Lsat 168(highest)/GPA superior (or 3.77) binding UVA?--complicated situation Forum

[launu]

I graduated from a foreign university and my gpa is rated as "superior", but I have attended in a school in US for a year as an exchange student and my GPA in US is 3.77 (which I also reported to the LSAC).
My softs are not bad for a recently graduated undergrad, but I'm just assuming that my personal statement, LOR and resume are all average.
My dream schools are Columbia or NYU (because of the reputation and the location), but I know that my chances for these schools are slim.
Taking advice from my acquaintances and TLS, I am basically thinking about applying to all t14 schools except the t3.
Right now I am considering on applying for UVA binding decision for higher admission chance, but I don't know if I should, considering less scholarship opportunity (if I have any)...

So my questions are:
1. Based on my numbers, should I risk the slightest chance to be accepted into lower t6 or getting higher scholarships from the peer schools(like berkeley or duke) and apply for a UVA binding decision? Do I have a shot at UVA in this case, taking into account that I am a bit late in submitting my applications?
2. Can I count my GPA as 3.77 or am I just superior? Does this make any differences?-- this question has been driving me crazy....
3. Should I write an addendum for my lsat score jump so the schools can focus on my highest score?

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated

[purinpurin710]

I have taken lsat 3 times, and the scores are 163/163/168.
I graduated from a foreign university and my gpa is rated as "superior", but I have attended in a school in US for a year as an exchange student and my GPA in US is 3.77 (which I also reported to the LSAC).
My softs are not bad for a recently graduated undergrad, but I'm just assuming that my personal statement, LOR and resume are all average.
My dream schools are Columbia or NYU (because of the reputation and the location), but I know that my chances for these schools are slim.
Taking advice from my acquaintances and TLS, I am basically thinking about applying to all t14 schools except the t3.
Right now I am considering on applying for UVA binding decision for higher admission chance, but I don't know if I should, considering less scholarship opportunity (if I have any)...

So my questions are:
1. Based on my numbers, should I risk the slightest chance to be accepted into lower t6 or getting higher scholarships from the peer schools(like berkeley or duke) and apply for a UVA binding decision? Do I have a shot at UVA in this case, taking into account that I am a bit late in submitting my applications?
2. Can I count my GPA as 3.77 or am I just superior? Does this make any differences?-- this question has been driving me crazy....
3. Should I write an addendum for my lsat score jump so the schools can focus on my highest score?

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated

I am an international applicant with an exchange semester GPA in US reported. You should treat yourself as superior instead of 3.77, which may put you in a disadvantaged position comparing to someone with 168/3.77.

Superior is no difference from Above Average for non-HYS+UChi schools. To be honest, your chance at T6 is slim as I have seen several 170-173 international got deferred ED CLS/NYU in this cycle. And do not expect too much $$$ from lower 14 as well since 168 is just the median for many of them. You are not likely to get scholarships from Duke/Berkeley, so if you want to do UVA binding decision just go for it. Personally, I would say RD T14-HYS. Don't be too optimistic about your chances as 168 is not a very competitive score considering we do not have GPA.

Do work on your PS if you want to outperform your number. International students tend to ignore the importance of PS as most of us are told 'only LSAT matters'(And that's not exactly true). As you said that your softs are 'not bad', do demonstrate them in your PS/resume. Otherwise, I think Cornell/NU/GULC with very little money/at sticker is what you might get.

[Hand]

You need 60 credits from a US institution to have a GPA that can be reported to LSAC/ABA/USNWR, which amounts to 2 yrs of full-time study, so your 3.77 doesn't matter, unfortunately. You have a shot of getting admitted at any school where you're at or above median, and perhaps a chance at schools with a 169 median. If I were you I probably wouldn't waste my time and money applying to schools with a median of 170 and up.

[launu]

I have taken lsat 3 times, and the scores are 163/163/168.
I graduated from a foreign university and my gpa is rated as "superior", but I have attended in a school in US for a year as an exchange student and my GPA in US is 3.77 (which I also reported to the LSAC).
My softs are not bad for a recently graduated undergrad, but I'm just assuming that my personal statement, LOR and resume are all average.
My dream schools are Columbia or NYU (because of the reputation and the location), but I know that my chances for these schools are slim.
Taking advice from my acquaintances and TLS, I am basically thinking about applying to all t14 schools except the t3.
Right now I am considering on applying for UVA binding decision for higher admission chance, but I don't know if I should, considering less scholarship opportunity (if I have any)...

