Realistic chances please Forum

[OliveBC]

I have used basically all of the law school predictors, matchers, etc. that I can find online, but I have also read (through tls and other forums) that these things aren't always accurate and perhaps don't take into account other important factors. I'm just wondering what schools I might have realistic chances at, as I would love to visit some campuses in the near future.

Psychology & Sociology double major (White female at big state university)
GPA: 3.94
LSAT: I haven't yet taken the official LSAT (so I know this is all hypothetical) but plan to in either February or June. My first timed diagnostic was a 156, untimed was 169. I've studied for the last 2/3 weeks but pretty leisurely and not in any sort of structured way at all. (a few logic games sections here and there, perusing the LG Bible) I took another timed practice test this week and scored a 164. Since I've managed to leap 8 points in my score with pretty laissez-faire study tactics so far, I'm really hoping to boost my score to the low-mid 170s with several months of intense study if need be.

Extracurriculars-
-Teaching Assistant
-Research Assistant
-Volunteer at local battered women's shelter, volunteer GED teacher and job coach at local county prison.
-Psychology Honors Society tutor
-Honors thesis in Sociology (25-30 page research paper on gendered dialect)

So I suppose I have a few questions:
1. With intensive study for the next few months, is it possible to improve my score to the low-mid 170s?
2. What schools should I consider for targets, reaches, and safeties?
3. If I can improve my LSAT to the mid 170s, would I conceivably have a shot at HYS?

Thanks sooo much! TLS has been an amazing resource.

[OliveBC]

*forgot to add that I'm currently a Junior, but I want to take the February/June LSAT so that I have plenty of time if I want to retake. Also tack on a summer abroad in Amsterdam studying social policy and conflict resolution.

[moonman157]

lawschoolnumbers.com

Also come back with an actual LSAT score/LSAC GPA

[Swimp]

Could you improve to the mid-170s? Sure, why not. You could get a 180 for all anyone knows.

Keep the GPA up, study more for the LSAT, and see what happens. There's absolutely no reason to start speculating about which law schools will accept you when you're a junior in college who's done minimal LSAT work.

[OliveBC]

Thanks, you're 100% right.
I just can't help myself from trying to guess/extrapolate, even though I know its pointless until I have my actual LSAT.
Sorry for wasting your time, but I do appreciate the responses.

[Br3v]

Cant help without an LSAT, that score makes up half if not more of your chances at a given school.

[R86]

Keep perusing the logic games bible and you should be fine.

[somewhatwayward]

All you have to do for an honors thesis is write a 25-30 page paper? In my college, pretty much every social science class required a paper that long. A thesis was at least 70 pages.

Anyway, everyone is right that it is impossible to predict without an LSAT (if you got a 166, you might be shut out of T14 whereas if you got a 170, you might be in at H or S). The good news is that your high GPA is keeping everything in the running, so make sure to keep that up this year. Even if you had a disappointing LSAT, you could still break into the T14 as some schools are known for gaming their medians by taking lots of splitters and reverse splitters (see UVA).

[OliveBC]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Unfortunately I just calculated my LSAC gpa and my less than exciting 1st year at a community college brings my gpa down to a 3.62

(((((((

even with the next two years of 3.9-4.0s I can only bring it up to around the 3.7 mark according to the calculator.

[Bibio]

I need help deciding if waiting to apply in December with a higher LSAT score in better than applying in October with an ok score. I am a non traditional applicant (36, married with 3 children). I was waitlisted at IU Bloomington and IUPUI this past season and never got in. Needless to say I was heartbroken and determined to make the incoming 2013 class. I had a 2.97 GPA in undergrad and a 150 LSAT score. I have been studying to retake the LSAT in October. My score is consistently between 155-160. I know the earlier you apply the better, but at the same time, if I can wait until December, I know the score will climb maybe 10 points. What should I do given all my circumstances? Wait until December and compete with a bigger number of applicants or dive in this October with the hope at scoring at least 160? Both schools are ranked 28 and 80 respectively.
I am really thorn...please chime in.

[Swimp]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Unfortunately I just calculated my LSAC gpa and my less than exciting 1st year at a community college brings my gpa down to a 3.62

(((((((

even with the next two years of 3.9-4.0s I can only bring it up to around the 3.7 mark according to the calculator.

Going to go die now and curse my irresponsible freshman partying days.

[OliveBC]

Bibio-
This is an odd coincidence, but I am actually a student in my undergrad at IU right now. I'm in a similar boat trying to decide what my chances are, so all I can really tell you is what I can find about IU admissions.

According to TLS-
Indiana U-Bloomington 40* 3.38-3.89 158-167

With your gpa and projected LSAT of around 160, I wouldn't say that your chances are looking spectacularly good. I do think from what I've read elsewhere on TLS that an outstanding LSAT well above median can sometimes prompt schools to look beyond a below median GPA.

For some more info on your chances at particular schools you might try using these predictors.
http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/?page_id=11

^ you could use the predictor or the matcher

http://mylsn.info/

^ allows you to enter a gpa and lsat range.

[Ti Malice]

I need help deciding if waiting to apply in December with a higher LSAT score in better than applying in October with an ok score. I am a non traditional applicant (36, married with 3 children). I was waitlisted at IU Bloomington and IUPUI this past season and never got in. Needless to say I was heartbroken and determined to make the incoming 2013 class. I had a 2.97 GPA in undergrad and a 150 LSAT score. I have been studying to retake the LSAT in October. My score is consistently between 155-160. I know the earlier you apply the better, but at the same time, if I can wait until December, I know the score will climb maybe 10 points. What should I do given all my circumstances? Wait until December and compete with a bigger number of applicants or dive in this October with the hope at scoring at least 160? Both schools are ranked 28 and 80 respectively.
I am really thorn...please chime in.

It would be best if you started your own thread. But, in short, even a small increase in LSAT score would make a December application better than an otherwise equivalent application submitted in October. To have any shot at those schools with your GPA (assuming non-URM), you will have to have an LSAT score at or above their respective medians.