3.5GPA/170LSAT Forum

[JWS]

Hi, I'm a junior becoming a senior next Fall, and I was wondering how my scores would stand out during the time I apply.
I think my GPA is my biggest problem right now. I failed one course during my freshman year (Linear Algebra) with an F, and it's been hurting my GPA ever since. Does the admission check only the GPA or every class that I took during my college year? After my freshman year, I decided to declare as an English major. I'm still waiting to see how I'll do during my senior year, just to see if I can bump my GPA a little bit more.

Here are the choices I'm considering: University of Chicago, UPenn, NYU, UC Berkeley.
I'm guessing I'll have to put in a lot of effort for my personal statements with my scores.


P.S. How much consideration will they take in for work hours? I work as full-time waiter, with most of my hours coming from the weekends.

[NewLobo]

I failed one course during my freshman year (Linear Algebra) with an F,

Is there another way to fail? To reply to one of your questions, they will see the F. They do not just view your end gpa.

[Dr. Strangelove]

You might want to apply to lower ranked schools too.
My predictions

Chicago: Reject
Penn: Waitlist
NYU: Waitlist
UC-Berkeley: Waitlist

Your best shots at the T14 are Michigan/Cornell/Georgetown and possibly Duke.

[JWS]

I was also wondering about UC Hastings and UCLA. I want to move out of state, but I feel the out-of-state tuition's going to cost a lot, so some of the other alternatives to CA Law School I'm considering are those two. BTW, how often do they count that one F against me?

[JRMjr]

grade trend will also play in. write an addendum that shows your trend is good, blah blah blah and apply early to a school... you should be ok. plus, you've got time to increase the GPA

[cardnal124]

I was also wondering about UC Hastings and UCLA. I want to move out of state, but I feel the out-of-state tuition's going to cost a lot, so some of the other alternatives to CA Law School I'm considering are those two. BTW, how often do they count that one F against me?

Once for the number of credit hours it was.

[cigrainger]

Try your damnedest to get straight As this year and pull that GPA up. Perhaps take a year out and do something interesting (which would allow you to show another full year of grades). Perhaps take easy summer courses this summer. Perhaps retake. I don't think you'll get into those schools with those numbers. Personal statements etc won't make up for being below median on both GPA and LSAT.

[fugitivejammer]

Assuming you get straight A's over the next year and maybe take summer classes, your GPA will only hover over 3.6, and at 3.6+/170, you are a reasonable applicant for a lower t14, possibly MVP w/ ED. If you r set on Chi/NYU, your best chance is to raise that GPA as much as possible, re-take the LSAT, and ED

[Rawlsian]

Was the Algebra class remedial? If so you'll catch a break. Btw, I don't think you'll get into any of the above with those numbers, but best shot: ED at Penn.

[thisiswater]

Is the 170 what you have already scored or what projecting from practice tests etc?
Right now the only school you have a shot at out of the schools listed is Penn, and even with ED that isn't a sure thing. If you can pull that score up to a 173-174, I would say you have a definite shot at Penn ED or breaking the T14 with Cornell or GTown.

[JWS]

170 is the score I have right now. I want to study to become a criminal defense attorney, but I'm still unfamiliar with which schools I should apply for. I heard that applying to the T14 gives some flexibility to become a defense attorney internationally, instead of just practicing law in a city.
But judging from most of the comments so far, I'll really need to raise my GPA and my LSAT score in order to have a scratch of a chance in getting some considerations.

[Fyre182]

Was the Algebra class remedial? If so you'll catch a break. Btw, I don't think you'll get into any of the above with those numbers, but best shot: ED at Penn.

bro, linear algebra is not a remedial class

[thisiswater]

170 is the score I have right now. I want to study to become a criminal defense attorney, but I'm still unfamiliar with which schools I should apply for. I heard that applying to the T14 gives some flexibility to become a defense attorney internationally, instead of just practicing law in a city.
But judging from most of the comments so far, I'll really need to raise my GPA and my LSAT score in order to have a scratch of a chance in getting some considerations.

I would definitely say retake for a better shot at the T14, especially the upper half. How much studying did you do before your 170 test?

[JWS]

I want to retake it, but I'm a bit iffy about whether I can get higher score than 170. I studied 4 months prior to taking the test, and was surprised that I got 170 to begin with. About how much more points do I need for the T14 schools to even consider looking at my application?

[Quine]

I want to retake it, but I'm a bit iffy about whether I can get higher score than 170. I studied 4 months prior to taking the test, and was surprised that I got 170 to begin with. About how much more points do I need for the T14 schools to even consider looking at my application?

Some of the people above you are overstating how dire your situation is. You almost certainly won't get into the schools you listed originally, but you'll get a scholarship somewhere in the T20. Don't retake if you aren't feeling it. Send apps out as early as possible and express specific interest in the schools as allowed (Why ___). If you have your apps in before the end of October you have a reasonable shot at Duke and Michigan (assuming Why X essays and higher medians than this year), and an even better shot at Cornell. Outside of the T14 you should start receiving scholarship offers.