Top Law Schools

Been lurking for a while, but this is my first post. Had to send in apps before I had an LSAT score (took Feb 2014) so took a shotgun approach. Hoping to work as a PD in the Boston area, which is where I did undergrad. If I go in the fall, will be K-JD... Got my apps in pretty late so haven't heard too much yet, curious what people think of my chances. Considering retaking in June/October and waiting a year, but not sure how much room for improvement I have given my GPA (would an extra couple of points on the LSAT change much given my GPA? Practice test avg was 177, touched 180 on a couple.). Took some time off in undergrad and GPA has been much better since then for what that's worth.

Stats: 3.1x, 174, non-URM

Schools:
Harvard
BC
BU
Northeastern (admitted with 90k total plus 2k coop stipends, no stips)
Columbia
NYU
Fordham
Penn
Georgetown
GWU
W&M (admitted with in-state equivalent plus 4k/year, no stips)
W&L
WUSTL (admitted, waiting on $)
Vanderbilt
Hastings
UCLA

Thanks in advance for the input

This is a pretty schizophrenic list for what you want to do. Why did you leave most the T14 and add in random California state schools? And why did you apply to lower-ranked schools not near Boston?

Are you still in undergrad? If you wanted to put off graduation for a year and game your gpa with tons of easy community college As, that could be helpful. Either way, you're probably going to underperform this cycle with applying so late. Unless you get a big money offer from BU or BC, which might not happen this late (or at all with your GPA), most will probably tell you to sit this cycle out and try next September.

I don't see the point in retaking, really (congrats, by the way). If you've got nothing better to do, sure, but I there's pretty diminishing returns at that level. Just don't waste that LSAT on any of the TTTs in there.

Holly Golightly wrote:This is a pretty schizophrenic list for what you want to do. Why did you leave most the T14 and add in random California state schools? And why did you apply to lower-ranked schools not near Boston?

Grew up in California so threw those in to make my mom happy. Lower ranked schools outside Boston area gave me fee waivers so I figured why not. Left out many of T14 because I wasn't sure I'd have the score to even have a prayer, and felt like it would be a waste to get back 14 dings.

Will_McAvoy wrote:Are you still in undergrad? If you wanted to put off graduation for a year and game your gpa with tons of easy community college As, that could be helpful. Either way, you're probably going to underperform this cycle with applying so late. Unless you get a big money offer from BU or BC, which might not happen this late (or at all with your GPA), most will probably tell you to sit this cycle out and try next September.

I don't see the point in retaking, really (congrats, by the way). If you've got nothing better to do, sure, but I there's pretty diminishing returns at that level. Just don't waste that LSAT on any of the TTTs in there.

Still in undergrad, but I don't know if I could put a halt to graduation at this point, I think the wheels are in motion. Thanks to both of you for the feedback!

My advice is to work for two years, then decide whether to go to law school. Your numbers are pretty solid, but you'll want the work experience card to compensate for your low GPA. And being in the workforce for a while will go a long way toward making law school a productive experience. For one, the resume boost and interview practice will make you more likely to land a job.

Then if you do decide to apply to law schools, make sure to apply to Northwestern. It is by far the most splitter-friendly option in the T14. I wound up with a nice merit grant at Northwestern with similar numbers to yours.