Top Law Schools

Hey Guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Basically my freshman year I failed a few classes, dropped a bunch and finally got my act together sophomore year and my transcript since has been almost nothing but A+'s, A's and A-'s. Scored a 180 on the December LSAT after almost a 15 months of studying. I graduated this past fall and I plan on applying for the next cycle in 2013-2014

I have some work experience in the political field, and am currently working as an assistant at a law firm, basically doing lower than grunt work, but I am learning a lot.

I plan on blanketing T-14 minus California and most central schools, but I will apply to Chicago and Northwestern.

I know I'll have a fairly good shot at getting some of the lower T-14 but I really want Columbia. I was wondering what my chances are at all?

Any tips/comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Columbia isn't looking terrible. http://myLSN.info/1ui8ld

Roger_Mogilny wrote:I plan on blanketing

Good. You might consider a few of the T15-T20 schools too, in case you could get a full-ride.

Your numbers put you up in the air everywhere. Expect some waitlists. Your admission will probably depend on a school's need to offset an admitted special snowflake/URM with a low LSAT or a reverse splitter.

TripTrip wrote:

Roger_Mogilny wrote:I plan on blanketing

Good. You might consider a few of the T15-T20 schools too, in case you could get a full-ride.

Your numbers put you up in the air everywhere. Expect some waitlists. Your admission will probably depend on a school's need to offset an admitted special snowflake/URM with a low LSAT or a reverse splitter.

Definitely, I plan on doing that, as low as BU too. Thanks for the tip!

Not applying to NW is shooting yourself in your foot. Very good chance that will be your best option.

EDIT: Or was I misreading? That sentence is confusing. Anyway, you should definitely be applying to Northwestern.

Elston Gunn wrote:Not applying to NW is shooting yourself in your foot. Very good chance that will be your best option.

Definitely plan on applying to Northwestern, what I meant was I wont be applying to central schools except for Chicago and Northwestern.

Roger_Mogilny wrote:

Elston Gunn wrote:Not applying to NW is shooting yourself in your foot. Very good chance that will be your best option.

Definitely plan on applying to Northwestern, what I meant was I wont be applying to central schools except for Chicago and Northwestern.

Soooo.... where are you not sending apps?

TripTrip wrote:

Roger_Mogilny wrote:

Elston Gunn wrote:Not applying to NW is shooting yourself in your foot. Very good chance that will be your best option.

Definitely plan on applying to Northwestern, what I meant was I wont be applying to central schools except for Chicago and Northwestern.

Soooo.... where are you not sending apps?

Stanford
Berkley
Michigan
Duke

Guess Duke and Michigan aren't exactly central and theres only 2 over in California Sorry

I think you have a great chance everywhere with a 180.

Out at HYS but worth the app everywhere else. Great comeback with that LSAT well done.

Thanks for the encouragement and tips!

I see a lot of threads with people saying that 3.4s with high 170s wont have a chance at CCN though, then I'm seeing a lot that are saying that they will. I dont know, just cant wait for next year to finally apply and get answers.

Also, Tiago your LSN profile was really encouraging. I hope my cycle replicates yours.

manofjustice wrote:I think you have a great chance everywhere with a 180.

Gallup polls say no.

Roger_Mogilny wrote:

TripTrip wrote:

Roger_Mogilny wrote:

Elston Gunn wrote:Not applying to NW is shooting yourself in your foot. Very good chance that will be your best option.

Definitely plan on applying to Northwestern, what I meant was I wont be applying to central schools except for Chicago and Northwestern.

Soooo.... where are you not sending apps?

Stanford
Berkley
Michigan
Duke

Guess Duke and Michigan aren't exactly central and theres only 2 over in California Sorry

Is it just because you dont want to go to Duke or Michigan? I would still send apps there. If they let you in and give you scholarships, you can use that as leverage for the schools you DO want to attend. Your chances at Duke aren't good but they took some splitters off the WL last year.

I think you'll have a fantastic cycle! Good luck

ChampagnePapi wrote:
Is it just because you dont want to go to Duke or Michigan? I would still send apps there. If they let you in and give you scholarships, you can use that as leverage for the schools you DO want to attend. Your chances at Duke aren't good but they took some splitters off the WL last year.

I think you'll have a fantastic cycle! Good luck

Thanks! I never thought of that, but that sounds smart. I'll definitely apply to those two as well. And yes, basically just dont want to go to those schools because of location.

would you mind writing your journey to 180?

Yes journey to 180 pleeeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeeee

Absolutely!

I have a week off in February so I'll do it then.

Awesome thank you

retake

itachiuchiha wrote:retake

This is the first time I've actually laughed out loud on TLS. Thanks for that--it's been a long day.

Also, congrats on your 180, Roger. Those 15 months paid off!

I'd bet that you get at least one of H + CCN. Yale/Stanford are highly unlikely. Significant money at UVA, Michigan, NU, and GULC.

nebula666 wrote:I'd bet that you get at least one of H + CCN. Yale/Stanford are highly unlikely. Significant money at UVA, Michigan, NU, and GULC.

NYU maybe, but H/CC you're pulling out of your ass.

I know a 3.5/178 who got into Harvard, so I'm staying optimistic about Columbia. I'll be okay if I dont get an acceptance to HYS, Columbia is and always has been my dream school.

I was wondering if there's any strategies people would suggest for my situation? Specific essays or ED points? If I get into Columbia theres pretty much no chance that I wont attend. Is there any way I can shed light to the fact that after freshman year I basically have straight As? I know not to right an addendum for being young and stupid, but could this be a strong point to write in my PS?

PRgradBYU wrote:

itachiuchiha wrote:retake

Also, congrats on your 180, Roger. Those 15 months paid off!

Thanks!

Roger_Mogilny wrote: I was wondering if there's any strategies people would suggest for my situation? Specific essays or ED points? If I get into Columbia theres pretty much no chance that I wont attend. Is there any way I can shed light to the fact that after freshman year I basically have straight As? I know not to right an addendum for being young and stupid, but could this be a strong point to write in my PS?

You can ED Columbia but consensus on TLS is it's one of the least helpful EDs. If it is your true #1 choice and you don't mind paying sticker though, go ahead.

Your GPA by year is easy to see on your LSAC report so you don't need an addendum, unless something really awful happened (close family member died, you got really sick). You could write a PS about getting your shit together, but from what I've read of adcomms it sounds like it would be wasting your PS for something they'll easily infer from your LSAC report anyway. If you really have nothing good to write for a PS consider it, but IMO it should be a last resort topic.

So.... I just used LSAC GPA Calculator to check my gpa against the one my school gave me an it turns out I have a 3.54.... I converted my schools gpa from a 12 point system to a 4.0 and figured that was correct.

Any news perspectives on a 3.5/180?