My chances at H, 3.5x GPA... Forum

[Bleach7777]

Hi! So what do you guys think I need to score on the LSAT to have a chance/lock-in at Harvard?

My stats: 3.5gpa,

URM: other Hispanic (Dominican republic) I have never claimed it before but I can also check the "Black" box because I am mixed but look 90% black, and am beginning to identify more with black anyway.

Also, I can get my GPA up to 3.6/3.7 if it will make a huge difference, but right now I'm focused on the LSAT.

I'm really worried I don't have a chance guys and Harvard is my dream school, I guess I'm just looking for some hope:/

[nebula666]

At least 176 but even with a 180 it's not a lock. Aim lower.

[midwest17]

It's hard to say, because there just aren't many splitter AA data points on myLSN. Maximize your LSAT, apply broadly, and see what happens.

[nebula666]

It's hard to say, because there just aren't many splitter AA data points on myLSN. Maximize your LSAT, apply broadly, and see what happens.

Being dominican is african american now?

[midnight_circus]

It's hard to say, because there just aren't many splitter AA data points on myLSN. Maximize your LSAT, apply broadly, and see what happens.

Being dominican is african american now?

Nope. Being mixed African American is though.

URM: other Hispanic (Dominican republic) I have never claimed it before but I can also check the "Black" box because I am mixed but look 90% black, and am beginning to identify more with black anyway.

OP: Three things. One, it doesn't matter if you "look" black. People will argue for days about the ethics of checking a minority box to get a boost if you don't "identify," but I say you should always check the boxes for everything you are. Besides, the fact that blacks supposedly get a much larger URM boost than dominicans will only help you. Two, aim for 180 and with your current gpa do not settle for less than 175. Even then it isn't a certainty but I'd say your chances are good. Three, yes, getting your gpa up to 3.7 would make a significant difference. Definitely try.

[Nova]

No LSAT score will make you a lock at H with a 3.5

Just do the best you can and let the chips fall

also:
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com
http://www.mylsn.info

[UnderrateOverachieve]

No LSAT score will make you a lock at H with a 3.5

Just do the best you can and let the chips fall

also:
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com
http://www.mylsn.info

Well he is a URM... so...

[Nova]

Well he is a URM... so...

So what?

If youre referring to the chart, OP doesn't have an LSAT score.

If youre referring to the lock comment, being a URM doesn't mean a high LSAT would guarantee anything.

If OP checks the AA box, OP has a good shot at T14s with a 160+, and a good shot at H with like a 165+.

[midwest17]

It's hard to say, because there just aren't many splitter AA data points on myLSN. Maximize your LSAT, apply broadly, and see what happens.

Being dominican is african american now?

RC

[nebula666]

It's hard to say, because there just aren't many splitter AA data points on myLSN. Maximize your LSAT, apply broadly, and see what happens.

Being dominican is african american now?

RC

Yeah I was a little confused by OP's explanation. I thought he meant that he is Dominican but has very dark skin though neither parent is actually of African descent. If he meant that he is a mix between Dominican and AA, then that is a different story.

[Bleach7777]

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your thoughtful responses! I guess I'll try my best at a 180 and 3.7 and let the chips fall where they may. Oh, and Dominicans are about 90% mixed, most being of African descent (including myself).

All in all, I guess this forum will be my new (and only) best friend for the next year =)

[Bleach7777]

Oh my god.... So I completely forgot about calculating my LSAC GPA and just found out that it is 3.67 :O with about 3 semesters to go, it can get as high as 3.82. I don't quite understand, my UGPA is 3.5x but my LSAC GPA is 3.67. Does this benefit me in any way? Is this (LSACGPA) what law schools count as the GPA in the admissions process?

[twenty]

Oh my god.... So I completely forgot about calculating my LSAC GPA and just found out that it is 3.67 :O with about 3 semesters to go, it can get as high as 3.82. I don't quite understand, my UGPA is 3.5x but my LSAC GPA is 3.67. Does this benefit me in any way? Is this (LSACGPA) what law schools count as the GPA in the admissions process?

