What are my chances? Forum

[Prairie002]

Undergrad GPA: 3.9. LSAT: 170. I worked an average of 20 hrs/wk for the last 2 years of my undergrad and had an internship doing research in environmental policy over the summer a couple years ago. I'm taking a gap year and hoping to find a full time job in a law/public policy related area, plus have applied to be an unpaid intern with the Obama campaign.

I plan on apply to at least half of the top 20 schools, but my top picks would be Stanford, Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, and U of MN. I'd love to get in at Harvard and/or Yale, but know that's likely beyond my reach. So what are my chances and what can I do this year to improve them?


I don't think I'll retake the LSAT. I could probably improve a couple of points, but I'd be nervous to score any lower and hurt my chances that way.

I was part timing as a bartender and server...not a huge resume builder, but I've been responsible for paying for my college tuition. It's given me some "real world" experience and great interpersonal skills, so that's a plus I suppose.

My undergraduate institution might not be known among the general population, but it seems to have a fairly good reputation as being strong academically. It's a small, rural, public liberal arts college with an environmental bend, so it's a bit of an anomaly. And I double majored in Political Science and Psychology with a minor is Statistics and presented research at an undergraduate conference.

[Doorkeeper]

You have a chance everywhere. Apply to the T14 and see what happens. You'll probably get into 2-3 of HYSCCN.

[Tom Joad]

You have a shot everywhere with chances for big money at the lower T14. I would apply to every T14 for negotiating purposes if I were you. Super RIGOROUS undergrad or any great softs you didn't mention?

[TheProsecutor]

If you want to get into YLS or HLS, apply for a Gates-Cambridge or a Fulbright this fall. Your numbers are awesome, though the LSAT is a bit low for YLS. You should be fine for most of the t14 assuming great recs and a coherent essay and you apply early.

[Samara]

So what are my chances and what can I do this year to improve them?

Well, the first thing you can do is retake. How and how much did you study? What were you PTing at?

[R86]

Chances are good!

You and I have the same numbers. It's a weird spot to be in; one that brings a lot of hope, but an equally large amount of uncertainty. We're right at the bottom of the ideal score range, and while the top schools are still a bit of a reach, it's pretty cool knowing they're a possibility.

I'm going to retake, as I didn't study too much last time and I'm pretty sure once I figure out how to quickly diagram the logic games I can improve by at least a few points in October.

[envisciguy]

Great chances at all the T14, with the exception of maybe HYS. I had almost exactly the same numbers as you and actually had an environmentally oriented internship as well. I got into most of the lower T14 with good chunks of $ at a couple. In fact, with your numbers it's likely your decision will come down to CCN with some (or none) money or lower T14 with considerable scholarships.

I also got waitlisted at Stanford. So you certainly have a shot at HYS, but almost a sure thing at GTown, Cornell, etc.