3.43/173 at CA schools, UT, UVA, BU, NYU, Columbia Forum

[semitranslucent]

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for any and all help. I'm shooting for Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, USC and UC-Davis. Also considering applying to UVA, UT, BU, NYU, Columbia and a couple of Canadian schools.

LSAT: 173 (Taken once, Oct. 2011)
Overall GPA: 3.43

BACKGROUND: I'm 26, white and male from a major metro area. Both my parents were civil servants. They divorced when I was young and I was raised by my dad, a cop. He is an immigrant whose parents survived the Holocaust.

WORK: Currently employed as a daily reporter covering a major industry. I have four years of full-time experience in journalism and some unique freelance experience (like editing my own community newspaper).

ACADEMICS: State school. Started with a 3.75 GPA and then began a downward spiral. Took a few light semesters and a few summer classes to catch up. Undergrad major was literature (did very well) and I minored in business management (didn't do so hot). My transcript doesn't calculate major or minor GPA.

Prestigious public high school (free, entrance by exam, regionally/nationally known, multiple alumni in Obama's cabinet).

EXTRACURRICS:
[*]Two years as editor in chief of twice-weekly college newspaper, with two earlier years of involvement. Required 30-plus hours per week and negatively impacted grades; I'm writing an addendum to that effect.
[*]Internship and subsequent involvement with public interest nonprofit
[*]Summer newspaper internship at community newspaper
[*]Editing internship with student wire service
[*]Internship with radio station
[*]Involvement with Jewish organization

In high school I spent one summer doing volunteer work and had lots of colorful blue-collar work experience (dunno if it matters).

Many thanks again!

[thelawschoolproject]

I think you are probably in at : UC-D, USC, BU, UCLA.

I think it could go either way at : Berkeley, UVA, UT

I think you're probably out at : Stanford, NYU, Columbia

[Grizz]

Vanilla applicant. Enjoy: http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

[FryBreadPower]

I think you are probably in at : UC-D, USC, BU, UCLA.

I think it could go either way at : Berkeley, UVA, UT

I think you're probably out at : Stanford, NYU, Columbia

I may be a wee bit more pessimistic. I don't think Berkeley is a possibility and I think UVA is less of a chance than a coin flip. Though I do agree that you are probably in at the 4 mentioned schools.

[Grizz]

y u no apply to Mich and Penn

See LSN

[semitranslucent]

I think you are probably in at : UC-D, USC, BU, UCLA.

I think it could go either way at : Berkeley, UVA, UT

I think you're probably out at : Stanford, NYU, Columbia

I may be a wee bit more pessimistic. I don't think Berkeley is a possibility and I think UVA is less of a chance than a coin flip. Though I do agree that you are probably in at the 4 mentioned schools.

I'm pretty pessimistic too -- enough time at LSN will do that to you.

y u no apply to Mich and Penn


See LSN

I hadn't even looked at those because of geographic preference but I will -- looks like I stand a decent chance!

Thanks again guys.