Top Law Schools

Retook in October, now at a 3.84/170.

I think I have great softs, founded a non-profit, on the board for two non-profits, have held 3-4 jobs consistently through college (when you add up the hours it's like having a full time job and a part time job), 500+ volunteer hours. One of my professors literally told me "if my recommendation doesn't get you in, nothing will," and another rec is from my employer whose department I... I don't think revolutionized would be a stretch... by creating computer programs to make their jobs substantially easier. I also have a third rec from a professor that I've taken quite a few classes with and who I get along with quite well.

Would love CCN, though I realize that CC are a stretch in particular. Obviously I know that Stanford is unpredictable, but I'm hoping my recs might pull me over the edge...?

What was yout prior LSAT score ?

You're above all T-14 GPA medians except: Yale, Stanford, Harvard & UCal-Berkeley & Chicago.

CanadianWolf wrote:What was yout prior LSAT score ?

You're above all T-14 GPA medians except: Yale, Stanford, Harvard & UCal-Berkeley. A prior post suggests that you misread Chicago's new median GPA which decreased to 3.73.

The prior LSAT score is 169, so I don't think there will be a huge difference in my cycle because of the retake.

And wait, what? I thought Chicago's new median GPA was 3.9?

ETA: Here it says Chicago's new median is 3.9.... http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospectives/jdfaq/about

Interesting. Apparently the chart made by a TLS poster that was copied into three of your prior posts is incorrect.

Actually that poster was you--LSATSCORES2012. (August 12, 2012).

CanadianWolf wrote:Interesting. Apparently the chart made by a TLS poster that was copied into three of your prior posts is incorrect.

Actually that poster was you--LSATSCORES2012. (August 12, 2012).

Thanks for the heads up - someone had messed it up (it's publicly editable), it's fixed now

here are the latest data from ABA - schools for which you are at or above median are in bold

TLS’ TOP 10
Yale – 3.90/173
Stanford – 3.85/170
Harvard – 3.89/173
Columbia – 3.72/172
Chicago – 3.87/171
NYU – 3.71/172
Berkeley – 3.79/167
Penn – 3.86/170
UVA – 3.86/170
Michigan – 3.76/169

helix23 wrote:http://myLSN.info/4u3l4y

That funny moment when someone links you to your own website...

But I do appreciate it

LSATSCORES2012 wrote:

helix23 wrote:http://myLSN.info/4u3l4y

That funny moment when someone links you to your own website...

But I do appreciate it

Hey man thought you might've forgotten what a great thing you created!

If you think your letters of rec are going to be game-changers, I think you're over-estimating letters of rec and their value to schools. In an admissions environment where there are fewer LSAT takers and fewer apps, numbers have to mean more than ever for schools to maintain their medians (which they've shown themselves very dedicated to doing).

IAFG wrote:If you think your letters of rec are going to be game-changers, I think you're over-estimating letters of rec and their value to schools. In an admissions environment where there are fewer LSAT takers and fewer apps, numbers have to mean more than ever for schools to maintain their medians (which they've shown themselves very dedicated to doing).

Well... here's to hoping you're wrong!

But, still, I agree with your reasoning, unfortunately.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Would still welcome more input if you have anything else for me

OP, those numbers are pretty solid, especially with admissions numbers down. I think you've got a decent shot everywhere (maybe even HS) except for Y, but it's still worth a shot. However, because of your LSAT, you probably won't see much money until you get into the lower T14.

One of my professors literally told me "if my recommendation doesn't get you in, nothing will,"

This statement really hurts this professor's credibility. He/she obviously has no clue about the law school admissions process. No recommendation is better than 10 points on the LSAT. In fact, no recommendation is better than 1 point on the LSAT, especially if that 1 point would bump you up to or over a few medians (which in your case, it would). Sorry prof, a 180 would do a way better job of getting OP in than your recommendation.

You're above all T-14 GPA medians except: Yale, Stanford, Harvard & UCal-Berkeley & Chicago.

This is not true. I don't know where you're getting your info from.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=191337

For the c/o 2015 (most recent) numbers, your LSAT puts you below the medians for NYU (suspected to be 172 or 171 based on 25th/75th's) and Columbia (172) as well. However, you're above both GPA medians so you're technically a mild reverse splitter. You've got a decent shot at both IMO. Your softs should help *a bit* (if they run out of people with higher LSAT scores, which they probably will this cycle).

On the other hand, you are ABOVE both medians (167/3.81) for Berkeley. Cal is known to be a wildcard though so write a groovy PS and you've got a great shot.

WhiskeynCoke wrote:

One of my professors literally told me "if my recommendation doesn't get you in, nothing will,"

This statement really hurts this professor's credibility. He/she obviously has no clue about the law school admissions process. No recommendation is better than 10 points on the LSAT. In fact, no recommendation is better than 1 point on the LSAT, especially if that 1 point would bump you up to or over a few medians (which in your case, it would). Sorry prof, a 180 would do a way better job of getting OP in than your recommendation.

I was trying to think of people who actually have the juice to get people into schools based on their LORs. I bet Carter Phillips could get someone into NU.

WhiskeynCoke wrote:

One of my professors literally told me "if my recommendation doesn't get you in, nothing will,"

This statement really hurts this professor's credibility. He/she obviously has no clue about the law school admissions process. No recommendation is better than 10 points on the LSAT. In fact, no recommendation is better than 1 point on the LSAT, especially if that 1 point would bump you up to or over a few medians (which in your case, it would). Sorry prof, a 180 would do a way better job of getting OP in than your recommendation.

Regarding this, it's just his way of saying the rec is really good, I think. He's a bio professor, and writes a lot of med school recommendations (which are, supposedly, a MAJOR part of the application... he would know, he is the former dean of two major medical schools ) But I totally understand what you're getting at. Law school admissions isn't anything like med school admission. I'm hoping they might help a bit, though...

Again, thanks for everyone's input!

Cool, someone who says they have strong softs and actually DOES have strong softs.

Enjoy your choices.

JCFindley wrote:Cool, someone who says they have strong softs and actually DOES have strong softs.

Enjoy your choices.

I'd rank them as above average, but strong? I'd imagine most non traditional applicants will have at least as good softs, and quite a few K-JDs will have similar.

albanach wrote:

JCFindley wrote:Cool, someone who says they have strong softs and actually DOES have strong softs.

Enjoy your choices.

I'd rank them as above average, but strong? I'd imagine most non traditional applicants will have at least as good softs, and quite a few K-JDs will have similar.

Starting a non-profit is a surprisingly common soft, based on that information alone. Obviously working through school is also common.

IAFG wrote:

albanach wrote:

JCFindley wrote:Cool, someone who says they have strong softs and actually DOES have strong softs.

Enjoy your choices.

I'd rank them as above average, but strong? I'd imagine most non traditional applicants will have at least as good softs, and quite a few K-JDs will have similar.

Starting a non-profit is a surprisingly common soft, based on that information alone. Obviously working through school is also common.

I had no idea.