International applicant - 175, Above Average Forum

[charrob]

Hi,

Would love thoughts on my chances at Harvard, Chicago and Northwestern ED:

LSAT: 175 (1st try)
GPA: Above average
Work experience: Over 6 years full time experience including 3 years in a top international law firm.

Trawling through old TLS posts suggests that with an "above average" HYS (and potentially Chicago) are probably out - does anyone know if this is the case?

If not - what are the chances of getting in to H, C or NU (ED) with this background? Would I be silly to risk missing out on a chance of no debt from Northwestern (which is a great school in an amazing location which I love) for a chance at Harvard?

Thanks for your help!

[Hand]

There's not a lot of data available; I wouldn't rule out HYS per se despite the 'above average' if I were you since it's not clear how that is viewed upon. If you want big law & are happy to live in Chicago for three yrs and possibly beyond then by all means think about EDing at NU. Your lsat is high enough and I for one would be happy to take the money over the preftige.

[charrob]

Thanks! Would C or NU rule out PI/clerkships? (They seem pretty limited for international students in any case?)

[Hand]

Thanks! Would C or NU rule out PI/clerkships? (They seem pretty limited for international students in any case?)

No they don't rule 'm out, but both schools seem to be significantly more business-oriented than others, which makes getting a public interest gig harder than it could be. C has a clerkship rate of 5.8%, NU of 7.7%, so that's a long shot either way, but one shouldn't base a decision about where to go on the prospects of getting a one-year temp gig after graduation, I think. If you need a work visa, clerkships are out anyway though, I would guess.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yeah, if you're not a US citizen and you want to get paid, the only federal clerkships available to you are the offshore ones, not anything on the mainland.