Top Law Schools

UG Gpa 3.16
LSDAS Gpa 2.9 (sour about such a drop)
LSAT 171
URM: AA


Right out of undergrad I intern'd at my state senators office (bout 6 months). Then went to grad school at American University for IR , and graduated with 3.7 gpa. Got published in a couple journals for academic scholarship and my final thesis. Right after grad school I went into the Peace Corps (was interested in international law and human rights) got placed in Uganda, and apart from falling in love with the country; I taught English to young school children ,and did community development programs. I've had some research experience with policy think tanks in D.C (two short summer periods during grad years).

I'm not even sure if the T-14 should be on my radar, now that I've seen my LSDAS gpa (my UG gpa was not stellar ,but I'm pretty sure most schools have a 3.0 gpa floor), I'm now looking at:

George Washington U
American U
Boston U
Fordham
George Mason
Georgetown (dream school, might give it the ED)
Cornell (another super reach)

(new at TLS, hope I did this right)

If you're going to ED to Georgetown, I suggest you ED to Virginia first. Whatever you do, apply to Virginia. In fact if your application is ready, I suggest you submit an app to Virginia like now.

They guarantee a decision within two weeks (15 days) so you'll know where you stand and then you can even ED somewhere else if that doesn't work out.

I love these stats.
The best part is that if you can sit down and study, you might even rock law school.

Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

Blessedassurance wrote:Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

I did the Law School Predictor and it gave me weak chance, do you really think I have a shot there?

The URM bump is seen more of a boon to the LSAT than the GPA, but with a LSAT that nice, I could see some T-14s taking a chance on you. You should be T20/25 or bust, so get rid of American and George Mason. You seem to want to be in DC. ED to UVA is probably TCR in that case (unless some other posters think you have a shot to crack the T6). If you don't get in at UVA, I think you'll probably get GULC without ED since you're over the LSAT median and you're URM. Basically I think your two options are:

1. ED UVA. If you get it, your cycle is done. If not:

2. RD or ED GULC. I'd lean RD here for the chance at money, which I think you're in a good position for.

Apply across the lower T14 if you decide to go regular decision with GULC. Someone will let you in with money, and you can use that as leverage. GW should be enough of a safety.

vk732 wrote:

Blessedassurance wrote:Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

I did the Law School Predictor and it gave me weak chance, do you really think I have a shot there?

Yes. LSP sucks for URMs and also sucks for splitters, although slightly less. NU doesn't seem to have much of a GPA floor, and they'll love that work experience.

descartesb4thehorse wrote:

vk732 wrote:

Blessedassurance wrote:Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

I did the Law School Predictor and it gave me weak chance, do you really think I have a shot there?

Yes. LSP sucks for URMs and also sucks for splitters, although slightly less. NU doesn't seem to have much of a GPA floor, and they'll love that work experience.

I'm getting the sense that my URM status rather than my WE is giving me a shot at more reach schools....

vk732 wrote:

descartesb4thehorse wrote:

vk732 wrote:

Blessedassurance wrote:Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

I did the Law School Predictor and it gave me weak chance, do you really think I have a shot there?

Yes. LSP sucks for URMs and also sucks for splitters, although slightly less. NU doesn't seem to have much of a GPA floor, and they'll love that work experience.

I'm getting the sense that my URM status rather than my WE is giving me a shot at more reach schools....

This is probably true, although we won't get into it more for fear of the banhammer. Needless, there are countless threads on AA/URM status.

Most schools don't care much about work experience, aside from Northwestern. I get the general sense (and I could be wrong) that schools prefer students who have taken 1-2 years out from UG (at least), but whether that was to pursue an additional degree or WE doesn't matter so much (as long as it's not sitting around playing video games). But WE will matter down the line when it comes to jobs, so don't think you've done it all in vain!

you would be right in your assumption. work experience is overrated for law school people. they don't have a category for work experience for the rankings, but schools can be proud to have boosted their diversity statistics.

I'm getting a lot of pm's telling me to shoot higher.

vk732 wrote:I'm getting a lot of pm's telling me to shoot higher.

hey, keep that private!

kahechsof wrote:

vk732 wrote:I'm getting a lot of pm's telling me to shoot higher.

hey, keep that private!

sorry

vk732 wrote:

kahechsof wrote:

vk732 wrote:I'm getting a lot of pm's telling me to shoot higher.

hey, keep that private!

sorry

kidding

URM who did peace corp in Africa? You at least have a shot at CCNMVP...

vk732 wrote:

Blessedassurance wrote:Also, add Northwestern to your list if you'd be interested in going there.

I did the Law School Predictor and it gave me weak chance, do you really think I have a shot there?

Yes you have a shot there.

Ignore LSP.

I'd like to thank everyone at TLS who helped me. I actually wrote to LSAC about my GPA, and there was a slight error in my overall calculation, instead of a 2.9, my lsdas gpa became a 3.02 (not a big difference point wise but its good at least to see that 3 again, when my orig UGPA was a 3.1).

Anyway, I went along with the ED to UVA, and after getting a call from one dean over the phone, I got in with a very small scholly. But I wont be entering law school this cycle. I have received a Fulbright scholarship to study oversees and I'm taking it. (I couldnt believe it when I found out this past week!)

Anyway I felt like I owed this explanation to the posters here. If it werent for you guys, certain things would never have happened...namely using parts of my law school essay for my fulbright submission. So thanks again, and I wish you all the best.

vk732 wrote:I'd like to thank everyone at TLS who helped me. I actually wrote to LSAC about my GPA, and there was a slight error in my overall calculation, instead of a 2.9, my lsdas gpa became a 3.02 (not a big difference point wise but its good at least to see that 3 again, when my orig UGPA was a 3.1).

Anyway, I went along with the ED to UVA, and after getting a call from one dean over the phone, I got in with a very small scholly. But I wont be entering law school this cycle. I have received a Fulbright scholarship to study oversees and I'm taking it. (I couldnt believe it when I found out this past week!)

Anyway I felt like I owed this explanation to the posters here. If it werent for you guys, certain things would never have happened...namely using parts of my law school essay for my fulbright submission. So thanks again, and I wish you all the best.

Congrats! I'm sure you'll do very well not matter what direction you go in!