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3.8/172. I don't have many soft factors such as work experience or URM status. What are my chances?

you have a list?

RD, I say in at Gtown, Duke, UVA, NU, Cornell, Vandy, UCLA, USC, UT. Out at HYS. For CCN, I think you can fo RD for N, but might need ED for CLS or UofC.

dissonance1848 wrote:RD, I say in at Gtown, Duke, UVA, NU, Cornell, Vandy, UCLA, USC, UT. Out at HYS. For CCN, I think you can fo RD for N, but might need ED for CLS or UofC.

I think OP has a decent shot at all of CCN through RD, ED would just guarantee an acceptance.

MeechiganBoy wrote:you have a list?

No list. Preferably California schools. Thanks!

I'd be stunned if you weren't in at Boalt.

in everywhere besides HYS and boalt since boalt is pretty unpredictable.

$1.99 wrote:in everywhere besides HYS and boalt since boalt is pretty unpredictable.

Yeah, I don't feel like I have a very good chance at Boalt since I have very limited extracurricular activities and work experience. I don't really have any soft factors.

What kind of LSAT score would give me a good chance at Stanford? Any opinions?

Look, if you could raise your LSAT to where Stanford made sense, then you might as well go for HLS and YLS anyways.

Anyone want to put numbers on what GPA he'd need for H, Y, and S?

What?? If he has a 3.8, then getting a 177+ would give him a good shot at HYS.

dissonance1848 wrote:What?? If he has a 3.8, then getting a 177+ would give him a good shot at HYS.

But what if he didn't have a 3.8?

Really, OP is not a lock for Boalt? I mean, I know they are holistic and all that, but he's five points above their LSAT median and right at their GPA median...

If he had only a 172, he would need around a 4 to have a shot.

J_E_M wrote:

MeechiganBoy wrote:you have a list?

No list. Preferably California schools. Thanks!

Make one and you'll get better advice.

sundance95 wrote:Really, OP is not a lock for Boalt? I mean, I know they are holistic and all that, but he's five points above their LSAT median and right at their GPA median...

Looks like 50/50 from LSN.

http://berkeley.lawschoolnumbers.com/ap ... ,8&type=jd

I had a 3.93 and a 172 last cycle and i got dinged from boalt so thats my two cents. For stanford he would need the extracurriculars and work experience no matter what LSAT he had especially with his sub 3.9 gpa. a 177+ would get you into harvard i think but its not like that is the most feasible plan.

sundance95 wrote:Really, OP is not a lock for Boalt? I mean, I know they are holistic and all that, but he's five points above their LSAT median and right at their GPA median...

There is a reason Boalt has that LSAT median which is so low for their ranking/selectivity - they reject plenty of people way above it...thus their reputation for being unpredictable

So...their admissions decision making process utilizes a multitude of factors, including:

--ImageRemoved--

Apologies to OP for misleading advice; listen to those who are more familiar with Boalt's admission policies.

I think saying you are out at Boalt is pretty pessimistic, I would say your chances are better than 50%, but every point on the LSAT will help.
176 would give you a good shot at Harvard, you would be at their 75th LSAT and just below their median GPA I believe.

If you are sold on California though you are in at UCLA and USC and will probably get money.

I am taking the LSAT again in December (didn't feel ready for the October test). I'm studying and hoping to get a 175 or above.

Also, I took three years off after college. I worked as a musician playing gigs and a part-time music teacher (so completely not related to law). Should I try to tie that into my personal statement or just focus on my college experience? My undergrad major was at least somewhat related to law. Any advice?

I guess upping my numbers will be my best shot.

J_E_M wrote:I am taking the LSAT again in December (didn't feel ready for the October test). I'm studying and hoping to get a 175 or above.

Also, I took three years off after college. I worked as a musician playing gigs and a part-time music teacher (so completely not related to law). Should I try to tie that into my personal statement or just focus on my college experience? My undergrad major was at least somewhat related to law. Any advice?

I guess upping my numbers will be my best shot.

they don't care what your major was.

unless you did something awesome as a musician, i'd focus on your career as a teacher. law schools seem to really like people who do Teach America, so it's feasible they like people who are in education because it shows they have a vested interest in giving back to the community. i don't think your career will help/hurt you, and don't think working for a law firm in any capacity would help/hurt you.

also if you're deadset on CA, and Stanford averages (don't know if they do), I would not retake. A 172 is def. good enough for UCLA and USC with your GPA with $. and the LSAT can be a crab shoot 170-180. the odds of going down are likely better than the odds of hitting a 180 unless you are doing so consistently so it does not seem worth it to me personally.