Need some brutal honesty and advice. Forum

[hockey96]

So as the title says I'm looking for people to give it to me straight. I've been checking this site out for awhile, in which I learned valuable things such as don't go to a law school outside the top 30 or so schools (specifically the T-14).

My dilemma is not knowing what to do. Should I attend law school based on my stats (Is it financially worth it in my case), or would it be better to attend business school specifically a top 10 school.

My stats are:
2.86 GPA. Economics major.
173 LSAT
730 GMAT
3 years WE with a fortune 500 bank
President of Non-Profit organization in Charlotte
First generation college student
Paper published: Environmental degradation and economic inequality
Other softs: Fraternity, community service, clubs, college hockey player, i.e. nothing really spectacular.

The biggest concerns I have is the law job market, along with this, do I have a shot at getting into a school that I'd have a fighting chance to get one of the few jobs in the market (big law) Also the MBA seems like a very generic degree.

Any advice you guys can give me would be great.

[Br3v]

So as the title says I'm looking for people to give it to me straight. I've been checking this site out for awhile, in which I learned valuable things such as don't go to a law school outside the top 30 or so schools (specifically the T-14).

My dilemma is not knowing what to do. Should I attend law school based on my stats (Is it financially worth it in my case), or would it be better to attend business school specifically a top 10 school.

My stats are:
2.86 GPA. Economics major.
173 LSAT
730 GMAT
3 years WE with a fortune 500 bank
President of Non-Profit organization in Charlotte
First generation college student
Paper published: Environmental degradation and economic inequality
Other softs: Fraternity, community service, clubs, college hockey player, i.e. nothing really spectacular.

The biggest concerns I have is the law job market, along with this, do I have a shot at getting into a school that I'd have a fighting chance to get one of the few jobs in the market (big law) Also the MBA seems like a very generic degree.

Any advice you guys can give me would be great.

Clearly you understand the only thing holding you back is GPA.
Check out lawschoolnumbers.com
Apply to at least the bottom half of the t14 and you are sure to get in at a few considering you have good work experience and have been published (work experience is a much bigger soft than published, though both are smaller in importance than numbers).

Specifically check out Northwestern as I hear they favor work experience and tend to take in a slightly older crowd because of that very reason.

[Grazzhoppa]

Northwestern sounds perfect for you bro

[Br3v]

yeah I suggest looking around lawschoolnumbers.com specifically for Northwestern as well as checking in some of the Northwestern threads on here (use forum search button on top middle of page)

[dextermorgan]

So uh... why law?

[Br3v]

also how did you go about getting published? Do you have a graduate degree?

[gobuffs10]

So as the title says I'm looking for people to give it to me straight. I've been checking this site out for awhile, in which I learned valuable things such as don't go to a law school outside the top 30 or so schools (specifically the T-14).

My dilemma is not knowing what to do. Should I attend law school based on my stats (Is it financially worth it in my case), or would it be better to attend business school specifically a top 10 school.

My stats are:
2.86 GPA. Economics major.
173 LSAT
730 GMAT
3 years WE with a fortune 500 bank
President of Non-Profit organization in Charlotte
First generation college student
Paper published: Environmental degradation and economic inequality
Other softs: Fraternity, community service, clubs, college hockey player, i.e. nothing really spectacular.

The biggest concerns I have is the law job market, along with this, do I have a shot at getting into a school that I'd have a fighting chance to get one of the few jobs in the market (big law) Also the MBA seems like a very generic degree.

Any advice you guys can give me would be great.

I'm gonna start out by saying that I'm a total idiot, but here's my advice anyway.

The MBA may be a generic degree, but think about how many lawyers graduate each year. I think law schools churn out, what, 44,000 new grads annually? The JD is now also a generic degree.

Your GPA is going to hurt at the upper T14, but the 173 is a big help. With the WE and the 173, I'd have to think you are close to a sure thing at Northwestern. Any particular reason your GPA is so low? Do you have an upward grade trend? That helped me, in the end, because it provided evidence for my argument that I had grown up quite a bit and could tackle law school.

