Future JD Student, 3.87 GPA Forum

[kcimor]

Hello all,

I recently began my final year of undergraduate education and I hit a fork in the road. I will be graduating in May 2015, with three of Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminology, Political Science, and Spanish. I currently maintain a 3.87 GPA, Dean's List, numerous scholarship awards, etc, etc. I realized with my dedication and hard-work of completing three degrees in four years that I don't want to obtain some entry-level job in a field just to obtain employment. I know I am meant for bigger and better things in this world and I can contribute something more. My adviser told me to seriously consider law school due to my strong academic record and my ability to go above and beyond. With this being said, I know law school is a life time investment, a life changing decision, and something that should not be taken lightly whatsoever. I was inspired to look into law school because it's something I know I can accomplish, and more importantly, something I know I can do and enjoy, even though the path to achieving a J.D. is rigorous.

I plan to take the Fall LSAT (I started a LSAT book over summer starting in April, but I plan to hit it even harder for the next month) and possibly even the December LSAT depending on how I score. I began researching some potential schools and just wanted some insight from fellow peers about my chances to gain admittance into some schools. Additionally, I hope to score at least a 165 (Hopefully in the 167-170 range) on the LSAT. I am not the best test taker, but I know I can test well if I prepare well.

What are my chances at
-University of Maryland
-North Carolina
-Cornell
-Michigan
-George Washington
-Virginia
-George Washington
-Duke
-Boston College
-George Mason
-Wake Forest


Am I setting the bar too low, too high with these schools? Should I consider higher schools? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Gray]

.

[kcimor]

Don't take the LSAT until you're confident you can break 170. It's absolutely possible - don't just settle for mid 160s because you haven't had the best testing history. There are tons of resources here on TLS to help you maximize your score.

You might want to seriously consider just taking it in December! The delay in application is not as important as a few points on the LSAT.

With a ~3.9 and a 170+ score, you're looking at $$$ from T14 schools. You should not settle for anything less!!

Would you recommend taking it both dates? How does that affect my chances of admission? I just do not want to reach the point where I only take the December LSAT and it's not the score I wanted...

[Colonel_funkadunk]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 9&t=170051

[Gray]

.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Why would you hope to score in the 167-170 range. Aim for 180

[AnonymousAlterEgoC]

Just retake.

[McAvoy]

Hello all,

I recently began my final year of undergraduate education and I hit a fork in the road. I will be graduating in May 2015, with three of Bachelor of Arts degrees in Criminology, Political Science, and Spanish. I currently maintain a 3.87 GPA, Dean's List, numerous scholarship awards, etc, etc. I realized with my dedication and hard-work of completing three degrees in four years that I don't want to obtain some entry-level job in a field just to obtain employment. I know I am meant for bigger and better things in this world and I can contribute something more. My adviser told me to seriously consider law school due to my strong academic record and my ability to go above and beyond. With this being said, I know law school is a life time investment, a life changing decision, and something that should not be taken lightly whatsoever. I was inspired to look into law school because it's something I know I can accomplish, and more importantly, something I know I can do and enjoy, even though the path to achieving a J.D. is rigorous.

I plan to take the Fall LSAT (I started a LSAT book over summer starting in April, but I plan to hit it even harder for the next month) and possibly even the December LSAT depending on how I score. I began researching some potential schools and just wanted some insight from fellow peers about my chances to gain admittance into some schools. Additionally, I hope to score at least a 165 (Hopefully in the 167-170 range) on the LSAT. I am not the best test taker, but I know I can test well if I prepare well.

What are my chances at
-University of Maryland
-North Carolina
-Cornell
-Michigan
-George Washington
-Virginia
-George Washington
-Duke
-Boston College
-George Mason
-Wake Forest


Am I setting the bar too low, too high with these schools? Should I consider higher schools? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

As a fellow peer I would suggest aiming quite much higher on the LSAT. Someone who completed three degrees in four years should be able to score very quite well. You can totally accomplish law school, human peer, but it is much easier to put the work in on the front end.

I know I am meant for bigger and better things in this world and I can contribute something more.

Go you. This is what law school is all about.

[Attax]

blah blah blah

As a fellow peer I would suggest aiming quite much higher on the LSAT. Someone who completed three degrees in four years should be able to score very quite well. You can totally accomplish law school, human peer, but it is much easier to put the work in on the front end.

I know I am meant for bigger and better things in this world and I can contribute something more.

Go you. This is what law school is all about.

[03152016]

Don't take the LSAT until you're confident you can break 170. It's absolutely possible - don't just settle for mid 160s because you haven't had the best testing history. There are tons of resources here on TLS to help you maximize your score.

You might want to seriously consider just taking it in December! The delay in application is not as important as a few points on the LSAT.

With a ~3.9 and a 170+ score, you're looking at $$$ from T14 schools. You should not settle for anything less!!

Would you recommend taking it both dates? How does that affect my chances of admission? I just do not want to reach the point where I only take the December LSAT and it's not the score I wanted...

wait until you're within range of your target score
it'd be better for your hys chances if you didn't have to retake

remember: you spent four years busting ass for a great gpa
the lsat is equally/more important, put in serious time and do it right