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I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

I'd apply to Northwestern, UVa, Michigan, and Georgetown for sure.

SMU will probably give you some good scholarship money if you want to work in Texas.

Other schools will probably depend on where you want to work post graduation. Where do you want to work?

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

1) Thank you for your service.

2) I think you'll get into a good school, but it's going to be hard to predict. I was a nontraditional undergrad with a high LSAT, a bad GPA (much better than yours, however), and an interesting public service career (nowhere near as badass as yours, however), and I got into a lot of really great schools. You've got one of the best stories I can imagine for proving that your aggregate GPA is not reflective of your ability, and a high LSAT to back it up.

Northwestern and UVA are your two best schools with the best possibility.

I appreciate the info. I thought I might have a shot at NU, but never considered my chances at those other schools.
As for my preferred work location, I am open to anything but would prefer Texas. Optimally I would like to get my education from a school that would open doors for me everywhere. Scholarship money is not a huge issue because of my GI BIll.

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

RLTW, brother. Which batt? I'll echo what DF said about which schools to apply to. I would encourage you to come to NU. It would be nice to have another batt boy.

Wish I could tell you that my GPA the first few years was the result of a catastrophic disaster but honestly I was lazy, immature, and did not understand the true value of an education. Wish I had a Delorean with a flux capacitor....

wesmsmith wrote:Wish I could tell you that my GPA the first few years was the result of a catastrophic disaster but honestly I was lazy, immature, and did not understand the true value of an education. Wish I had a Delorean with a flux capacitor....

I had a 2.8 and I go to Northwestern, and I didn't even have any good softs.

If you want to seal the deal, ED to Northwestern. I'd bet you'd get in.

2nd Batt. Charlie 3-1 Squad Leader for 2 1/2 years

hero. digg-it.

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

wesmsmith wrote:2nd Batt. Charlie 3-1 Squad Leader for 2 1/2 years

FO, C 3/75. Get your ass to NU.

Veyron wrote:ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

If only it impacted acceptances that way.

I speak from personal experience when I say do not have unrealistic expectations about how much your military experience will help you. I am sure it does help but not as much as I has hoped when I applied to a few reaches and was quickly slapped back down to reality. Of course best of luck to you.

eaglemuncher wrote:I speak from personal experience when I say do not have unrealistic expectations about how much your military experience will help you. I am sure it does help but not as much as I has hoped when I applied to a few reaches and was quickly slapped back down to reality. Of course best of luck to you.

This is correct. Still, given his numbers I think UVA and NU are both realistic considerations.

I can assure you that my expectation level is tempered. I would be grateful to attend a t14 school but understand my lack of motivation as a young college student may impead that. If there is one thing I have learned from my military service, it's to be accountable.

I don't have much to add but I wanted to wish you the best of luck.

With your story, your experience, and an excellent LSAT score in hand, I'm sure that a T14 school or two will be inspired to give you a chance.

Im sorry if I sounded like a downer...However I was waitlisted at illinois, a school I was an LSP "strong consider" and ED rejected from UVA (huge reach for me). I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years. I think you should def apply to a number of schools in T14 and see who bites, IMO you seem like you would be a great asset to any school. Good Luck!

wesmsmith wrote:I can assure you that my expectation level is tempered. I would be grateful to attend a t14 school but understand my lack of motivation as a young college student may impead that. If there is one thing I have learned from my military service, it's to be accountable.

My advice: Visit UVA and NW, decide which one you like better, and ED. You will, almost undoubtedly, get into either school ED. Also, if you would like to go back to Texas, UVA will do you better than NW.

wesmsmith wrote:I can assure you that my expectation level is tempered. I would be grateful to attend a t14 school but understand my lack of motivation as a young college student may impead that. If there is one thing I have learned from my military service, it's to be accountable.

Dude, go back and read my post, I take extreme delight in shitting on people's future dreams. In your case, however, you are going to help the median for LSAT at both UVA and NU and hurt their GPA median. 172 is a very strong score, hopefully the Rangers taught you not just to be accountable but to adapt to local conditions. As difficult as it is to believe, your LSAT score negates your GPA. Northwestern highly values WE, yours is excellent. UVA is trying to move its LSAT medians up, yours will help.

Texas is a better choice for Texas than DCNG.

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

I dont see how learning how to kill people and then, perhaps, killing people is a legit soft? but i imagine you will be unique. ED uva

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I can assure you that my expectation level is tempered. I would be grateful to attend a t14 school but understand my lack of motivation as a young college student may impead that. If there is one thing I have learned from my military service, it's to be accountable.

Dude, go back and read my post, I take extreme delight in shitting on people's future dreams. In your case, however, you are going to help the median for LSAT at both UVA and NU and hurt their GPA median. 172 is a very strong score, hopefully the Rangers taught you not just to be accountable but to adapt to local conditions. As difficult as it is to believe, your LSAT score negates your GPA. Northwestern highly values WE, yours is excellent. UVA is trying to move its LSAT medians up, yours will help.

Texas is a better choice for Texas than DCNG.

Texas is, also, less friendly to splitters.

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I can assure you that my expectation level is tempered. I would be grateful to attend a t14 school but understand my lack of motivation as a young college student may impead that. If there is one thing I have learned from my military service, it's to be accountable.

Dude, go back and read my post, I take extreme delight in shitting on people's future dreams. In your case, however, you are going to help the median for LSAT at both UVA and NU and hurt their GPA median. 172 is a very strong score, hopefully the Rangers taught you not just to be accountable but to adapt to local conditions. As difficult as it is to believe, your LSAT score negates your GPA. Northwestern highly values WE, yours is excellent. UVA is trying to move its LSAT medians up, yours will help.

Texas is a better choice for Texas than DCNG.

And yet they almost instantly rejected me with my 175... They must have something personal against me.

sophia.olive wrote:

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

I dont see how learning how to kill people and then, perhaps, killing people is a legit soft? but i imagine you will be unique. ED uva

Don't be a pansy. This guy is a badass.

AreJay711 wrote:

sophia.olive wrote:

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

I dont see how learning how to kill people and then, perhaps, killing people is a legit soft? but i imagine you will be unique. ED uva

Don't be a pansy. This guy is a badass.

Don't feed the troll.

sophia.olive wrote:

Veyron wrote:

wesmsmith wrote:I was hoping to get some ideas about Law schools that might accept me.

7 years as an Army Ranger/deployed 7 times
2.8 GPA (left my Junior year of school for the Army in 2002. Finished my senior year in 2010 with a senior year GPA of 3.9) Basically my GPA was really bad, went to the Army, matured and came back to school.
LSAT 172

Non URM

Undergrad at SMU in Dallas

I would like to get into the best law school possible but understand that my low GPA may limit me.
Thanks for the help

ENJOY Northwestern or UVA (your choice, although if you want UVA, you may need to ED).

Army Ranger is one of the few legit softs around.

I dont see how learning how to kill people and then, perhaps, killing people is a legit soft? but i imagine you will be unique. ED uva

You seriously don't see how being in the special forces for 7 years might be a better soft than the guy just out of UG or who worked for some random PI organization? The nice thing about admissions committees is that they don't share your political bias (otherwise I would have been rejected everywhere).

In addition, how fucking Alpha is it to go into a job interview and discuss your years as a ranger with the interviewers? They will fucking eat that shit up.