Top Law Schools

GPA: 3.95
LSAT: 161 (normally PT much higher), took a retake in June and waiting for results. If it's not what I like, I'll retake again in October.

So, with the GPA, what do I need to get my retake(s) to be in order to get to

A. The bottom end of the T14?
B. CCN?
C. HYS?

Thanks.

Go on LSN's school profiles and check the median numbers for each school you're interested in. I'm pretty sure 3.91 is above every GPA median, so it's really only a matter of how high your LSAT can be.

If we take softs out of the equation, median would give you a good shot everywhere.

Some of the websites aren't consistent and I know some schools favor gpa over LSAT or vice versa. I was hoping maybe someone on TLS was really into this sort of thing and could provide some insight a mere admission calculators can't.

RodionRaskolnikov wrote:Some of the websites aren't consistent and I know some schools favor gpa over LSAT or vice versa. I was hoping maybe someone on TLS was really into this sort of thing and could provide some insight a mere admission calculators can't.

You're thinking LSP. Go to lawschoolnumbers.com.

But what about the first LSAT? LSN don't always show if a person's LSAT was the retaken one, the averaged one, or whatever. Do I average my LSATs and then look at the numbers or just take the higher?

I don't plan on applying to some of these schools just because I might be able to get in. I just want to see where I could get in so when I start looking for the right school for me, I can have the scope.

RodionRaskolnikov wrote:But what about the first LSAT? LSN don't always show if a person's LSAT was the retaken one, the averaged one, or whatever. Do I average my LSATs and then look at the numbers or just take the higher?

I don't plan on applying to some of these schools just because I might be able to get in. I just want to see where I could get in so when I start looking for the right school for me, I can have the scope.

Dont average. Schools dont average, they take your highest score, regardless of what they claim.

Nova wrote:

RodionRaskolnikov wrote:But what about the first LSAT? LSN don't always show if a person's LSAT was the retaken one, the averaged one, or whatever. Do I average my LSATs and then look at the numbers or just take the higher?

I don't plan on applying to some of these schools just because I might be able to get in. I just want to see where I could get in so when I start looking for the right school for me, I can have the scope.

Dont average. Schools dont average, they take your highest score, regardless of what they claim.

I was doing that but I just don't get why someone with 170 and 3.95 doesn't get into the same school where someone with a 168 and same GPA gets into. It doesn't say that the former had other LSAT scores but it seems like that would be the likely reason. And sometimes it's like someone with a near perfect GPA but with 167 or 168 doesn't get in but someone with an ok GPA (i.e. 3.85 or 3.8 ) gets in with a 172 or 173 LSAT. And then there are people on there who say they have a 3.95+ and a 172 or something like that but got rejected by almost every T14 school.

At that point, the retake is not the problem. Those individuals most likely had other aspects of their applications that held them back. I took the LSAT 3 times and it had absolutely no impact on my cycle. LSN link in my profile. Please retake and do not waste that GPA.

RodionRaskolnikov wrote:And sometimes it's like someone with a near perfect GPA but with 167 or 168 doesn't get in but someone with an ok GPA (i.e. 3.85 or 3.8 ) gets in with a 172 or 173 LSAT. And then there are people on there who say they have a 3.95+ and a 172 or something like that but got rejected by almost every T14 school.

That's because 3.85 is above median at a good chunk of T14. So where H's median is 3.88 (I think, play with me here), there's a huge admission likelihood difference between 3.87 and 3.89. Therefore, it's not going to make a huge difference if you're 3.89, or 4.1, at least from my understanding.

I also think TLS also doesn't place enough emphasis on early app submission, advanced degrees, why X essays, and most of all, work experience. A majority (60%+) of admits to Columbia were at least a year out of undergrad. Northwestern was like, 90%. There's a URM on LSN that couldn't get H with a 169 and an above-median GPA (and a K-JD). That says something.

I think advanced degrees can help with admission too, mostly at the HYSCCN level. Why X essays are going to be critical for schools with rabid yield-protection-fanaticism like Penn.

RodionRaskolnikov wrote:GPA: 3.95
LSAT: 161 (normally PT much higher), took a retake in June and waiting for results. If it's not what I like, I'll retake again in October.

So, with the GPA, what do I need to get my retake(s) to be in order to get to

A. The bottom end of the T14?
B. CCN?
C. HYS?

Thanks.

We wish you all the luck.

Retake.

A 168 should get you into several lower T-14 law schools and maybe even Penn, Berkeley & Virginia. A 165 should result in at least one (Cornell), but probably more, T-14 admission.

GPA seems fine, if you want HYS rate the LSAT. 170-172 should be the target score. With your GPA/LSAT combo, I strongly think you could posibbly get into a T10 school. It all depends on when you apply in the admissions cycle.

If you want Harvard, Yale and/or Stanford, then an above median LSAT (probably a 174) should be your target score.