Top Law Schools

169, 4.05 UGPA from top public, strong softs/rec letters/PS, non-URM

I've already checked out the law school predictor, and just want some human responses. Would love any feedback regarding my chances for admission/($) at the following schools:

Stanford
Harvard
Columbia
Chicago
NYU
Berkeley
Penn
UVA
Duke
Northwestern
UCLA
USC

Also, should I consider early decision to any schools? I would love to go to Chicago or Penn, but I also would love to get $ from a lower T14 if possible.

Outside shot at Stanford
Ok shot at Harvard, Columbia, Chicago, and Penn
Good shot at NYU/V/B
Good shot at D/NU with like 50k
Lock at USC/UCLA with like 90k

Consider retaking. Even 1 more point would make a difference. I wouldnt ED if I were you, because you are likely to get one of H/CCNP without it.

I had identical numbers and got 2 of CCN. No luck at HS. I somewhat regret not retaking; if you can push it up 3 points you will be looking at the difference between near sticker and a full ride at MVP or good money at CCN.

Go ahead and get your applications out, but maybe retake in December mostly for scholarship purposes.

Thanks for the responses, guys! Should I bother with Yale?

My softs are good, but nothing near what I perceive Yale-status softs to be.

badaboom61 wrote:I had identical numbers and got 2 of CCN. No luck at HS. I somewhat regret not retaking; if you can push it up 3 points you will be looking at the difference between near sticker and a full ride at MVP or good money at CCN.

Go ahead and get your applications out, but maybe retake in December mostly for scholarship purposes.

Completely agreed. My biggest regret is not retaking as well. It doesn't matter if you think you've peaked or how frustrated you might be with the test (not that you've said this, just common excuses). Like badaboom said, a few points is easily worth tens of thousands of dollars (let that sink in for a second). When you consider it in that light, you don't really have a choice by to retake.

That aside, I think the rest of the advice in this thread is spot on. You're easily T14 secure. As for Yale, unless money is so tight for you that the $100 app fee will really have a huge negative impact on your life, then why not? You can either ding yourself or let them do it. Might as well choose the latter.

1239152 wrote:Thanks for the responses, guys! Should I bother with Yale?

My softs are good, but nothing near what I perceive Yale-status softs to be.

You never know, but it's honestly pretty unlikely. You're probably in at CCN downwards but where you get money will be a bit of a crapshoot. Nova's right, even a 170 would make a lot of difference with scholarships. It's worth your time to retake.

Kind of bullshit that you have a 4.05...

That is like two people going to take the LSAT and one test has a median score of 151 and a max of 180, while the other has a median score of 155 and a maximum score of 185.

Is that fair? Why do law schools act like it is?

Kind of bullshit that you have a 4.05...

That is like two people going to take the LSAT and one test has a median score of 151 and a max of 180, while the other has a median score of 155 and a maximum score of 185.

Is that fair? Why do law schools act like it is?

Why do law schools act like majors are equal? rankings

Those are lsacs rules and schools accept those numbers. Op is just following the rules.

ED is a bad, bad idea these days.

splittertothemax wrote:

Kind of bullshit that you have a 4.05...

That is like two people going to take the LSAT and one test has a median score of 151 and a max of 180, while the other has a median score of 155 and a maximum score of 185.

Is that fair? Why do law schools act like it is?

Why do law schools act like majors are equal? rankings

Yeah. Does it not bother you at all? Is there no way to stop the madness???

.

edit

An A+ in poetry isn't easy?

I also don't understand why law schools treat all majors and GPAs as the same. I was so happy to get a B in my cardiac physiology class after half the class had dropped out but to law schools I look like a retard. Should have majored in elementary education and drew pictures/wrote poems.

Also, jealous of your numbers. Good luck at a t14 school because if you don't get in then I'm giving up.

edit

1239152 wrote:Heh, Latin poetry classes were probably the hardest classes I ever took... Reading Ovid's Metamorphoses in Latin in two weeks is like trying to take the LSAT in an hour. ><Don't even get me started on Medieval Latin haha.

Thanks though! Hopefully an LSAT retake will clinch me a spot at t14.

After 5 years of Latin and translation of a lot of Homeric literature, I can attest to this!

airplay355 wrote:An A+ in poetry isn't easy?

I also don't understand why law schools treat all majors and GPAs as the same. I was so happy to get a B in my cardiac physiology class after half the class had dropped out but to law schools I look like a retard. Should have majored in elementary education and drew pictures/wrote poems.

Also, jealous of your numbers. Good luck at a t14 school because if you don't get in then I'm giving up.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... l-rankings

airplay355 wrote:An A+ in poetry isn't easy?

I also don't understand why law schools treat all majors and GPAs as the same. I was so happy to get a B in my cardiac physiology class after half the class had dropped out but to law schools I look like a retard. Should have majored in elementary education and drew pictures/wrote poems.

Also, jealous of your numbers. Good luck at a t14 school because if you don't get in then I'm giving up.

At that point I would wonder why somebody who took cardiac physiology wants to go to law school at all.

bump