2.79 / 170 Forum

[defdef]

I have 4 years work experience, and am Hispanic (not urm afaik). My GPA is the result of screwing around in a JC for many many years before transferring to UCSD and completing my degree there with a 3.6

I would really like to go to University of Washington as my goal is to work in the Seattle area and my wife loves the city. Is there any possibility of that? I plan to retake the LSAT in October because I felt I fell short of my ability, but I'm just wondering what my shots are (at UW or otherwise) since October is a long ways away and I can't stop thinking about it.

Thanks for any replies.

[patrickd139]

Definitely retake in October if you're consistently scoring higher than a 170. As you seem to be aware, your UGPA is going to be very tough to overcome. Write a GPA addendum for sure, but don't expect much.

As for UW, I'm not sure personally what you'll need. Check out lawschoolnumbers.com for a more realistic picture. With a 170, I'd at least send an app their way.

Your biggest hurdle, and by a long shot, is going to be breaking into the Seattle legal market. I can't think of a more insular and popular major legal market in the country, as of late. Going to Washington and "my wife likes it" is probably not going to cut it.

[Yukos]

What type of Hispanic?

With some years of work experience and a 170 (even better if you retake and score higher), I think you can score NU. The problem then becomes getting to Seattle, since it sounds like you don't have ties. But from a pure being employed as a lawyer > being unemployed in Seattle perspective, NU would serve you better. For the record, UW seems pretty splitter unfriendly, especially if you're out-of-state (I'm assuming they reserve a certain amount of seats for in-state applicants, since 65% of their class is in-state). Check out http://myLSN.info/dispresults.php?sk=5fsr0 for your chances.

[defdef]

South American.

I'd considered trying to ED to NU, but the on campus interview might be prohibitive seeing as how I had planned on being out of the country (my job is overseas) until January. Will definitely be applying there RD at the very least.

I wasn't aware that the Seattle legal market was markedly more difficult than other West Coast areas. I'd seen that UW seems to be splitter unfriendly, but the LSN sample size seemed to be somewhat low so I wanted to see what people here had to say.

Appreciate the replies btw.

[splitsplat]

Your chances are pretty bad, looking back three years, there hasn't been a single applicant accepted with a sub 3.0 GPA. You're could likely looking at a waitlist, since that seems to have been the outcome for some of the extreme splitters. If you're willing to ride it out, you might get in eventually.

Personally, I'd retake and go for UVA/NU if you can bump your LSAT a few points. Given your work experience, if you get a 172+, I think you'd be a lock for NU (not ED, but RD) as long as you apply early.

[chill]

.

[defdef]

that does help chill. probably not a good bet for me either then. looks like i'll aim for a 172+ and try for NU.