2.82 / 177 PLSAT Forum

[GirlInTx]

Notre Dame is my dream school.

I'm scoring 177-178 on my PTs. I'm hoping I can get up to a 180 before I take the real thing. Basically, my priorities weren't in order during my freshmen year and I had to repeat some classes. According to my university, my GPA is a 3.62. Since my school has a "unique" way of listing repeated courses, I'm not so sure that my F's will even be factored in. If they are then my LSAC gpa will likely end up being a 2.82. What are my chances at ND with my LSAT score and drastically improved grades? If it weren't for my first year of college, I'd have close to a 4.0.

Edit to add: I took four electives in various areas of law at my university's business school. I can probably get a good LOR from any of the professors that I had (all lawyers).

[holydonkey]

Notre Dame is my dream school.

I'm scoring 177-178 on my PTs. I'm hoping I can get up to a 180 before I take the real thing. Basically, my priorities weren't in order during my freshmen year and I had to repeat some classes. According to my university, my GPA is a 3.62. Since my school has a "unique" way of listing repeated courses, I'm not so sure that my F's will even be factored in. If they are then my LSAC gpa will likely end up being a 2.82. What are my chances at ND with my LSAT score and drastically improved grades? If it weren't for my first year of college, I'd have close to a 4.0.

Edit to add: I took four electives in various areas of law at my university's business school. I can probably get a good LOR from any of the professors that I've had (all lawyers).

That's cool that ND is your dream school, but if you actually manage to pull anything north of 172, you should ED to UVA or Northwestern. Notre Dame might bite at a 167+ even with your gpa, but it will be tough. Of course if you don't eat meat on Friday it helps as well. First get an actual LSAT score, then pick schools.

Your electives don't matter, but the letters sound appropriate. http://notredame.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

[GirlInTx]

Notre Dame is my dream school.

I'm scoring 177-178 on my PTs. I'm hoping I can get up to a 180 before I take the real thing. Basically, my priorities weren't in order during my freshmen year and I had to repeat some classes. According to my university, my GPA is a 3.62. Since my school has a "unique" way of listing repeated courses, I'm not so sure that my F's will even be factored in. If they are then my LSAC gpa will likely end up being a 2.82. What are my chances at ND with my LSAT score and drastically improved grades? If it weren't for my first year of college, I'd have close to a 4.0.

Edit to add: I took four electives in various areas of law at my university's business school. I can probably get a good LOR from any of the professors that I've had (all lawyers).

That's cool that ND is your dream school, but if you actually manage to pull anything north of 172, you should ED to UVA or Northwestern. Notre Dame might bite at a 167+ even with your gpa, but it will be tough. Of course if you don't eat meat on Friday it helps as well. First get an actual LSAT score, then pick schools.

Your electives don't matter, but the letters sound appropriate. http://notredame.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

That chart is a little unsettling. They wait listed someone with a 3.88/178 and accepted a 2.72/172? I'm wondering what the other big factors weighing in on the admission decisions are at ND, besides GPA/LSAT. I really didn't think ECs, LORs, and what not made a huge impact. I'm a female and half Caucasian/Native American. I don't think I qualify for URM, but I don't think my ethnicity will hurt me either...

[D. H2Oman]

ND is a long shot (unless you really do get a URM boost) You'll definitely be able to get into similarly ranked mid west schools though. Try Minnesota, Illinois, and WUSTL. ED to NU if you have work experience.

[GirlInTx]

ND is a long shot (unless you really do get a URM boost) You'll definitely be able to get into similarly ranked mid west schools though. Try Minnesota, Illinois, and WUSTL. ED to NU if you have work experience.

I'm looking at the NU graphs now. They tend to favor high LSATers even with lower GPAs. Do you happen to know what other top schools prefer a high LSAT score? ND's graph doesn't seem to reflect this, which is unfortunate for me. I'm going to go pout now.

[D. H2Oman]

ND is a long shot (unless you really do get a URM boost) You'll definitely be able to get into similarly ranked mid west schools though. Try Minnesota, Illinois, and WUSTL. ED to NU if you have work experience.

