Chances with my background Forum

[RightWingConspiracy]

First, thanks for anyone reading my post.

I have a B.S. in Political Science, minor in Business Law from Univ of Maryland - University College with a 3.5 GPA. I have only taken the LSAT diagnostic test and scored a 162. Not sure how accurate the diagnostic is, but, nonetheless I will start studying for the December 2012 LSAT very shortly.

I've served active-duty for nine years; two more to go. I'm an intelligence collector and have been deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom receiving Combat Action Badge/Medal from the Army and Air Force. In my rank tier, I was selected as Air Force Intelligence Person of the Year. Last, I currently work for a National Intelligence Agency.

I plan on applying to the following law schools listed below, in the Fall of 2013:

- Berkeley/Stanford (I know, tough but one can dream)
- University of Michigan
- UT Austin
- Houston
- Texas Tech

I plan on adding a few more but that is the core group and I'm originally from San Francisco so Berkeley and Stanford are dream choices. Due to being moved around the country quite a bit, I'm a Texas resident (no state taxes as well).

Any input would be extremely valuable, thanks!

[chem]

First, thanks for anyone reading my post.

I have a B.S. in Political Science, minor in Business Law from Univ of Maryland - University College with a 3.5 GPA. I have only taken the LSAT diagnostic test and scored a 162. Not sure how accurate the diagnostic is, but, nonetheless I will start studying for the December 2012 LSAT very shortly.

I've served active-duty for nine years; two more to go. I'm an intelligence collector and have been deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom receiving Combat Action Badge/Medal from the Army and Air Force. In my rank tier, I was selected as Air Force Intelligence Person of the Year. Last, I currently work for a National Intelligence Agency.

I plan on applying to the following law schools listed below, in the Fall of 2013:

- Berkeley/Stanford (I know, tough but one can dream)
- University of Michigan
- UT Austin
- Houston
- Texas Tech

I plan on adding a few more but that is the core group and I'm originally from San Francisco so Berkeley and Stanford are dream choices. Due to being moved around the country quite a bit, I'm a Texas resident (no state taxes as well).

Any input would be extremely valuable, thanks!

Id definitely throw an application to Northwestern. If you get that LSAT up, then you could literally go anywhere except for harvard, yale, or stanford. If you hit a 170, maybe even a 169, Id say your chances at Berkeley are very, very good. 168 would put you in UT Austin. I wouldnt waste your work experience and your GPA on schools outside the t-14/texas


Edit: Thank you for serving our country

[Rotor]

Sent you a PM.

Also, I'm guessing you are eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill (unless you used it on UMUC--for your sake, I hope not). If you are, public schools like Berk, Mich and Tex will be VERY hard to beat (free). You could/should also consider UVA.

And while I agree with the above that if you get 170+ you should be OK for T14, you should also apply to some safeties, but better than UH/TT--like USC, UCLA, Davis or Hastings for Calif.

[b.gump81]

If you maintain your lsat, you will get in to Tech with close to a full ride. From what I understand, tech law is one of the best places to be for JAG. A decent percentage of the students have military backgrounds, and a lot of the faculty have extensive backgrounds in military law (our former dean was the judge advocate general for the army from 97 to 01). They also just started a bio defense journal this year, if that is something you would be interested in

http://www.law.ttu.edu/acp/centers/military/
http://www.ttu.edu/biodefense/

Pm me if you have any questions, and I'll get one of my classmates that is more knowledgeable about gunning for military law at tech to respond

As for the other schools, I think it is largely a numbers game, and until you have an actual LSAT score, it will largely be speculation. However, I do think you have great softs which will make you a great contender for t14 and ut, I would think

[rad lulz]

.

[TheRedMamba]

Bust your ass studying for the LSAT. I had a 162 diagnostic and ended up with a 175. I think with your softs a 3.5 and 175+ gives you a shot at Stanford. Of course SLS is a little unpredictable but I certainly think those numbers would put you in the running. Berkeley is a little hard to guage due to their emphasis on GPA and yours would fall short of their median by quite a bit, so you will really need at least a 170 to have a shot there.

