Top Law Schools

I am a non-URM from West Virginia. I have a 4.0 GPA at a large state school where I'm pursuing a double major in Political Science and Philosophy as well as minors in Economics and History. I haven't taken the LSAT yet but am pretty consistently getting around 170 on practice tests. As far as softs, mine are pretty pedestrian:

- Two years on drumline (HUGE time commitment)
- Five-week internship in London in an MP's office
- Founding editor of my schools undergraduate philosophy journal
- merit scholarships basically amounting to a full ride plus rent money at my UG institution
- two $3,000 dollar merit scholarships from the Philosophy Department

My work experience include writing music for and instructing a high school drumline, and some boring summer jobs.

(If any of these don't count as "softs" then please let me know. I'm not entirely comfortable with all of the pre-law online forum lingo)

I am intent on practicing public interest law. Assuming my LSAT score is 170, what are my chances at the following schools (and does anyone suggest I apply elsewhere as well)?

Berkeley
Georgetown
Harvard (pretty sure I know the answer for this one)
NYU
Columbia
Duke
North Carolina

I was also wondering what you all think about the idea of attending a school that has an LRAP and relying entirely on that and my own salary to pay for my education?

Public Interest?

Go cheap. Apply to UT, UCLA, Vandy, USC, and Wash U. You'll get pretty close to a full ride at Wash U and you'll get pretty good offers to the others. Otherwise, have fun at Duke.

Consistently practicing at 170 is not the same as having a 170. That said if you do pull it off you will be in pretty good shape for most of the schools you listed (except for Harvard, but it wouldn't be impossible for them to bite). You can search the forums for more LRAP info.

St.Remy wrote:Consistently practicing at 170 is not the same as having a 170.

This. Some people (many people, actually) choke on test day. Worry about it after you get your score.

Also, if you're close to 170 you shouldn't even be considering North Carolina, you can do much better.

You have a great shot at the practice T-14.

intravenousdrums wrote:I haven't taken the LSAT yet

--ImageRemoved--

Do you go to WVU?

according to tls we all practice at 170

McNulty wrote:according to tls we all practice at 170

Mine was a bit lower. Say 168.

r6_philly wrote:

McNulty wrote:according to tls we all practice at 170

Mine was a bit lower. Say 168.

Actually, I think a good number of the most active posters practice well above 170.

Patriot1208 wrote:

r6_philly wrote:

McNulty wrote:according to tls we all practice at 170

Mine was a bit lower. Say 168.

Actually, I think a good number of the most active posters practice well above 170.

And what about the actual scores? What's the distribution of the difference between practice and actual scores?

I usually like to self-report a bit lower.

r6_philly wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

r6_philly wrote:

McNulty wrote:according to tls we all practice at 170

Mine was a bit lower. Say 168.

Actually, I think a good number of the most active posters practice well above 170.

And what about the actual scores? What's the distribution of the difference between practice and actual scores?

I usually like to self-report a bit lower.

Well, many of the most active posters are students at Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Virginia, Northwestern, Georgetown, etc. So obviously they did great. Me, my PT average is right at 170 but we'll see how I do saturday.

Just so everyone knows, I'm not asking because I'm sending in applications already. It was just a little curiosity. I don't think that my score is a foregone conclusion, and I don't need anyone to tell me that schools won't accept my practice scores. As far as I'm concerned this is similar to a "What LSAT score do I need?" type of question, and there isn't anything pretentious or stupid about it.

Patriot1208 wrote:
Well, many of the most active posters are students at Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Virginia, Northwestern, Georgetown, etc. So obviously they did great. Me, my PT average is right at 170 but we'll see how I do saturday.

Well good luck! I was counting on a 170 and that's what I got. Hope you get it too.

intravenousdrums wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm not asking because I'm sending in applications already. It was just a little curiosity. I don't think that my score is a foregone conclusion, and I don't need anyone to tell me that schools won't accept my practice scores. As far as I'm concerned this is similar to a "What LSAT score do I need?" type of question, and there isn't anything pretentious or stupid about it.

You have a good chance at all the schools if you get a 170. I have one, and I am applying to all of T16. I got in Michigan last year. Your GPA is higher, I have a degree 4.0 (3 B's from 15 years ago), but my major is tougher. In T10 it's a little hard to predict because they also consider a lot of other aspects of you as an applicant, so it's not clear cut numbers game. If you have clear cut lower numbers sure you are not going to get in, but as you see, there are lots of other people with equally impressive numbers, your chance also depends on how they like you application.

As others say, there is good possibility that you would score away from your practice average. You could get a 164 and you could get a 173, luck has a lot to do with it. And a 164 and 173 would generate night and day difference in odds of getting accepted with your 4.0. So... these questions are better answered after the test.

intravenousdrums wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm not asking because I'm sending in applications already. It was just a little curiosity. I don't think that my score is a foregone conclusion, and I don't need anyone to tell me that schools won't accept my practice scores. As far as I'm concerned this is similar to a "What LSAT score do I need?" type of question, and there isn't anything pretentious or stupid about it.

Got to Law School Numbers. Knock yourself out.

intravenousdrums wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm not asking because I'm sending in applications already. It was just a little curiosity. I don't think that my score is a foregone conclusion, and I don't need anyone to tell me that schools won't accept my practice scores. As far as I'm concerned this is similar to a "What LSAT score do I need?" type of question, and there isn't anything pretentious or stupid about it.

Welcome to TLS; you must be new around here.

Anybody remember Dr. Strangelove?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=113616

Marionberry wrote:Anybody remember Dr. Strangelove?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=113616

Hahah that was rich.

rad law wrote:

Marionberry wrote:Anybody remember Dr. Strangelove?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=113616

Hahah that was rich.

I wonder where he decided to apply once he had is perfect LSAT in hand

Didn't he decide to become a CPA or something?

Dr. Strangelove was practicing at 177. After months of creating hypothetical threads ("Where should I apply with 177 and 3.0/ Can I get into academia with 175+ and 3.0"), Dr. Strangelove got pwned on the June LSAT and got a 165 on the real deal.

He is now a CPA.

Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn

Kafka wrote:Dr. Strangelove was practicing at 177. After months of creating hypothetical threads ("Where should I apply with 177 and 3.0/ Can I get into academia with 175+ and 3.0"), Dr. Strangelove got pwned on the June LSAT and got a 165 on the real deal.

He is now a CPA.

Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn

CPA>Lawyer

Kafka wrote:Dr. Strangelove was practicing at 177. After months of creating hypothetical threads ("Where should I apply with 177 and 3.0/ Can I get into academia with 175+ and 3.0"), Dr. Strangelove got pwned on the June LSAT and got a 165 on the real deal.

He is now a CPA.

Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn Pwn

And he was so sure he'd get that great score.. I almost felt bad for him when the real scores came out. I couldn't see his face, but I can imagine that profound look of defeat. Sucks, but that's what happens when you count your chickens before they catch. Definitely gives credence to the "real score or gtfo" attitude that permeates TLS.

Cooley.

I am JK 4.0 and 170 = 10-100 take your pick...