn't like it, and quickly withdrew. I've grown up a lot and changed my priorities and wants. I've checked lawschoolnumber and lsac, but I just wanted a little personal input of my chances. Thanks for any opinions.

[BriaTharen]

Yes for LSU, maybe for Tulane (if you can get your LSAT into the 160s, Tulane will be more definite). Not sure about the others.

[tadams86]

I say yes for baylor if you apply to their summer/spring program, not sure about the others

[horsethief80]

Cool deal. I figure I'm going to stay in the Texas area so LSU or Baylor would both work just fine. Thanks for the info.

[kalvano]

Where in Texas do you want to practice?

[colemf]

SMU-Out
Baylor-In(Spring/Summer), Out(Fall)
UH-Out
LSU-In
Tulane-50/50

[JOThompson]

I made it into Baylor spring with similar numbers. My SMU application was held and I was outright rejected at University of Houston. I was a bit surprised by the UH ding, I think my risky PS was the deathknell of my application.

[Aberzombie1892]

You would be waitlisted at Tulane (for your gpa).

As the earlier posted stated, if you increased your LSAT to 161+ you would be golden with your gpa.

[horsethief80]

Cool thanks again for the replies.

As far as practicing goes, I'm from West Texas. And I want to practice pretty much anywhere but there.

My question about SMU is, why does it have a reputation for being so hard to get in to? According to LSAC the 75/25's are 3.85/3.29 and 165/154. And for people with a 3.75+ GPA and a 150-154, they let in 52 out of 73. For 3.75 and 155-159 they let in 155-159. Is there like a magic word to put in a personal statement or is it like a family/connection thing or what?

[kalvano]

As far as practicing goes, I'm from West Texas. And I want to practice pretty much anywhere but there.

All of the schools are pretty regional. SMU goes to Dallas, UofH to Houston, Tulane might have some mobility to parts of Texas. I'm just assuming you're going to do the smart thing and skip Baylor.

So pick where you want to live and go there.

[isaiah6v8]

where did you go to undergrad?

[horsethief80]

Haha wow, so no Baylor at all huh? I mean I've heard a few bad things here and there. If you don't mind me asking, does it just not travel well or not worth the bang for your buck or what?

I went to a small college in West Texas, Angelo State.

[JOThompson]

Haha wow, so no Baylor at all huh? I mean I've heard a few bad things here and there. If you don't mind me asking, does it just not travel well or not worth the bang for your buck or what?

I went to a small college in West Texas, Angelo State.

There are a few recurring criticisms of Baylor. The school doesn't have a home market which makes employment a little uncertain, even though Texas hasn't been particularly nailed by the economic downturn. Second, Waco is perceived as boring by TLSers.

However, Baylor seems to be reasonably well respected in Texas. I just wouldn't expect to leave the state with a Baylor JD.

[utswdukie80]

Cool thanks again for the replies.

As far as practicing goes, I'm from West Texas. And I want to practice pretty much anywhere but there.

My question about SMU is, why does it have a reputation for being so hard to get in to? According to LSAC the 75/25's are 3.85/3.29 and 165/154. And for people with a 3.75+ GPA and a 150-154, they let in 52 out of 73. For 3.75 and 155-159 they let in 155-159. Is there like a magic word to put in a personal statement or is it like a family/connection thing or what?

That's because those numbers include their part-time evening program as well. I believe the median LSAT for SMU's FT program is 164 and median GPA is much closer 3.75.

Edit: I'm sure finding their FT-only numbers would be easy enough to do, I'm just too lazy to do it.

[98234872348]

If you scored below your PT average I suggest you retake, just saying...

[horsethief80]

Ohhhh ok. That makes sense.

[horsethief80]

And my average was 157. So I did a little better on the actual test. I'm just kind of torn because I feel like I have a shot or almost a shot at some of the previously mentioned places now. I worry that if I take it again and do worse that I'll have no shot. Decisions, decisions....

[isaiah6v8]

in your case I would not write off Baylor. The criticisms are vailid, but it is a good school for litigation skills and also in Texas.

[horsethief80]

Oh ok good deal. I won't. I'm not looking to go t14 or anything. I'm just looking to go to decent, solid school school. And from the sound of it Baylor would be ok for that.

[tsub]

I made it into UH and Tulane but got rejected at SMU with a 158/3.6x

[kalvano]

That's because those numbers include their part-time evening program as well. I believe the median LSAT for SMU's FT program is 164 and median GPA is much closer 3.75.

That's pretty bang-on.

They are also big in to Dallas ties / legacies.

[kalvano]

Oh ok good deal. I won't. I'm not looking to go t14 or anything. I'm just looking to go to decent, solid school school. And from the sound of it Baylor would be ok for that.

You'll do double the work for no real discernible reason.

Having said that, yes, you can do well in Texas with a Baylor degree. I would place it well below SMU & UofH & Tulane though.

[gwuorbust]

plus IMO it is not just a matter of getting off the WLs, but ask yourself if you want to take out 190k debt for Tulane if you were to get in. Think about that. I would never do it. I do not even know abt my tentative decision to go to Tulane w/ a 25k year schly.

[Dr. Strangelove]

SMU: Accept
Baylor: Accept
UH: Accept
LSU: Accept
Tulane: Accept

I'm guessing you want to work in Texas.
All of these schools regularly accept sub-160 applicants and your 3.81 gives them a reason to do so!

[horsethief80]

From what I've heard, based on the debt, assuming I got in, Tulane would not be a good option. I was also thinking about applying to Loyola NO to see if I could get some money. Also I took the February LSAT and am planning on applying as early as possible for fall 2011. Will getting it in early help my chances at all?