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I graduated from Boston University with a 3.39 (because of BU's grade deflation, that still qualified me for honors) and I'm currently a Naval Officer-- will be for another couple of years. I want to get out and go to LS after my initial commitment is up and I'm going to start studying for the LSAT in the coming months, taking a bit longer than most to study since my job has a tough schedule sometimes (read: out to sea for long periods, unable to take time to study).

I want a T14 school, and obviously HYS.

Is my GPA too bad? I read that the farther away from school you are, the less they look at GPA. Will a 180 still not qualify me for HYS? Or what score do I need? How much do those "intangibles" really matter? Finally, is my GPA an "auto-reject" one?

Thanks for the help! Want to get a feel for what to shoot for...

Im not sure but I would look at lawschoolnumbrs.com and see. You will have to wade through a lot of applications but its worth it.

Military officer is a great soft so that helps too. But i would say 173 and cast a wide net.

I have a nearly identical GPA and a 173, along with 3-4 years of strong work experience, which probably doesn't count as quite as strong a soft as Navy experience, but would make us similar candidates. I was accepted to NYU ED and I think that pretty much was the best I could've done under the circumstances.

HYS are most likely out for you, but it certainly can't hurt to apply. Who knows, maybe you're the exception to the rule (but probably not). If you get 173+, I'd ED to one of CCN if you have a preference among them; anything from 170-173, you can probably snag at least one of MVP, and GULC and NU are good bets.

NU might be an option too, with an emphasis on work experience. You would need a really good LSAT score. Also, remember that LSAT scores expire after (I think) five years.