GPA: 3.49 LSAT: 171 white/male Forum

[Eow]

GPA: 3.49 (upward trending)
LSAT: 171
Major: Business Admin
School Type: Liberal arts school in the south
Involvement: Interfraternity Council President, PAD
Graduation: May 2012
White male, middle class, from Alabama

Schools:
UVA
Michigan
Duke
Georgetown
Northwestern
USC
UCLA
Vanderbilt
Notre Dame
Alabama
(Feel free to make a suggestion)

What are my chances at getting in/money, and where do I have the best shot with ED? (My top two are Gtown and UVA)

Thanks for responses... I'm curious how much being a business admin major is going to further hurt an unimpressive gpa...

[bk1]

http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Your major will neither hurt nor help you.

[JamMasterJ]

GPA: 3.49 (upward trending)
LSAT: 171
Major: Business Admin
School Type: Liberal arts school in the south
Involvement: Interfraternity Council President, PAD
Graduation: May 2012
White male, middle class, from Alabama

Schools: ED RD
UVA Pretty solid, Weak
Michigan Strong, OK
Duke OK, Weak
Georgetown Strong, OK
Northwestern In (with WE), Strong/OK (with WE) Otherwise out/WL
USC Don't know, meh
UCLA Don't know, meh
Vanderbilt Don't know, Strong
Notre Dame Don't do this, $$
Alabama Don't do this, $$$$
Try WUSTL and Illinois because of big scholarships as well
(Feel free to make a suggestion)

What are my chances at getting in/money, and where do I have the best shot with ED? (My top two are Gtown and UVA)

Thanks for responses... I'm curious how much being a business admin major is going to further hurt an unimpressive gpa...

[admisionquestion]

I know this is an annoying response. But are you absolutely positive that you want to go to ls. If your already business you are likely making a bad financial decision. It might be a good personal decision but just keep that in mind. Read the bad economy mega post if you havent yet.

[Real Madrid]

Do you have WE? If so, Northwestern may be a real possibility.

UCLA and USC may be out simply because they like high GPAs. The same may be true for Duke.

I think you have a decent shot at GULC and Michigan if you apply early.

UVA should probably work if you ED, but you'll be paying sticker.

Don't know about the rest. If you're really interested in the top 14, you may want to look at Cornell, too, and just blanket 7-14.

You should be in at Bama and ND with money unless your application is a hot mess.

[ndirish2010]

I think we have been WLing some 171s this year, but that is besides the point. If you want UVA, EDing should get you in.

[menstrualcrumps]

I definitely agree with JamMaster

[protein]

If you're sure you want UVA, throw an ED their way on the first day apps open (not much chance at $ though)

You'll find out quickly, and if they WL or say no, toss out an application to GULC ASAP (might get some $)

[thelawschoolproject]

I think you've been presented some fairly good advice so far, but I'll offer my own anyway . . .

UVA ---> Your best shot is definitely with an ED. This isn't to suggest that it's hopeless without it, but let's be honest, your GPA really drags you down. You are probably looking at a WL at this school.

Michigan--> Again, this is going to be a difficult sell.

Duke --> Probably not going to happen.

Georgetown --> I think that you have at least a 50/50 chance here, which is more than I can really say for some of the others. The reason for this is that your LSAT is so high. I've found Georgetown to weigh more heavily on it than the GPA, which will definitely work in your favor.

Northwestern --> I also would bet that you have a fairly decent chance here as well. Again, I believe that Northwestern weighs more heavily on LSAT scores, in my opinion.

USC and UCLA --> These two will be about the same. You probably have a decent chance of getting into both of these schools.

Vanderbilt --> I actually think that Vandy will let you in. In fact, if I had to pick a gut selection to any of the schools on your list, this would be one.

Notre Dame --> You definitely are within the range, but with your split I'm not too certain how you will do.

Alabama --> For sure accepted, with a sizable scholarship.

As for suggestions . . . I suppose that you should think more about prestige vs. scholarship money. You definitely can get into some prestigious schools, but if you do you won't have a good chance of getting high scholarship offers. However, if you were to go to say a top 30-50 school, I think you could be looking at some serious change, maybe even a few full rides, depending on the school and your other softs.

Best of luck!

