3.4/161 Forum

[topher44]

Realistically where should I be applying? Where do I have the best shot at getting in along with also getting a little bit of money to make it affordable? Nothing special for softs. Finance degree from Arizona State. Looking at:

Pittsburgh
Miami
Arizona-first choice as I am in state
Maryland
Connecticut
Richmond
Temple
Denver
Boulder
Northeastern
Utah
San Diego
Hastings
Wake Forest
Loyola Marymount

Am I being unrealistic in any way here? Looking for any help I can get in this application process.

[CR2012]

My numbers are nearly identical to yours.

I am retaking, and I think you should too. I don't know about you, but I under-performed on the Oct LSAT. Some more studying and an higher score could open a lot more doors for us.

Sorry I don't have any advice on those schools.

[JCFindley]

Realistically where should I be applying? Where do I have the best shot at getting in along with also getting a little bit of money to make it affordable? Nothing special for softs. Finance degree from Arizona State. Looking at:

Pittsburgh
Miami
Arizona-first choice as I am in state
Maryland
Connecticut
Richmond
Temple
Denver
Boulder
Northeastern
Utah
San Diego
Hastings
Wake Forest
Loyola Marymount

Am I being unrealistic in any way here? Looking for any help I can get in this application process.

Whooooooahhhh there, slow down.

First off, retake is almost always the right answer but here is some more food for thought.

You are ALL over the place with your schools and looking at 12 different states. None of the degrees from these schools travel and many of the markets are going to want you to have ties to the area. Going to LS in state is not enough of a tie to compete with people who grew up in that state. Seriously, you are probably not going to get a job in NC unless you are from there or at the very top of your class at Wake. You need to look into WHERE you want to work beyond LS and not just where your numbers may get you accepted.

[topher44]

I understand that those schools are all over the map, but each of them resides in an area I could potentially see myself living in for the future (southwest and northeast primarily). This is only my initial list and ultimately one of the biggest factors I will base my final decision on will be where I can get a job and where I ideally want to live (I'll definitely be taking a couple of visits). At this point I just want to get a feel for my list, and figure which are worth applying to and which are going to be quick denies... I definitely did under perform on the LSAT I was testing in the mid to higher 160's pretty consistently before the exam, it just didn't happen for me on test day (-11 RC, wtf, -7 LG, again crazy, and -5 total on LR). As far as retaking goes however, I feel like I've exhausted every piece of information, I took a full time class and spent unreal hours studying on my own.

Anyone though, any advice on school, University of Arizona???

I appreciate all the responses, thank you guys.

[jump_man]

There is always room for improvement with the LSAT. I improved my score 13 points after changing my study strategies (e.g. better diagrams for games, better roadmaps for RC). You should DEFINITELY retake. You can easily get -0 on logic games with a little diagramming practice; getting those extra 7 point you missed on LG could translate to $$$ in scholarship money from a higher LSAT score.

None of the schools you listed are worthwhile investments without $$$$. Even if you just look at the local market, half the grads won't get ANY law job. Period. Why not spend a few months studying LG intensively, retake, and save $100,000+ by getting better scholarship offers?

[CanadianWolf]

What about ASU ?

[Doorkeeper]

Retake the LSAT.

[topher44]

Would love to go to ASU but not sure there's any chance with the numbers I'm putting forth currently. I know a retake might be the best thing for me, I've got a lot of thinking to do in the next day or two, I'm just not sure about it.

[CanadianWolf]

If you're not applying to ASU as an Arizona resident due to your numbers (3.4/161), then why waste the app fees on CU-Boulder & UC-Hastings where you have much lower chances of admission ?

P.S. Utah, San Diego, Pittsburgh, WFU, Loyola-Marymount & U. of Arizona seem to be good targets for you, in my opinion. Miami may offer money. Maryland & Temple are slight reaches.

P.P.S. Have you thought about UNLV ?

[topher44]

That's a good point, I didn't realize I had a better shot at Arizona State than I do at either of those schools. I'm not dead set on Boulder or Hastings, just told by lsp and other websites that they were schools I should be targeting. Obviously I would much rather be at Arizona State than either of those. I'll narrow and add. Thank you for your help.

[llachans]

I'm a 1L but had very similar numbers (3.5/160).

Of the schools I'm familiar with, I think you'll get into Pitt, Miami, Temple, and Loyola.
I was waitlisted at Richmond and got really good money at USD (I got 25,000/year with a top half stip and talked it up to 29,000/year).
I think Connecticut, Wake Forest, and Boulder are maybes, but you probably won't get substantial money.
Unfortunately, I don't think you're very competitive at Arizona.