That dramatically improves your chances. Every A at this point counts, and a 3.82 will absolutely help your cycle.

[midnight_circus]

Oh my god.... So I completely forgot about calculating my LSAC GPA and just found out that it is 3.67 :O with about 3 semesters to go, it can get as high as 3.82. I don't quite understand, my UGPA is 3.5x but my LSAC GPA is 3.67. Does this benefit me in any way? Is this (LSACGPA) what law schools count as the GPA in the admissions process?

That benefits you tremendously. A 3.82 is almost Harvard's median. You wouldn't be a splitter anymore. Still aim for 180 on the lsat, but that gpa would give you a bit more wiggle room.

[Bleach7777]

Ok, thank you guys for the advice! This site is great thanks to whoever started it, if I were to become rich and famous one day I'd come back here and donate or create some type of scholarship program or something haha :p

[teampeeta]

I agree with all the posters who've said that you should improve your GPA as much as you can before you apply.

That said, if you got 176+ on the LSAT and aren't an axe murderer/ a completely ineffective interviewer, I can't imagine that Harvard would turn you down even with a 3.5X. There are so few URMs who score that high, especially AAs if that's what you identify as, that you'd be in a pretty sweet spot.

[jbagelboy]

Just to clear this up: Dominicans are not considered URM AAs. This is due to the simple (and relatively self evident?) fact that they are not African Americans. Part of the Diaspora, sure, but that is a historical/cultural question, not a representation one. URM status goes to those applicants whose ethnic makeup are under-represented in ABA law schools relative to their respective % of the population: Dominicans do not fall under this categorization.

Moreover, Dominicans range from near-white to very dark skinned. Just being on the "blacker" spectrum is not sufficient to inherit the legacy of the African american historical struggle/prejudice

[midnight_circus]

Just to clear this up: Dominicans are not considered URM AAs. This is due to the simple (and relatively self evident?) fact that they are not African Americans. Part of the Diaspora, sure, but that is a historical/cultural question, not a representation one. URM status goes to those applicants whose ethnic makeup are under-represented in ABA law schools relative to their respective % of the population: Dominicans do not fall under this categorization.

Moreover, Dominicans range from near-white to very dark skinned. Just being on the "blacker" spectrum is not sufficient to inherit the legacy of the African american historical struggle/prejudice

Right. I was assuming he was mixed, since he said so in the OP. (Buried in there beside the strange comment that he looks 90% black.) Also here:

Oh, and Dominicans are about 90% mixed, most being of African descent (including myself).

I'm assuming OP is American because I have no idea how/if urm categories work for internationals. But if OP's heritage includes any of the black racial groups of Africa, I believe he is, at least for the purposes of LSAC & admissions, sufficiently defined as African American. Mixed applicants apparently receive the full boost of their most minority status, which in his case would be AA. But if OP immigrated from the Dominican Republic or something to that effect, I don't know if he can claim AA? Someone else would have to help with that.

[jbagelboy]

Just to clear this up: Dominicans are not considered URM AAs. This is due to the simple (and relatively self evident?) fact that they are not African Americans. Part of the Diaspora, sure, but that is a historical/cultural question, not a representation one. URM status goes to those applicants whose ethnic makeup are under-represented in ABA law schools relative to their respective % of the population: Dominicans do not fall under this categorization.

Moreover, Dominicans range from near-white to very dark skinned. Just being on the "blacker" spectrum is not sufficient to inherit the legacy of the African american historical struggle/prejudice

Right. I was assuming he was mixed, since he said so in the OP. (Buried in there beside the strange comment that he looks 90% black.) Also here:

Oh, and Dominicans are about 90% mixed, most being of African descent (including myself).

I'm assuming OP is American because I have no idea how/if urm categories work for internationals. But if OP's heritage includes any of the black racial groups of Africa, I believe he is, at least for the purposes of LSAC & admissions, sufficiently defined as African American. Mixed applicants apparently receive the full boost of their most minority status, which in his case would be AA. But if OP immigrated from the Dominican Republic or something to that effect, I don't know if he can claim AA? Someone else would have to help with that.

