My hards are alright, my softs are squishy, chances at top? Forum

[Tolmanator]

The hard: 3.86 UGPA at a Div. II liberal arts state school (psychology/philosophy/statistics), 171 LSAT (original, only took once).

The squishy: Research assistant for a number of years in undergrad, taught the humanities to prison inmates for multiple semesters, graduated several years ago and have since been drifting somewhat (went to Panama for a summer, worked in a law firm as a courier for a year, substitute taught, summer camp for kids with disabilities, and am now tutoring in California).

For sure want to go T14. If I want a shot at HYS, should I retake the LSAT (averaged about 175 on my practice tests before test day, I also am an instructor for the LSAT now which one would think would only help my score)? What are my chances at the terrible trio and/or other T14 schools?

Thank to everyone in advance!

[Scallywaggums]

If you want HYS you most definitely should try again at the LSAT.
http://schools.lawschoolnumbers.com/

[KMaine]

Softs are not so bad that they would keep you out of anywhere. You are probably in at most of the lower t-14, maybe slight chance @ T6 (iffy, I think). Yeah, if you want one of the top 3, you need to retake that LSAT. Good luck.

[Hey-O]

Softs are not so bad that they would keep you out of anywhere. You are probably in at most of the lower t-14, maybe slight chance @ T6 (iffy, I think). Yeah, if you want one of the top 3, you need to retake that LSAT. Good luck.

I think this is over stated. You don't NEED to re-take the LSAT. You should probably re-take it, but you could still get in with those numbers.

[Tolmanator]

Thanks for the responses thus far, fellas. Sounds like an LSAT retake is the most prescribed medicine.

ALSO, forgot to mention, I am one quarter Hispanic. I am not sure of the magnitude of influence that being a hispanic minority has on admissions...I hear we are the fastest growing.

[Hey-O]

Thanks for the responses thus far, fellas. Sounds like an LSAT retake is the most prescribed medicine.

ALSO, forgot to mention, I am one quarter Hispanic. I am not sure of the magnitude of influence that being a hispanic minority has on admissions...I hear we are the fastest growing.

Actually, in re-looking at your softs and seeing that you can claim URM status I don't think you need to re-take. Just write a killer PS, get some good LORs, and write a diversity statement. Not gonna matter that much for H but good shot for YS.

[Scallywaggums]

Hazaa for URM status!
::jealous quiver::

[Tolmanator]

I guess being a URM is the cat's pajamas, eh? Thanks for the advice! I should not have a problem with the POS (I am a decent writer) but am somewhat concerned about the LOR due to my "drifting" nature.

[09042014]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

[logicianwannabe]

am i the only one who thought this thread was going to be about being slightly overweight with mild erectile dysfunction?

[vespertiliovir]

am i the only one who thought this thread was going to be about being slightly overweight with mild erectile dysfunction?

no

[Tolmanator]

am i the only one who thought this thread was going to be about being slightly overweight with mild erectile dysfunction?

That brings me to my next inquiry...

[Hey-O]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

[09042014]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

[Hey-O]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

Lol.

[Alyssa]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

By this he means that those people count as human beings, but are not Underrepresented Minorities to get a real URM boost.

Being hispanic (but not Mexican or Puerto Rican) might help a little, but it's closer to a good soft.

[09042014]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

Lol.

I'm not joking.

[Tolmanator]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

By this he means that those people count as human beings, but are not Underrepresented Minorities to get a real URM boost.

Being hispanic (but not Mexican or Puerto Rican) might help a little, but it's closer to a good soft.

Desert Fox never asserted that those people counted as human beings, for the record.

So this is really true? Only Mexicans/Puerto Ricans count? Interesting. My lineage is Mestizo (Amerindian and Spanish decent), most likely part "Mexican."

[09042014]

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

By this he means that those people count as human beings, but are not Underrepresented Minorities to get a real URM boost.

Being hispanic (but not Mexican or Puerto Rican) might help a little, but it's closer to a good soft.

Desert Fox never asserted that those people counted as human beings, for the record.

So this is really true? Only Mexicans/Puerto Ricans count? Interesting. My lineage is Mestizo (Amerindian and Spanish decent), most likely part "Mexican."

haha, I was wondering why that poster was laughing.

[Alyssa]

What about people from South America? Central America? Chile? Peru? Do you mean it doesn't count for people from Spain?

Those people do not count. Only Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans.

By this he means that those people count as human beings, but are not Underrepresented Minorities to get a real URM boost.

Being hispanic (but not Mexican or Puerto Rican) might help a little, but it's closer to a good soft.

Desert Fox never asserted that those people counted as human beings, for the record.

So this is really true? Only Mexicans/Puerto Ricans count? Interesting. My lineage is Mestizo (Amerindian and Spanish decent), most likely part "Mexican."

Re: Desert Fox - I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

If you identify as part Mexican, then you should put yourself down as Mexican. Simple as that. You should write a good DS that shows how being Mexican affected you and how it affects the individual perspective you'll be bringing into X Law School.

[romothesavior]

am i the only one who thought this thread was going to be about being slightly overweight with mild erectile dysfunction?

no

Damn. I had assumed this thread was going to be relevant to my interests. Disappointing.

[hax123]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

LSN and common sense say otherwise. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans get larger boosts than other Hispanics, but that doesn't mean that other Hispanics don't get boosts. Still, the OP probably won't get into HYS but would have if he were Mexican, Puerto Rican, Native American, or black (lol).

Anyway, retaking the LSAT is the best option for the OP. Not only did he score 4 points below his average, but he's also an LSAT instructor. A 174 or higher would given him excellent chances for H and decent changes for YS; all other schools would be a lock.

[09042014]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

LSN and common sense say otherwise. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans get larger boosts than other Hispanics, but that doesn't mean that other Hispanics don't get boosts. Still, the OP probably won't get into HYS but would have if he were Mexican, Puerto Rican, Native American, or black (lol).

Anyway, retaking the LSAT is the best option for the OP. Not only did he score 4 points below his average, but he's also an LSAT instructor. A 174 or higher would given him excellent chances for H and decent changes for YS; all other schools would be a lock.

Why does common sense say otherwise?

[hax123]

Hispanic only counts for Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

LSN and common sense say otherwise. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans get larger boosts than other Hispanics, but that doesn't mean that other Hispanics don't get boosts. Still, the OP probably won't get into HYS but would have if he were Mexican, Puerto Rican, Native American, or black (lol).

Anyway, retaking the LSAT is the best option for the OP. Not only did he score 4 points below his average, but he's also an LSAT instructor. A 174 or higher would given him excellent chances for H and decent changes for YS; all other schools would be a lock.

Why does common sense say otherwise?

Because non PR/MX Hispanics are an underrepresented minority in law school and in the legal profession. Moreover, they score significantly lower than whites on the LSAT and need a boost if they are to have any representation at top law schools.

[hax123]

Here's a Hispanic applicant with similar numbers to the OP's: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/lz06

In at H and every other T14 school to which she applied, all with scholarships except Columbia and Georgetown.