I'm looking at the NU graphs now. They tend to favor high LSATers even with lower GPAs. Do you happen to know what other top schools prefer a high LSAT score? ND's graph doesn't seem to reflect this, which is unfortunate for me. I'm going to go pout now.

Work Experience is a must for NU, at least one year (it can be really shitty WE)

T14-
Northwestern with W/E
UVA apply ED, will still be long shot
Georgetown (trying applying Part Time if you really want to get in- worked for me 172, 2.77)


Washington U
GW
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
Georgia
Washington and Lee

[GirlInTx]

ND is a long shot (unless you really do get a URM boost) You'll definitely be able to get into similarly ranked mid west schools though. Try Minnesota, Illinois, and WUSTL. ED to NU if you have work experience.

I'm looking at the NU graphs now. They tend to favor high LSATers even with lower GPAs. Do you happen to know what other top schools prefer a high LSAT score? ND's graph doesn't seem to reflect this, which is unfortunate for me. I'm going to go pout now.

Work Experience is a must for NU, at least one year (it can be really shitty WE)

T14-
Northwestern with W/E
UVA apply ED, will still be long shot
Georgetown (trying applying Part Time if you really want to get in- worked for me 172, 2.77)


Washington U
GW
Minnesota
Illinois
Indiana
Georgia
Washington and Lee

I would love to go to Georgetown, but the problem with that is if I apply for part-time then won't I be required to enroll part-time? I don't plan on working and if I go below full-time status I'll have to start making payments on my undergrad loans.

[doinmybest]

You know what would be ironic? If you actually got a 177 and ND YP'd you.

[GirlInTx]

You know what would be ironic? If you actually got a 177 and ND YP'd you.

After seeing their graph, I doubt I'll have that problem. At least I hope not...

[D. H2Oman]

I would love to go to Georgetown, but the problem with that is if I apply for part-time then won't I be required to enroll part-time? I don't plan on working and if I go below full-time status I'll have to start making payments on my undergrad loans.

You would have to go PT. There is no guarantee but historically its been very easy (automatic) to transfer to full time after the first year. You just have to take some summer classes.

On the loan question, I can't really speak to it from personal experience, so take this with a grain of salt, but I am almost positive that you only need to be enrolled in grad school half time or more to go into loan deferment.

[GirlInTx]

I would love to go to Georgetown, but the problem with that is if I apply for part-time then won't I be required to enroll part-time? I don't plan on working and if I go below full-time status I'll have to start making payments on my undergrad loans.

You would have to go PT. There is no guarantee but historically its been very easy (automatic) to transfer to full time after the first year. You just have to take some summer classes.

On the loan question, I can't really speak to it from personal experience, so take this with a grain of salt, but I am almost positive that you only need to be enrolled in grad school half time or more to go into loan deferment.

I'll check with SallieMae on that, but if that's the case then I don't have a problem with going PT. Did you apply FT or PT?

[MrOrange]

Schools tend to like students who they think will actually matriculate if accepted. A 177 would put you out of ND's normal range for accepted students who actually want to go there.

If you score that highly, and wind up at ND for any reason(s) short of: they gave me a castle with utilities paid, no t-14's took a chance on me, etc....you're silly.

[D. H2Oman]

I'll check with SallieMae on that, but if that's the case then I don't have a problem with going PT. Did you apply FT or PT?

PT

[GirlInTx]

Schools tend to like students who they think will actually matriculate if accepted. A 177 would put you out of ND's normal range for accepted students who actually want to go there.

If you score that highly, and wind up at ND for any reason(s) short of: they gave me a castle with utilities paid, no t-14's took a chance on me, etc....you're silly.

Well, according to LSAC my gpa sucks so I really don't see the point in applying to any of the T15 regardless of my score. Plus my resume is definitely lacking. The small amount of work experience that I do have isn't worth talking about. What is wrong with ND even if my LSAT is above their median? ND is nationally recognized as a great school (plus I have family nearby). I plan on practicing in Texas and even though schools like Illinois may have slightly higher ranks, where I live ND is going to be a more recognizable name and hold more prestige IMO. If I though I had the option to go absolutely anywhere then of course I wouldn't choose ND. I'd choose Cornell or Duke over ND if I thought I stood a chance at getting in.