I see no harm in applying and seeing where you get money. If it were me, I'd blanket the lower T14, WUSTL (maybe?) and a few others. I think a lot of schools would trade the dip in GPA you bring for the boost in LSAT.

Also, what's to stop you from doing a JD/MBA?

TL;DR - apply and see who gives you cash, decide from there.

[hockey96]

I had an upward trend GPA. My first two years were awful and I had a 3.4 cum my last two years. I got published in the Bloomsburg economics journal. I also got asked to present my research at the University of Illinois (They were holding a young scholar for new economic graduates to present their papers; in which you had to be recommended by a professor. My professor happened to know another professor in the economics department there).

I think the worse part about my GPA is that it's not an indication of my academic ability, more so of my inexperience and immaturity in my late teens. I also realize that same immaturity has locked me out of the T-14, besides perhaps Northwestern. Should I apply to Northwestern's JD/MBA program using my GMAT only. I know they have a program there that does not require the LSAT.

I'm also considering whether b-school would be a better option, I've read about 2.5 killer GMATs and good work experience getting into Harvard and Wharton.

[Danteshek]

Without knowing more, I think you probably belong in a good MBA program.

[gobuffs10]

I had an upward trend GPA. My first two years were awful and I had a 3.4 cum my last two years. I got published in the Bloomsburg economics journal. I also got asked to present my research at the University of Illinois (They were holding a young scholar for new economic graduates to present their papers; in which you had to be recommended by a professor. My professor happened to know another professor in the economics department there).

I think the worse part about my GPA is that it's not an indication of my academic ability, more so of my inexperience and immaturity in my late teens. I also realize that same immaturity has locked me out of the T-14, besides perhaps Northwestern. Should I apply to Northwestern's JD/MBA program using my GMAT only. I know they have a program there that does not require the LSAT.

I'm also considering whether b-school would be a better option, I've read about 2.5 killer GMATs and good work experience getting into Harvard and Wharton.

Yeah man I know about the immaturity of those years. I finished with a solid 2.69, according to LSAC, despite graduating with a 3.4. Sucks, but that's how it goes. You, though, have a nice LSAT, which I did not.

You really should call Northwestern and see who can speak with you about the dual degree. I'd be hesitant to go if you have to do a year of law school and apply for the program after year one, because there's no guarantee you'll get in. I'd also really consider business school; with your background, the publication and experience, I think it'll take you further.

[dextermorgan]

I had an upward trend GPA. My first two years were awful and I had a 3.4 cum my last two years. I got published in the Bloomsburg economics journal. I also got asked to present my research at the University of Illinois (They were holding a young scholar for new economic graduates to present their papers; in which you had to be recommended by a professor. My professor happened to know another professor in the economics department there).

I think the worse part about my GPA is that it's not an indication of my academic ability, more so of my inexperience and immaturity in my late teens. I also realize that same immaturity has locked me out of the T-14, besides perhaps Northwestern. Should I apply to Northwestern's JD/MBA program using my GMAT only. I know they have a program there that does not require the LSAT.

I'm also considering whether b-school would be a better option, I've read about 2.5 killer GMATs and good work experience getting into Harvard and Wharton.

If you want to be a lawyer go to law school. If you want a job go to b-school. The one thing that you have failed to mention so far is why you want to go to law school, so you should probably go to b-school.

[Br3v]

I had an upward trend GPA. My first two years were awful and I had a 3.4 cum my last two years. I got published in the Bloomsburg economics journal. I also got asked to present my research at the University of Illinois (They were holding a young scholar for new economic graduates to present their papers; in which you had to be recommended by a professor. My professor happened to know another professor in the economics department there).

I think the worse part about my GPA is that it's not an indication of my academic ability, more so of my inexperience and immaturity in my late teens. I also realize that same immaturity has locked me out of the T-14, besides perhaps Northwestern. Should I apply to Northwestern's JD/MBA program using my GMAT only. I know they have a program there that does not require the LSAT.

I'm also considering whether b-school would be a better option, I've read about 2.5 killer GMATs and good work experience getting into Harvard and Wharton.

Dont worry about just applying with GMAT, your LSAT is great.