3.51/175 Retake with criminal record Forum

[cpena1991]

Hi,

I originally took the LSAT in october and scored a 164 (sinus infection week before). I retook it in February and got a 175. I have a 3.5 LSDAS GPA from a top public uni. I graduate in May and will be applying at the beginning of the cycle. Additionally, I will probably be working as a english teacher in a Colombian (my parents are Colombian) high school during my break.

However, I have been arrested 3 times.

2009-misdemeanor possession of marijuana
2011- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)
2012- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)

I know for a fact that these charges will not prohibit me from passing the bar in any state.

I'm wondering where I can realistically get in with my GPA/LSAT + record.

I want to ED at my furthest reach school, which if it weren't for my record would most likely be Columbia. Do you guys think I should still ED to CN or is it too far of a reach for me.

Also, where do you think my best bet is. My dream is to work biglaw so not getting into CCN won't doom me in that respect. I would love to go to Penn as well, I'm just not sure how my record is really going to effect me.

[Clyde Frog]

Hi,

I originally took the LSAT in october and scored a 164 (sinus infection week before). I retook it in February and got a 175. I have a 3.5 LSDAS GPA from a top public uni. I graduate in May and will be applying at the beginning of the cycle. Additionally, I will probably be working as a english teacher in a Colombian (my parents are Colombian) high school during my break.

However, I have been arrested 3 times.

2009-misdemeanor possession of marijuana
2011- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)
2012- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)

I know for a fact that these charges will not prohibit me from passing the bar in any state.

I'm wondering where I can realistically get in with my GPA/LSAT + record.

I want to ED at my furthest reach school, which if it weren't for my record would most likely be Columbia. Do you guys think I should still ED to CN or is it too far of a reach for me.

Also, where do you think my best bet is. My dream is to work biglaw so not getting into CCN won't doom me in that respect. I would love to go to Penn as well, I'm just not sure how my record is really going to effect me.

Based on your numbers only you have a solid shot at anything besides HYS. 95% were admitted at NYU with similar numbers and 71% at Columbia. Being 100% Columbian may also provide a tiny boost, as law schools strive for diversity, but don't expect the type of boost from being a URM (Native American, African American, Mexican American ect.). With your numbers you don't need to ED. If somehow your criminal record restricts you, which I doubt it will, then I would look into getting them expunged, as Duke Law School will not require you to disclose expunged records.

If you're not worried about paying sticker at Columbia then your numbers alone would almost guarantee you acceptance there with ED. I'm not sure how they will factor in your criminal record though.

It would help greatly if you show that you're rehabilitated.

Lastly, stay out of the bars, lol.

[Clyde Frog]

Btw I never thought people got arrested in bar fights. I've been involved in several of them, seen people get smashed with beer bottles, thrown through windows, and no one ever gets arrested.

[sunsheyen]

I think your best bet would be to maybe extend your time off a year or so to get the charges a little further behind you. As it is, misdemeanors or not, in the last 4-5 years, you have had 2-3 convictions (and we dont know if you have had other arrests/charges--some schools require these to be listed even if no conviction) that you will have to disclose. The most recent violent conviction was very recent, so it doesn't really seem like all this is fully in the past when it comes to reviewing your character, IMO. That said, I dont know how particular schools weight C&F considerations (nor do most people), so it's hard to give a prediction on that.

[phillywc]

Don't ED Columbia or NYU. There is no boost to it, statistically. You can take my word for it or you can make me go look up the data to show you, but it is true.

Chicago and Penn have pretty big ED boosts. I think you would get either with ED. I do think you would get NYU and maybe Columbia without ED though.

[cpena1991]

Don't ED Columbia or NYU. There is no boost to it, statistically. You can take my word for it or you can make me go look up the data to show you, but it is true.

Chicago and Penn have pretty big ED boosts. I think you would get either with ED. I do think you would get NYU and maybe Columbia without ED though.

My top two school are Columbia and Penn. I read a little while back that there is a little bit of a boost for ED at Penn if your a splitter.

Being that Columbia is my #1, do you think that EDing there first (to get a faster response) and then EDing at Penn if I don't get in would be a good strategy?

[cpena1991]

Hi,

I originally took the LSAT in october and scored a 164 (sinus infection week before). I retook it in February and got a 175. I have a 3.5 LSDAS GPA from a top public uni. I graduate in May and will be applying at the beginning of the cycle. Additionally, I will probably be working as a english teacher in a Colombian (my parents are Colombian) high school during my break.

However, I have been arrested 3 times.

2009-misdemeanor possession of marijuana
2011- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)
2012- Misdemeanor battery (bar fight)

I know for a fact that these charges will not prohibit me from passing the bar in any state.

I'm wondering where I can realistically get in with my GPA/LSAT + record.

I want to ED at my furthest reach school, which if it weren't for my record would most likely be Columbia. Do you guys think I should still ED to CN or is it too far of a reach for me.

Also, where do you think my best bet is. My dream is to work biglaw so not getting into CCN won't doom me in that respect. I would love to go to Penn as well, I'm just not sure how my record is really going to effect me.

Based on your numbers only you have a solid shot at anything besides HYS. 95% were admitted at NYU with similar numbers and 71% at Columbia. Being 100% Columbian may also provide a tiny boost, as law schools strive for diversity, but don't expect the type of boost from being a URM (Native American, African American, Mexican American ect.). With your numbers you don't need to ED. If somehow your criminal record restricts you, which I doubt it will, then I would look into getting them expunged, as Duke Law School will not require you to disclose expunged records.

If you're not worried about paying sticker at Columbia then your numbers alone would almost guarantee you acceptance there with ED. I'm not sure how they will factor in your criminal record though.

It would help greatly if you show that you're rehabilitated.

Lastly, stay out of the bars, lol.

Thank you for the response. Do you have any suggestion on how I can show that I'm "rehabilitated?" lol ...rehabilitated

and yeah I am, I've realized that being in a bar thats so packed that no one can even walk (my uni's typical bar environment) is not conducive to my overall well being. Something always goes wrong.

[Cal Trask]

talk to a C&F attorney to determine whether this will negatively impact your bar admission.

[norkanite]

.