159, 3.63 - Help me, this is tough! Forum

[TimeToChoose]

Alright guys, longtime lurker here, finally coming out to see what you think. I know, I know, retake...but humor me for a second here please. Non URM, Softs not really impressive. I had a Business/Analyst internship for the past few summers at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, was on the Dean's List multiple times etc. I am graduating from UW-Madison this Spring, and was thinking of not only local schools (Madison (my undergrad), Marquette, Kent, Loyola Chicago, DePaul, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa)...that sort of group. What do you think of my shot at these schools or other similar schools?

What I also would love to know, do you guys think I have any shot at any other lower level Tier 1's (or borderline Tier 1's?) in general, not just local? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks very much for your help!

[TimeToChoose]

Bump, please!

[EdgarWinter]

.

[JCFindley]

Alright guys, longtime lurker here, finally coming out to see what you think. I know, I know, retake...but humor me for a second here please. Non URM, Softs not really impressive. I had a Business/Analyst internship for the past few summers at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, was on the Dean's List multiple times etc. I am graduating from UW-Madison this Spring, and was thinking of not only local schools (Madison (my undergrad), Marquette, Kent, Loyola Chicago, DePaul, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa)...that sort of group. What do you think of my shot at these schools or other similar schools?

What I also would love to know, do you guys think I have any shot at any other lower level Tier 1's (or borderline Tier 1's?) in general, not just local? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks very much for your help!

Probably not on the bolded but as said above, the nonbolded without $$$ are not great choices. Yeah, Marquette does pretty well in MKE but the job prospects are not worth sticker. Same would apply to the others.

Even the ones in bold, which would all be reaches might be arguably worth in state sticker at best. Retaking really is the better idea here.

[goldenflash19]

This isn't tough at all. Retake.

[Nova]

(Madison (my undergrad), Marquette, Kent, Loyola Chicago, DePaul, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa)...that sort of group. What do you think of my shot at these schools or other similar schools?

Minnesota's medians are on par with Texas, USC and Cornell. Youre not getting in there without a 167+.

Iowa, Wisc, and Illinois should be your targets. Apply now, but still retake.

You shouldnt leave the midwest to attend a Lower T1 at sticker.

[CorkBoard]

This isn't tough at all. Retake.

[TimeToChoose]

Thanks for all your help you guys, I really do appreciate it. I am very new to this process. Do you think I have any shot at Wisconsin? We the fact that I am in-state/am going to undergrad here give me any pull? Thanks!

[gaud]

This isn't tough at all. Retake.

I had almost the exact same stats as you and retook (twice). Best decision I ever made. OP, the legal market isn't getting better. Help yourself out; take a year off to retake and have these schools PAY YOU to attend. Give you some time to enjoy your life and make a great decision.

Good luck.

[Nova]

Thanks for all your help you guys, I really do appreciate it. I am very new to this process. Do you think I have any shot at Wisconsin? We the fact that I am in-state/am going to undergrad here give me any pull? Thanks!

I think you have a really good shot there. You are at their GPA median, 3 points below the LSAT median, and in-state.... I would bet you get in.

Still, if you can up your score to 162+, the median at Wisc, you are a basically a lock + likely to get a scholarship.

[JCFindley]

Maybe apply this cycle, see what's on the table and then if the money isnt good study up for the June LSAT and shove applications out Sept 2013.

You still get to play this cycle knowing that you're not committed to anything and that your best LSAT is yet to come.


....or maybe even study for the Feb 2013 LSAT if you get in somewhere you can use that Feb bump as leverage for $$$

Edit: 0L advice

Good advice nonetheless.

[TimeToChoose]

Thanks so much for your help you guys, I really do appreciate it. I will probably send an app Wisconsins way and see what happens. I am a bit surprised at the optimism, I would have thought with my LSAT score that I would most likely be denied...am I wrong in that? Maybe they really do favor instate/undergrads that heavily. In state tuition sure would be nice

[Nova]

Thanks so much for your help you guys, I really do appreciate it. I will probably send an app Wisconsins way and see what happens. I am a bit surprised at the optimism, I would have thought with my LSAT score that I would most likely be denied...am I wrong in that? Maybe they really do favor instate/undergrads that heavily. In state tuition sure would be nice

Well, 25% or the class had a 157 of below... Sooo youre definitly in the running with your ever so slightly above median GPA and in state status.

http://www.law.wisc.edu/prospective/stats.html

[JCFindley]

Thanks so much for your help you guys, I really do appreciate it. I will probably send an app Wisconsins way and see what happens. I am a bit surprised at the optimism, I would have thought with my LSAT score that I would most likely be denied...am I wrong in that? Maybe they really do favor instate/undergrads that heavily. In state tuition sure would be nice

You have a shot and you won't know unless you apply.

That said, depending on how you are funding LS, getting in is only half the battle. If you are taking out loans to fund LS then retaking is still likely the best financial decision you could ever make. While attending the state's flagship with in state tuition at sticker is not the worst choice you could make, it is still a huge amount of debt in today's legal market. Retaking and improving your LSAT could in fact save you a 100 thousand dollars. Think of studding for it as a full time job that could literally pay you 100K for four months worth of work. (four months between now and the Feb LSAT.)

Now, if you are using the Post 911 GI Bill and WI will be free anyway or funding LS some other way where money really isn't an issue then it is just about getting in. I will also assume that you would be happy to live and work in WI as that is where the vast majority of WI grads will end up.

[TimeToChoose]

Yes, finances are always going to be an issue. However, I am coming out of undergrad with no debt. Therefore, for me personally, I would be thrilled to just get into Wisconsin Law, and am really hoping that it does happen. I would also have no problem staying and working in Wisconsin, as I know that is where most grads end up working

[Nova]

Retaking and improving your LSAT could in fact save you a 100 thousand dollars. Think of studding for it as a full time job that could literally pay you 100K for four months worth of work. (four months between now and the Feb LSAT.)

This. In terms of the LSAT, the difference between 159 and 162+ is slight. In terms of admission to Wisc law, the difference is enormous.

Why hope to sneak in when you can write your own ticket and save tens of thousands of dollars, ya know? All over a few silly questions.