Top Law Schools

I'm new here so I hope I don't get flamed. I have a 2.8 GPA and scored a 165 on the LSAT. I was wondering if there were any top 100 schools I could get into with my GPA being so low. I'm graduating with a Political Economics degree.

Some of my softs include:
Eagle Scout
Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity
Investment club
Countless community service hours

ato308 wrote:I'm new here so I hope I don't get flamed. I have a 2.8 GPA and scored a 165 on the LSAT. I was wondering if there were any top 100 schools I could get into with my GPA being so low. I'm graduating with a Political Economics degree.

Some of my softs include:
Eagle Scout
Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity
Investment club
Countless community service hours

Yes.

ato308 wrote:I'm new here so I hope I don't get flamed. I have a 2.8 GPA and scored a 165 on the LSAT. I was wondering if there were any top 100 schools I could get into with my GPA being so low. I'm graduating with a Political Economics degree.

Some of my softs include:
Eagle Scout
Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity
Investment club
Countless community service hours

Yeah, you'll probably get some T100 schools... Maybe a lower T1 (T50) at sticker. I would research what schools are splitter-friendly if I were you (that will take ppl with low GPA and reasonably strong LSAT) to know which schools to target. There are probably plenty of schools that won't take you simply because of GPA, so I wouldn't bother applying to those. To some extent you can tell the schools that like a higher GPA because thier GPA range is comparatively higher than other peer schools. U. of Cal. schools and U. Washington (Seattle) for instance really emphasize GPA, but schools like Washington University St. Louis will take low GPA if you have strong LSAT. All those schools are prob out of your range with current numbers, but maybe others can give you more specifics on which T2 schools will take low LSATs. Indepedent research (looking at the GPA scales that are part of the rankings on here) may also give some clues.

But really, if I were you I would def. consider retaking the LSAT if you have only taken once (or twice). With an extra 5+ points you could have a whole other world of options open up.

Thanks, I wish I would have tried harder in my earlier years of college. I got on dean's list this semester. Worse part is I got crap grades in relatively easy classes such as intro to art history.

ato308 wrote:Thanks, I wish I would have tried harder in my earlier years of college. I got on dean's list this semester. Worse part is I got crap grades in relatively easy classes such as intro to art history.

OP, my story should give you hope. My GPA was about .5 lower than yours and I have on there an "F" in Leisure Skills 101. That's not a joke. With a 166, I got into multiple schools at the edge of the T50. I ended up retesting and got a little higher, but scores comparable to yours got me into some fair schools. Law school will provide you with a nice, clean slate. If you're anything like me, that will be good motivation for you.

Hey OP, I'm going to UF with a 2.9/166. It's a sticker, but in-state pretty much equates to a nice scholarship. There's hope.

I have a 2.5 and I'm going to WUSTL with $$. I think you may need a retake to make LS worth it though. I would not advise paying sticker at a low T1.

any suggestions on where to apply?

ato308 wrote:any suggestions on where to apply?

SMU. I'm a 1L here, and my LSDAS GPA was a 2.11.

Get 3 points higher and enjoy WUSTL or IUB with $$$.

Thirteen wrote:

ato308 wrote:any suggestions on where to apply?

SMU. I'm a 1L here, and my LSDAS GPA was a 2.11.

Jesus. And I thought I was bad. That's awesome.

How does anyone get a sub-2.5 GPA in undegrad?? Did you actually try to fail all your classes? It's just something that is extremely hard to comprehend as a splitter myself who screwed around in college.

I know a lot of undergrads with shit gpas, but they mostly come from a major notorious for having mandatory classes with forced curves. One guy averaged B+'s on all his exams and walked out with a C-. Fucking brutal.

OP, I'd emphasize region when applying. You won't be getting any national prestige, so keep in mind where you want to work.

dpk711 wrote:How does anyone get a sub-2.5 GPA in undegrad?? Did you actually try to fail all your classes? It's just something that is extremely hard to comprehend as a splitter myself who screwed around in college.

Yeah, I actually tried to fail all my classes. Crazy, huh

Apply to a broad range of schools, see what hits, look at lawschoolnumbers.com to see what places have strict LSAT based auto admits. For example, I saw Alabama took just about everyone at and above 166 this year.

Try...
UGA, UTK, SMU, Tulane, UK, FSU, UF, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Miami, Colorado, etc.

Retake is the only answer.

Verity wrote:Retake is the only answer.

No, its the lazy and simplistic answer.

I would recommend a retake on the LSAT if you could like someone else said +5 points would open up a lot of opportunities. My LSAC GPA was a 2.5 LSAT 173 and I got into a few T1 and waitlisted at a couple as well (GW and W&M).

FeelTheHeat wrote:

Verity wrote:Retake is the only answer.

No, its the lazy and simplistic answer.

It is lazy and simplistic, but it's also a fair point. If the OP bumps his LSAT score above 170, the picture looks a little less grim.

I know of a 2.6/2.7-ish GPA, 176 LSAT who got into a T14. (Non-URM)

With OP's LSAT, there a chance to get into some decent schools, but it's by no means the only answer. Retaking the LSAT could pay off HUGE.

FeelTheHeat wrote:

Verity wrote:Retake is the only answer.

No, its the lazy and simplistic answer.

Says the 166.




OP, my response was in earnest. You have no idea what offers you could get for just a few more points. 169-171 territory gets you a lot of money, and it's definitely possible and worth the effort. 172+ will make for some startling acceptances, assuming ED, generally early applications, and any extra WE you can get from now until then.

dpk711 wrote:How does anyone get a sub-2.5 GPA in undegrad?? Did you actually try to fail all your classes? It's just something that is extremely hard to comprehend as a splitter myself who screwed around in college.

It's called math, science, and engineering.

Verity wrote:

FeelTheHeat wrote:

Verity wrote:Retake is the only answer.

No, its the lazy and simplistic answer.

Says the 166.




OP, my response was in earnest. You have no idea what offers you could get for just a few more points. 169-171 territory gets you a lot of money, and it's definitely possible and worth the effort. 172+ will make for some startling acceptances, assuming ED, generally early applications, and any extra WE you can get from now until then.

OP, this is all credited advice. Every point on the LSAT will make a school more willing to admit you, and work experience puts distance between you and your GPA.