What are my chances? Forum

[tspence13]

I am trying to decide which law schools I should apply to based on the chance that I will be admitted and the chance that I will get money. I know that the calculators can give me an estimate, but I would prefer more experienced advice.

Here are my stats:

I go to the University of Colorado (main campus in Boulder). I have a 3.74 GPA and received a 170 on my LSATs. I am majoring in International Affairs and Spanish/Portuguese with a minor in Economics and a certificate in International Media Studies. I studied abroad in Brazil and possibly will study abroad this year in South Korea. I am really active in several Leftist/Marxist groups on campus as well as in the LGBT community. However, I won't have any work experience going in besides my job on campus.

These are the schools I plan on applying to (However, I would like to cut the number down to about 7):
Columbia
NYU
Michigan
Berkeley
Penn
Northwestern
Cornell
Georgetown
UCLA
Boston College
Boston Uni

1. What are my chances to get in at these schools? 2. What are the chances I will get money/how much? 3. Is there anywhere else I should be planning on applying to?

[flexityflex86]

Columbia WL -> OUT
NYU WL -> OUT
Michigan WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Berkeley WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Penn WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Northwestern WL/IN
Cornell $
Georgetown $
UCLA $
Boston College $$$
Boston Uni $$$

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

[bdubs]

Columbia WL -> OUT
NYU WL -> OUT
Michigan WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Berkeley WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Penn WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Northwestern WL/IN
Cornell $
Georgetown $
UCLA $
Boston College $$$
Boston Uni $$$

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

No way you are getting into Northwestern with both numbers at median and no work experience. I would say that you have a shot at Michigan, Cornell, and GULC. You might have a shot at Berkeley if you write a great PS and apply early. I think everything below GULC are pretty solid target/safeties. Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

ETA: Berkeley doesn't even have an ED program. I wouldn't put much stock in above poster's predictions.

[Tanicius]

Columbia WL -> OUT
NYU WL -> OUT
Michigan WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Berkeley WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Penn WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Northwestern WL/IN
Cornell $
Georgetown $
UCLA $
Boston College $$$
Boston Uni $$$

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

This is overly pessimistic, and besides, you can't ED Berkeley.




OP, you'll probably be good to go at Michigan on down providing you write the optional essays. Penn usually prefers another LSAT point or two, but you've got a shot. Chicago, Columbia, and NYU are most likely going to be waitlists, but you could nab one of them, and you could get in off the waitlist potentially as well. Just don't cross your fingers for them. Aim straight for Michigan, Penn, Duke, Virginia, Cornell and Georgetown, with these Boston schools serving as decent safeties. Complete the optional essays for Penn and Michigan. If you want Boalt, then write a good personal statement and it could happen. The consensus on Northwestern is that they don't admit people with average numbers and no work experience, and it's generally been found to be the case statistically. I believe in an interview they said only about 3-5% of their matriculating class has no work experience at any rate.


To be honest the only school here that I would cut from your list would be Northwestern. In fact I think you should add Duke and UVA as well. You just never know what could happen. It's worth the extra few hundred bucks for a more comprehensive app cycle.

[tspence13]

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

I am middle class and my school is underfunded. I don't have the financial means to apply to more than seven. So, I have to pick seven (maybe to apply to.

Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

[bdubs]

Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

I meant law school entering class medians for the 2010-2011 admissions cycle. Even though you are top 10% at CU, law schools only care about your LSDAS GPA relative to other applicants (regardless of their undergrad school or their class rank).

Look out for a thread like this in the fall:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=128236

[czelede]

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

I am middle class and my school is underfunded. I don't have the financial means to apply to more than seven. So, I have to pick seven (maybe to apply to.

Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

I kind of doubt this.

But yeah, only the medians of your target law schools will matter. I would be surprised if you didn't get at least one bite in the T10.

Also, you may be able to get fee waivers from many of these schools so that should be a consideration regarding your funds to apply.

[coldshoulder]

Why the hell has flexityflex not been banned yet?
Solid shot at lower t14, MVP with ED.

[dabbadon8]

Why the hell has flexityflex not been banned yet?
Solid shot at lower t14, MVP with ED.

I think you got M without ED. Just apply early and write a good why mich? essay. I'd say V is a WL without instate or ED. Penn is prob a WL without ED but I could see it happening RD. Don't worry about upper/lower T14. Northwestern is out without work experience. Pay attention to medians and check LSN for people with similar numbers.

[bjsesq]

Columbia WL -> OUT
NYU WL -> OUT
Michigan WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Berkeley WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Penn WL -> OUT UNLESS ED
Northwestern WL/IN
Cornell $
Georgetown $
UCLA $
Boston College $$$
Boston Uni $$$

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

LOLWUT?

[tspence13]

Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

I kind of doubt this.

Unfortunately, czelede, this is about right. My advisor said today that for my major it is a 3.1. One of the benefits of going to a large public school I spos....

Also, nobody has really said anything about my chances at UCLA. Of all the schools that I am applying to, it is the most appealing. What are my chances a getting in? Will they give me any skrilla?

[bdubs]

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

I kind of doubt this.

Unfortunately, czelede, this is about right. My advisor said today that for my major it is a 3.1. One of the benefits of going to a large public school I spos....

Also, nobody has really said anything about my chances at UCLA. Of all the schools that I am applying to, it is the most appealing. What are my chances a getting in? Will they give me any skrilla?

The median GPA within your major is even less relevant than the overall school median GPA.

UCLA is pretty likely since you are close to GPA median and above the LSAT median, although chances would be a bit better if you were a CA resident. Scholarship money could be between zero and 75k according to LSN, chances for a larger scholarship would be better if you were above GPA median.

[Tanicius]

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

I kind of doubt this.

Unfortunately, czelede, this is about right. My advisor said today that for my major it is a 3.1. One of the benefits of going to a large public school I spos....

Also, nobody has really said anything about my chances at UCLA. Of all the schools that I am applying to, it is the most appealing. What are my chances a getting in? Will they give me any skrilla?

The median GPA within your major is even less relevant than the overall school median GPA.

UCLA is pretty likely since you are close to GPA median and above the LSAT median, although chances would be a bit better if you were a CA resident. Scholarship money could be between zero and 75k according to LSN, chances for a larger scholarship would be better if you were above GPA median.

You'll be good at UCLA as long as you tailor an app for them and make it clear you want them.

[flexityflex86]

Apply to more than 7. Blanket 4-25, if for nothing else than scholarship negotiation.

I am middle class and my school is underfunded. I don't have the financial means to apply to more than seven. So, I have to pick seven (maybe to apply to.

Keep an eye out for reports of GPA medians for CO 2014 since your GPA is right around median for a lot of schools.

CU's median is far below 3.7. I dk for sure, but last time I checked it was like a 2.9~3.0. I am in the top 10% of my class, graduating Magna Cum Laude (Summa Cum Laude if I can pull some surprises).

If your #'s are a 3.7 and you have a 170, you'll get a lot of fee waivers. If you have to pay to apply to more than 7, I'll be very surprised.