Top Law Schools

LSAT: 171
GPA: 3.22, econ major, from big ten school (top 45 ranking) with a upward trend in gpa (last 4 semesters did very well)

3 years work experience: wall street - sales and trading and I banking

My letter of rec is from a partner at a large private equity firm (old boss) that got his mba from northwestern (was hoping this could help). I will be apply middle of jan as that is the earliest I can get rec.

Any thoughts on northwestern or any other schools that I may have a chance would be appreciated. Thanks

http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com

You have a good shot, but not guaranteed.

freestallion wrote:You have a good shot, but not guaranteed.

This. Also, look at UVa, UMich, GULC, Cornell, WUSTL, UIUC among others for splitter-friendly schools.

However, just noticed that you're applying in mid-jan. That's REALLY late. If you wait until then, your chances go way down. You may not get in.

edit

boalthopeful wrote:i'm in a similar situation, undergrad business from cal, currently in banking

3.4 GPA, avg'ing 173's on practice tests (took the oct so i'm not sure what i got), good softs, and got a rec from the uc chancellor
shots at stanford, duke??

1. Don't derail someone else's thread; make your own.
2. Predicting without a real LSAT score is worthless.
3. GPA too low for Stanford. You have a shot at Duke, but no guarantee.

boalthopeful wrote:i'm in a similar situation, undergrad business from cal, currently in banking

3.4 GPA, avg'ing 173's on practice tests (took the oct so i'm not sure what i got), good softs, and got a rec from the uc chancellor
shots at stanford, duke??

This thread might be of interest to you

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=167565

thanks for the responses. was thinking of taking the dec lsat to see if i could increase my score by a few points - 173-175. ive been pting in that range and if i get a little lucky during the real thing was thinking those 2-4 points could mean the difference in getting in or not. could those few points make a big difference for me or should i focus my time on personal statement/essays and get my application in earlier (i have asked to get my letter of rec by mid december)? any thoughts would be appreciated.

Get your application in earlier, it will make a difference. Don't bother waiting for a slightly better LOR, the impact of a good LOR is pretty small.

You can still take the December test, but check with schools to see if they will review your application with a registration for a future LSAT (some won't evaluate your app. until the December scores come out)