3.2 GPA, low 160s LSAT...paralegal experience factor in? Forum

[Ignatius1234]

What are my chances of a top-50 law school program with a 3.2 GPA and an LSAT score in the low 160s?

Also, very new to the process, but have heard that the only real factors determining admission are LSAT and GPA. However, I have been a paralegal with the DOJ for the past 2 years (luckily) working on several newsworthy cases. Will this at all factor into a decision? Thanks all!

[nebula666]

Won't matter. Retake.

[PRgradBYU]

What are my chances of a top-50 law school program with a 3.2 GPA and an LSAT score in the low 160s?

http://myLSN.info/e1mcjh

It looks like you'd have somewhat of a shot at lower T-50s. If you were to retake the LSAT and score in the mid-160s, you'd have a better chance.

I have been a paralegal with the DOJ for the past 2 years (luckily) working on several newsworthy cases. Will this at all factor into a decision?

It will factor in extremely minimally, if at all.

[Ignatius1234]

Great advice, thanks. Would it be wholly unwise to blanket the bottom of the T-50 schools in the hopes of acceptance? I know that's a pretty piss poor strategy, but the thought of studying and preparing for the LSAT again makes me depressed

[Crowing]

Great advice, thanks. Would it be wholly unwise to blanket the bottom of the T-50 schools in the hopes of acceptance? I know that's a pretty piss poor strategy, but the thought of studying and preparing for the LSAT again makes me depressed

retake anyway. you'll be more depressed if you're in debt without a job post-graduation.

[drive4showLSAT4dough]

you're willing to pay 200K to study for tests for the next 3 years but you don't want to study for one single test that could dramatically lower the cost of attending law school?

[goldenflash19]

Great advice, thanks. Would it be wholly unwise to blanket the bottom of the T-50 schools in the hopes of acceptance? I know that's a pretty piss poor strategy, but the thought of studying and preparing for the LSAT again makes me depressed

It is a really piss poor strategy. I wouldn't really concern myself with the T-50 thing. Applying to random lower-ranked schools in markets in which you have no ties would be a bad decision, and going to a school like American because it's a T-50 over your local flagship state school (if applicable) would be career suicide. Retaking sucks, but it's the only choice here if you want to go to law school.

[cinephile]

Great advice, thanks. Would it be wholly unwise to blanket the bottom of the T-50 schools in the hopes of acceptance? I know that's a pretty piss poor strategy, but the thought of studying and preparing for the LSAT again makes me depressed

retake anyway. you'll be more depressed if you're in debt without a job post-graduation.

[PRgradBYU]

Great advice, thanks. Would it be wholly unwise to blanket the bottom of the T-50 schools in the hopes of acceptance? I know that's a pretty piss poor strategy, but the thought of studying and preparing for the LSAT again makes me depressed

Yes, that is a piss poor strategy. Nobody's actually going to be happy having to restudy for the LSAT; it's hard work. I had to retake it, and yes, I dreaded studying every day. But the LSAT is going to be the most important factor in your law school application and coincidentally, it's the factor you have the most control over.

Retake, man.

[romothesavior]

you're willing to pay 200K to study for tests for the next 3 years but you don't want to study for one single test that could dramatically lower the cost of attending law school?

This. 200k for 3 miserable years of law school followed by very likely crippling indebtedness and un/under-employment, or a few hundred bucks to study and retake the most important test you'll ever take, in an attempt to save hundrds of thousands of dollars and double or triple your employment prospects? Gee tough call.

You don't know depression like the depression of wasting six figures and three years of your life for a menial, low-paying shit job, or worse... no job at all.