Top Law Schools

I'm going to apply this year and if I don't get into any of the following take a year off and retake the LSAT. What are my chances at...

Catholic
UDC
Richmond
University of Baltimore
George Mason PT (reach)
American PT (reach)

Really good softs. Volunteer 15hr/week for lacrosse team, work 2 jobs, president of student lobbying organization, member of prelaw association, Division 1 varsity athlete for one year (freshman)

Also I've looked at all the percentiles and know I'm at the lower end for alot of schools but anyone that has applied/gotten in to any of these programs please let me know what you think. Thanks

bburn008 wrote:I'm going to apply this year and if I don't get into any of the following take a year off and retake the LSAT. What are my chances at...

Catholic
UDC
Richmond
University of Baltimore
George Mason PT (reach)
American PT (reach)

Really good softs. Volunteer 15hr/week for lacrosse team, work 2 jobs, president of student lobbying organization, member of prelaw association, Division 1 varsity athlete for one year (freshman)

Also I've looked at all the percentiles and know I'm at the lower end for alot of schools but anyone that has applied/gotten in to any of these programs please let me know what you think. Thanks

Unfortunately, you do not have really good softs.

Retake.
Consider Upitt and Case Western.

thexfactor wrote:

bburn008 wrote:I'm going to apply this year and if I don't get into any of the following take a year off and retake the LSAT. What are my chances at...

Catholic
UDC
Richmond
University of Baltimore
George Mason PT (reach)
American PT (reach)

Really good softs. Volunteer 15hr/week for lacrosse team, work 2 jobs, president of student lobbying organization, member of prelaw association, Division 1 varsity athlete for one year (freshman)

Also I've looked at all the percentiles and know I'm at the lower end for alot of schools but anyone that has applied/gotten in to any of these programs please let me know what you think. Thanks

Unfortunately, you do not have really good softs.

Retake.
Consider Upitt and Case Western.

Ok thanks. I've spoken to Baltimore and Catholic admissions and they made it seem like they'd be my safety schools, but then started looking on here and kind of freaked. Obviously not everyone on here is completely honest, but still my stats are low. Thanks for the suggestions I will look into both places!!

bburn008 wrote:I'm going to apply this year and if I don't get into any of the following take a year off and retake the LSAT. What are my chances at...

Catholic
UDC
Richmond
University of Baltimore
George Mason PT (reach)
American PT (reach)

Really good softs. Volunteer 15hr/week for lacrosse team, work 2 jobs, president of student lobbying organization, member of prelaw association, Division 1 varsity athlete for one year (freshman)

Also I've looked at all the percentiles and know I'm at the lower end for alot of schools but anyone that has applied/gotten in to any of these programs please let me know what you think. Thanks

I'm not saying you can't get into some of your listed schools, but don't rely on softs, they really won't help you much.

Edit: You're good at Catholic and Baltimore. Probably out at Richmond. Not sure about the others.

Thanks! Any other suggestions would be great. Does anyone know about part time schools? I know they are usually a little less competitive. I'd be fine going to Catholic for a year and transferring out. I also have a job lobbying for the nonprofit organization Virginia21. I don't know how heavy that will weigh though.

dont go to a school thinking you are going to transfer out. It most likely wont happen

northwood wrote:dont go to a school thinking you are going to transfer out. It most likely wont happen

hey thanks is this something you can speak of from experience? just wondering. I should probably just retake the lsat and wait a year

no. but think about the math

Law school is very competitive. You are graded on a curve. Only the top 1/3 or higher have the opportunity to transfer ( depending on where you want to transfer to). As a rule of thumb, from talking to admissions people and career services people, only go to a law school that you would be happy graduating from

northwood wrote:no. but think about the math

Law school is very competitive. You are graded on a curve. Only the top 1/3 or higher have the opportunity to transfer ( depending on where you want to transfer to). As a rule of thumb, from talking to admissions people and career services people, only go to a law school that you would be happy graduating from

yea makes complete sense! Thank you all for your help

bburn008 wrote:

northwood wrote:no. but think about the math

Law school is very competitive. You are graded on a curve. Only the top 1/3 or higher have the opportunity to transfer ( depending on where you want to transfer to). As a rule of thumb, from talking to admissions people and career services people, only go to a law school that you would be happy graduating from

yea makes complete sense! Thank you all for your help

I like this guy, he didn't retort with how he's not like all the other law students who want to transfer.

