Top Law Schools

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.

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

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?

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.

Prairie002 wrote: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?

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.

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.