What are my odds? What about Scholarships? Forum

[MadJo33]

Well, I'm a freshman, criminal Justice major, (forensics minor) which I plan to use as a pre-law degree and eventually get a J. D. and specialize in criminal defense.

My high school gpa was 4.2 and ACT score 32 (but I only took it once).

I can't give a college gpa (obviously) because I'm still a freshman...but currently all As.

I took a practice LSAT with absolutely zero studying and got a 170. Of course I plan to study and do better than that.

My question is not so much concerns about getting into law school, I think I can (although opinions are welcome) but more about scholarships. Finances are going to be a major issue for me...what kind of scholarships are available, is it hard to get them, do you think I could, and I've heard that only crappy law schools give good scholarships, is this true?

Oh also I'm 16 years old. Will it decrease my chances of getting into law school if I am much younger than other applicants?

[Kratos]

Great info ab your chances here

[malleus discentium]

Come back in four years when you've graduated with the highest GPA you can get.
Scratch that, come back in six years after you've graduated with the highest GPA you can get and had two years of WE.

[RunnerRunner]

No its not true that only crappy schools give scholarships. With the right numbers and a compelling application you can swing a full ride (sometimes with stipend) to an excellent school. More info on that here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5&t=144338

There is very little anyone will be able to tell you about what your chances are of getting one of these scholarships right now since you don't have a GPA or an LSAT to offer, but a cold diagnostic of 170 on the LSAT is a good place to start. Focus on getting a 4.0 GPA, nail the LSAT in a few years, and you'll be in great shape. Throw some work experience on top like malleus discentium said and you'll be in excellent shape. Good luck!

[phillywc]

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

[Wingtip88]

Law schools generally automatically consider applicants for scholarships, and most of what seemingly goes into scholarship offers are your GPA & LSAT relative to the rest of the applicant pool for that cycle.

You are far, far away from having to worry about any of this. Just focus on enjoying college and getting good grades. For what it's worth getting an LSAT score like that at the snap of a finger is something many would kill for.

[pancakes3]

As general advice, if the OP really is as precocious as indicated, he/she should choose a more marketable major than criminal justice. A STEM or finance major would open a lot more doors.

[johmica]

It's great that you are so motivated to, and apparently capable of, such a high level of achievement. You should focus on your coursework. If a professor gives you an "A" at the end of a term, speak with the professor and see if it can't get bumped to an "A+." A lot of professors just don't give out "A+"'s, not because the students are undeserving, but, unless one is familiar with the LSAC GPA calculation, there's really no reason to.

Get involved with some substantial extra-curricular activities. School clubs are fine, but significant hours volunteering for some independent organization is better. Be active. Pad that resume.

And, as mentioned before, you may consider a couple of years off after undergraduate school. It'll mitigate the age issue you bring up, and the work experience would be invaluable.

Good luck, my friend. At this point, the world is your oyster.

[MadJo33]

As general advice, if the OP really is as precocious as indicated, he/she should choose a more marketable major than criminal justice. A STEM or finance major would open a lot more doors.

If I want to specialize in criminal defense, is there another major that would be effective? Finances is definitely not my area of interest.

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

So what can I do to make up for my age? Just experience?

[phillywc]

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

So what can I do to make up for my age? Just experience?[/quote]
Growing up and having exceptional numbers.

[MadJo33]

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

So what can I do to make up for my age? Just experience?

Growing up and having exceptional numbers.[/quote]

What would you classify as exceptional numbers?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Oh lord, do not go to your profs and ask to get your A bumped to an A+. If the school allows awarding A+es (not all schools do), your professor is aware they exist, and if you had earned one, they would have given it to you. Do not be that person who whines to the prof that your excellent grade just isn't quite excellent enough. It won't be well received.

[phillywc]

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

So what can I do to make up for my age? Just experience?

Growing up and having exceptional numbers.

What would you classify as exceptional numbers?[/quote]
Depends on what schools you are shooting for.

[RunnerRunner]

You age absolutely will hurt you. I was young when I applied and I had a below average cycle for my numbers, and I wasn't even THAT young.

So what can I do to make up for my age? Just experience?

Growing up and having exceptional numbers.

What would you classify as exceptional numbers?[/quote]

If you are interested in scholarships being above both of a school's 75th percentiles should be your goal. For instance, at Columbia a 174+ and a 3.81+ should put you in the running for some money (though full rides usually require slightly higher). In general for the really good T14 scholarships (Hamilton, Ruby, Dillard, Darrow etc.) remember that you have to have more than just numbers. That is why people are encouraging you to pad your resume as well. These schools have more applicants with high numbers than they have full ride scholarships so you have to stand out. Luckily you are in the enviable position of knowing that this is your goal early so you have time to work on that resume!

[sundontshine]

Switch your major to finance/accounting, engineering, a hard science, or math.

A criminal justice major is entirely useless. You'll be equally prepared to work in criminal defense as a Chemical Engineer as you'll be as a criminal justice major.

Plus, this way, you'll have a shot at getting a job if you decide not to go to law school, and also increase your options of what to do with a law degree.

[xylocarp]

Oh lord, do not go to your profs and ask to get your A bumped to an A+. If the school allows awarding A+es (not all schools do), your professor is aware they exist, and if you had earned one, they would have given it to you. Do not be that person who whines to the prof that your excellent grade just isn't quite excellent enough. It won't be well received.

I disagree with this. my GPA would be .09 lower (and below a lot more medians) without A+'s, and I asked for every single one of them. well, to clarify, I didn't say, "will you give me an A+ please," I just asked the profs to put down A+ instead of A if and only if I actually earned it with the 97%+. A+'s do exist at my school, but basically no profs give them because they count as 4.0 just like an A. maybe it was weird or crappy of me to ask, but hey, it's really increased my law school chances. and several of my profs did tell me that they don't usually give A+'s, even for students who have 100% or whatever in the class.

[schmelling]

Post removed.

[xylocarp]

I am being entirely serious when I say the best way to get into law school (and go for free) is to emulate xylo in every way possible.

hahaha, thanks schmells. we'll see how the rest of the cycle pans out though!

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, if your prof has given out a grading scale saying that A+ = whatever, and you have a final score that is above whatever, and they just don't enter A+ because the school doesn't give over a 4.0, I guess that makes sense. I read it as basically asking for a grade bump every time, but if that's not what it meant, then I retract what I said.

[xylocarp]

I mean, if your prof has given out a grading scale saying that A+ = whatever, and you have a final score that is above whatever, and they just don't enter A+ because the school doesn't give over a 4.0, I guess that makes sense. I read it as basically asking for a grade bump every time, but if that's not what it meant, then I retract what I said.

oh ok, we were just talking about different things then. agreed on the asking for higher grades/random extra credit at the end of the semester thing. annoying af

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, if your prof has given out a grading scale saying that A+ = whatever, and you have a final score that is above whatever, and they just don't enter A+ because the school doesn't give over a 4.0, I guess that makes sense. I read it as basically asking for a grade bump every time, but if that's not what it meant, then I retract what I said.

oh ok, we were just talking about different things then. agreed on the asking for higher grades/random extra credit at the end of the semester thing. annoying af

Yeah, and I probably totally misread it because I have such a knee-jerk anti-grade-grubbing reaction.

[dabigchina]

Well, I'm a freshman, criminal Justice major

You should absolutely consider getting a more employable major than criminal justice. Finance or Accounting are pretty good majors for anybody who wants to go into law in my opinion.