[MrOrange]

Schools tend to like students who they think will actually matriculate if accepted. A 177 would put you out of ND's normal range for accepted students who actually want to go there.

If you score that highly, and wind up at ND for any reason(s) short of: they gave me a castle with utilities paid, no t-14's took a chance on me, etc....you're silly.

Well, according to LSAC my gpa sucks so I really don't see the point in applying to any of the T15 regardless of my score. Plus my resume is definitely lacking. The small amount of work experience that I do have isn't worth talking about. What is wrong with ND even if my LSAT is above their median? ND is nationally recognized as a great school (plus I have family nearby). I plan on practicing in Texas and even though schools like Illinois may have slightly higher ranks, where I live ND is going to be a more recognizable name and hold more prestige IMO. If I though I had the option to go absolutely anywhere then of course I wouldn't choose ND. I'd choose Cornell or Duke over ND if I thought I stood a chance at getting in.

If you don't apply to the t-15 (given that you actually score in the upper part of the top 1% on the LSAT), you deserve to be shaken until your nose bleeds.

[GirlInTx]

Schools tend to like students who they think will actually matriculate if accepted. A 177 would put you out of ND's normal range for accepted students who actually want to go there.

If you score that highly, and wind up at ND for any reason(s) short of: they gave me a castle with utilities paid, no t-14's took a chance on me, etc....you're silly.

Well, according to LSAC my gpa sucks so I really don't see the point in applying to any of the T15 regardless of my score. Plus my resume is definitely lacking. The small amount of work experience that I do have isn't worth talking about. What is wrong with ND even if my LSAT is above their median? ND is nationally recognized as a great school (plus I have family nearby). I plan on practicing in Texas and even though schools like Illinois may have slightly higher ranks, where I live ND is going to be a more recognizable name and hold more prestige IMO. If I though I had the option to go absolutely anywhere then of course I wouldn't choose ND. I'd choose Cornell or Duke over ND if I thought I stood a chance at getting in.

If you don't apply to the t-15 (given that you actually score in the upper part of the top 1% on the LSAT), you deserve to be shaken until your nose bleeds.

LOL. You really think they'll overlook my terrible LSAC GPA though? Granted my school considers my GPA to be a 3.62, not a 2.82. I'm not very confident when it comes to T15 admissions so I really don't want to set myself up for one disappointment after another. Also, I attend a state school that isn't very challenging. I've made straight A's since my freshmen year of slacking off, but I really don't think ivy's will find that too impressive.

[holydonkey]

Everytime someone says 'T15' an angel loses its wings.

And you have a good shot at a [strike]T14[/strike][strike]T13[/strike]T12 school if you can test in that range. Applying to UVA and NU would be worth it.

[MrOrange]

LOL. You really think they'll overlook my terrible LSAC GPA though? Granted my school considers my GPA to be a 3.62, not a 2.82. I'm not very confident when it comes to T15 admissions so I really don't want to set myself up for one disappointment after another. Also, I attend a state school that isn't very challenging. I've made straight A's since my freshmen year of slacking off, but I really don't think ivy's will find that too impressive.

This is all irrelevant (and potentially distracting) until you take the real test.

There are plenty of people on TLS who got into top 20 schools with sub-3.0 GPAs and 172+ LSATs. I got into GW with a 2.3, 172. Several others in my "TLS class" got into t-14's with 2.5's or lower and 174's or higher.

[GirlInTx]

Everytime someone says 'T15' an angel loses its wings.

And you have a good shot at a [strike]T14[/strike][strike]T13[/strike]T12 school if you can test in that range. Applying to UVA and NU would be worth it.

I'm from Texas and UT-Austin is #15. I surely would not pass up an opportunity to attend because they were ranked one notch below what the rest of you consider to be the "acceptable schools."

[GirlInTx]

LOL. You really think they'll overlook my terrible LSAC GPA though? Granted my school considers my GPA to be a 3.62, not a 2.82. I'm not very confident when it comes to T15 admissions so I really don't want to set myself up for one disappointment after another. Also, I attend a state school that isn't very challenging. I've made straight A's since my freshmen year of slacking off, but I really don't think ivy's will find that too impressive.