I have similar numbers but with stronger softs will this give me any sort of bump on the schools OP has listed?

Hey what are your softs? Im.curious to know what strong ones are now!

strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

not sure if this was brought up, but are you URM?

i had similar #s and was denied at catholic, my guesses are (assuming you are NOT URM):
Catholic-out
UDC-in
Richmond-out
University of Baltimore-in
George Mason PT (reach)-out
American PT (reach)-out

if you are a URM you're in for catholic & richmond, and maybe GM/AU pt.

You asked about chances at PT programs. Two cycles ago I applied to a bunch of PT programs, mostly on the East Coast, with the same numbers as you. You can see my cycle here: http://lawschoolnumbers.com/king3780

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

To OP: These are REALLY strong softs. You don't have to compete with these. Don't listen to the arrogance on these forums. Just apply, get accepted/waitlisted/rejected and make a decision from there.

jdhakert wrote:

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

To OP: These are REALLY strong softs. You don't have to compete with these. Don't listen to the arrogance on these forums. Just apply, get accepted/waitlisted/rejected and make a decision from there.

If you have anything other than REALLY strong softs, law schools will only look at your numbers. If you have REALLY strong softs... They still mostly only look at your numbers.

Im just trying to point out that its very common for people with a graduate degree, work experience, and other life expereiences to go to law school after being out of undergrad for a few years. Yes, those were very strong softs, and the majority of people with them wont be going to law school. However, the majority of the softs that people have are rather common- which doesnt make the person stand out as tall from the rest of the applicant crowd.

In the end, its going to come down to undergrad gpa, lsat, personal statement, and everything else-> with a big emphasis on lsat and gpa. It sucks, but thats how it is.

bburn008 wrote:

northwood wrote:dont go to a school thinking you are going to transfer out. It most likely wont happen

hey thanks is this something you can speak of from experience? just wondering. I should probably just retake the lsat and wait a year

That is good advice you've given yourself.

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

So fixing the malt machine at DQ doesn't help me?

if you got an award.. then possibly

I guess strong was the wrong word. I will be doing a state department internship in madrid this spring. I have studied abroad three times. Done an internship abroad and speak 3 languages. I can add more but the state department thing was what I thought was strong. Also, I know this has been answered but as far as alumni boost goes does having a relative as a professor help. Especially if they are all over the website?

jdhakert wrote:

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

To OP: These are REALLY strong softs. You don't have to compete with these. Don't listen to the arrogance on these forums. Just apply, get accepted/waitlisted/rejected and make a decision from there.

Yeah don't listen to people who know what they are talking about and whose opinion you solicited. Stop being a pussy!

Rawlberto wrote:

jdhakert wrote:

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

To OP: These are REALLY strong softs. You don't have to compete with these. Don't listen to the arrogance on these forums. Just apply, get accepted/waitlisted/rejected and make a decision from there.

Yeah don't listen to people who know what they are talking about and whose opinion you solicited. Stop being a pussy!

Or better yet, ask a question and then don't bother keeping up with your own thread or checking to see what kind of responses you get.

king3780 wrote:

Rawlberto wrote:

jdhakert wrote:

northwood wrote:strong softs:
curing a disease, earning a combat medal, getting published by multiple companies, starting a very profitable business, saving lives, being a professional athlete, or olympian or anything along those lines

weak softs: everything else. You are not as special as you think you are

To OP: These are REALLY strong softs. You don't have to compete with these. Don't listen to the arrogance on these forums. Just apply, get accepted/waitlisted/rejected and make a decision from there.

Yeah don't listen to people who know what they are talking about and whose opinion you solicited. Stop being a pussy!

Or better yet, ask a question and then don't bother keeping up with your own thread or checking to see what kind of responses you get.

im sorry i've been busy keeping up with my weak softs THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP