165 LSAT/ Above Average GPA (International Student) Forum

[billiris321]

I will be applying to schools in New York, California and Atlanta this coming admissions cycle. I will be graduating from university in a couple of months. My work experience consists of a range of retail positions and a few months in an Accounting/Sports Management firm. I have two strong letters of recommendation and a plethora of extra-curriculars.

Before any of you bombard me about the current legal crisis in the United States, please be assured that I am aware of the issues surrounding the legal profession. I do not want to be lectured on these problems. I would like an honest assessment on my chances at:

Emory
USC
UCLA
Stanford
UC Davis
UC Hastings
Santa Clara
Pepperdine
NYU
Fordham
Cornell
Brooklyn

Feel free to suggest schools outside these regions if you think my profile matches well with their criteria.

Thanks!

[onceagaintozelda]

Hey there!

I am an incoming 1L with similar numbers to yourself (above average GPA, 166 on LSAT and international student - albeit I have a green card). I also applied to some of the schools you did, so I can only tell you how I did and hope that is of some help

UC Davis - wait-listed
UC Hastings - accepted
Santa Clara - accepted with scholarship
Pepperdine - accepted with scholarship


Good Luck!

[Nova]

Emory OUT 166 would get you in
USC OUT 167/8 would probably get you in
UCLA OUT 168/9 would probably get you in
Stanford OUT
UC Davis WL-> IN
UC Hastings IN
Santa Clara IN
Pepperdine IN
NYU OUT
Fordham WL -> IN
Cornell OUT 169 would probably get you in
Brooklyn IN

Since you wont have an LGPA, you will very likely need to have an LSAT at or above median to have a good chance. Below median LSAT + no LGPA = Almost definitely out

[top30man]

I'd consider retaking since your LSAT will be more important than that of a regular applicant.

[AntipodeanPhil]

I'd consider retaking since your LSAT will be more important than that of a regular applicant.

+1

I hope you're absolutely convinced there is no possible way you could do better on the LSAT. Have you taken it three times already?

5 more points and you would be a great candidate for the lower t14.

7+ more points and you would be a good candidate at CCN, in this climate.

That might sound like a lot, but you can get a few points from luck alone. Even if you scored lower, it would have little impact on your application - if any.

Some internationals seem to underperform their LSAT scores, most perform as their LSAT scores would predict or slightly better. A very small number overperform their scores.

IMO, the most important other factors are: (1) whether your application illustrates a mastery of the English language; (2) whether you have a good reason for wanting a US JD; and (3) whether you come from a country that law schools have plenty of strong applicants from, or a country that law schools especially want applicants from.

[billiris321]

I'd consider retaking since your LSAT will be more important than that of a regular applicant.

+1

I hope you're absolutely convinced there is no possible way you could do better on the LSAT. Have you taken it three times already?

5 more points and you would be a great candidate for the lower t14.

7+ more points and you would be a good candidate at CCN, in this climate.

That might sound like a lot, but you can get a few points from luck alone. Even if you scored lower, it would have little impact on your application - if any.

Some internationals seem to underperform their LSAT scores, most perform as their LSAT scores would predict or slightly better. A very small number overperform their scores.

IMO, the most important other factors are: (1) whether your application illustrates a mastery of the English language; (2) whether you have a good reason for wanting a US JD; and (3) whether you come from a country that law schools have plenty of strong applicants from, or a country that law schools especially want applicants from.

Thank you for your advice. Looks like I'll be retaking the LSAT in October! I come from Australia so my English is fantastic