So my questions are:
1. Based on my numbers, should I risk the slightest chance to be accepted into lower t6 or getting higher scholarships from the peer schools(like berkeley or duke) and apply for a UVA binding decision? Do I have a shot at UVA in this case, taking into account that I am a bit late in submitting my applications?
2. Can I count my GPA as 3.77 or am I just superior? Does this make any differences?-- this question has been driving me crazy....
3. Should I write an addendum for my lsat score jump so the schools can focus on my highest score?

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated

I am an international applicant with an exchange semester GPA in US reported. You should treat yourself as superior instead of 3.77, which may put you in a disadvantaged position comparing to someone with 168/3.77.

Superior is no difference from Above Average for non-HYS+UChi schools. To be honest, your chance at T6 is slim as I have seen several 170-173 international got deferred ED CLS/NYU in this cycle. And do not expect too much $$$ from lower 14 as well since 168 is just the median for many of them. You are not likely to get scholarships from Duke/Berkeley, so if you want to do UVA binding decision just go for it. Personally, I would say RD T14-HYS. Don't be too optimistic about your chances as 168 is not a very competitive score considering we do not have GPA.

Do work on your PS if you want to outperform your number. International students tend to ignore the importance of PS as most of us are told 'only LSAT matters'(And that's not exactly true). As you said that your softs are 'not bad', do demonstrate them in your PS/resume. Otherwise, I think Cornell/NU/GULC with very little money/at sticker is what you might get.

Thanks for your detailed response. I did not know that superior and AA had not much of a difference. Quick question-- why do you personally prefer RDing T14-HYS in my case? You mean you wouldn't ED UVA right?
I also heard that a lot of international students regret on submiting crappy PSs after they get the results. I worked really hard on mine, which is actually one of the reason why I did not apply yet haha. Not sure yet if it was the right choice though.

[launu]

You need 60 credits from a US institution to have a GPA that can be reported to LSAC/ABA/USNWR, which amounts to 2 yrs of full-time study, so your 3.77 doesn't matter, unfortunately. You have a shot of getting admitted at any school where you're at or above median, and perhaps a chance at schools with a 169 median. If I were you I probably wouldn't waste my time and money applying to schools with a median of 170 and up.

Had no clue about the 60 credit info until now! I don't have any high hopes for schools with a median above 170, but the Greenwich atmosphere and NYU median being 169 does make me hesitate for UVA ED, even though I know that both are reach schools for me lol

[purinpurin710]

I have taken lsat 3 times, and the scores are 163/163/168.
I graduated from a foreign university and my gpa is rated as "superior", but I have attended in a school in US for a year as an exchange student and my GPA in US is 3.77 (which I also reported to the LSAC).
My softs are not bad for a recently graduated undergrad, but I'm just assuming that my personal statement, LOR and resume are all average.
My dream schools are Columbia or NYU (because of the reputation and the location), but I know that my chances for these schools are slim.
Taking advice from my acquaintances and TLS, I am basically thinking about applying to all t14 schools except the t3.
Right now I am considering on applying for UVA binding decision for higher admission chance, but I don't know if I should, considering less scholarship opportunity (if I have any)...

So my questions are:
1. Based on my numbers, should I risk the slightest chance to be accepted into lower t6 or getting higher scholarships from the peer schools(like berkeley or duke) and apply for a UVA binding decision? Do I have a shot at UVA in this case, taking into account that I am a bit late in submitting my applications?
2. Can I count my GPA as 3.77 or am I just superior? Does this make any differences?-- this question has been driving me crazy....
3. Should I write an addendum for my lsat score jump so the schools can focus on my highest score?

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated

I am an international applicant with an exchange semester GPA in US reported. You should treat yourself as superior instead of 3.77, which may put you in a disadvantaged position comparing to someone with 168/3.77.

