3.97 GPA LSDAS is 3.39 161LSAT Forum

[cheynerover]

Thanks for your help in advance. This is such a fantastic website!!!

Graduating with a degree in criminal justice (3.97) from Faulkner University. I am a 29 year old former military veteran (US Air Force) married with 2 children. To start off, when I was 18, I really bombed at school and basically flunked out, which is the reason for my LSDAS GPA being so low. Of course after the military, and the need to provide a better life for my family, I excelled in school the second time around graduating with a 3.97 in 2 and 1/2 years. If I am considered a URM, being over 30% native hawaiian (if the bill passes fingers crossed) with a LSAT at 161 you think I could still have a chance at any of the schools in the top 30? And would they be willing to give me the benefit of the doubt considering my growth from flunking out at 18 to excelling after the military?

Stats again
3.97 GPA
3.39 LSDAS
161 LSAT
URM? Yes
Military Veteran

Top choices
1 Duke
2 Vandy
3 Cornell
3 UVA
4 U of Alabama
5 UNC
6 Emory
7 Wash & Lee

Safe
1 Samford
2 Tenn

[FuManChusco]

I'd say out almost everywhere except Bama and even there you're a toss up. Maybe UNC if you're an NC resident. If you get URM status however, you're probably good at Bama and a toss up at W&L. You might have a hail mary chance at Emory or Cornell. Out everywhere else. You need a better LSAT score. 161 is low for all of those schools.

[cheynerover]

I live in alabama....I am going to retake the LSAT and aim higher, just hoping I can reach closer to 170 than 160 this time

[im_blue]

Sorry to say, but your LSDAS GPA of 3.39 will be considered, not the 3.97.

[colemf]

Yea I would say out every where in the top 30 and your top choices, in at samford and tenn., i'm not sure your perceived URM status is going to help as much as some other URM classes and military status just does not count for as much as it use to. As to your growth since flunking out, they won't care one bit, the only things that truly matter are URM status (Which I don't think will help you), GPA (Which yours is 3.39, they won't even look at your 3.97), and LSAT, none of these are top 30 worthy, get your LSAT up and aim for 40-75.

[DoubleChecks]

Yea I would say out every where in the top 30 and your top choices, in at samford and tenn., i'm not sure your perceived URM status is going to help as much as some other URM classes and military status just does not count for as much as it use to. As to your growth since flunking out, they won't care one bit, the only things that truly matter are URM status (Which I don't think will help you), GPA (Which yours is 3.39, they won't even look at your 3.97), and LSAT, none of these are top 30 worthy, get your LSAT up and aim for 40-75.

i wouldnt say they dont even LOOK at your 3.97...but they'd probably really only consider it on a situation where they are looking for a reason to accept you haha...so i guess super borderline cases

im not too sure about the URM status...if you were in the usual URM category, obviously thats the best soft to have...if not, i vote for increasing LSAT as well

military service helps but isnt as useful as URM status

[sluguy14]

Yea I would say out every where in the top 30 and your top choices, in at samford and tenn., i'm not sure your perceived URM status is going to help as much as some other URM classes and military status just does not count for as much as it use to. As to your growth since flunking out, they won't care one bit, the only things that truly matter are URM status (Which I don't think will help you), GPA (Which yours is 3.39, they won't even look at your 3.97), and LSAT, none of these are top 30 worthy, get your LSAT up and aim for 40-75.

I disagree. A 3.39 GPA, while not great, is not going to be a huge roadblock at most schools if OP's LSAT is high enough. OP will probably be locked out of the top handful of schools, but I'd say he can get into the T14 with an LSAT around 170, particularly with his military experience and URM (?) status.

In any case, retake the LSAT and push it as high as possible. Put together a competitive application and see what happens.

[cheynerover]

Thanks for the help fellas. Going over the TLS stats for the schools of my choice I see there is usually a few that are around my stats but of course they are mostly URM's. I will aim to get my LSAT up and hope the akaka bill is passed enabling me to claim Native American status.

[februaryftw]

I think there is a regular on this site (MURPH?) who has a pretty good knowledge of whether/how Native Hawaiians can claim status, or at least spoke like he did. Might be worth digging around the site, I know I saw a discussion or two.

[februaryftw]

Here is the thread:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=113745