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My GPA is a 2.79. Would they just consider that a 2.8? My LSAT is a 176. I am thinking of retaking. You guys know my chances for NW/UVA/GULC/UT/Vandi? I have 2 years of work experience doing internships and jobs. I also had a minor paper published if that means anything. Held officer positions in a national fraternity. I speak Farsi and American English. I want to work in Dallas. I would like Biglaw if my numbers give me a shot. I also have a large amount of family money so scholarships are a bonus, but not needed. The LSAC admissions said I had a good chance (around 50 to 55 percent chance) at UT oddly, but less of a chance at NW and others.

A retake is pretty much an exercise in futility at this point with a 176. Squeeze all the scholarship money you can out of UT. If you are an in-stater, this decision is a no-brainer, especially since you have sights set on Dallas. Apply broadly and leverage UT. WUSTL should be throwing a lot of money at you as well.

I'm worried about doing WUSTL though, it wouldn't hurt my chances of coming back to Texas? I also couldn't see their salary data on LST. So I do have a chance at UT? It's honestly my dream school more than anything. I have some family connections that can help with jobs. Like I said I have enough money to pay for law school 3 times in a row so sticker price is not a negative. Even with my gpa?

If you want to be in the Texas market: Texas>UVA/Duke/Vandy>WUSTL. I think you're definitely in at WUSTL with near a full ride, probably in at Vandy/Texas with near half tuition too. UVA/Duke will likely be harder guesses, possibly in at one of those at sticker.

Warning: This is from my knowledge of a handful of Dallas firms. But UVA/Vandy seems to be especially common for whatever reason at least in this past year's summer class. WUSTL has been throwing around money, and while Vandy has been more stingy, the schollies I've heard of haven't been bad either. Oh obviously H/Y would get you to Texas, but those are probably out (wouldn't hurt to throw an app though).

Ok sounds good, so NW doesn't go to the Texas market? Even with ties? I have strong ties to the Dallas market. All of my roots are there. I was going to put smu as a safety.

JudgeWanker wrote:Ok sounds good, so NW doesn't go to the Texas market? Even with ties? I have strong ties to the Dallas market. All of my roots are there. I was going to put smu as a safety.

Northwestern gives you a great shot at TX. Texas firms love t-14 students who have Texas ties. If you really have that much money I'd go there. Don't ever go to SMU. "Safety" isn't really a thing in the context of law school admissions. If you put together a competent application with those numbers you will almost certainly get into Northwestern. Also you are very likely to get into UT with a scholarship because they have strongly de-emphasized GPA in the last few years. Your choice should be between UT with $$ and Northwestern.

We were virtual numbers clones and I got into NU, and I applied in March lol.

Do not retake. An extra point or two won't really help you.

With your current stats, you still have decent chances at top schools

ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Northwestern does not give the ED scholarship to anyone without really good numbers. With OP's numbers they'll just defer the app to regular decision and then accept.

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

Mack.Hambleton wrote:

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

Isn't that his best option? What other T14 schools are likely to accept a sub 3.00 gpa?

T14-->BigLaw wrote:

Mack.Hambleton wrote:

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

Isn't that his best option? What other T14 schools are likely to accept a sub 3.00 gpa?

NU will accept a < 3.0 GPA. However, they use their ED program to lure students away from higher-ranked schools, and so it comes with a free ride. Because of that, it's not like some schools (UVA) where you ED to show you really really really want to go there and people with slightly lower numbers can get a boost. Instead, the people who get into NU ED have higher numbers than average.

No one's saying OP shouldn't apply to NU, just that they're not going to get accepted ED if they do so.

Don't retake.

--

Mack.Hambleton wrote:

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

For the same reason people reccomend applying to schools whose medians they're below and give them a fee waiver. You have absolutely nothing to lose. There's no way OP would get anything better than a 150k at NU, so why not?

WeeBey wrote:

Mack.Hambleton wrote:

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

For the same reason people reccomend applying to schools whose medians they're below and give them a fee waiver. You have absolutely nothing to lose. There's no way OP would get anything better than a 150k at NU, so why not?

I'm not saying he shouldn't do it, just that he should not expect to receive the 150k scholarship as the original poster suggested.

Mack.Hambleton wrote:

T14-->BigLaw wrote:ED Northwestern--->TCR
It is highly unlikely that UVA or Duke will accept a 2.8 gpa. If you get into NU with an ED app, you will get $150k

Jesus why does everyone always recommend northwestern ED to people who clearly don't meet the criteria

My research is unscientific and includes a small sample size (as does almost anything regarding splitters and admission) - but it is possible that ED Northwestern gives super splitters a boost in the regular admission cycle. For this reason I think super splitters should ED Northwestern - not because they expect the scholarship, but because it is possible they get a boost in the regular admission cycle and when you are a super splitter every tiny bit helps.

Of course, that boost could simply be because they are applying early in the cycle and all early applicants get a boost - no one really knows (except Northwestern)

JudgeWanker wrote:My GPA is a 2.79. Would they just consider that a 2.8? My LSAT is a 176..

1) LSAC does not round (up or down). A 2.79 is a 2.79.

2) Seems futile to retake the LSAT with a 176. But congrats on the score!

LSAC does round up or down instead of truncating your GPA. So if you have a 2.795 or above it goes up to a 2.8 ( According to Spivey since I asked him because of a scholarship question where the decimal points did matter)