What LSAT Would I Need to Make it Into This List? Forum

[Kilotango]

Hey everyone,

So, from what I can gather I need to go T1 if I want to actually be a lawyer? (joking about the surplus of articles dealing with T3 and T4 grads working at Starbucks). Anywho, I'm at NC State right now with a 3.35, probably a 3.4 after the semester. I'm in a internship with the state gov that's pushing 40 a week and I've got other extracurriculars I could mention. What LSAT score would I need to have a good shot at the following schools?

UVA
Duke
UNC
Vandy
UGA
Wake
and for s*^&s and giggles, Yale

Just curious on what everyone has to say.

Thanks,

Tango

[ManOfTheMinute]

Nothing seems outrageous in your softs, check out mylsn.info

[Crowing]

No chance at Yale even with 180. A 170 or so would give you a decent shot at Vandy and would get you in with ED to UVA. A couple more points (maybe 172ish? I'm too lazy to go run numbers right now so just estimating) would make Duke and RD @ UVA more realistic.

[moonman157]

Out at Yale no matter what. That's an incredibly wide range of schools. Make it your goal to get at least a 170 on the LSAT.

[Kilotango]

Haha I added Yale just for a bit of Ivy in the list. I want to practice in the Southeast and being an NC resident UNC looks like the best bang for your buck. The range is wide, but the geographical area is the same. I plan on applying ED to UVA, but the realistic rankings go:

UVA (ED)
UNC
UGA
Wake

[Kilotango]

Duke and Vandy are my on a prayer schools. I know UVA is a stretch, but it won't financially wreck me tuition wise so I'm keeping an open mind. Duke and Vandy are like paying for a new BMW every year of school, brutal stuff.

[Nova]

UVA 170+
Duke 170+
UNC Median
Vandy 170+
UGA Median
Wake Median

Just guesses.

[Nova]

Use http://www.mylsn.info

[Kilotango]

UVA 170+
Duke 170+
UNC Median
Vandy 170+
UGA Median
Wake Median

Just guesses.

Looks like 170 is the consensus

[hephaestus]

A 3.35 is low, so you need at least a median LSAT score. I think that Duke likely wont happen. UVA is your best bet.

[Kilotango]

So, is it crucial that I apply ED to UVA? Or should I apply regular admission to all the schools on the list? Provided I score above a 170.

[hephaestus]

So, is it crucial that I apply ED to UVA? Or should I apply regular admission to all the schools on the list? Provided I score above a 170.

If you get a 170 you should blanket the lower T14 and see what happens. ED would lock you in easily but at sticker. If you apply broadly, you'll likely get one or more, possibly with money.

[bowser]

Psychologically it may be better just to take the test without worrying about what specific score you might need. If you have goals and a background like the vast majority of potential law school candidates, you should absolutely kill the LSAT to make law school a feasible option. So focus on that.

[Kilotango]

I can see the added pressure of making a 170 being a bit much, but it gives me something to work toward and I like that. Thanks for all the input everyone!

[Crowing]

So, is it crucial that I apply ED to UVA? Or should I apply regular admission to all the schools on the list? Provided I score above a 170.

Honestly with a 170 there is a reasonable risk that you'll strike out at every T14 minus GULC applying RD. If you don't mind paying sticker, EDing to UVA would be your best shot.

If you can get 172-173+ I would be more inclined to roll the dice for RD.

[mr.hands]

A 3.35 is low, so you need at least a median LSAT score. I think that Duke likely wont happen. UVA is your best bet.

This. Duke hates splitters and just doesn't take many applicants below a 3.5-3.6. You'd need an incredibly high LSAT to have a shot (173+ I think)

with a 170-171, chances at UVA would be much better but would still require an ED.

If you get anything below a 170, this is all moot though.

[cahwc12]

Being from NC, if you can manage to put a dent in COL at UNC, I think resident + low COL will be tough to beat. There is a sizable in-state advantage for UNC as well.

[BigZuck]

No chance at Duke, shntn was waitlisted there with a similar GPA and a 179 (and a top ten Ivy degree to boot).

