162 2.7 Forum

[pwv2913]

Hi all, I was hoping to be critiqued as an applicant, and perhaps endowed with some advice

First off, I am graduating this semester, my #'s are 162, 3.0ugpa, 2.7 lsac ugpa

As for the weaknesses in my application:
I know my GPA is very low but I possess, at least what I believe is, a solid addendum.

Additionally, I have an unusually high amount of W's, these are not attached with grade penalties, but rather were due to a poor advising experience throughout my undergrad and constant schedule changes. I have documentation showing that most of my W's were courses dropped very soon after enrollment in them, would this be something worth elaborating on in an addendum?
Furthermore, I do have two arrests on my record, one for Minor in consumption my freshman year that was expunged (do I still report this?), and one for minor in consumption and disorderly conduct my sophomore year. Should I provide and addendum for this as well? I feel as though too many addenda could be off-putting for admissions officers.

My letters of recommendation are pretty mediocre

Perceived Pros:
-Looking to take advantage of a down year in applicants and matriculants
-I have an abundance of leadership experience from an organization in my undergrad (Is this something that admissions officers put any stock into?)

I am a non-URM, resident of Arizona, and am looking to specialize in intellectual property

THe schools I am looking to apply to are:
ASU (I understand that this is more than a long shot)
U of Arizona (Same)
U Houston (Same)
Santa Clara
Chapman
UNH
Whittier

what do you guys think my chances are at any of these and would any give me $$?

I know everyone is going to tell me to retake or that Law School would be a poor investment for me. I appreciate the valuable input, but please omit it from this thread. I am determined to go and my plan is to apply this cycle, evaluate my options, decide whether or not to take the June 2013 LSAT, then re-apply next cycle if there is an improvement. Thanks all.

[nickb285]

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[pwv2913]

Thank you for the response:

The W's were overwhelmingly over one semester, where my advisor gave me some erroneous information (I've already raised hell at my undergrad, not much else I can do on that front). forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what a C&F addendum is.

I am open to taking the year off, my preference is to enroll for the fall of 2013, though. My thoughts were that amidst the speculation of a down year in applications, my LSAT may be attractive enough to squeeze me in to a school I would not otherwise be admitted to. If that is not the case, and I do not receive significant $ from one of the lower-tiered schools on my list, I would retake in June. I realistically believe I could score anywhere between 165-167 with a retake. With my low GPA would that be a significant boost? The prospect of taking a year off just scares me is all..

[akili]

Thank you for the response:

The W's were overwhelmingly over one semester, where my advisor gave me some erroneous information (I've already raised hell at my undergrad, not much else I can do on that front). forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what a C&F addendum is.

I am open to taking the year off, my preference is to enroll for the fall of 2013, though. My thoughts were that amidst the speculation of a down year in applications, my LSAT may be attractive enough to squeeze me in to a school I would not otherwise be admitted to. If that is not the case, and I do not receive significant $ from one of the lower-tiered schools on my list, I would retake in June. I realistically believe I could score anywhere between 165-167 with a retake. With my low GPA would that be a significant boost? The prospect of taking a year off just scares me is all..

It can be scary, but having a higher LSAT and work experience is going to put you in a better situation.

What kind of law do you want to do? Are you going to be paying for school with loans? Do you have a job lined up for post-grad? Where do you want to work?

[pwv2913]

Also, I was wondering, in a situation where there is a strong discrepancy between LSAT and GPA, and a school had entering scholarship requirements where, for example, the LSAT is 158 and the GPA is 2.8; would I, having splits of 162/2.7, be able to negotiate my way into that scholarship?

[pwv2913]

My worry is that I am not sure any job/experience that I could procure at the present would be beneficial/look attractive.

I am looking into going into intellectual property law, do not have a job, am not looking for a big law or 100k law right out of school, and am pretty open to various regions

[akili]

My worry is that I am not sure any job/experience that I could procure at the present would be beneficial/look attractive.

I am looking into going into intellectual property law, do not have a job, am not looking for a big law or 100k law right out of school, and am pretty open to various regions

My year off I worked in a completely random industry and studied for the LSAT, it hasn't seemed to hurt me at all. It's been a talking point at several interviews.

Do you have a science background? Again, how much debt will you be going into? A year off to work could help defray costs of school.

[alex.feuerman]

I am determined to go and my plan is to apply this cycle, evaluate my options, decide whether or not to take the June 2013 LSAT, then re-apply next cycle if there is an improvement. Thanks all.

Just think to yourself the following
Do you have loans from college? Do you know how much you will owe after interest has accrued?

