Nonstandard case...high goals, am I crazy? Forum

[Scout04]

Since graduating with a History degree I've served <5yrs as an Army Officer, <5 years as an FBI agent. I plan on applying next year but the schools I'm looking at are all tier 1. My UG grades don't meet the mark for these schools, however I have solid softs with the accompanied good LORs. I'm pt'ing at the mid to upper 160s (highest is 170, non test conditions, but timed)with only about 2 months of studying. I plan on taking the FEB LSAT with a goal of breaking 170. The schools I want are all reach...

Texas
SMU
Michigan
Northwestern
Cornell
Georgetown
WUSTL
Notre Dame
Houston
Virginia

My UG gpa is 2.96.
Softs: 5 years military, two deployments, <5 years as a special agent with the FBI working national security cases (dealt alot with the FISC), MBA
LORs: what you would expect with my WE

I guess my main question to those who have gone through this process and are at these schools is, are all of these schools out? If in, what do I have to get on the LSAT to make them plausible? LSP gave me an idea, however with my WE I'm not sure if the information it gave me is entirely applicable to me. I want to end up in Texas. Finally, many of these schools offer binding ED, is there a particular one I should go after to hedge my bet?

Also - I've seen alot of posts on here with people asking about working for the FBI and geting a job with a law degree. There has been alot of guessing and misinformation. I would be happy to answer any questions in that regard. Its a great job.

[kaiser]

No point in asking these questions until you have an actual LSAT score. You only have 1 post, so its not like we expect you to know this, but we don't spend time with hypotheticals. If you want to run a hypo, go to lawschoolnumbers.com or use lawschoolpredictor.com

[AreJay711]

No point in asking these questions until you have an actual LSAT score. You only have 1 post, so its not like we expect you to know this, but we don't spend time with hypotheticals. If you want to run a hypo, go to lawschoolnumbers.com or use lawschoolpredictor.com

Right cuz our time is so valuable lol.

I'd look on law school numbers and see what other people with your stats have done. They have little graphs for each schools that link to profiles and you can compare work and life experiences to those of other people admitted with similar numbers. Schools will look at you GPA less than someone that is closer to school and your military and FBI experience will probably help but no one can quantify how much.

[Grizz]

No point in asking these questions until you have an actual LSAT score. You only have 1 post, so its not like we expect you to know this, but we don't spend time with hypotheticals. If you want to run a hypo, go to lawschoolnumbers.com or use lawschoolpredictor.com

TCR

[Dr. Filth]

I think the stock advice in your case would be don't take the LSAT until you are confident of getting above a 170 and ideally a 172. There's no real benefit in taking in February versus in June. With a 172+, especially with your work experience, you would have a good shot of netting one of UVa ED, Georgetown ED or Northwestern. A 168 last cycle was an automatic admit to WUSTL. Play around on lawschoolnumbers.com and start your search with the green schools on the graph in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=162680. Just read through Samara's advice in that thread. I think the only school you listed that would be unrealistic is Texas, but I don't know as much some of those schools. And I've read on this forum that Michigan loves veterans. I'm not sure if that's anything more than anecdotal evidence, but being a veteran is one of the best softs someone could have. Good luck!

[Scout04]

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. A mark on the wall to shoot for.

[LawSchoolChampion]

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. A mark on the wall to shoot for.

With a 172 I'd bet definitely in at NU.

What do you want to do with your law degree? Where would you like to live? Family ties?

Just things to consider, but with your softs I'd aim to break 170 and enjoy the T-20, if not the T-14.

EDIT::

Law schools don't really average LSAT scores anymore. If you feel pretty good about Febuary, I'd reccomend taking it. You can always re-take in June and/or October.

[Mr. Pancakes]

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. A mark on the wall to shoot for.

Don't shoot anybody.
How much money does a FBI agent make? Even if you do get into your dream schools you may make less than you do now.

[AspiringAcademic]

You are definitely not crazy, but you'll be very very hard to predict. I did this search on last years LSN profiles:
http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1011
Some decent action at some of your schools. Also there is this person with military experience:
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/fatduck

My guess is that scoring in the low 170s would substantially help adcoms overlook your GPA.

[Scout04]

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. A mark on the wall to shoot for.

Don't shoot anybody.
How much money does a FBI agent make? Even if you do get into your dream schools you may make less than you do now.

That is a great point and something I'm considering with my family. For me its the right time to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I would have gone a while back, but I wanted to do some things first. But just because its the right time for me doesn't make the market any more attractive. Agents do ok, and its a fun job, but I guess I have other factors which are pushing me to give this one last hard look.

[Scout04]

Thanks, that is what I was looking for. A mark on the wall to shoot for.

With a 172 I'd bet definitely in at NU.

What do you want to do with your law degree? Where would you like to live? Family ties?

Just things to consider, but with your softs I'd aim to break 170 and enjoy the T-20, if not the T-14.

EDIT::

Law schools don't really average LSAT scores anymore. If you feel pretty good about Febuary, I'd reccomend taking it. You can always re-take in June and/or October.

That is how I was looking at the Feb LSAT. I am feeling great about my progress with studying, and if I hit my mark in Feb then awesome, if I'm a few points shy then I have June to work with. I hope you're right about NU. Probably my top choice (even though I want to end up in Texas), I like their perspective.

[Scout04]

You are definitely not crazy, but you'll be very very hard to predict. I did this search on last years LSN profiles:
http://search.lawschoolnumbers.com/user ... Cycle=1011
Some decent action at some of your schools. Also there is this person with military experience:
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/fatduck

My guess is that scoring in the low 170s would substantially help adcoms overlook your GPA.

Thanks! Those were very informative links! I guess I should get a LSN account and try to figure out how to run those searches instead having you guys do my leg work. Thank again!

[Scout04]

I think the stock advice in your case would be don't take the LSAT until you are confident of getting above a 170 and ideally a 172. There's no real benefit in taking in February versus in June. With a 172+, especially with your work experience, you would have a good shot of netting one of UVa ED, Georgetown ED or Northwestern. A 168 last cycle was an automatic admit to WUSTL. Play around on lawschoolnumbers.com and start your search with the green schools on the graph in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=162680. Just read through Samara's advice in that thread. I think the only school you listed that would be unrealistic is Texas, but I don't know as much some of those schools. And I've read on this forum that Michigan loves veterans. I'm not sure if that's anything more than anecdotal evidence, but being a veteran is one of the best softs someone could have. Good luck!

Thanks Filth! That link really sets us splitters straight. Ill keep you posted on how the test goes in a few months.