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Hi all--my UGPA is about a 3.53, my LGPA is a 3.75. My LSAT is a 179. What are the best ways to improve my chances at HYS? (Good softs, etc) I'm LGBT, but not URM and have been quite successful at college debate, plus one or two meh internships.

Honestly, why are you trying for HYS? You could probably get a full-ride at a not that much lower T-14 with a 179.

deepseapartners wrote:Honestly, why are you trying for HYS? You could probably get a full-ride at a not that much lower T-14 with a 179.

Sort of a complicated situation--basically a full ride would obviously be great, but if I get into HYS, my parents are willing to pay. So for the increased opportunities in legal academia, clerkships, etc, that would be my preferred option

Don't worry. You have a good shot at all of HYS with those numbers because your LSAC GPA is the only thing that counts and 179 is superb.

To the person above suggesting the OP shouldn't aim for HYS: although getting a full ride offer from Columbia or Chicago would be great and I would suggest choosing a Chicago fullride over one of HYS normally , it is much easier to predict admissions than it is to predict whether someone will get a full ride offer. And whether a lower t14 fullride is better than HYS really depends on the person. You always need to factor in certainty of biglaw employment, ambition, risk-averse-ness, together with financial cost.

Plus, if money is not an issue, one should go to Yale Harvard or Stanford, not a lower ranked school on a full ride. Especially true if OP is ambitious.

I very much appreciate that! My main question is what softs i should pursue to boost my chances? I really don't want to take much time off in between college and law school (I plan on applying next cycle, and am graduating this semester)

I agree, OP's in an excellent position for any of those schools. I would be really surprised if you didn't at least get into H.

Just enjoy your time off and recharge for law school. Unless you are going to delay for a few admissions cycles, there's not really a one-year activity you can do that would significantly boost your chances. Your GPA and LSAT are going to carry the day in nearly every circumstance.

Thank you all! Last question: is a GPA addendum needed to explain the difference between my UGPA and LSAC GPA? (I had an illness that screwed me for two semesters, took time off to treat it, and got A+s in a few community college courses)

Mipama wrote:I very much appreciate that! My main question is what softs i should pursue to boost my chances? I really don't want to take much time off in between college and law school (I plan on applying next cycle, and am graduating this semester)

Taking time off is pretty much the only thing you can do to improve your application. And you should do it, but not because it will improve your chances.

Mipama wrote:Thank you all! Last question: is a GPA addendum needed to explain the difference between my UGPA and LSAC GPA? (I had an illness that screwed me for two semesters, took time off to treat it, and got A+s in a few community college courses)

No.

Mipama wrote:Hi all--my UGPA is about a 3.53, my LGPA is a 3.75. My LSAT is a 179. What are the best ways to improve my chances at HYS? (Good softs, etc) I'm LGBT, but not URM and have been quite successful at college debate, plus one or two meh internships.

Hey! I have very similar stats and was admitted to H and Y as a KJD (didn't apply to S). I honestly think that anything you do at this point to "try to improve your chances" as far as softs, etc will look fake and contrived. Your best bet is to spend a lot of time on your application materials and be true to yourself. Your gpa shouldn't prevent you from admission to those schools paired with your LSAT, you just need to really sell the rest of the package.