International student - good enough softs? Forum

[Idkanything]

Hi,
I will be very grateful for any help. I am an international student and while I understand the quantitative aspect of US admissions, the "soft" factors make no sense to me.
I haven't studied for the LSAT yet but I have taken three properly timed PTs scoring 168s and 169.
I know you can't really chance me without a real result but I am unsure if the rest of my application is sufficiently good to even justify any studying or furter effort investment
I am only interested in going to HYSCCN.
My softs(?) are:
I am European, non-native english speaker, from a developing country
Graduated this year with a low first in Anthropology from a top Scottish Uni, transcript is evaluated as superior but I don't have any awards like deans list (very informatively, this is meant to be equivalent to 3.7-4.0 USGPA)
I believe quite superlative LORs
Distinction in senior thesis in a legal anthropology topic
Very economically disadvantaged background
First in my family to go to college
I am working for the local government in my country as a community organizer. I am also running a prisoner reintegration project
summer internships with the parliament, ministries, etc
some work experience in Asia and Africa
I am also doing research with a law professor related to my senior thesis
I want to do comparative research in a quite obscure legal area related to my thesis and work and I have some original ideas about the implication of this research for policy

I would be potentially taking the next June lsat.

Any hope whatsoever? How would you say this compares to the average applicant? I don't have a gpa and lsn is not helping me in any way to evaluate myself. What minimim lsat would you say will give me a fighting chance (if at all) at HYSCCN?

Thank you for reading and your help. It is greatly appreciated.

[Broncos15]

Softs don't matter unless you found the cure to beat all forms of cancer or brought world peace

[dumdeedum]

Questions:
Why do you want to go to HYSCCN for a JD from the US specifically? Would that be essential to your career path or just window dressing?
Have you considered getting a law degree in another country and getting an LLM here?
How much is money an object?

You can find out entering class profiles on any law school's individual site. But schools are really expensive and largely base scholarships on LSAT/GPA. Grading is also done on a curve, so doing objectively well isn't good enough--your work needs to be better than your peers in order for you to get good grades. Being admitted at the bottom of an entering class at a top school might not be in your best interest, but you know your situation better than a bunch of strangers do.

[ObiWahooKenobi]

These softs strike me as above average and unique. Study for the LSAT.

[Idkanything]

These softs strike me as above average and unique. Study for the LSAT.

Thank you very much, you are very encouraging.

Dumdeedum,
I am not eligible for any funding, financial aid, scholarships or student loans in Europe because I already have an undergraduate degree. Going to a relatively good university will cost me an arm and a leg even in Europe (45k+). US private law schools calculate need aid the same way for foreigners and I could also get loans with cosigners.

Also, second undergrad is very frowned upon even if followed by a yale LLM. I hope to do research (and the best research in my field comes from America) but if I fail I would like to have the back-up of working for a law firm. My employment options will be very diminished with a second bachelor in law because
1. Law here is an undergraduate degree and firms hire 21-22 yos (I will be 26-27)
2. I won't be able to explain why I did a second degree when I could've started working for them with a year law-conversion course after my first degree
With a JD, even at the bottom of the class, I could far more easily find a job with a US firm in Europe or as an in-house counsel for an American company.
Thank you for your concern and information.