180/3.15 URM 1st Gen - Where would you apply? Forum

[Ylvis01]

Hi TLSers! I scored a 180 w/ a 3.15 Cumulative GPA from Columbia. My major GPA was 3.6, in Philosophy. URM, 1st in my working-class family to go to college and all that jazz. Took a couple yrs. off during school b/c I was in very bad shape health wise - don't know whether I should talk about that in the addendum. Thinking of applying in the next cycle. Solid work experience. Where would you apply? Where do you think I can get in? Thank you all for the great advice you give on TLS everyday!

*Edited: Added a question!

[gdane]

Apply everywhere dude. You have nothing to lose. Definitely explain your situation in an addendum. Ask for few waivers to keep your costs down. Good luck.

[Canof09]

Apply everywhere. I scored a 172, and I got fee waivers to every school I applied to except for Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford last year. The application money is well worth it when you have the top schools on the table.

[thsmthcrmnl]

Depending on what kind of URM you are, you might well be the single highest scoring member of your ethnicity this year. Keep that in mind. Apply everywhere.

[sjgonzalez3]

Agree with all of the above. Apply to all of the T-14; get waivers for 8-10 of them. Apply early!!

Definitely use your addendum to discuss your health issues if it is not incorporated in your personal statement (or at least not adequately so). Most applications ask for an addendum to discuss any gaps in education anyway, so you'll find a spot there.

Congrats on the LSAT and good luck!

[BVest]

Depending on what kind of URM you are, you might well be the single highest scoring member of your ethnicity this year. Keep that in mind. Apply everywhere.

Well, no one scored higher.

[Balthy]

I know it's unlikely, but in your PS/DS and when you get to the interview stage, don't emphasize how you went to a "Top 4 Undergrad" as you did ITT. It's a meaningless distinction and you'll look pompous.

Def write about the health issues in an addendum.

[BVest]

I know it's unlikely, but in your PS/DS and when you get to the interview stage, don't emphasize how you went to a "Top 4 Undergrad" as you did ITT. It's a meaningless distinction and you'll look pompous.

While I agree with what you say, I suspect s/he will not so much emphasize going to a Top 4 undergrad, but will note (both by resume and transcript) the actual name of H/Y/P/C/S.

[Balthy]

I know it's unlikely, but in your PS/DS and when you get to the interview stage, don't emphasize how you went to a "Top 4 Undergrad" as you did ITT. It's a meaningless distinction and you'll look pompous.

While I agree with what you say, I suspect s/he will not so much emphasize going to a Top 4 undergrad, but will note (both by resume and transcript) the actual name of H/Y/P/C/S.

Yeah, like i said my common sense says it's unlikely that OP (or anyone) would do this, but then again it's TLS.. i also wouldn't expect anyone to make an undergrad distinction at top 4 in a thread, but that just happened.

[Ylvis01]

I know it's unlikely, but in your PS/DS and when you get to the interview stage, don't emphasize how you went to a "Top 4 Undergrad" as you did ITT. It's a meaningless distinction and you'll look pompous.

While I agree with what you say, I suspect s/he will not so much emphasize going to a Top 4 undergrad, but will note (both by resume and transcript) the actual name of H/Y/P/C/S.

Yeah, like i said my common sense says it's unlikely that OP (or anyone) would do this, but then again it's TLS.. i also wouldn't expect anyone to make an undergrad distinction at top 4 in a thread, but that just happened.

Listing my school as Top4 was just an attempt at further preserving some anonymity.

[nothingtosee]

So you go to Columbia?

[Ylvis01]

Agree with all of the above. Apply to all of the T-14; get waivers for 8-10 of them. Apply early!!

Definitely use your addendum to discuss your health issues if it is not incorporated in your personal statement (or at least not adequately so). Most applications ask for an addendum to discuss any gaps in education anyway, so you'll find a spot there.

Congrats on the LSAT and good luck!

Thanks! A part of me just feels like, how much do they care, really?

[mandyjay11]

what kind of URM are you?

[Ylvis01]

what kind of URM are you?

Puerto Rican male

[StillCutty]

Pretty sure you could get in wherever the hell you want with a thoughtful application and at least decent LORs.

Curious, was it a perfect 180 or did you miss one or two? Obviously a 180 is a 180, but I've heard stories of people literally working years to get a perfect raw score 180 for no other reason than the satisfaction and it still not happening for them. If yours is perfect, that'd be some extra serious shit.

Either way, congrats.

[Balthy]

Listing my school as Top4 was just an attempt at further preserving some anonymity.

Lol you're doing it wrong.

[t-14orbust]

Listing my school as Top4 was just an attempt at further preserving some anonymity.

Lol you're doing it wrong.

lol seriously. How many 180/3.15 PRs do you think there are?

[blackbirdfly]

No need to be unnecessarily rude to OP. What if he thought graduating from Columbia a top 4 undergrad would improve his chances at some schools?

[nabadgelyo]

.

[A. Nony Mouse]

My posting this probably deserves to be mocked, but because Columbia is a top 4 law school doesn't mean it's a top 4 undergrad.

[BVest]

Listing my school as Top4 was just an attempt at further preserving some anonymity.

Lol you're doing it wrong.

That was my first thought. My second thought was that he actually went to Yale but was afraid saying T3 would identify him as going to Yale.

I think that was a reference to this:

My posting this probably deserves to be mocked, but because Columbia is a top 4 law school doesn't mean it's a top 4 undergrad.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandrevie ... rsity-2707

[Ylvis01]

I never intended for this discussion to go this way. I think it's unfortunate that some people have decided to zero in on a part of my post that is, according to them, largely inconsequential to where I get accepted. Those of you who posted on my saying top 4 instead of columbia have made your point; it's really just overkill now. I come to TLS all the time and check out threads so I decided why the hell not make my own thread and get some great advice. I'd love to get this conversation back on track Thanks everyone. Respectfully, Ylvis01.

[Ylvis01]

Pretty sure you could get in wherever the hell you want with a thoughtful application and at least decent LORs.

Curious, was it a perfect 180 or did you miss one or two? Obviously a 180 is a 180, but I've heard stories of people literally working years to get a perfect raw score 180 for no other reason than the satisfaction and it still not happening for them. If yours is perfect, that'd be some extra serious shit.

Either way, congrats.

Hey there! I got one wrong.

[A. Nony Mouse]

My posting this probably deserves to be mocked, but because Columbia is a top 4 law school doesn't mean it's a top 4 undergrad.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandrevie ... rsity-2707

I was thinking that there could be other t4s because there are undergrad colleges, too. But he does go to Columbia, so never mind.

[LET'S GET IT]

Blanket the entire T14 and enjoy New Haven/ Cambridge. I hear it's lovely this time of year. Good luck!

Dude got a 180. I'm not mocking anyone who get's a 180.

Also like others have mentioned, definately write the addendum. Yours sounds like a textbook case of when to write one.