Top Law Schools

Hi,

Will my soft factors help me at all in the T14? Ideally NYU/Berkeley would be my top choice, not sure if I have a good shot at either. I don't plan on re-taking the LSAT.


GPA: 3.75 (English major from Berkeley, does undergrad school matter?)
LSAT: 166
URM: No
Softs: 2 years of TFA, 2 years working full time as paralegal

don't be lazy, don't be dumb, just retake

Not about being lazy or dumb, re-taking is not an option. My main question is if TFA/Paralegal experience will influence the T14 factors at all.

PMed you.

Why is re-taking not an option? Unfortunately those softs likely won't out perform your numbers.

Your softs could make a difference, but you would really have to write compelling essays and have outstanding LORs. Your numbers are good, but they are just off the profile of a typical student that those schools accept. The WE gives you an edge over KJDs, but your presentation of yourself via the written materials is probably a literal make it or break it for you. I wouldn't expect major scholarships, but you could maybe pull off sticker or close to it at those schools.

The good news is that you'll probably be able to get sticker at a lower T-14.

This is also the bad news.

Maybe georgetown Cornell at sticker. Possibly one of NU and michigan. Retaking wasn't an option for me either and I found time to do it. Went from t20 possibilities to duke with scholarship. If I can, you can.

Retaking is always an option.

hogscienceavatarlost wrote:PMed you.

Why is re-taking not an option? Unfortunately those softs likely won't out perform your numbers.

Maybe OP already used up all his/her possible retakes?

barley wrote:

hogscienceavatarlost wrote:PMed you.

Why is re-taking not an option? Unfortunately those softs likely won't out perform your numbers.

Maybe OP already used up all his/her possible retakes?

Wait and take a fourth time

fredfred wrote:Maybe georgetown Cornell at sticker. Possibly one of NU and michigan. Retaking wasn't an option for me either and I found time to do it. Went from t20 possibilities to duke with scholarship. If I can, you can.

Georgetown has raised it's median by .01 or .02 over the past three years, at the expense of its LSAT median. If trends hold, your GPA will likely be a hair below median, but it's a toss-up whether your LSAT will become the new median. Either way, you're very unlikely to get in. Personally, I've witnessed three females (2 ORMs and 1 URM) get into Georgetown with 3.85+ and 157-160 LSAT. It seems like being above one *projected/target* median is key. I don't see GULC slipping to a 166 median yet.

As for Cornell, your GPA makes you a toss-up to get in, albeit at sticker. I don't know if this is a wise decision. You should retake.

Michigan may need your GPA to maintain medians, barring an increase. Once again, toss-up. Once again, not a wise decision. Same analysis goes for Northwestern.

Those are your only realistic options, and I wouldn't say you have a 50% chance or better at any of them except for Cornell.

I'm not saying not to retake, but wanted to post my experience. K-JD, Same LSAT, virtually the same gpa (3.77) no real softs to speak of other than normal college work experience/college involvement. Got into Duke (54k), Cornell (105k), Gtown (60k) and a bunch of large 6 figure scholarships in the lower t20. You'll have options, and in your situation - a retake would never really be a bad decision (could get into even higher ranked schools or significantly greater $$). But don't go into it with the mentality of I'll apply, see where I get in and then maybe retake, because apps are exhausting and at the end of that process you're going to want to just choose a school one way or another.