3.3/154 Chances Forum

[banoffee35]

GPA: 3.3
LSAT Score: 154 (probably going to retake, but I have 3 finals at the same time (Friday 10th, and Monday 13th) in December. Is it worth a retake with my heavy schedule?
URM Status: No
UG Institution: McGill (Canada)
Work Experience: Taught tennis-8 years, worked at Children's Hospital
Softs: worked in 2 psychology labs, volunteered in hospitals, extracurriculars at school
Regional Preference: New England/East Coast (Boston, NY, Washington, Chicago)
Targets/Reaches: BU, BC, NYU (Giving it a shot), New England Law, New York Law, Suffolk, Northeastern, DePaul, Roger Williams, American
Sob story (lol): My GPA's low because I took hard electives outside my majors (Calculus, Organic Chem, Biology-when I didn't have to... don't know why!) Everyone's been telling me, regardless of my GPA, that McGill's a hard school and US schools take that into account... I'm not that convinced. Any other schools I should consider, please let me know!
Thank you!!

[banoffee35]

Any advice? I know I'm not a 4.0/180 but realistically, I'm shooting for schools that I can get into (not the best, but the areas are good).

[thexfactor]

You ahve no chance at the schools above like BC/BU or NYU. Not even worth applying unless you cured cancer or you are related to the PM of canada.
New England Law, New York Law, Suffolk and roger williams are the only schools you have a chance at. Even then it is not good. Prob get into new england law and roger williams.
I know you dont want to hear this but... would def retake. Be really cautious about going to law school. Only about 5% of the people at those schools get jobs in this economy. Do not take their placement numbers at face value. Please do your research. check out JD underground.

At least get at 157-158 and apply to schools like upitt or case.

[banoffee35]

Yeah, I just don't know if I can go through it all again, lol. I'm not too worried about being competitive with people who have a 3.6+/165+ (I mean, it may not get them into Yale, but they're pretty competitive still). I figured American, Suffolk and Northeastern are my top choices. NY Law and NE Law seem okay and so does Roger Williams (if I don't re-take). Thanks for the other schools to consider, but I'm looking for the DC, NY and NE area.

[thexfactor]

dont give up. I went from 150-162. I took the exam 4 times.
Give yourself a chance. If you go to schools like NYLS.. transferring is almost impossible. you have to be in the top 10% to transfer to schools in the bu/bc/fordham range. At least give yourself a shot. Going to a school like case/upitt ive seen top 1/3 get into schools in that same range.

[banoffee35]

Okay, if I re-take in December, but I apply before the score comes out in January (I want to get it done before Dec. 1 or at least before Christmas), will law schools know that I'm taking it in December and wait for my score to come back? Or just render a decision based on my current GPA and LSAT score? But at the same time it's a risk being somewhat late...since it's all rolling.
Thanks!

[thexfactor]

chances are they will wait.
check out the logic games bible if you are struggling with games.

I donno if you should apply to NYu because you will need to get 170 to be competitive there. Unless you can dress up as einstein this halloween and hope that rubs off on you, it will be very hard to get in the high 160s or low 170s in a month.

Wait a year. Check out knewton lsat prep. I heard they have a 5 pt money back guarantee

[banoffee35]

Definitely can't wait a year (pressure from parents, but also I wouldn't know what I'd do for a year... internships, volunteering...)
Plus, you're making it sound kind of bleak in terms of getting into even Suffolk haha, which is realistic, but I'd hoped I'd get a chance there!
I didn't struggle with any sections, per say. But it was more of the timing (which I only had initially). I looked at my PDF and the first 10-15 in each section were right, but then I choked in the last 10-15 questions with time issues.

[Aqualibrium]

Couldn't you go to Mcgill with those numbers?

[banoffee35]

Since McGill requires some knowledge of French and I'm American and studied 8 years of Spanish and speak Chinese, I'm not even considering. Plus, I definitely don't want to study/practice law in Canada and if I attended McGill I'd feel tied down.

[thexfactor]

just means tthat you need to do more tests. Study harder.

I know about the "pressure" thing. The problem is that most people from those schools do not get jobs. Even at schools like upitt or case, prob only the top 15% get good private jobs that pay market... if that. At roger williams prob only a handful of kids get decent jobs.

The legal market is terrible right now. There was an article about BC 3L student who wanted his money back. Schools are even cutting back on transfers too. So dont expect to transfer from schools like that unless you are in the top 10%. Prob top 25% will get into schools like upitt or case. However, most transfers to those schools do not get jobs.

If you are just looking for a career, have you thought about accounting? everyone with a pulse gets a job in accounting.

No mcgill is gpa heavy. If OP had 3.9 then prob yes.

[Aqualibrium]

Practically no one at McGill UG has a 3.9 though. It would be counter intuitive to have a ridiculously tough grading system, and then penalize applicants to your law school because of your undergrads ridiculously tough grading system.

[thexfactor]

ya but that is the problem with the system. Sucks but that is how the game is played.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/mcgill-f ... f-law.html

[thexfactor]

pmed op.

[banoffee35]

So what you're saying is if I don't re-take I'm going to have to wait until next year to apply to have a good shot at American, Suffolk and Northeastern? Looks like I have to sign up.

[thexfactor]

So what you're saying is if I don't re-take I'm going to have to wait until next year to apply to have a good shot at American, Suffolk and Northeastern? Looks like I have to sign up.

check your new messages.....

[beachbum]

Retake. You really, really need to bump that score by a minimum 6-7 points to make law school a worthwhile investment. The schools you're looking at now (Suffolk, New England, Northeastern) are not worth attending, and certainly not worth attending at sticker.