URM, 3.2(LSAC), 3.6(UG), 168 LSAT Attainable schools??? Forum

[tahoma14411]

Profile:

Mexican American male
3.2 LSAC GPA (3.6)
168 LSAT
BA, Political Science (3.93 major GPA), small private Catholic university

I've been out of school for 15 years...came back last year to finish my degree...concerned about my LSAC GPA. Am thinking about writing an addendum pointing out that the Cs bringing down my LSAC GPA were from 15 years ago, and my current grades (over the last four semesters) are a better indication of my current focus, etc.

Fall 2012 is my target.

UT
UH
UW
Lewis & Clark

Questions:

Are the above mentioned schools attainable?

What other schools should I be looking at?

Will being out of school for such a long period hurt me?

Will my work experience, etc...help?

What should my PS and DS focus on?

[drays917]

Do you mean Texas, Houston, and Wisconsin? Are you from Texas? Where do you want to practice? Ceteris paribus, I'd say out at Texas, in at Houston, in at Wisconsin, in at L&C. I doubt being out of school will be a problem, and I would imagine your WE could only provide a slight boost, but it's impossible to say without knowing your specific work history. No idea what your PS/DS should focus on, I don't know much about your life (sorry).

[bk1]

Ceteris paribus

Oh god.

[ndirish2010]

Hard for me to see those numbers and not respond with a WUSTL.

[ndirish2010]

Ceteris paribus

Oh god.

Haha, I enjoyed that.

[drays917]

Ceteris paribus

Oh god.

Hahahaha sorry. Old habits die hard I guess.

[tahoma14411]

I am from Texas.

UW = UDub Law

Family in Texas and PDX

[mbw]

Note: Please do not listen to people on TLS who have not gone through the process and assume URM = non-URM admissions.

Apply to T14s from CCN on down, especially if your most recent grades (after your return to school) are substantially better than your earlier grades. Hell, throw in an app to either Stanford or Harvard, just for giggles.

If you are under 40, you should expect to get into at least one (probably many) T14(s) with that LSAT (I would wager that Cornell will take you, probably a few higher ranked schools (I got into 3 T14s with a 165, much lower UGPA.)) Yes, work experience will help -- in fact, you're probably a shoe-in for Northwestern.

If your economic background is stereotypical Mexican-American (first to go to college, working class parents, etc.,) then you will probably see acceptances from these top schools, with funding. Unless you have ties that require you to stay in a particular area, do not waste that LSAT score -- go to the best school you can (this is much more important for us URMs, even without scholarship money.) Apply as early as you can.