[chem]

I wouldnt waste your work experience and your GPA on schools outside the t-14/texas

Subtle anti-Vanderbilt/UCLA trolling.

Unintentional. Took into account regional preference. Should have mentioned ucla

[RightWingConspiracy]

I appreciate everyone's feedback!

[CanadianWolf]

If your actual LSAT is above 170, then apply to Harvard as well as to your other targeted law schools.

[spleenworship]

Get actual LSAT, come back, start new thread.

You have a good start. Make LSAT count.

[bernaldiaz]

I wouldnt waste your work experience and your GPA on schools outside the t-14/texas

Subtle anti-Vanderbilt/UCLA trolling.

Unintentional. Took into account regional preference. Should have mentioned ucla

Burn.

[RightWingConspiracy]

I didn't use post-9/11 GI Bill at UMUC so yes public schools will be free

I'm not a fan of SOCAL so if anything I would apply to Davis. And I forgot to mention, my Mom is African-American and my Dad emmigrated from Britain so after researching through this forum it appears I will be eligible for URM; not sure how much that will affect my application.

Sent you a PM.

Also, I'm guessing you are eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill (unless you used it on UMUC--for your sake, I hope not). If you are, public schools like Berk, Mich and Tex will be VERY hard to beat (free). You could/should also consider UVA.

And while I agree with the above that if you get 170+ you should be OK for T14, you should also apply to some safeties, but better than UH/TT--like USC, UCLA, Davis or Hastings for Calif.

[chem]

I didn't use post-9/11 GI Bill at UMUC so yes public schools will be free

I'm not a fan of SOCAL so if anything I would apply to Davis. And I forgot to mention, my Mom is African-American and my Dad emmigrated from Britain so after researching through this forum it appears I will be eligible for URM; not sure how much that will affect my application.

Sent you a PM.

Also, I'm guessing you are eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill (unless you used it on UMUC--for your sake, I hope not). If you are, public schools like Berk, Mich and Tex will be VERY hard to beat (free). You could/should also consider UVA.

And while I agree with the above that if you get 170+ you should be OK for T14, you should also apply to some safeties, but better than UH/TT--like USC, UCLA, Davis or Hastings for Calif.

Enormously. You can get Stanford if you get that LSAT up

[071816]

I wouldnt waste your work experience and your GPA on schools outside the t-14/texas

Subtle anti-Vanderbilt/UCLA trolling.

Blatant anti-USC trolling.

[TheRedMamba]

I didn't use post-9/11 GI Bill at UMUC so yes public schools will be free

I'm not a fan of SOCAL so if anything I would apply to Davis. And I forgot to mention, my Mom is African-American and my Dad emmigrated from Britain so after researching through this forum it appears I will be eligible for URM; not sure how much that will affect my application.

Sent you a PM.

Also, I'm guessing you are eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill (unless you used it on UMUC--for your sake, I hope not). If you are, public schools like Berk, Mich and Tex will be VERY hard to beat (free). You could/should also consider UVA.

And while I agree with the above that if you get 170+ you should be OK for T14, you should also apply to some safeties, but better than UH/TT--like USC, UCLA, Davis or Hastings for Calif.

URM changes everything, you're capable of getting in anywhere with a high LSAT

[calawdude]

Your URM status and accomplishments can do a lot.

Also, I agree with CanadianWolf about applying to Harvard. If you get a really good LSAT score, I think you should apply to any school you want to attend. You just might get in.

Best of luck, man. I hope you get into a really good school!

[EMZE]

We have similar stats and background. 167 LSAT got me into Berk. Good luck with the real test, I would definitely recommend shooting for higher, but you can probably use my cycle as a metric.

[JCFindley]

I didn't use post-9/11 GI Bill at UMUC so yes public schools will be free

I'm not a fan of SOCAL so if anything I would apply to Davis. And I forgot to mention, my Mom is African-American and my Dad emmigrated from Britain so after researching through this forum it appears I will be eligible for URM; not sure how much that will affect my application.

