3.69/170 TFA; Chances for Cali Schools Forum

[JimmyPacquiao]

Hey TLS!

Finally out of the lurking shadows and grateful for all the insight I've gotten here. I'd definitely be thankful for any of your help (insert prayer hands emoji) in seeing my chances for schools and that $cholar$hip gouda

I'm a SoCal native interested in going into Special Ed law and would like to stay in either LA or the Bay Area. Motivation for applying comes from my 3 years experience middle school special ed in both San Francisco and South LA w/ Teach for America at KIPP Charter schools. Too many of our most at risk youth are failed by the system, y'all!

GPA: 3.69 from UCLA, Global Studies Major, Cum Laude
LSAT: 170
Softs: 3 years work experience as a Special Ed teacher w/ Teach for America, active within organizing the Pilipino community, Masters in Special Ed from Loyola Marymount, Phi Beta Kappa (not sure if relevant),

Schools:
UCLA: I'd ideally like to be a double Bruin (with $$$). I have connections w/in education in LA and would ideally leverage these into a career. Also, and truly love my alma mater-- Go Bruins!
Berkeley: Mostly because of ranking and the fact that I hella love the East Bay
Stanford: They have a Youth and Education Law Clinic that I'd love to be a part of. Beautiful place that I always dreamt of going to.
UCI: If the price is right… (haven't saved too much putting myself through my masters program while teaching!)

Any and all responses are much appreciated!

[King Dong]

I looked at the numbers recently and there were a few people with 168-170's getting like 100k at UCLA

[Mack.Hambleton]

You should get good money from USC/UCLA

I'm not sure how being a lawyer relates to your goals or interests though so I'm not sure it's worth going

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

You will be good for UCI and UCLA ($$-$$$$)
Berkeley it is hard to predict but you're in the running
Stanford probably out but its not crazy to apply

Also: regarding the above, what specific idea do you have career-wise? The reason I ask is that you will have job security and make more $ than the average attorney as a public school teacher-> asst. principal/principal in L.A..

[Hikikomorist]

Any reason you didn't list USC? Even if you don't plan on attending, apply for scholarship leverage, particularly on UCLA.

[JimmyPacquiao]

Thank you guys for the responses! Didn't list USC because I assumed it'd be sort of similar to UCLA. I'll definitely apply for leverage.

As for career goals, a lot of education litigation has to do with special Ed students not receiving the services in their individualized education plan.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Look into how unicorn those jobs are

[JimmyPacquiao]

And yeah, I realize that education lawyer positions are probably pretty rare-- I'm hoping to be one of the ones that makes it *shrug* and have also considered other branches of law besides education. Special Education and law are pretty closely intertwined because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and how that is put into practice.

I've set a 1-1 meeting with my school's attorney to get her perspective, so hopefully that will shed more light on how I can make these things happen.