169/3.08 - rate chances and suggest other places to apply Forum

[gmtelon]

GPA: 3.08 (already graduated)
LSAT: 169
Softs: 2 years full-time work experience (so far), a couple clubs in college, worked 20+ hours/week all throughout college except for freshman year
Non-URM, Wisconsin resident

I am applying for sure to:
-Wisconsin
-Minnesota
-WUSTL

I would be very grateful if you guys could take a moment to rate my chances at the above schools and also suggest additional schools to which I should apply.

Thanks!

Edit: added a soft, sorry I forgot it originally.

[jcunni5]

if you could retake and get one more point it would help you out a lot like MVP with an ED or NU

[dissonance1848]

You should be in at those schools, especially WUSTL, as they love high LSAT scores. For Gtown, UVA or NU, you should retake and get a few more points, 172-173, for ED to be a good shot.

[2014]

You will get into all three and I bet at least one throws at least a little bit of cash your way. I would also throw in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana given your midwest preference. As the above said, if you want top 14 you need a retake, but if you are content with a very good school in the midwest, which the ones you are applying to are, you should get into all of them with your current numbers.

[stratocophic]

Minimum of $10k/yr at WUSTL, dunno about the other two. Look at Illinois at well if for no other reason than bargaining power and the lack of an app fee.

[CanadianWolf]

In at all three.

[sundance95]

If you want to practice in Wisconsin, go to UW-you don't have to take the Wisconsin state bar if you graduate from Madison.

[gmtelon]

Wow, thanks for the super-quick responses!

I will definitely apply to Illinois. I would be happy with staying in the midwest, but if I do, I would want it to be in either Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, or Minneapolis.

I am not sure that I will apply to Iowa or Indiana, though I do appreciate the suggestion. I am not really interested in living in either of those states, and I feel like they will not give me a better chance at the above markets than Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, or WUSTL. For someone who grew up in the midwest, all the midwestern states are definitely not fungible.

I got a fee waiver from Northwestern, so I will definitely be applying there as a reach school. Can't hurt to try, right? I would be very interested in going there.

I think the toughest choice I will probably have to make is whether to retake the LSAT. I guess it really boils down to being happy with a T20-30 very good midwest school vs. only beign happy with T14. For my last 10 or so timed practice tests, I didn't see anything below a 172, and I even got two 180's, but adding the pressure of the test day really makes the test a whole different beast. Also, I took the test almost 2 years ago, so I would have to probably do a fair bit of studying to get back up to that level.

Thanks again for all the responses so far.

[2014]

You might as well make your Northwestern app ED, it can't hurt unless you don't want to go there.

[DoktorZaius]

I'm a 1L @ UMN & love it here...you should be able to get in w/ that LSAT, as it seems to be their favorite metric. As a Wisconsin resident you're probably aware that you'll qualify for reciprocity & get the in-state rate here, so if they give you any $$ (which they very well could, especially if you apply early) things could get nice and cheap for you.