Sent you a PM.

Also, I'm guessing you are eligible for the post-9/11 GI Bill (unless you used it on UMUC--for your sake, I hope not). If you are, public schools like Berk, Mich and Tex will be VERY hard to beat (free). You could/should also consider UVA.

And while I agree with the above that if you get 170+ you should be OK for T14, you should also apply to some safeties, but better than UH/TT--like USC, UCLA, Davis or Hastings for Calif.

There are also a lot of private schools you can attend for free as well with the Yellow Ribbon Program.

With your background a high LSAT will open a LOT of doors.....

[RightWingConspiracy]

Again I appreciate all the feedback. I've been working my rear off but it is also nice to hear positive feedback. Berkeley has always been a dream of mine but I will apply to Harvard as well, why not?

[CanadianWolf]

Not sure if this is still accurate, but in the recent past Harvard Law had an agreement with the US Gov't/Armed Forces to accept law school applicants. I don't know the particulars, or if this is still their practice (for example, it might be limited to JAG candidates), but, as an intelligence officer, you should be able to determine the right folks to ask.

[Rotor]

There are also a lot of private schools you can attend for free as well with the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Problem is, annual max without YRP is $17.5k. That leaves about $32.5k to make up the difference to $50k (closest round number to most T14). Granted it's been a while since I looked at details of school participation, I don't recall any that offered 16k to be matched. OP recommend you check gibill.va.gov for the up-to-date info.

[ehall20]

YHS all offer substantial yellow ribbon program contributions. 2011-2012 contributions as follows:

Yale: $5,000 for unlimited students
Harvard: $20,000 for 50 students
Stanford: $10,500 for unlimited students

Numbers haven't yet been released for this year, but one can hope the upward trend of the past 3 years continues. Also keep in mind these numbers reflect the amount the school will contribute. The VA matches whatever the school contributes. For example, if Stanford gave you 10.5k, the VA would match that 10.5k so your total scholarship would be $38.5k (10.5k+10.5k+17.5k).

[RightWingConspiracy]

Thank you all once again. This website has a wealth of knowledge and very helpful informed folks who post. I will ensure that I return the favor once I attend law school wherever that may be. I'm optimistic that I will be able to hit the 170 mark before December. Ultimately my goal is to obviously make a living but help the vets that are having legal issues regardless if they have money or not.

[JCFindley]

The Yellow Ribbon Program is very school specific so it depends a lot on the school. Basically the school offers X amount and the government will match that amount. So in the example above, the GI Bill would pay for 17,500 at Stanford. Stanford will pay 10K and the gov't will match that 10 for a total of 37,500 towards Stanford.

My list of schools that I applied will all be covered at 100%. Since I am tied to the NYC area because my of my wife, that means NYU and CLS are out, but Fordham has a significant YRP for 50 vets, Cardoza is basically unlimited for an unlimited number as is St Johns. So, for me, Fordham is my top choice even over T-14s because it would be free..... (Assumes the 2012 numbers are like the 2011....)

To get an idea here are the 2011 numbers.

http://gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/ ... t_2011.htm

[JCFindley]

There are also a lot of private schools you can attend for free as well with the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Problem is, annual max without YRP is $17.5k. That leaves about $32.5k to make up the difference to $50k (closest round number to most T14). Granted it's been a while since I looked at details of school participation, I don't recall any that offered 16k to be matched. OP recommend you check gibill.va.gov for the up-to-date info.

The GI Bill itself maxes at 17.5 and the YRP is on top of that as you said. From what I could tell, Brooklyn doesn't participate in the YRP so your calculations are dead on there. But many schools go above and beyond the GI bill and have HUGE YRP additions. Michigan's is $99,999 which I gather is the max and goes way beyond tuition so it would be a free ride.... (Plus the E5 BaH for CoL) There are quite a few private schools that the GI Bill + the YRP will pay 100%.....