It's cliche but hit 170 and ED UVA IMO.

[052220151]

No chance at Duke, shntn was waitlisted there with a similar GPA and a 179 (and a top ten Ivy degree to boot).

It's cliche but hit 170 and ED UVA IMO.

Shitty could have been YP'd. I would guess that if OP got a 172-175 and wrote a good why duke, he would get in.

[Crowing]

No chance at Duke, shntn was waitlisted there with a similar GPA and a 179 (and a top ten Ivy degree to boot).

It's cliche but hit 170 and ED UVA IMO.

Shitty could have been YP'd. I would guess that if OP got a 172-175 and wrote a good why duke, he would get in.

It's possible he got YP'd, but Duke is definitely really rough on sub 3.5s regardless of LSAT. It's possible that a good why Duke could help, but everybody tries to write one and it's not always easy to come up with very unique and compelling reasons. Maybe it will be easier for the OP to articulate since he's actually from NC, but it's going to be a longshot.

[052220151]

No chance at Duke, shntn was waitlisted there with a similar GPA and a 179 (and a top ten Ivy degree to boot).

It's cliche but hit 170 and ED UVA IMO.

Shitty could have been YP'd. I would guess that if OP got a 172-175 and wrote a good why duke, he would get in.

It's possible he got YP'd, but Duke is definitely really rough on sub 3.5s regardless of LSAT. It's possible that a good why Duke could help, but everybody tries to write one and it's not always easy to come up with very unique and compelling reasons. Maybe it will be easier for the OP to articulate since he's actually from NC, but it's going to be a longshot.

True, drop in apps though... Duke might have to let splitters in if it wants to keep its LSAT median up.

[mr.hands]

No chance at Duke, shntn was waitlisted there with a similar GPA and a 179 (and a top ten Ivy degree to boot).

It's cliche but hit 170 and ED UVA IMO.

Shitty could have been YP'd. I would guess that if OP got a 172-175 and wrote a good why duke, he would get in.

It's possible he got YP'd, but Duke is definitely really rough on sub 3.5s regardless of LSAT. It's possible that a good why Duke could help, but everybody tries to write one and it's not always easy to come up with very unique and compelling reasons. Maybe it will be easier for the OP to articulate since he's actually from NC, but it's going to be a longshot.

True, drop in apps though... Duke might have to let splitters in if it wants to keep its LSAT median up.

Maybe, but with the body of evidence that we have to work with, it doesn't look good. If things change they might be more forgiving. I wouldn't plan on it, though

[cahwc12]

True, drop in apps though... Duke might have to let splitters in if it wants to keep its LSAT median up.

From what I read recently, Duke is one of the few schools who have seen a rise in applications this cycle. Their medians could potentially even improve, although that assumes that the spread is evenly distributed, rather than an influx of people who believe their chances to be better with below median numbers. I think Duke is going to be a winner (over Michigan/UVA) in those highly coveted, highly anticipated USNWR 2013 rankings.

[curious66]

True, drop in apps though... Duke might have to let splitters in if it wants to keep its LSAT median up.

From what I read recently, Duke is one of the few schools who have seen a rise in applications this cycle. Their medians could potentially even improve, although that assumes that the spread is evenly distributed, rather than an influx of people who believe their chances to be better with below median numbers. I think Duke is going to be a winner in those highly coveted, highly anticipated USNWR 2013 rankings.

I think so too.

[BigZuck]

True, drop in apps though... Duke might have to let splitters in if it wants to keep its LSAT median up.

From what I read recently, Duke is one of the few schools who have seen a rise in applications this cycle. Their medians could potentially even improve, although that assumes that the spread is evenly distributed, rather than an influx of people who believe their chances to be better with below median numbers. I think Duke is going to be a winner (over Michigan/UVA) in those highly coveted, highly anticipated USNWR 2013 rankings.

But if they improve medians this cycle that won't affect this years ranking.

Last year they were one of the schools who dropped medians. I could see that hurting them, or at least causing them to remain the same rank.