GPA 3.8/ LSAT 159 / Double major/ Paralegal Cert. Forum

[yunjh1066]

Hi,

From UC undergrad, Graduated within 3 years (Graduated on 2013) doing double major in History and Political Science.

Extra curricular:
-Got my paralegal certificate right after I graduated.
-Working at a law firm right now, almost a year.
-Was head writer for a Legal Club at undergrad
-Also a peer-counselor for 2 years for Student Affairs/Integrity Organization

I know my LSAT is not on a good term... only took it once. I studied it for 2 months through a prep course. Don't really want to retake it just because can't really see my score going up... I just suck at standardized test... Even with SAT, I got 1890 after two tries...

I just want to get into any law school that will give me enough money in California... Where would that be?

Thanks in advance. Please no harsh criticism!

[PDX4343]

inb4 retake.

[butlerraider1]

I know you said you don't want to retake, but that really is your best option. Your GPA is too high to settle with a 159.

[Ramius]

No school worth going to will give you the money you're looking for. Play around with http://www.lawschooltransparency.com for the schools that might interest you (and hopefully terrify you from attending any of these institutions).

Retake is the only viable option here.

[gnomgnomuch]

an 1890 sat is ~90% percentile.... assuming (not that big of an assumption, the LSAT is very learnable if you put in the effort) that you can get a 90th percentile LSAT - 165 - you can get into some of the lower t-14 or ucla/usc with some money.

Logic games - completely possible to get 100% on, my first lg section, i went 2/23, im now going 18-20/23, and i havent been focusing on LG that much.

LR - manhattan, plus powerscore, plus blueprint + a billion other resources, you can easily get those down, maybe not to a 100%, but close enough.

RC- harder than the other sections, but still possible to improve on.

There are no UC schools worth going to with your grades, most of us on TLS would kill for a 3.8 GPA, because thats really the cutoff point for getting YHS/ big money from some t-6's with the requisite LSAT score.

Dont sell yourself short, study, take another year off if you have too, but dont apply without at least a 165, and conventional wisdom says a 170... especially if you have deigns on BIGLAW, clerking, or any form of prestigious work.

[butlerraider1]

Also, I'm assuming you are not planning on attending law school this Fall anyways, so retaking makes even more sense.

[09042014]

Paralegal Cert? You'll get in everywhere you apply!

[papercut]

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

[Danger Zone]

Retake

[aboutmydaylight]

Lol you think 1890 on the SAT after two tries is low? You don't suck at standardized testing, you're just looking for excuses.

[InTheHouse]

Seeing people whine about not wanting to retake never gets old. But I've always been curious about how much money it would take to make people put serious effort into a retake. Its a shame no one has created a handy graph of (LSAT + GPA) vs. scholarship money for each school.

Seems like these things always work themselves out. People who close up shop after one take and leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table probably wouldn't have done well at a top notch school anyway.

[yunjh1066]

Thanks guys for all the replies.

Well... with SAT, I guess my school's standard was higher or something. Because those who didn't seem to try as hard as I did or those who had bad GPA got wayyy higher score than I did. So ever since then, I always thought to myself that I'm not a standardized test person. Also, I got even more discouraged when I couldn't get into UCLA or UCB. Anyways, this was in high school.

But now, I'm not whining that I don't want to study but I'm scared that I can't put as much time as I did for this June cycle. I purposely reduced full time job to part time so I can devote it to studying. Can't seem to continue doing that after June, would have to go back full-time. I also want to apply as early as I can. I think October test can still allow me to do that but some schools start their early admission as early as October no?

Idk... i think i'm just not confident that I can raise my school up to 160-165ish...

haha also, i can't even cancel my June test anymore to "save money." I'm keep studying right now though!! x.x

[papercut]

Seeing people whine about not wanting to retake never gets old. But I've always been curious about how much money it would take to make people put serious effort into a retake. Its a shame no one has created a handy graph of (LSAT + GPA) vs. scholarship money for each school.

Seems like these things always work themselves out. People who close up shop after one take and leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table probably wouldn't have done well at a top notch school anyway.

There are scholarship predictors based on LSN data, but scholarships aren't very easy to predict.

But I agree with your more general point. Moar LSAT is better LSAT.

[iamgeorgebush]

just keep studying through the summer till september. october is still early in the cycle to apply.