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I'm an undergrad at the University of Minnesota finishing my final semester this Fall Semester. I anticipate my GPA to be around 2.9 to 3.0 after this semester is done. Would you suggest I apply ASAP or wait until I do get that final boost in my GPA (however minimal it may be), while losing a couple months in the process?

While I know things besides GPA and LSAT score don't matter as much here is my overall application:

I am an underrepresented minority, and have an petty theft misdemeanor expunged from my record (should I mention this in my personal statement, an addendum, or avoid the topic altogether?). I plan on explaining my poor GPA on poor early college decisions, as there is a noticeable improvement in GPA towards the end of my college career.

I have pretty decent softs, e.g. campaign internships, congressional internships in Washington, DC. The congressman has also written me a letter of recommendation on my behalf. I've run the numbers at lawschoolnumbers.com and lawschoolpredictor.com but I'd like to hear what you all think.

What are my chances at the following schools?:

William Mitchell
Hamline University
Chicago-Kent
Loyola (Chicago)
Depaul
Brooklyn Law School
New York Law School
Syracuse
St. John's
Rutgers
Howard
Michigan State

The following are probably even more of stretch, should I even consider these at all?:

University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Indiana-Bloomington
American University

Sorry about the long list. I appreciate any feedback. Any suggestions for what the best school I could get into would also be great.

You need to disclose the petty theft. My advice is to stay local and go to William Mitchell if you get in. Don't waste app fees on out of state schools.

How are you gonna go from a 2.73 to a 3.0 by the end of this semester?

please round all these numbers are confusing.

Haha, ok. 2.7, I guess 2.739 made me feel .039 better.

I've got eighteen credits of easy liberal arts requirements credits this semester. I expect to and am on my way to getting an A in all of those classes. But you were right, I just went back and calculate my numbers, and the best I can do is a 2.92. But the greater question, should I even wait for my GPA rise or just apply now?

Are you URM? I guess if you can't raise your GPA you should go ahead and apply. You probably won't hear anything back before you get your fall grades and so you can just send your updated transcript. Even with the improved grades it's smarter for you to apply ASAP.

I am a URM. Thanks for the reply. Anyone have opinions regarding the likelihood of me getting into the schools I listed above?

URM changes everything. Please consider retaking. Couple more points and you might be able to get into a school in the wustl/emory/fordham/bu/bc range. Maybe have a slight shot as of right now.....

I know wustl or fordham isnt the land of milk and honey when it comes to employment but placement at schools of that level is likely 2x or 2.5x as good as schools in the american/brooklyn range and prob 5x as good as schools in the william mitchell/msu range.

Proceed with extreme caution. Please look up additional information and do not take career statistics at face value. often they will include Mcdonalds as employment in "business and industry"

Bump

Are you Black?

I'm a South Asian male, does it make a big difference?

blackstar786 wrote:I'm a South Asian male, does it make a big difference?

Haha

blackstar786 wrote:I'm a South Asian male, does it make a big difference?

If your not being facetious you are not URM then.

blackstar786 wrote:I'm a South Asian male, does it make a big difference?

whoops. Retake.

I wasn't intentionally being facetious. I understand South Asians are well represented in law schools as whole. I have read (including on the URM section on this site) that if a certain school has few minorities, this may provide an admissions boost. This probably won't help me at most of the state schools on the earlier list, but schools like William Mitchell that I know has few minorities might consider this.

Is my logic completely flawed?

I guess I'm seriously considering the retake option in December, but if I were not to, which schools on that list do you guys think I have a shot at?

beachbum wrote:

blackstar786 wrote:I'm a South Asian male, does it make a big difference?

whoops. Retake.

+1

blackstar786 wrote: Is my logic completely flawed?

Yes

blackstar786 wrote: I guess I'm seriously considering the retake option in December, but if I were not to, which schools on that list do you guys think I have a shot at?

You have a shot at William Mitchell