3.0 gpa, what lsat do I need? Forum

[swtlilsoni]

3.0 GPA, been out of college for a year. Had a year's work experience as a project manager.

What LSAT do I need to have a decent change at the various T14 schools? It would obviously vary as we go down the list, so what would I need for each cutoff? (for example what would I need for HYS, CCN, etc)

[crumpetsandtea]

Do you really need us to tell you to just shoot for the upper 170s/as high as possible?

You've got almost no shot at HYSCCN (unless you are URM), regardless of your score. For the rest, the higher the better, preferably 175+.

[swtlilsoni]

I just want to see if I have a decent chance..
I am freaking out thinking that I'm in a 180 or bust position. If I still have a chance with a lower 170 score, it would take a lot of pressure off.

[Tom Joad]

You are fighting an uphill battle, my friend. You might want to get a really good soft like becoming a senator or something.

[swtlilsoni]

You are fighting an uphill battle, my friend. You might want to get a really good soft like becoming a senator or something.

So you think I have no chance at ANY T14 unless I get close to 180? I thought if I got 170+ I'd at least make it in somewhere

[crumpetsandtea]

You are fighting an uphill battle, my friend. You might want to get a really good soft like becoming a senator or something.

LOL

Srsly though, asking us this is really pointless. Just try to score as high as possible. The higher the better. A lower 170s might get you somehting but a higher 170s will help you more. With the exception of NU/UVa ED/GULC ED if you score over 173, no T14 is a sure bet, no matter what your LSAT is.

[swtlilsoni]

You are fighting an uphill battle, my friend. You might want to get a really good soft like becoming a senator or something.

LOL

Srsly though, asking us this is really pointless. Just try to score as high as possible. The higher the better. A lower 170s might get you somehting but a higher 170s will help you more. With the exception of NU/UVa ED/GULC ED if you score over 173, no T14 is a sure bet, no matter what your LSAT is.

What do you mean by "with the exception of NU/UVA.."?

[crumpetsandtea]

What do you mean by "with the exception of NU/UVA.."?

If you have:

WE/low GPA/173+, you are decently safe for NU

low GPA but over 2.9/17X/ED application, you are somewhat safe for UVa

low GPA but over 2.9/17X/ED application, you are somewhat safe for GULC

Everything else is a crapshoot. Apply broadly and don't expect anything but WLs. Honestly though, this is a useless question until you actually have a real LSAT score. You could very well kick ass on the LSAT, or you could get a mid-160s score and get shut out of almost all the top 50 schools. Takeaway point: stop worrying about what schools you're going to apply to and worry more about studying for the LSAT and getting an awesome score.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

lawschoolnumbers.com will give you the best insight on what you need to be competitive. GULC is probably the easiest for splitters, and you don't need to be in the high 170's to be competitive. HYS is out for sure. Prob the same for CCN, Penn, and Duke. And Berkeley (unless you have killer softs). You have a shot at the rest, but the higher the score, the better.

[D10]

Agreed. With a 3.0 your chances are slim for the top 10. That said, schools like WUSTL seem not to care very much about GPA as long as you hit their median score of 168, based on last year's stats on LSN.

[nelaw2010]

Definitely 170+.

Good news: even if you don't get into a T14, you'll get money with a 3.0, 170+ at plenty of good schools.

[igo2northwestern]

If you get a 170+, I think you may have a reasonable shot somewhere: put in an ED app somewhere (and in some cases, write a Why X essay). This year, I think Northwestern's successful ED candidates receive a full scholarship, so since you don't really have a good shot at that, you should ED to GULC or UVa.

If you're URM, I'm sure you'll get in T14, and probably even T6.

[swtlilsoni]

If you get a 170+, I think you may have a reasonable shot somewhere: put in an ED app somewhere (and in some cases, write a Why X essay). This year, I think Northwestern's successful ED candidates receive a full scholarship, so since you don't really have a good shot at that, you should ED to GULC or UVa.

If you're URM, I'm sure you'll get in T14, and probably even T6.

Isn't it too late for ED? I'm applying this cycle =\
WOA I just realized I can still do ED for UVA (until Dec 15). But I'm taking the LSATS Dec 3rd. My scores wouldn't be ready by then. They probably wouldn't wait for my scores would they? Damn I wish I took them in Oct.

EDIT:
I just looked at another thread:
--LinkRemoved--
That person says Dec LSAT is not too late? I'm confused.

[dextermorgan]

If you get a 170+, I think you may have a reasonable shot somewhere: put in an ED app somewhere (and in some cases, write a Why X essay). This year, I think Northwestern's successful ED candidates receive a full scholarship, so since you don't really have a good shot at that, you should ED to GULC or UVa.

If you're URM, I'm sure you'll get in T14, and probably even T6.

Isn't it too late for ED? I'm applying this cycle =\
WOA I just realized I can still do ED for UVA (until Dec 15). But I'm taking the LSATS Dec 3rd. My scores wouldn't be ready by then. They probably wouldn't wait for my scores would they? Damn I wish I took them in Oct.

EDIT:
I just looked at another thread:
--LinkRemoved--
That person says Dec LSAT is not too late? I'm confused.

UVA dropped the ED deadline last year. Not sure about this year.

[Mr. Pancakes]

You are fighting an uphill battle, my friend. You might want to get a really good soft like becoming a senator or something.

now that's funny.

[swtlilsoni]

OMG I can still do ED for Georgetown, and UVA even with dec LSAT scores! Which one should I do?!

[PBateman1]

Judging from this cycles graphs, a 172 + ED will get you into GULC.

[happyshapy]

OMG I can still do ED for Georgetown, and UVA even with dec LSAT scores! Which one should I do?!

What are your prep test scores? If they're not at least a 174 average, since you're likely to drop a few points from your average, I would sit out this cycle and take it in June.

[citykitty]

OMG I can still do ED for Georgetown, and UVA even with dec LSAT scores! Which one should I do?!

What are your prep test scores? If they're not at least a 174 average, since you're likely to drop a few points from your average, I would sit out this cycle and take it in June.

This. I was averaging between a 174 and 175. I ended up at 170. You'll need a 170+ and a good story/luck to get into the t14.

[john1990]

http://gulc.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1011/

[igo2northwestern]

Judging from this cycles graphs, a 172 + ED will get you into GULC.

UVa has had a 14-day turnaround; if it works out, time-wise, in your cycle -> it wouldn't be a bad idea to apply to UVa, get a super fast response, and then apply to GULC if UVa didn't work out.

[emkay625]

What is your PT average right now OP? How much prep have you done?

[emkay625]

Also, you need to have your PS and apps done so you can submit the very day you get your scores back. The earlier, the better.

[JustE]

Didn't read a number of posts.

Go into this with a goal of a 180. If you're working towards that goal you might just land in the mid 170's. DO NOT go into this with a goal in the low 170s. That's an easy way to guarantee a high 160.

Good luck.