What are your plans for paying for law school? Because sticker prices (e.g. $70k) isn't what you end up paying, you'll end up paying that plus accrued interest. Not to mention the $$ you will lose by NOT working during law school. (even if you work part time, you're prob looking at pay on the lower end of the spectrum.)

There are some great online calculators to calculate interest rates and financial solvency. I hope you are not offended, it's just think about whether your life plans involve owing $200k plus and repaying over (probably) ten+ years. (since you said you don't want biglaw) I mean don't you want to have kids? or a house or a car? or a life free of debt?

[SEngland]

OP seems to be a lock at Texas Tech and Chapman with possible scholly money at MaineU?

[byronmullens]

OP seems to be a lock at Texas Tech and Chapman with possible scholly money at MaineU?

Where does Maine come from OP didn't mention Maine, just UNH? Does MaineU have good IP program, curious, not aware.

[SEngland]

OP seems to be a lock at Texas Tech and Chapman with possible scholly money at MaineU?

Where does Maine come from OP didn't mention Maine, just UNH? Does MaineU have good IP program, curious, not aware.

Maine is comparable to UNH if not better. It has better lay prestige and I think more movement and rec in the region. Maine IP program is strong as well. Solid profs and my brah's fiance went there for IP, jerb'd up and making $$$ now.

Maine >> UNH, especially with a little of that scholly schol schol tossed in.

[keviiiiiiiiiiiin]

Thank you for the response:

The W's were overwhelmingly over one semester, where my advisor gave me some erroneous information (I've already raised hell at my undergrad, not much else I can do on that front). forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what a C&F addendum is.

I am open to taking the year off, my preference is to enroll for the fall of 2013, though. My thoughts were that amidst the speculation of a down year in applications, my LSAT may be attractive enough to squeeze me in to a school I would not otherwise be admitted to. If that is not the case, and I do not receive significant $ from one of the lower-tiered schools on my list, I would retake in June. I realistically believe I could score anywhere between 165-167 with a retake. With my low GPA would that be a significant boost? The prospect of taking a year off just scares me is all..

It would be a huge boost. Only one person on LSN with a 164+ in the last two years wasn't accepted to ASU and he had a 2.5 UGPA.
http://asu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213

[stillwater]

OP seems to be a lock at Texas Tech and Chapman with possible scholly money at MaineU?

Where does Maine come from OP didn't mention Maine, just UNH? Does MaineU have good IP program, curious, not aware.

Maine is comparable to UNH if not better. It has better lay prestige and I think more movement and rec in the region. Maine IP program is strong as well. Solid profs and my brah's fiance went there for IP, jerb'd up and making $$$ now.

Maine >> UNH, especially with a little of that scholly schol schol tossed in.

maine gives shit scholarships. they po' as shit

[Ti Malice]

Thank you for the response:

The W's were overwhelmingly over one semester, where my advisor gave me some erroneous information (I've already raised hell at my undergrad, not much else I can do on that front). forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what a C&F addendum is.

I am open to taking the year off, my preference is to enroll for the fall of 2013, though. My thoughts were that amidst the speculation of a down year in applications, my LSAT may be attractive enough to squeeze me in to a school I would not otherwise be admitted to. If that is not the case, and I do not receive significant $ from one of the lower-tiered schools on my list, I would retake in June. I realistically believe I could score anywhere between 165-167 with a retake. With my low GPA would that be a significant boost? The prospect of taking a year off just scares me is all..

It would be a huge boost. Only one person on LSN with a 164+ in the last two years wasn't accepted to ASU and he had a 2.5 UGPA.
http://asu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213

This thread is more than six months old.

[keviiiiiiiiiiiin]

Thank you for the response:

The W's were overwhelmingly over one semester, where my advisor gave me some erroneous information (I've already raised hell at my undergrad, not much else I can do on that front). forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what a C&F addendum is.

I am open to taking the year off, my preference is to enroll for the fall of 2013, though. My thoughts were that amidst the speculation of a down year in applications, my LSAT may be attractive enough to squeeze me in to a school I would not otherwise be admitted to. If that is not the case, and I do not receive significant $ from one of the lower-tiered schools on my list, I would retake in June. I realistically believe I could score anywhere between 165-167 with a retake. With my low GPA would that be a significant boost? The prospect of taking a year off just scares me is all..

It would be a huge boost. Only one person on LSN with a 164+ in the last two years wasn't accepted to ASU and he had a 2.5 UGPA.
http://asu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213

This thread is more than six months old.

If you haven't started LS, it's never too late for a retake.