Top Law Schools

Political Science B.A.
uGPA: 3.29 LSAT: 170
Mid-ranked UC school

Pretty decent softs
African American and Native American
Collegiate D-1 Scholarship Athlete
California Resident

I was wondering what my chances are at getting in to California law schools as well as the top 30? I want to get into the best law school possible, so I'm willing to go out of state (just hoping money will be available if that's the case).

My low gpa can be explained - first two years I was battling flare ups from a painful auto-immune disease putting me in the hospital a few times and forcing me to eventually quit my sport. After I got everything under control, I averaged 3.5+ my junior year and 3.8+ my senior year. Is there a way I can explain this to adcomms?

Also, I'm considering a masters program in Business or International Affairs. If I don't get accepted into a J.D. program, should I enroll in a master's program? Or, should I wait for the next cycle and do a dual degree program? Please let me know

Lawschoolpredictor.com gives you a solid "Admit" at both USC and UCLA. You should do fine.

Apply EVERYWHERE in the T-14. AA/NA mix with your stats has a good chance at the Harvard.

If you have a strong personal statement and other good EC's I think you have a good shot at Berkeley.

Sh@keNb@ke wrote:Apply EVERYWHERE in the T-14. AA/NA mix with your stats has a good chance at the Harvard.

+1
Stanford may be there if you want it. However that being said it maybe best to get in early next year

UCIgrad7 wrote:Political Science B.A.
uGPA: 3.29 LSAT: 170
Mid-ranked UC school

Pretty decent softs
African American and Native American
Collegiate D-1 Scholarship Athlete
California Resident

I was wondering what my chances are at getting in to California law schools as well as the top 30? I want to get into the best law school possible, so I'm willing to go out of state (just hoping money will be available if that's the case).

My low gpa can be explained - first two years I was battling flare ups from a painful auto-immune disease putting me in the hospital a few times and forcing me to eventually quit my sport. After I got everything under control, I averaged 3.5+ my junior year and 3.8+ my senior year. Is there a way I can explain this to adcomms?

Also, I'm considering a masters program in Business or International Affairs. If I don't get accepted into a J.D. program, should I enroll in a master's program? Or, should I wait for the next cycle and do a dual degree program? Please let me know

I'm really bad at making predictions about people's chances at schools, but I do have to say this:

You can always write addenda to explain away something that might look bad. I think that you could benefit from a well-written addendum explaining your health problems and their affect on your GPA.

I would personally go for a JD/MA, but it's entirely up to you. Regardless, I think you should wait for the next cycle.

Also, please tell me you're male. The only thing that could make the AA/NA combination better would be if you were male.

Does being a male URM help over being a female URM? Or is it with NA or AA it's better to be a male? i r confused.

Revolver066 wrote:Does being a male URM help over being a female URM? Or is it with NA or AA it's better to be a male? i r confused.

I don't know how this holds up for other URMs (though I would imagine that it's similar), but there are so few black males in higher education (comparatively speaking) that having half way decent numbers makes law schools get all starry-eyed.

For example, I got full tuition for undergrad and had a 4.0 and a 2150 on the SAT. My brother is getting offers of tuition + COL + books + stipend with a 3.7 and a 2050 SAT. Just the way it works.

enjoy harvard!

Hey, I was just reading this and I really think you should write an addendum. It is always best to explain something on your application that you feel needs to be explained. The adcomms do not know you or the circumstances behind your GPA. Just keep it to one paragraph with the facts and don't sound too whiny. It would be nice to end with something positive that you learned from the experience. (I had an addendum in my applications and have had a very successful cycle so far...) If it helps, I also got into Boalt with my two page non-tailored personal statement (no targeted recs either). You can pm me for more specifics.

Also, wait next cycle....

Thank you all for your responses To those curious, I'm a female URM and will be applying early next cycle - I'll be working an internship during my year off as well as working on Native American reservations across the nation. I have a problem however, I miscalculated my GPA - I have a 3.19 Being a female and with this lower GPA, do I still have a shot at T30? Also, in regards to big law, what schools should I be considering? Thanks again!

You need to seriously realize how good of a position you are. There are SO few African-Americans (not to mention Native Americans) who crack 170 on the LSAT. You shouldn't be looking anywhere outside the t-14- Boalt may not be possible because they are so into GPAs, but really, that LSAT score is money.

Apply next year, not this cycle; repeat, apply early next Sept. You are a lock at UCLA, and Berkeley, obsessed as they are with GPAs, will probably take you. Blanket the T-14, and you should get some nice $$. Enjoy.

Thanks everyone for your responses, I really appreciate it. In addition to the Top 14, any suggestions on what other schools I should apply to if I'm considering big law