Value of Master's Degree? Forum

[barzin23]

Hi all,

This is my first post. I just arrived at this site and am finding it an fantastic resource as I prepare for law school. Thanks to everyone for creating such a beneficial community.

Ok, on to my question. Here are the facts... I have a 3.22 UGPA (according to LSAC), but that includes a few courses I took for college credit whilst still in High School. I have been instructed to provide an addendum explaining those courses. If those courses are not accounted for, my GPA is boosted by almost .1... I am now preparing for the Oct LSAT, but am averaging around 170, and expect to do well.

My main question is as follows. I have a pair of Master's degrees that I received from European universities, from the University of Leipzig, in Germany and from the London School of Economics. I did very well in the latter school...

Do my Master's degrees have any bearing on my academic experience?

Also, at 27, I will be a "mature" candidate for law school... I have a few years work experience, lots of experience living and working abroad, and of course, those two Master's.

What are my chances at the t10-15?

Thanks.

[bk1]

Masters are softs so won't help too much. Those HS classes will count, no addendum needed. Kill the LSAT.

[colemf]

Look at your master degrees, now look at your toilet, now back your degrees, and now back at your toilet, now go and flush your degrees down your toilet because they will be of no use to you in the law school admission game. Also your GPA is a 3.22, your HS dual credit counts towards your GPA good bad or ugly. The mature applicant approach won't get you anywhere either, if you want t15 you need to do nothing but work on your LSAT, with a 170+ you have a pretty decent chance.

[kalvano]

Look at your master degrees
Now look at your toilet
Now back your degrees
And now back at your toilet
Now go
Flush your degrees down your toilet

I'm on a message board.

[beachbum]

Nail the LSAT- then we'll talk. The total value of your soft factors (work experience, advanced degrees, etc) may give you a slight admissions boost, but your LSAT and undergraduate GPA will dictate where you can and cannot gain acceptance. For what it's worth, your work experience will probably count for much more than your degrees- particularly at places like Northwestern.

Get that 170+ and you'll be competitive for a couple schools in the t14.

And for the record, don't write a GPA addendum unless you have a legitimate reason for your sub-par grades. Being young and immature is not a legitimate reason.

[CanadianWolf]

Until you have an actual LSAT score, every prediction regarding your chances of admission to certain law schools is pure speculation. Assuming, however, that you score over 170 on the LSAT the University of Chicago may be worth investigating based on your interest in economics although your GPA is a bit low for Chicago.

[barzin23]

Thanks, all great responses... To sum up, it'll all boil down to my LSAT score. I'm going to nail it.

One last question: The only serious dip in my academic history is during my second year (at Community College, prior to transfer), where I had a very mediocre year... This is in great part due to my parents going through a divorce and the emotional troubles that it caused the family at the time. I was 19, and while I always denied being effected, my grades clearly suffered. I hate using my parents divorce as an excuse. I have never used it as a justification for anything in the past, but I want my best shot possible at the best law school possible, so I want to play all my cards...

Is this a fair addendum to add to my application? Or will it look weak and whiny (which it kinda does to me)?

[CanadianWolf]

Probably fits into the "weak & whiney" category.

[tlsfa8]

Thanks, all great responses... To sum up, it'll all boil down to my LSAT score. I'm going to nail it.

One last question: The only serious dip in my academic history is during my second year (at Community College, prior to transfer), where I had a very mediocre year... This is in great part due to my parents going through a divorce and the emotional troubles that it caused the family at the time. I was 19, and while I always denied being effected, my grades clearly suffered. I hate using my parents divorce as an excuse. I have never used it as a justification for anything in the past, but I want my best shot possible at the best law school possible, so I want to play all my cards...

Is this a fair addendum to add to my application? Or will it look weak and whiny (which it kinda does to me)?

actually, my parents went through a divorce, and, i too feel guilty using that as an "excuse" by any means. but the fact of the matter is, i'm human, and it sure as hell affected me. i would use it if you have a really good explanation, rather than just "my parents were going through a divorce and i used that as an excuse to drink a lot so i failed all my classes."