Low GPA is a result of overloading (double major, math heavy), so I will not be writing an adendum. Top undergrad (take your guess haha). Strong softs (Peace Corps). Before first LSAT I was PTing at 174 avg, but December killed me and I scored 165, lower than my diagnostic. By February I was PTing at 176 avg, just got my score back with a 173. URM (PR).
What are my chances at T14, especially Columbia?
Should I retake? I am not planning to apply until fall of 2017, so I have a lot of time, but it would be a third take and significantly harder to arrange because I will be abroad.
3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR) Forum
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fliptrip
- Posts: 1879
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:10 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Congrats on a great score OP. Is your "top undergrad" one that is so well known for resisting grade inflation that it provides law schools with a supplemental letter for each of its students that explains their policy? If it is, that changes the calculus a little bit.
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dggrl
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:05 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Haha no unfortunately not MIT but grade inflation varied by department and mine was not about that.
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landshoes
- Posts: 1291
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:17 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Princeton is another one I think? Anyway, your chances seem excellent as-is, and I'm not worried that a retake would hurt you at all. Sorry to be vague, it's just hard to weigh someone else's convenience against the marginal difference in acceptance rates.
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fliptrip
- Posts: 1879
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:10 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
LOL! MIT isn't the school I was referring to. I'll do it like this:
If you went to Princeton, I'd probably inflate your GPA .2-.3. Otherwise, I'd take it as is.
Here's what I think. Any school you don't get will not be because of your LSAT. So, do not retake unless you just like taking the LSAT or have some kind of pride thing about getting a 178.
You will almost certainly get into Columbia. Be careful though, it is looking like they are starting some yield protection behavior so make sure you indicate specific Columbia interest. As for the rest:
Y and S: If forced to guess I'd say your GPA would keep you out of both, but depending on what's actually on your transcript and the quality of your academic recommendations, I could see one or both coming through. Being PR + your peace corps soft makes you a very appealing applicant.
H: Feel good about you getting this.
CCN: Aside from bizarre YP behavior you should have all of these. You might get a Butler from Columbia.
Penn will waitlist you, because Penn. Lol. LOL @ Penn.
Everyone else: It's going to be a crapshoot because you're super strong Yield Protection bait. Try to prevent this by writing a Why X for every school in this range. I think you'll get in to several of these schools with full rides and you'll probably be waitlisted at 1-2 of them.
Basically, you're going to kick ass next cycle. Good luck.
If you went to Princeton, I'd probably inflate your GPA .2-.3. Otherwise, I'd take it as is.
Here's what I think. Any school you don't get will not be because of your LSAT. So, do not retake unless you just like taking the LSAT or have some kind of pride thing about getting a 178.
You will almost certainly get into Columbia. Be careful though, it is looking like they are starting some yield protection behavior so make sure you indicate specific Columbia interest. As for the rest:
Y and S: If forced to guess I'd say your GPA would keep you out of both, but depending on what's actually on your transcript and the quality of your academic recommendations, I could see one or both coming through. Being PR + your peace corps soft makes you a very appealing applicant.
H: Feel good about you getting this.
CCN: Aside from bizarre YP behavior you should have all of these. You might get a Butler from Columbia.
Penn will waitlist you, because Penn. Lol. LOL @ Penn.
Everyone else: It's going to be a crapshoot because you're super strong Yield Protection bait. Try to prevent this by writing a Why X for every school in this range. I think you'll get in to several of these schools with full rides and you'll probably be waitlisted at 1-2 of them.
Basically, you're going to kick ass next cycle. Good luck.
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jnwa
- Posts: 1125
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 12:35 am
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Same LSAT lower gpa AA URM...I got Columbia you should get it too. Write "why x" for all non-t6 schools and you might me looking at a full ride.
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dggrl
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:05 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Guys, thank you so much for your input!! My main concern has just been that because my UGPA is so far below a lot of the 25ths, my LSAT would have to be well above the 75th to have a chance. I might still consider retaking but I feel better about it now.
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dggrl
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:05 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Guys, thank you so much for your input!! My main concern has just been that because my UGPA is so far below a lot of the 25ths, my LSAT would have to be well above the 75th to have a chance. I might still consider retaking but I feel better about it now.
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dggrl
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:05 pm
Re: 3.45 UGPA / 173 LSAT URM (PR)
Guys, thank you so much for your input!! My main concern has just been that because my UGPA is so far below a lot of the 25ths, my LSAT would have to be well above the 75th to have a chance. I might still consider retaking but I feel better about it now.
