Top Law Schools

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You should definitely apply to UIUC and WUSTL. IU-B might be the best school you can get into (sometimes the splitter magic number for sub 3.0 at UIUC/WUSTL is 168, but I think people with your numbers have got in before).

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jsvaughn wrote:I have no idea where I should apply to so any advice would be great.

I've taken the LSAT once and scored 167.

My GPA is only 2.79. I started out as an engineering major and did really poorly my first 2 years. Then I switched to Criminology and my major GPA is 3.25.

I've done two internships at 2 different District Attorney's offices.

I've also been a volunteer coach at a local high school for 3 years. This gives me about 20 volunteer hours per week. Not to mention that I've been very successful, 3 cross country state championships (should be 4 after this season), finished 10th at the national championship this past season and should qualify for nationals again, 1 runner-up team finish in track, 1 individual track state champ, and 3 track state runner-ups.

Right now my plan is to apply mostly to schools in the 50-100 range along with a couple top 50 schools that are friendly to splitters. Does that sound about right or am I aiming to high?

you are not aiming too high.

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jsvaughn wrote:

flexityflex86 wrote:you are not aiming too high.

Should I blanket the schools 15-30 then? And apply to a few schools around 50 to be safe?

Don't blanket 15-30, most of those schools won't accept a sub 3.0 GPA. Only splitter friendly schools are worth applying to. You might also try W&L and GW. The problem is that with your split most T2s or low T1s won't give you scholarship, so it wouldn't be worth attending. If you dont get one of the T30s, I would try to work for a year or two, retake and try to get 171 and aim for Northwestern.

I have a higher GPA (3.3) with your same LSAT score and got WL at UIUC, GW, and WUSTL. WUSTL looks like they're trying to bring their median to 168 now and GW weighs GPAs slightly higher than its peers.

Your best bed might be applying in the 30-50 range, as I think the top 30 might be tough. Emory might throw you a bone though, since they like your LSAT score. I got in with 42K, for reference's sake.

law4vus wrote:I have a higher GPA (3.3) with your same LSAT score and got WL at UIUC, GW, and WUSTL. WUSTL looks like they're trying to bring their median to 168 now and GW weighs GPAs slightly higher than its peers.

Your best bed might be applying in the 30-50 range, as I think the top 30 might be tough. Emory might throw you a bone though, since they like your LSAT score. I got in with 42K, for reference's sake.

W&L loves 166+, I would be almost surprised if you didn't get in there.

ndirish2010 wrote:

law4vus wrote:I have a higher GPA (3.3) with your same LSAT score and got WL at UIUC, GW, and WUSTL. WUSTL looks like they're trying to bring their median to 168 now and GW weighs GPAs slightly higher than its peers.

Your best bed might be applying in the 30-50 range, as I think the top 30 might be tough. Emory might throw you a bone though, since they like your LSAT score. I got in with 42K, for reference's sake.

W&L loves 166+, I would be almost surprised if you didn't get in there.

Oh yeah, forgot I got in there with 30K as well. They've been frowning on lower GPAs this cycle, though.

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jsvaughn wrote:

flexityflex86 wrote:you are not aiming too high.

Should I blanket the schools 15-30 then? And apply to a few schools around 50 to be safe?

15-20 is no chance as your LSAT is median or worse there.

I actually think you have a better shot at IU: B than any other tier 1 school, and they're 23. I disagree on WUSTL. While they like splitters, 167 is not even their median LSAT.

flexityflex86 wrote:

jsvaughn wrote:

flexityflex86 wrote:you are not aiming too high.

Should I blanket the schools 15-30 then? And apply to a few schools around 50 to be safe?

15-20 is no chance as your LSAT is median or worse there.

I actually think you have a better shot at IU: B than any other tier 1 school, and they're 23. I disagree on WUSTL. While they like splitters, 167 is not even their median LSAT.

IU may be #23 but it is not in the same league as the other schools around it in the rankings. Still solid if you are fine with being around the Indy area though.

IUB will also probably give him around 80K in scholarship and maybe 120K. It'll probably be his cheapest option. In fact they will probably give him more than TTT's. Other than Cooley.

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If you feel you can improve your LSAT even 1 pt, then just do it already. WUSTL threw money at people with sub 3s and 168+s this year. 167 is a sure rejection, 168 is in with money.

jsvaughn wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:IUB will also probably give him around 80K in scholarship and maybe 120K. It'll probably be his cheapest option. In fact they will probably give him more than TTT's. Other than Cooley.

Wow thats really encouraging. I would almost definitely choose IU-B if they gave me anywhere close to that much, even though I've lived in NC my whole life and am looking to stay on the east coast.

I should have put a disclaimer, that my prediction was based on this cycle. The cycle before that, they probably wouldn't have given you much, if anything. They might change their minds again. So your results may vary.

For example in my cycle in 2009, I only got like 10K/year with a 2.8/176 and I applied early. This year that would probably get me 40K per year.

law4vus wrote:I have a higher GPA (3.3) with your same LSAT score and got WL at UIUC, GW, and WUSTL. WUSTL looks like they're trying to bring their median to 168 now and GW weighs GPAs slightly higher than its peers.

Your best bed might be applying in the 30-50 range, as I think the top 30 might be tough. Emory might throw you a bone though, since they like your LSAT score. I got in with 42K, for reference's sake.

Emory has a fairly hard 3.0 floor.
IU will be your best bet at high ranking/money. West Coast is out and I think W&L and William and Mary are probably your only shot at a decent East Coast school

I doubt W&M would go that low.

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jsvaughn wrote:What about schools like these:

Wake Forest
Florida
Florida State
Alabama

Would I be likely to be accepted to these schools? With money perhaps?

I think you have a solid shot at Wake. I got $22k/year this year with a 3.1 / 167, so I'd say even a shot at money. Not sure about the others, although I'd guess solid chances at all three. If you're in-state, I'd even throw an app to UNC.

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jsvaughn wrote:

snapdragon wrote: I think you have a solid shot at Wake. I got $22k/year this year with a 3.1 / 167, so I'd say even a shot at money. Not sure about the others, although I'd guess solid chances at all three. If you're in-state, I'd even throw an app to UNC.

Thanks for the reply! Are you starting this upcoming August or did you already finish your 1L?

Either way, what made you decide to not attend Wake?

Starting in August at UConn.

Wake's great, but at the end of the day, I want to live and work in New England. The cost worked out to be relatively the same (UConn somewhat cheaper because of an option to live with my parents for a year or two if I want) but I decided to go with the school in my region. Something like 2/3 of Wake students find their first job in NC, whereas 2/3 of UConn students find their first job in CT. My choice really came down to more "what region do I want to practice in?" rather than "Where do I want to spend 3 years?"

It was a tough decision, though (esp because I look better in black and gold than blue and white ). There's a lot of soon to be Wake 1Ls and Wake students in general on this board and they're super helpful (check out the Discuss Your Law School forum). The Wake admissions staff is also extremely friendly, so there's a lot of good resources out there to learn more about the school.

For what it's worth, I got into W&L also, but with only $5k/year. They're getting less splitter friendly, so you may run into difficulty there.

jsvaughn wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:IUB will also probably give him around 80K in scholarship and maybe 120K. It'll probably be his cheapest option. In fact they will probably give him more than TTT's. Other than Cooley.

Wow thats really encouraging. I would almost definitely choose IU-B if they gave me anywhere close to that much, even though I've lived in NC my whole life and am looking to stay on the east coast.

Do you really want to start your career in Indiana? Think long and hard.

That's what she said.