3.7 / 174 (odd history?) Forum

[Hunterrhoid]

I've checked LSP, but the consensus here seems to be that it is overly optimistic regarding splitters, so, thoughts?

[*]Non-URM.

[*]Softs? Not sure if it's relevant, but I suppose it is diversifying: I spent 4 years living in a monastery in my early twenties (swears), where I ran a vegetarian food distribution program for about 4 years that fed about 550 people a day. Also, I've been enlisted in the military for the past five years. (I'm aware that people think of this as an odd transition.)

[*]UG is low-ranked and distance learning, as it's the only way I could finish while in the military.

[*]Large disparity between grades earned before temple life (18-20) and after: 3.3 --> 4.0.

[*]LORs (as it's distance learning) won't be coming from my professors, as I never see them personally (so, great). However, I will have glowing recs from senior, Ph.D-holding monks who can attest to the very difficult studies to which a serious brahmachari must submit himself to. (I learned a great deal of Sanskrit, etc.) I will also have a rec from my supervisor in the Navy).

My sincere desire is public service. It is what I am accustomed to, something I really enjoy, and a place where I feel I can put my shoulder to the wheel.

[Renzo]

3;7/174 isn't a splitter. Those are just good stats.

[kwais]

3;7/174 isn't a splitter. Those are just good stats.

[Hunterrhoid]

Thank you. I stand corrected.

[kazu]

The 3.7 GPA is just from undergrad, right? LSAC and law schools only care about your UGPA. Just want to make sure.

[Hunterrhoid]

The 3.7 GPA is just from undergrad, right? LSAC and law schools only care about your UGPA. Just want to make sure.

Yes. 3.7 only UG, accumulated from 3 schools, and is the LSDAS conversion.

[kazu]

The 3.7 GPA is just from undergrad, right? LSAC and law schools only care about your UGPA. Just want to make sure.

Yes. 3.7 only UG, accumulated from 3 schools, and is the LSDAS conversion.

Nice to know you've done your homework before posting I'd say LSP will be pretty accurate for you, although you have an interesting background that will probably help if you craft your app well. Congrats on the great stats, and good luck on your cycle!

[Hunterrhoid]

Kazu, thanks. I hope what you say is true. Working on the app now.

[DoubleChecks]

id imagine the fact that ugrad gpa was from distance learning would hurt you a bit, but the interesting softs history + military background = more than enough to compensate. interesting PS seals the deal really tough call imo; could perform kinda bad, perform at numbers with softs and ugrad school canceling out, or well above numbers if adcomms look past distance learning and emphasize the softs.

best of luck!

[sarahlawg]

id imagine the fact that ugrad gpa was from distance learning would hurt you a bit, but the interesting softs history + military background = more than enough to compensate. interesting PS seals the deal really tough call imo; could perform kinda bad, perform at numbers with softs and ugrad school canceling out, or well above numbers if adcomms look past distance learning and emphasize the softs.

best of luck!

out of curiosity, have you heard of people where the online degree hurt them? I wish I could find someone on LSN or something to give credence to it. I know conventional wisdom says that it is a negative soft, so just wondering.

[DoubleChecks]

id imagine the fact that ugrad gpa was from distance learning would hurt you a bit, but the interesting softs history + military background = more than enough to compensate. interesting PS seals the deal really tough call imo; could perform kinda bad, perform at numbers with softs and ugrad school canceling out, or well above numbers if adcomms look past distance learning and emphasize the softs.

best of luck!

out of curiosity, have you heard of people where the online degree hurt them? I wish I could find someone on LSN or something to give credence to it. I know conventional wisdom says that it is a negative soft, so just wondering.

i recall hearing an adcomm mentioning it once in response to an applicant's question, but besides that, just conventional TLS wisdom. i mean, i dont think it damns the app, but yeah, maybe treated like a negative soft.

[Hunterrhoid]

I sure it's not positive. The only spin I can think of for it is that both while going to school and studying for the LSAT, I was working 70+ hrs/wk. Although I didn't attend a school of the highest (or high at all) pedigree, I think I can demonstrate that a large workload is something I am VERY well acquainted with.

Hopefully enough?

[Law Sauce]

I sure it's not positive. The only spin I can think of for it is that both while going to school and studying for the LSAT, I was working 70+ hrs/wk. Although I didn't attend a school of the highest (or high at all) pedigree, I think I can demonstrate that a large workload is something I am VERY well acquainted with.

Hopefully enough?

You should be very successful. I would apply to any school that you would go to.

[CanadianWolf]

3.7 GPA is below the 25th% at Yale, Harvard & Stanford, while a score of 174 on the LSAT is above the 75th% at all law schools. Technically, at least to my understanding, you are a "splitter" at Harvard, Yale & Stanford.

[DoubleChecks]

3.7 GPA is below the 25th% at Yale, Harvard & Stanford, while a score of 174 on the LSAT is above the 75th% at all law schools. Technically, at least to my understanding, you are a "splitter" at Harvard, Yale & Stanford.

problem is...that's just not true lol.

[jarofsoup]

You did not go to like University of Phoenix or something like that for distance learning?

[glewz]

3.7 GPA is below the 25th% at Yale, Harvard & Stanford, while a score of 174 on the LSAT is above the 75th% at all law schools. Technically, at least to my understanding, you are a "splitter" at Harvard, Yale & Stanford.

problem is...that's just not true lol.

CanadianWolf H & Y 75% are 176, and Columbia & NYU 75% are 175.

--I think CW was referring to medians.

[Hunterrhoid]

You should be very successful. I would apply to any school that you would go to.

Thanks. This, while concise, was very encouraging to me.

[Hunterrhoid]

You did not go to like University of Phoenix or something like that for distance learning?

No. A state uni branch that offers distance courses. UoP would have been a lot cheaper, but I think they have reputation problems, even for distance learning.

[Michaela]

People always write about their "good softs" and why they are a special snowflake, but in this case yours is actually really cool. Good luck!

[fingersxd]

Apply everywhere you can. You may not get HYS, but I'd be be shocked if you didn't have at least a few t14 options.

[brownpride]

Apply everywhere you can. You may not get HYS, but I'd be be shocked if you didn't have at least a few t14 options.

Agreed. Hit the entire T-14, and there's no reason you can't get into MVP or the lower T-14 with money, with great chances at CCN. Also, your softs are the kind that are actually meaningful enough to make you stand out as a unique applicant at HYS - if you look, for example, at Yale's website it indicates that the class of 2013 includes former military officers and people from many other unique backgrounds. Since Yale has the liberty of accepting applicants without the most compelling numbers but with unique backgrounds (which you certainly have), it's definitely worth the application fee.

Here's Yale's profile of the class of 2013. Take a look at it for encouragement: http://www.law.yale.edu/admissions/profile.htm
With strong enough recs (and you said you had a recent spike in grades after your monastic experience), it's not completely out of the question.

[DoubleChecks]

3.7 GPA is below the 25th% at Yale, Harvard & Stanford, while a score of 174 on the LSAT is above the 75th% at all law schools. Technically, at least to my understanding, you are a "splitter" at Harvard, Yale & Stanford.

problem is...that's just not true lol.

CanadianWolf H & Y 75% are 176, and Columbia & NYU 75% are 175.

--I think CW was referring to medians.

id imagine he was referring to medians as well, but then being slightly above median in one category and under 25% in the other doesnt make you a splitter, kinda just makes you a normal applicant lol.