Superior is no difference from Above Average for non-HYS+UChi schools. To be honest, your chance at T6 is slim as I have seen several 170-173 international got deferred ED CLS/NYU in this cycle. And do not expect too much $$$ from lower 14 as well since 168 is just the median for many of them. You are not likely to get scholarships from Duke/Berkeley, so if you want to do UVA binding decision just go for it. Personally, I would say RD T14-HYS. Don't be too optimistic about your chances as 168 is not a very competitive score considering we do not have GPA.

Do work on your PS if you want to outperform your number. International students tend to ignore the importance of PS as most of us are told 'only LSAT matters'(And that's not exactly true). As you said that your softs are 'not bad', do demonstrate them in your PS/resume. Otherwise, I think Cornell/NU/GULC with very little money/at sticker is what you might get.

Thanks for your detailed response. I did not know that superior and AA had not much of a difference. Quick question-- why do you personally prefer RDing T14-HYS in my case? You mean you wouldn't ED UVA right?
I also heard that a lot of international students regret on submiting crappy PSs after they get the results. I worked really hard on mine, which is actually one of the reason why I did not apply yet haha. Not sure yet if it was the right choice though.

I personally do not care that much about rankings within T14, especially for those schools out of T6. UVA/Duke/Berk/Cornell/Northwestern/Mich make little difference to me. So if I were you, I would RD all those schools+NYU &CLS(your chance would be slim, but it doesn't hurt to try), then run with the one that gives me most $.

I can feel that you put a lot of emphasis on rankings as you keep talking about Berk/Duke/UVA but never mention the lower 14s. I understand that most international students are crazy about ranking/prestige and many are insanely rich, so if you are going for the ranking and have enough family savings, then ED UVA; if not, then RD.

[purinpurin710]

I have taken lsat 3 times, and the scores are 163/163/168.
I graduated from a foreign university and my gpa is rated as "superior", but I have attended in a school in US for a year as an exchange student and my GPA in US is 3.77 (which I also reported to the LSAC).
My softs are not bad for a recently graduated undergrad, but I'm just assuming that my personal statement, LOR and resume are all average.
My dream schools are Columbia or NYU (because of the reputation and the location), but I know that my chances for these schools are slim.
Taking advice from my acquaintances and TLS, I am basically thinking about applying to all t14 schools except the t3.
Right now I am considering on applying for UVA binding decision for higher admission chance, but I don't know if I should, considering less scholarship opportunity (if I have any)...

So my questions are:
1. Based on my numbers, should I risk the slightest chance to be accepted into lower t6 or getting higher scholarships from the peer schools(like berkeley or duke) and apply for a UVA binding decision? Do I have a shot at UVA in this case, taking into account that I am a bit late in submitting my applications?
2. Can I count my GPA as 3.77 or am I just superior? Does this make any differences?-- this question has been driving me crazy....
3. Should I write an addendum for my lsat score jump so the schools can focus on my highest score?

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated

I am an international applicant with an exchange semester GPA in US reported. You should treat yourself as superior instead of 3.77, which may put you in a disadvantaged position comparing to someone with 168/3.77.

Superior is no difference from Above Average for non-HYS+UChi schools. To be honest, your chance at T6 is slim as I have seen several 170-173 international got deferred ED CLS/NYU in this cycle. And do not expect too much $$$ from lower 14 as well since 168 is just the median for many of them. You are not likely to get scholarships from Duke/Berkeley, so if you want to do UVA binding decision just go for it. Personally, I would say RD T14-HYS. Don't be too optimistic about your chances as 168 is not a very competitive score considering we do not have GPA.

Do work on your PS if you want to outperform your number. International students tend to ignore the importance of PS as most of us are told 'only LSAT matters'(And that's not exactly true). As you said that your softs are 'not bad', do demonstrate them in your PS/resume. Otherwise, I think Cornell/NU/GULC with very little money/at sticker is what you might get.

Thanks for your detailed response. I did not know that superior and AA had not much of a difference. Quick question-- why do you personally prefer RDing T14-HYS in my case? You mean you wouldn't ED UVA right?
I also heard that a lot of international students regret on submiting crappy PSs after they get the results. I worked really hard on mine, which is actually one of the reason why I did not apply yet haha. Not sure yet if it was the right choice though.

And try to submit your app earlier. I know someone who applied three cycles ago, who had similar stats as yours and applied in late Jan. He ended up with only one admission from lower 14s and it was at sticker.