True, if OPs grandparents immigrated during Trujillo and have since become identified with/"mixed" with the AA community, OP may be lumped in with that historically under-represented group.

However, it is important to note that "mixed" in this context as the OP uses it more likely refers to heritage of intermarriage during the 1600s and 1700s of African and Spanish-descended families. This isnt mixed in the Bill de Blasio sense (where as you pointed out, any kids they had together get the full benefit of the AA parent). And if OP is a first or second gen, sure as shit Jessica Soban can tell the difference in connotation here.

Either way, none of this precludes OP from writing a killer diversity statement. Hit 174+, and he/she stands a decent-good chance at Harvard with a ~3.7 GPA.

[Bleach7777]

I did immigrate from the DR but I was very young, I grew up in the U.S. In the U.S. people have mostly considered me to be black/African American or mixed black. I think I'll be alright claiming Black on the app because I grew up with that experience in America (and identify with that part of myself as well), but I'm also Hispanic. Thus, I believe I should check both boxes for other Hispanic and black.

[sunnyd101]

Just to clear this up: Dominicans are not considered URM AAs. This is due to the simple (and relatively self evident?) fact that they are not African Americans. Part of the Diaspora, sure, but that is a historical/cultural question, not a representation one. URM status goes to those applicants whose ethnic makeup are under-represented in ABA law schools relative to their respective % of the population: Dominicans do not fall under this categorization.

Moreover, Dominicans range from near-white to very dark skinned. Just being on the "blacker" spectrum is not sufficient to inherit the legacy of the African american historical struggle/prejudice

Dominicans, along with anyone else who identifies as Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, can be of any race (http://www.census.gov/population/race/). I believe most applications say "Black or African American" or "Black/African American" under the racial categorization. I thought the URM "boost" (whatever that might be) was based on race, not "ethnic makeup." Therefore, I am under the assumption that a Dominican (or any Hispanic person) who identifies as black can select black, a mixed race Hispanic/Spanish/Latino person can select whatever races they identify with, and a white Hispanic/Latino/Spanish person can select white/Caucasian. Is that completely incorrect?

[jbagelboy]

Just to clear this up: Dominicans are not considered URM AAs. This is due to the simple (and relatively self evident?) fact that they are not African Americans. Part of the Diaspora, sure, but that is a historical/cultural question, not a representation one. URM status goes to those applicants whose ethnic makeup are under-represented in ABA law schools relative to their respective % of the population: Dominicans do not fall under this categorization.

Moreover, Dominicans range from near-white to very dark skinned. Just being on the "blacker" spectrum is not sufficient to inherit the legacy of the African american historical struggle/prejudice

Dominicans, along with anyone else who identifies as Hispanic/Latino/Spanish, can be of any race (http://www.census.gov/population/race/). I believe most applications say "Black or African American" or "Black/African American" under the racial categorization. I thought the URM "boost" (whatever that might be) was based on race, not "ethnic makeup." Therefore, I am under the assumption that a Dominican (or any Hispanic person) who identifies as black can select black, a mixed race Hispanic/Spanish/Latino person can select whatever races they identify with, and a white Hispanic/Latino/Spanish person can select white/Caucasian. Is that completely incorrect?

I don't think it is that simple. Either way, the degree to which "black" and "African-American" are synonymous for URM purposes (and whether checking the 'black' box is sufficient to receive the boost in a review/interview intensive process) is a question better reserved for the URM board.

OP, be sure to include your perspective and identification for clarification in your diversity statement, and most importantly, good luck on your LSAT!

[A. Nony Mouse]

sunny's understanding is how I understood it to work, too. I'm by no means an expert but I'm pretty sure the consensus here is that being black from wherever confers the boost, not only being African-American (so in that respect it's not like the Hispanic boost, which tends to help only Hispanics of particular ancestries).