Harvard, CC, and Berk Chances Forum

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:45 pm

Hello,

My eventual goal is when I apply to have a fighting chance for all law schools minus Y and S ( taken the LSAT once, will retake LSAT after UG later).

The reason why I am posting about these schools in the thread is because these schools have GPA floors that I am close to being above/below.... but I am looking at blanketing the T14 minus Y and S

With a 3.64 GPA...I only have 7 mandatory hours ( 3 classes) left on my degree before graduation in December...would it make any sense for me ( money not an issue) to add on 9 additional hours for my GPA.?

From my math: 7 hours with one B ( stays even at 3.64) ....7 hours and all A's ( 3.66)....16 hours All A's ( 3.68)

If it helps any 1) I have an upward trend with all A's this year ( so I feel confident a 4.0 is realistic )
2) I would take the extra courses at a Community College ( easier so I can be more likely to get the A's)

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:47 pm

My real debate is if I would rather enjoy an easy last semester of college but ending up with a lower cumulative GPA

shump92 · Post by **shump92** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm

I honestly don't think schools are going to really care about a .02 bump to your GPA. Whereas you would probably care about having twice the workload to end UG. I'd recommend that you take whatever classes you would like to take while meeting your requirements and leaving time for social events. Any extra time could be used to study for the LSAT instead.

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:07 pm

I'm not re-taking the LSAT until wayy after UG since I want to get some WE and not be a K-JD

Earliest LSAT retake would be June 2016

shump92 · Post by **shump92** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:08 pm

Broncos15 wrote:I'm not re-taking the LSAT until wayy after UG since I want to get some WE and not be a K-JD

Earliest LSAT retake would be June 2016

Okay. But the Social Events > .02 points is still my advice. Your life though.

Hornet2011 · Post by **Hornet2011** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:18 pm

I say just put in the time and work hard at the lower work load. In 10 years you will remember the social events more and additionally you never know what could happen when taking other classes. While I am confident you could likely get all As and pick easy classes, I tried doing the same once my senior year and for who knows what reason (probably the prof knowing I was a senior taking lower level credits) I got a couple A-s amongst a bunch of As.

My point is just take what you need to graduate and ensure you will get all As in those. Also, as somebody with several years of work experience, you never know what will happen in life so I recommend starting LSAT studying as soon as you can

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:28 pm

Hornet2011 wrote: Also, as somebody with several years of work experience, you never know what will happen in life so I recommend starting LSAT studying as soon as you can

Why start studying for the LSAT soon?....Currently I am not 100% sure I want to be a lawyer but my goal for now is to work as hard as I can on that GPA so I can have solid chances when/if I go to law school

rnoodles · Post by **rnoodles** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:30 pm

Personally, I don't think schools will care much about a jump from a 3.64 to a 3.68. But a jump from a 3.64 to a 3.7X would be noticeable and I believe schools will definitely like that.

Protip: Not sure how true this is, but I've heard California schools are the most GPA conscious.

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:35 pm

rnoodles22 wrote:Personally, I don't thinks schools will care much about a jump from a 3.64 to a 3.68. But a jump from even a 3.64 to a 3.7X would be noticeable and I believe schools will definitely take notice of that.

Protip: Not sure how true this is, but I've heard California schools are the most GPA conscious.

Yes, I have seen that with Cali schools on myLSN......thats why it is very possible i could be in at H and out at S.

On one hand I understand .02 or even .04 is much of a difference...but on the other hand myLSN and other sites show that there are certain GPA floors that it is very hard to get in if you are under that floor ( excluding URM or amazing softs)...and I fell I am very near these floors for those schools

rnoodles · Post by **rnoodles** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:46 pm

Broncos15 wrote:
rnoodles22 wrote:Personally, I don't thinks schools will care much about a jump from a 3.64 to a 3.68. But a jump from even a 3.64 to a 3.7X would be noticeable and I believe schools will definitely take notice of that.

Protip: Not sure how true this is, but I've heard California schools are the most GPA conscious.

Yes, I have seen that with Cali schools on myLSN......thats why it is very possible i could be in at H and out at S.

On one hand I understand .02 or even .04 is much of a difference...but on the other hand myLSN and other sites show that there are certain GPA floors that it is very hard to get in if you are under that floor ( excluding URM or amazing softs)...and I fell I am very near these floors for those schools

You asked Berk, so I'll use it as an example. A 3.64 is below their 25th, and a 3.68 puts you right at their 25th (got this from LSN). At that point, a 3.68 or lower is negligible because, at best, you just help them maintain their 25th by just being another drop in that particular range's GPA bucket. A 3.7X helps them boost their 25th, and in the event that they are especially picky and ambitious enough to want to boost their 25th/50th/75th however many years from now that you apply they may just like that range of applicants more. Of course, I am being really suppositional and nitpicky myself here.

Also, keep this in mind. Your GPA is not nearly as important as your LSAT. Trust me, I know. You can have a stellar GPA, but they will be much more impressed with a high LSAT score (think 170+, because those scores are apparently on the decline). So really, don't fret the minor GPA bump you might get and remember you are doing one of two things which may hurt you anyway:
1) Taking upperlevel classes that may end up being Bs because you couldn't handle them, underestimated them, etc.
2) Taking easy, GPA friendly classes in your final semester of college just to boost your GPA. This, I think, will be pretty clear to adcomms and, if they're feeling particularly picky with reviews, it could come off as pretty bad for you.

