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3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:28 am
by parsi
hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:34 am
by Na_Swatch
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Rough Chances:
Harvard - 30-35%
Columbia - 45-50%
NYU - 65-70%
Berkeley - If you tailor/ show strong interest 70%
Stanford - Who Knows?

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:34 am
by invisiblesun
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
If you want HS then retake. C should be okay, NYU and B are pretty safe.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:40 am
by parsi
invisiblesun wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
If you want HS then retake. C should be okay, NYU and B are pretty safe.
Thanks guys...I also had a question about my letters...certain schools like cornell seem to ask for faculty letters only. If i have one TA letter and then a manager letter from work will this severely hinder me

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:47 am
by Na_Swatch
parsi wrote:
invisiblesun wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
If you want HS then retake. C should be okay, NYU and B are pretty safe.
Thanks guys...I also had a question about my letters...certain schools like cornell seem to ask for faculty letters only. If i have one TA letter and then a manager letter from work will this severely hinder me
You should probably get at least one Faculty letter for most of these schools

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:04 am
by ksimon2007
parsi wrote:
invisiblesun wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
If you want HS then retake. C should be okay, NYU and B are pretty safe.
Thanks guys...I also had a question about my letters...certain schools like cornell seem to ask for faculty letters only. If i have one TA letter and then a manager letter from work will this severely hinder me
As someone noted to me, "usually if you want someone, in this case a law school, to do something for you then you usually do what they ask of you"

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:45 am
by kkklick
NYU is almost a lock, try for Chicago?

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:49 am
by Fresh
parsi wrote:
invisiblesun wrote:
Thanks guys...I also had a question about my letters...certain schools like cornell seem to ask for faculty letters only. If i have one TA letter and then a manager letter from work will this severely hinder me
From what I understand two academic letters should be the default. Personally I didn't get any from faculty, only from TAs/grad student instructors. That manager letter should probably be your third LoR though, with two academic ones coming first

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:49 am
by starrydreamz3
Poli Sci/Econ 170/3.96 here and I just got into NYU. Depending on when you applied, you should be good.

No JR1 from Harvard for me, so I'm assuming thats a waitlist or a reject. I'll let you know about Chicago and Columbia in January.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:50 am
by kkklick
The 2/3 letter thing always confused me. I heard from some that you should only include 3 if they are all very strong, while others say include 3 just to pad your app. I sent 2 but they were very strong, couple with a very strong PS should be enough.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:30 pm
by Na_Swatch
kkklick wrote:The 2/3 letter thing always confused me. I heard from some that you should only include 3 if they are all very strong, while others say include 3 just to pad your app. I sent 2 but they were very strong, couple with a very strong PS should be enough.
2 seems to be fine, I only used 2 decent ones in my cycle for every school I applied to

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:37 pm
by UnitarySpace
Berkeley is almost never safe. They actually put effort into reading apps.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:44 pm
by dissonance1848
Harvard - out, period. sorry, but 3.9/171 is not 3.9/173
Stanford - out, you have the right numbers, but they care about softs a ton too, so you are gone
Berkeley - shot, because your numbers offset your lack of softs somewhat
NYU - in, just below LSAT median, at 75% GPA, they have been giving ED and RD acceptances to beef up their GPA ranges so far.
CLS- good chance, not lock like NYU
Chicago - in

apply to Michigan, UVA and Duke too for $$ if you want/need it.

Applying this late in the cycle is negatively impacting your chances.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:44 am
by AztecaRex
dissonance1848 wrote:Harvard - out, period. sorry, but 3.9/171 is not 3.9/173
Stanford - out, you have the right numbers, but they care about softs a ton too, so you are gone
Berkeley - shot, because your numbers offset your lack of softs somewhat
NYU - in, just below LSAT median, at 75% GPA, they have been giving ED and RD acceptances to beef up their GPA ranges so far.
CLS- good chance, not lock like NYU
Chicago - in

apply to Michigan, UVA and Duke too for $$ if you want/need it.

Applying this late in the cycle is negatively impacting your chances.
I wouldn't say "out, period" at Harvard. I know someone who just had a JR1 with a 169 and a slightly higher GPA. She apparently has good softs as well, but still probably worth the application fee. You are right though that it is a bit late in the cycle.

