3.93 GPA / 170 LSAT Forum

[WhoIsDonDraper]

Hey Everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster, but I'll be sure to start commenting more regularly.
So, if anyone has the patience to discuss my chances I would tremendously appreciate it. I have a GPA of 3.93, LSAT of 170, and strong softs.

I have essentially broken the T14 into three tiers and I will also be applying to a few safety schools. But here are my aspirations:

-Stanford
-Berkeley
-Georgetown

Seeing as how those are very spread out among the T14, I am curious about my chances to any or all of them. Obviously, Stanford is especially tough but anyone's opinion about my chances, retaking, etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

[OutCold]

My stats are almost identical to yours (3.87 GPA), so I'll speak to my experience last cycle. Unfortunately, I think I underperformed my numbers a bit because I applied fairly late in the cycle after taking the December LSAT. I got WL at all of CCN, in at Penn with 45k, WL at MV, in at Duke with 70k, in at GTown. Weird cycle and scholly offers. Assuming you apply at the beginning of the cycle, I think you have a good chance of snagging one of the CCN's, probably in at most of MVP, and definitely getting more money than I was offered. As for Stanford, I would say your chances are slim. Stanford is notorious for being a black box in that they tend to place a lot more weight on things other than your numbers. There are a few people with your comparable stats that get offers each year, but very few (assuming that you aren't a URM). It certainly can't hurt to send an app though.

I wouldn't retake unless YHS are your dream schools. I think you'll do just fine with the stats you have.

Best of luck.

Edit: Forgot to mention Berkeley since you asked about it in your post. I was rejected in the committee review phase. Berkeley is really hard to predict. They are less focused on your stats than the peer schools. I also had no California ties and didn't write any kind of "Why Berkeley" essay, which very well could have been the killing blow. I think you have a good shot, but it's still going to be a coin flip. Make sure you write a "Why Berkeley"

[fingersxd]

Stanford is unlikely without a higher LSAT.

Assuming an early application and 'Why Berkeley Essay' I'd place you chances around 66-75%
(http://berkeley.lawschoolnumbers.com/ap ... r=desc&p=2)
As you can see, the large majortity of applicants with comparable stats have gotten in (some with $) and particularly if you have strong softs, I think you are well-positioned.

Georgetown should be a lock (or as much as subjective and arbitrary application review can be).

[brownpride]

Stanford - we know that Stanford places a higher emphasis on GPA, so while LSP places you at a "Consider", you fall right at the LSAT median and above the median for GPA. Definitely a chance at it, though it's far from certain.

Berkeley - agreed with the responses above. I've seen many profiles of applicants accepted into the higher T-14 with excellent stats but rejected at Berkeley. Make a school-specific application and do your research on the school, and you stand a good shot.

Georgetown - pretty much in. Nothing more to say.

But I also want to echo what the above posters said as well - APPLY EARLY. Your numbers are good, but certainly not compelling enough to make you an auto-admit. Some TLSers will disagree with me on this, but an application in September or an application in December can very well make the difference between admission and rejection for you. Try to be done everything by mid- to late October, and hope for the best.

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Very similar numbers, here's how mines turned out:

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/LovelyLudwigVan

Word of advice, spend time on your essays and optional essays. They play a lot larger part in admit vs. WL than some people would have you believe. GL.

[Flips88]

Had a friend with near identical stats (3.92 GPA) and he was in at GULC, dinged at Stanford, and didn't apply to Berkeley. Also in at Duke, Michigan, Penn, Chicago. Dinged at Harvard and Northwestern. WL at NYU and UVA.

HTH.