That's a lot your gambling for something you'll get only an incremental increase from man. Again, this is just my 2 cents. Do what you think is best for you at the end of the day.

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:08 pm

Thanks for the advice!

So in this case myLSN would not be the most accurate or helpful source? Maybe i picked too small of a sample size but I saw significant differences in Harvard, Chicago, and Berk .....That was the main source to my confusion why a few trivial GPA points could make a noticeable difference at those 3 since I thought there would be no real difference

landshoes · Post by **landshoes** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:59 pm

I took classes at multiple schools and was asked about it at my Chicago interview, so consider that when you take classes at a school you don't go to that is perceived to have "easier" classes!

I can't say whether or not they'd care about your particular situation, but like I said, they did ask.

Clemenceau · Post by **Clemenceau** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:03 pm

Haven't you made a bunch of threads about this already?
Just take what you need to graduate, get As and chill

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:09 pm

How reliable is myLSN as far as scholarship chances and money amount?.....Yes, admissions is important but $ is as well.

It seems like the difference is 10K in the two scenarios..) I am not paying for college, my parents are and they will likely pay for LS)

If this 10K is accurate...I may think about it but strongly leaning towards just taking the 7 hours and a chill last semester

shump92 · Post by **shump92** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:23 pm

Broncos15 wrote:How reliable is myLSN as far as scholarship chances and money amount?.....Yes, admissions is important but $ is as well.

It seems like the difference is 10K in the two scenarios..) I am not paying for college, my parents are and they will likely pay for LS)

If this 10K is accurate...I may think about it but strongly leaning towards just taking the 7 hours and a chill last semester

How much is a fun senior year worth to you? GPA floors and myLSN are educated speculation. I literally just graduated and I am very happy that I had a light course load. The freedom to hang out with all of your friends and whatever you do is not something that you can get back.

Honestly, I think you will do fine with your cycle as long as you put enough time into your LSAT to hit a good number on the retake. But the UG environment is not something you can get back. $ is. Clemenceau had great advice. Just chill.

pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:26 pm

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pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:28 pm

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Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:29 pm

Try 20 points lower on the June 2014 LSAT...154.... ( I didn't know much about law school and more importantly legal employment when I took it so this site has been useful for pointing me in the right direction)

My goal is a 171 as the lowest I would take without re-taking.....Somewhat arbitrary number but I scored a a 171 on a PT in December 2014 with minimal prep in the four months prior....( anticipated a December 2014 re-take but got busy with school but I remembered the concepts from my summer LSAT studying)......My reasoning is if I got a 171 with minimal prep, I shouldn't settle for less than a 171 when making that retake or not decision.

I took two cold PT's in Feb just out of curiosity and had a slight dip as both fell within the 166-168 range..a little disappointed but at the same time encouraging knowing I have a very solid starting point when i resume studying again

jbagelboy · Post by **jbagelboy** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:31 pm

don't apply to law school as a senior in college

pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 3:00 pm

Post removed.

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:29 pm

pittsburghpirates wrote:
Broncos15 wrote:Try 20 points lower on the June 2014 LSAT...154.... ( I didn't know much about law school and more importantly legal employment when I took it so this site has been useful for pointing me in the right direction)

My goal is a 171 as the lowest I would take without re-taking.....Somewhat arbitrary number but I scored a a 171 on a PT in December 2014 with minimal prep in the four months prior....( anticipated a December 2014 re-take but got busy with school but I remembered the concepts from my summer LSAT studying)......My reasoning is if I got a 171 with minimal prep, I shouldn't settle for less than a 171 when making that retake or not decision.

I took two cold PT's in Feb just out of curiosity and had a slight dip as both fell within the 166-168 range..a little disappointed but at the same time encouraging knowing I have a very solid starting point when i resume studying again
What is minimal prep for you? The difference between 154 and 171 is huge. Like between 20 and 30 questions huge. How were you able to close that gap in between your June 2014 test and the December 2014 test with minimal prep? Did you bomb LG on the real thing or run out of time on a passage or something?

Studied intensely 25 hr + February through the end of August....Did more drilling than PT's so I would be more concerned with techniques and reviewing hem properly than being concerned with a PT score ( only did a few full length PT's).....I started getting the hang of it in early July and got a 168 and then from there I would miss -2 or -3 on individual sections consistently ( LG being my strength and RC being the weakness )

So by the end of August 2014 I was in the minus -2/-3 range ( on my best days -0 on LG, -3 combined on both LR sections) and then took three month off and got a 171 in December

Broncos15 · Post by **Broncos15** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:55 pm

Sorry, to revive this thread

But to what extent ( if any) do law schools care about what I do my last semester of senior year?

Currently do not have a job (non-seeking as parents paying for college)....so I was wondering how bad only taking 7 hours with no work would look?

I'm leaning towards only taking the 7 credit hours needed for graduation and enjoying my last semester of college by remaining in student organizations.

rnoodles · Post by **rnoodles** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:58 pm

Broncos15 wrote:Sorry, to revive this thread

But to what extent ( if any) do law schools care about what I do my last semester of senior year?

Currently do not have a job (non-seeking as parents paying for college)....so I was wondering how bad only taking 7 hours with no work would look?

I'm leaning towards only taking the 7 credit hours needed for graduation and enjoying my last semester of college by remaining in student organizations.

I doubt they'd hold anything against you for not taking more hours than what is required for graduation. Relax, enjoy your last semester, and don't overthink things you shouldn't be overthinking.