For everywhere else, I'd say out at Stanford since OP lacks good softs, good shot at Berkeley if OP can write a good PS, in at Chicago/NYU, and fairly good shot at Columbia, but maybe slightly less a chance than at Berkeley. YMMV

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:04 am
by cavebat2000
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:42 am
by invisiblesun
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Ouch, that is rough with your numbers. Did you apply late? How good was your UG?

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:19 am
by kkklick
Yea that doesn't make much sense.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:25 am
by Mustard Blood
invisiblesun wrote:
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Ouch, that is rough with your numbers. Did you apply late? How good was your UG?
It's too early in the morning for this much sadness.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:26 am
by weejonbu
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Seriously, that's a pretty awful cycle. I would say you must have either applied late, put together horrible apps, or have a serious criminal record.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:58 am
by FuManChusco
weejonbu wrote:
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Seriously, that's a pretty awful cycle. I would say you must have either applied late, put together horrible apps, or have a serious criminal record.
I don't think its that crazy. Rejects from SB are reasonable. IU-B is obviously a YP. UVA and Mich surprise me, but UVA RD OOS is a tough nut to crack. Definitely should have applied to more T14s.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:47 pm
by cavebat2000
weejonbu wrote:
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Seriously, that's a pretty awful cycle. I would say you must have either applied late, put together horrible apps, or have a serious criminal record.
Yeah it was, but then again applications were up 25% last year and I dunno if that is going to be true this year.

I am not a crook! haha
Also, I applied to all schools by thanksgiving.
My apps came with an excellent resume and great recs.
My guess is they didn't like my personal statement or supplementals or my undergrad (Tier 3). My first LSAT score was a 160 2.5 years ago and so I wrote an addendum explaining that, including the notion that I seem to underperform on standardized tests in general (e.g. 24 on ACT = ouch).

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:54 am
by parsi
I should be finishing up all my apps the apps right before New years...

How will I be affected by applying so late?

I should probably be a bit more specific: I have worked at t-mobile selling phones since the end of my freshman year till present time. about 30/hrs a week and got a letter from my manager stressing how i clown at work and school at the same time

I also was in a fraternity for 4 years and held some positions

I think NYU or Berkeley is where I really want to go but I also applied to UCLA, USC, HYS, Col/corn, duke, michigan, chicago, penn, and Georgetown


Also: I did poorly my fall quarter of my senior year, but my transcript is already at LSAC...will i be negatively affected by this? I got a couple of C+s

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:09 pm
by admisionquestion
out all all if u really did get a couple of c+'s

No doubt out at all...

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:17 pm
by Ragged
parsi wrote:I should be finishing up all my apps the apps right before New years...

How will I be affected by applying so late?

I should probably be a bit more specific: I have worked at t-mobile selling phones since the end of my freshman year till present time. about 30/hrs a week and got a letter from my manager stressing how i clown at work and school at the same time

I also was in a fraternity for 4 years and held some positions

I think NYU or Berkeley is where I really want to go but I also applied to UCLA, USC, HYS, Col/corn, duke, michigan, chicago, penn, and Georgetown


Also: I did poorly my fall quarter of my senior year, but my transcript is already at LSAC...will i be negatively affected by this? I got a couple of C+s

Dude.... :|

Seriously? Why would you go and fuck yourself over like that??? You just barred yourself out of T6 and Berkley and probably the rest of the T14 due to late apps.

Re: 3.9 GPA and 171 LSAT

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:21 pm
by Ragged
cavebat2000 wrote:
parsi wrote:hey guys! first time here

I gotta 3.9 GPA (business econ and poli sci double major) and a 171 LSAT, besides that not too much else special besides working all thru college career sellin phones

Was hoping to get into Harvard, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, and Stanford
Same stats as you. I worked through college and had some good college leadership stuff like SG president. Also had a masters of public administration when I applied.
Here was my cycle:

Stanford: Reject
Berkeley: Reject
Michigan: Waitlist
UVA: Waitlist
Duke: Accept + $$
Illinois: Accept with full ride
Indiana Bloomington: Waitlist (Screw them)
Ohio State: Accept + $$

Kinda rough. Not sure why. I thought I had some stuff going for me. better luck to you.
Did you write the Why X essays for UVA and Mich? I got WLed from those with slightly lower numbers than you and I got the feeling thats because I didn't write those.