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I have just over a 3.0 from a good university although the way law school would calculate my GPA it ends up around a 2.8. I am about halfway through my MPA degree at the same university with a high GPA 3.8. I am going to OCS this fall for the Marine Corps active duty. I have taken practice LSATs and gotten 170 although I have plenty of time to bring it up even higher. There is literally nothing I can do to bring up my undergrad GPA though. I was wondering what my chances are for any top 15 law schools. I have about 4 years before I will be applying to law school , and I was wondering if there is anything I can do between now and then to increase my chances/do I have any chance at all. Thanks

The only thing you can really do is make sure your LSAT score is as high as possible. A 2.8 is below the "floor" for many t14 unless you have an astronomical LSAT score.

For what it's worth, I also have a master's and military experience, and neither of those things really functioned as a "bump" for me - I didn't get in anywhere that my lsat/gpa alone wouldn't have gotten me into. Some people do report a bump, so ymmv.

Vet here. Nobody cares. It will help with scholly money, but wont get you in anywhere your numbers arent good at unless you have a bronze star with the V or some shit. Just wreck the LSATs taint

Set your sights on rocking the LSAT. If you can break 170 on the real deal, there is a chance that someone will bite. Northwestern seems most likely, as they value work experience and are known for being splitter-friendly.

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Kali the Annihilator wrote:Vet here. Nobody cares. It will help with scholly money, but wont get you in anywhere your numbers arent good at unless you have a bronze star with the V or some shit. Just wreck the LSATs taint

Disagree with this blanket statement. I had a 2.67 LSAC GPA and 157 LSAT. Rated USAF Officer, w/ 2 master's degrees. I've flown a lot of combat sorties, but never received a bronze star. I got into a few schools ranked 20-30 (also dinged at a few) and waitlisted at 10-20 ranked schools. One particular school I visited, the dean of admissions stated that "after she read my personal statement, she didn't care what my numbers were". Yes, it depends on the school. Some schools will give you a bump, some won't.

But yes, wreck the LSAT, it will help your chances. Then apply everywhere you can afford and see what admissions officers like your story.

MichiganHoosier wrote:p.s. It pretty much takes 6 months to a year to fully transition out of the military as an officer, you will have adequate time to study during that period.

Would you suggest this over studying for/taking the LSAT between undergrad and BOLC?

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MichiganHoosier wrote:

sodomojo wrote:Would you suggest this over studying for/taking the LSAT between undergrad and BOLC?

Yes. I would use that transition period to finish applications, do your visits/interviews, and potentially take one last LSAT. Take your LSAT you plan on applying with within a year of your refrad date. If you plan on doing 5 years before getting out, then take it between undergrad. Because after 5 years your score is deleted. During your time in, especially during deployments, you have decent opportunities to study. But I wouldn't rush taking your test. Read through the power score books, and then start doing practice tests. But in the end, it really is user preference. I just like to procrastinate and not rush into things!

--I vehemently agree on not rushing the test. Use that last 100+ days of active service as sham-time. You should also be able to save up enough leave and money to not have to work for quite a while, you'd probably be able to only focus on the LSAT for a year or so, without any significant lifestyle changes. That would be time well spent.

I'm going to disagree though, on planning to take the LSAT while on active duty. I don't think it would be bad to study once your "REFRAD" is submitted, as you'll have time to, but don't count on having much free time otherwise. As an LT/CPT in a line company, or even BN, you'll be in the field/traveling at least six months a year, and the other six months will still be pretty close to 24/7 type stuff. If you're combat arms/support on a deployment, or whatever war/exercise pops up next, you won't have time to study either. The grind NEVER STOPS, you'll get a day or two here and there, but that's when you catch up on paperwork and stuff. After about 100 or so days of infrequent sleep and food, your higher-level critical thinking goes to crap anyways, there is no way to make LSAT-Gainz.

SCENE:

Sergeant Guy: "Hey sir, SP at 1000 Zulu, weapons parts are in, guys have been working around the clock. Final intel dump in an hour."

(LT is focused on a massive book, doesn't look up) "Uh huh" He nods

Sergeant Guy: "Are you memorizing our execution checklist or the High Value Target list? Mind if I see it?"

(Sergeant grabs book from LT, holds up PowerScore LR Bible): "What..the...fuck.."

END SCENE

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Similar profile. Not military, but I've worked for the DoD for the past four years.

170/2.66

UG Electrical Engineering

Top 40 PT MBA 3.8 GPA

4 Years USG WE (GS12 for past year)

27 applications sent (only applied to schools that gave me a fee waiver; I did request some (UVA, Duke))

Applied to 4 T14s, 3 Rejects (Northwestern, UVA, Penn) and a WL (Duke)

Best offer I've gotten is WUSTL with a 90% scholly. Intend to start there in the fall unless Duke comes up with something crazy (not holding my breath).

Get a high LSAT score under your belt. (A practice score of 170 is probably not enough but it sounds like you have time to raise your scores.)

Then apply widely. Put together an effective application package which shouldn't be hard given your strong soft factors / military background.

You won't know what school you'll get into but you will land something good.