[Eow]

By WE I guess you mean REAL work... I've worked since I was 15... but as a lifeguard. I did have a solid internship in LA, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter.

What I am gathering is that I should ED ASAP to UVA, and have all of my applications across the board submitted no later than October? As far as the prestige v. price debate goes which of these schools are worth sticker? Which are worth giving up a better school for some money? Which are good enough to give up MUCH better schools for a LOT of money?

[Corwin]

By WE I guess you mean REAL work... I've worked since I was 15... but as a lifeguard. I did have a solid internship in LA, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter.

Work experience at places like Northwestern for the purposes of admission means a full time job.

What I am gathering is that I should ED ASAP to UVA, and have all of my applications across the board submitted no later than October? As far as the prestige v. price debate goes which of these schools are worth sticker? Which are worth giving up a better school for some money? Which are good enough to give up MUCH better schools for a LOT of money?

If you ED to UVA you should do it when applications open in September. You have a solid chance at acceptance. Making a choice between a lower T14 at sticker and a T25 with a lot less debt is a very personal choice. For example, Northwestern at sticker (200K+ in debt) versus UIUC with 30K a year (75K+ in debt). Making such a choice totally depends on your professional goals and geographic preferences.

One thing that may help you make a decision is whether you are willing to work in biglaw. The $160K salary is basically necessary to pay off sticker in a reasonable period of time. You'll need to be in the top half of your class at UVA and you have to be willing to bill between 2000-3000 hours a year. If that's not your particular cup of tea, you can land a solid scholarship at a few places in the lower T25.

[ndirish2010]

Aren't USC/UCLA known for their high GPA preference?

[JamMasterJ]

By WE I guess you mean REAL work... I've worked since I was 15... but as a lifeguard. I did have a solid internship in LA, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter.

What I am gathering is that I should ED ASAP to UVA, and have all of my applications across the board submitted no later than October? As far as the prestige v. price debate goes which of these schools are worth sticker? Which are worth giving up a better school for some money? Which are good enough to give up MUCH better schools for a LOT of money?

Yeah, you need full-time, post-graduate WE for it to "count"

[glewz]

shoo-in to UVa if you ED right when apps come out.

[beachbum]

FWIW, I applied with a 3.40/170 and was accepted to Vandy and W&M, and then later to Duke (with ED) when I updated my transcripts to bring my GPA to 3.49. I was also waitlisted at ND and UVA (and Illinois and Minnesota, if that's your thing).

I'd say the only school on your list that's a lock is Bama, though you stand a very good shot at ND with a targeted essay and at Vandy with an interview. UVA, Mich, and Duke are all WLs if you apply RD, though you stand a good shot at all of them with ED. GULC might let you in RD, and definitely will ED. Northwestern ain't happening. USC and UCLA are probably a little better than 50/50.

You might also send an app to WUSTL if you want a big scholarship to a good school. Or just ED to UVA on 9/1 if you want a quick and easy cycle.

[skers]

This seems like really pessimistic advice, even by TLS standards. You'll get one of MPDCG. Pretty much 99% sure in at UVA if ED in September.

[BrianGriffintheDog]

Alabama with full-ride (probably).

[Eow]

Do you have WE? If so, Northwestern may be a real possibility.

UCLA and USC may be out simply because they like high GPAs. The same may be true for Duke.

I think you have a decent shot at GULC and Michigan if you apply early.

UVA should probably work if you ED, but you'll be paying sticker.

Don't know about the rest. If you're really interested in the top 14, you may want to look at Cornell, too, and just blanket 7-14.

You should be in at Bama and ND with money unless your application is a hot mess.

Are there any ideal jobs to count as work experience? How many years do you need for it to matter?

[rinkrat19]

Do you have WE? If so, Northwestern may be a real possibility.

UCLA and USC may be out simply because they like high GPAs. The same may be true for Duke.

I think you have a decent shot at GULC and Michigan if you apply early.

UVA should probably work if you ED, but you'll be paying sticker.

Don't know about the rest. If you're really interested in the top 14, you may want to look at Cornell, too, and just blanket 7-14.

You should be in at Bama and ND with money unless your application is a hot mess.

Are there any ideal jobs to count as work experience? How many years do you need for it to matter?

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