This is all irrelevant (and potentially distracting) until you take the real test.

There are plenty of people on TLS who got into top 20 schools with sub-3.0 GPAs and 172+ LSATs. I got into GW with a 2.3, 172. Several others in my "TLS class" got into t-14's with 2.5's or lower and 174's or higher.

Eeeek... a 2.3? That makes me feel a lot better. No offense. If you don't mind me asking, how much did your GPA go down with LSAC? Did you have any repeats?

[MrOrange]

LOL. You really think they'll overlook my terrible LSAC GPA though? Granted my school considers my GPA to be a 3.62, not a 2.82. I'm not very confident when it comes to T15 admissions so I really don't want to set myself up for one disappointment after another. Also, I attend a state school that isn't very challenging. I've made straight A's since my freshmen year of slacking off, but I really don't think ivy's will find that too impressive.

This is all irrelevant (and potentially distracting) until you take the real test.

There are plenty of people on TLS who got into top 20 schools with sub-3.0 GPAs and 172+ LSATs. I got into GW with a 2.3, 172. Several others in my "TLS class" got into t-14's with 2.5's or lower and 174's or higher.

Eeeek... a 2.3? That makes me feel a lot better. No offense. If you don't mind me asking, how much did your GPA go down with LSAC? Did you have any repeats?

Psh...it went "down" from a 2.49. Though that's irrelevant. Schools only care about (regardless of what they tell you) the number that gets reported to US News. Anything else is merely supporting evidence that you probably will/won't fuck up if admitted to the school.

Also, as far as I know, UT is God in Texas. If you want to practice instate, that would almost certainly trump a lot of the lower t-14.

[holydonkey]

Everytime someone says 'T15' an angel loses its wings.

And you have a good shot at a [strike]T14[/strike][strike]T13[/strike]T12 school if you can test in that range. Applying to UVA and NU would be worth it.

I'm from Texas and UT-Austin is #15. I surely would not pass up an opportunity to attend because they were ranked one notch below what the rest of you consider to be the "acceptable schools."

Of course Texas is an acceptable school and an amazing one if you're interested in working in Texas.

I just wanted to clarify that T15 is a misnomer.

[GirlInTx]

Also, as far as I know, UT is God in Texas. If you want to practice instate, that would almost certainly trump a lot of the lower t-14.

It certainly is, but I was looking forward to getting as far away as possible from my immediate family for a few years. I am open to the idea of practicing in other states. I definitely want to be marketable nationwide. The only thing that would keep me here is the fact that we don't pay state income taxes and the cost-of-living is reasonably cheap, even in urban areas.

Which of the T14s do you think I have the best chance at? I'll probably end up applying if I break a 170 on the actual test, hopefully a 175+. It's nice to see that there are plenty of others here with low GPAs that got into some great schools though. I was a little worried that my GPA would be an automatic deal breaker at most of the top 100. I'm too risk adverse to even consider spending the money on a T3/T4 school so if none of T1/T2 schools bite then I just planned to seek new career aspirations.

[D. H2Oman]

It certainly is, but I was looking forward to getting as far away as possible from my immediate family for a few years. I am open to the idea of practicing in other states. I definitely want to be marketable nationwide. The only thing that would keep me here is the fact that we don't pay state income taxes and the cost-of-living is reasonably cheap, even in urban areas.

Which of the T14s do you think I have the best chance at? I'll probably end up applying if I break a 170 on the actual test, hopefully a 175+. It's nice to see that there are plenty of others here with low GPAs that got into some great schools though. I was a little worried that my GPA would be an automatic deal breaker at most of the top 100. I'm too risk adverse to even consider spending the money on a T3/T4 schools if none of T1/T2 schools bite then I just planned to seek new career aspirations.

You really only have a shot at Northwestern, UVA, and Georgetown. Probably no shot at UT

[09042014]

If OP gets rejected, or WL'd at Notre Dame, it won't be because of yield protection. Notre Dame doesn't like people very low GPAs. I'm 176/2.8 and I didn't even bother applying even though I had a fee waver.

OP do you have work experience?