3.54 GPA / 164 LSAT / Decent Softs and LOR/ Forum

[brandoman]

3.54 undergrad gpa (brought up from a 2.9 through the first 3 semesters).

I played soccer for my college (D1) for the first year but ended up tearing my quad, so never at a collegiate level again. Grades dropped a lot first semester after injury (kind of depressed/stopped really caring).
President of my fraternity. I was the Treasurer, and New Member Educator as well.
LoR from a County Judge, and a lawyer who runs a firm.
Internships and a bit of Work Experience during college.
Half Honduran (Dad was born there, mom is white), last name is Cortez. However, I grew up relatively affluent so I don't really have a childhood story full of struggles, I'm assuming I still qualify as a URM though?

I guess I'm just curious as to what my chances are for Virginia, Michigan, Penn, NYU ("dream school"), or Minnesota? Also, about what rank of schools should I blanket app for?

Thanks

[Davidbentley]

The general consensus on this board (TLS) is that the only groups to receive URM (Under Represented Minority) boosts are: Black/African Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans.

Sorry Brah, Hispanic URM status (and Boost) generally only applies to MA's and Puerto Ricans. My guess would be out at all of the above with a possible IN or waitlist at UMINN. Retake time.

ETA:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 14&t=35568

[PRgradBYU]

The general consensus on this board (TLS) is that the only groups to receive URM (Under Represented Minority) boosts are: Black/African Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans.

Sorry Brah, Hispanic URM status (and Boost) generally only applies to MA's and Puerto Ricans. My guess would be out at all of the above with a possible IN or waitlist at UMINN. Retake time.

ETA:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 14&t=35568

I could see you possibly getting into Minnesota without a retake, though.

[brandoman]

So my half-hispanic ethnicity doesn't give me any form of a boost in chances -- not necessarily a point boost per se, but more of a boost in their "minority" section?

And how many points higher would I need for the lower T-14? Cornell really interests me, but I'm quite fond of Minnesota (family ties and such) so with money I could see myself there as well. Is there any reason not to attend Minnesota?

[bk1]

Moved.

[Dr. Dre]

Although you wont get as much of a boost as an MA or Puerto Rican, you will get SOME boost just for being URM (hispanic)

The strongest letters are from professors who oversaw you academically. Law schools care about how well you read,write, and think. Professors can talk about that. Not some judge or lawyer who only saw you staple papers, bring them coffee, and arrive punctually.

Your softs are meh.

Retake in June or October, try to at least get 168+, but when you study don't aim less than 170+

[cahwc12]

So my half-hispanic ethnicity doesn't give me any form of a boost in chances -- not necessarily a point boost per se, but more of a boost in their "minority" section?

And how many points higher would I need for the lower T-14? Cornell really interests me, but I'm quite fond of Minnesota (family ties and such) so with money I could see myself there as well. Is there any reason not to attend Minnesota?

I really think that the general wisdom is wrong here. If you mark hispanic you'll get the boost. It's not as much as AA, but it's not inconsequential either. I am hispanic(non-MA/PR) and I scored a clean sweep in fee waivers to T14, got all of the minority/diversity packets, and several hand-written notes from deans (as in, actually a hand-written message). I realize anecdote =/= data, but I don't think my case was anything out of the ordinary this cycle.

In this climate of contracting applications and dog-eat-dog median maintenance, schools will take URMs however they can get them. It's all a game, and if you decide to put your minority chip in, expect to get the benefit. If they can tally one less white male in their class and still maintain medians, you are more valuable than the next white guy with your same numbers.

To be clear though, I absolutely recommend retaking along with the others in this thread. Don't use this boost as an excuse to be lazy on the 45% of your application that LSAT counts (GPA 45%, other 10%).

[Rahviveh]

So my half-hispanic ethnicity doesn't give me any form of a boost in chances -- not necessarily a point boost per se, but more of a boost in their "minority" section?

And how many points higher would I need for the lower T-14? Cornell really interests me, but I'm quite fond of Minnesota (family ties and such) so with money I could see myself there as well. Is there any reason not to attend Minnesota?

I really think that the general wisdom is wrong here. If you mark hispanic you'll get the boost. It's not as much as AA, but it's not inconsequential either. I am hispanic(non-MA/PR) and I scored a clean sweep in fee waivers to T14, got all of the minority/diversity packets, and several hand-written notes from deans (as in, actually a hand-written message). I realize anecdote =/= data, but I don't think my case was anything out of the ordinary this cycle.

In this climate of contracting applications and dog-eat-dog median maintenance, schools will take URMs however they can get them. It's all a game, and if you decide to put your minority chip in, expect to get the benefit. If they can tally one less white male in their class and still maintain medians, you are more valuable than the next white guy with your same numbers.

To be clear though, I absolutely recommend retaking along with the others in this thread. Don't use this boost as an excuse to be lazy on the 45% of your application that LSAT counts (GPA 45%, other 10%).

Did you actually go through the cycle and see any benefit? I am the same as you. If anything I under-performed my cycle. I also think it depends on the school. Mike Spivey or Dean Perez (can't remember which) have some good commentary about this issue.

[cahwc12]

Did you actually go through the cycle and see any benefit? I am the same as you. If anything I under-performed my cycle. I also think it depends on the school. Mike Spivey or Dean Perez (can't remember which) have some good commentary about this issue.

No I decided to go back to school for to finish an EE degree and sit out another cycle. If you're asking whether I think being any flavor of hispanic would outperform numbers, I think that's doubtful. But my point was that it will break ties against caucasian applicants, because right behind GPA/LSAT is diversity. I don't want to out either of us but if you PM me we can talk more about it (if you want to).