Top Law Schools

Before anyone suggests buckling down and retaking - I have already done so.

First LSAT: 163
Second LSAT: 164

GPA has increased steeply since Freshmen year

Great resume and recs

In at Boston College

Please chance my ability to be admitted into the following law schools:

Michigan
Georgetown
Wash U
Boston University
Notre Dame
George Washington University
William & Mary
University of Illinois
University of Wisconsin

Ideal locations: Chicago, Boston, DC

Any other school recommendations?

Have you taken a third time? You are not in great shape here. You will likely get into Illinois and Wisc, but waitlisted above. No chance at t14, no chance at WUSTL, ND, GW, BU, maybe a waitlist chance at WM and BC.

You need to retake again. Lets say you get into BC/ND/WM, it will be for full price. That is an absolutely life crippling decision.

Edit: this is from my direct experience 2 years ago (during an easier cycle, with .2-.3 gpa points higher and a 164): out at t14, in at ND, BU, BC, WM (all with some, but not a lot of scholarship- around 10k a year), waitlisted at GW and WUSTL. So, during an earlier, easier cycle with a significantly better GPA, these were my outcomes. Non URM, some cool softs, and work experience. PM if you want more info. But I decided to retake and crushed my third try, now at UVA/Duke on almost a full ride.

Edit 2: You need to look at even if you get into these schools, what their employment outcomes are in the cities. For example, BC does pretty well in Boston, but nowhere else. But ND is only going to be able to send less than 30% of their class to Chicago. You need to do some more research and really need to retake again. It changed my life after listening to almost this exact advice two years ago in a very similar situation.

You should definitely retake again. As grades said, 0 chance at t14. You will get into Illinois and Wisconsin and probably in at W&M. Maybe you get into GW, ND and BU but will almost certainly be at sticker, which are not worth it. If you want to be in Chicago and get a good scholarship to Illinois (meaning at least 75%) that probably would be worthwhile, otherwise the rest of your options will not be worth attending.

Since I had almost these exact numbers when I applied

Michigan - No
Georgetown - No, Possibly Waitlist but no
Wash U - Yes
Boston University - Yes
Notre Dame - Waitlist, eventual Yes
George Washington University - Yes
William & Mary - Yes
University of Illinois - Yes
University of Wisconsin - Yes

Good money at W&M, UofI, UofW
Small money at BU, GW, Wash U
No money at ND

PSPSPSPS wrote:Since I had almost these exact numbers when I applied

Michigan - No
Georgetown - No, Possibly Waitlist but no
Wash U - Yes
Boston University - Yes
Notre Dame - Waitlist, eventual Yes
George Washington University - Yes
William & Mary - Yes
University of Illinois - Yes
University of Wisconsin - Yes

Good money at W&M, UofI, UofW
Small money at BU, GW, Wash U
No money at ND

In what universe does this applicant get money at WashU? They toss out giant scholarships like candy for good numbers, but the OP is below both medians.

cavalier1138 wrote:

PSPSPSPS wrote:Since I had almost these exact numbers when I applied

Michigan - No
Georgetown - No, Possibly Waitlist but no
Wash U - Yes
Boston University - Yes
Notre Dame - Waitlist, eventual Yes
George Washington University - Yes
William & Mary - Yes
University of Illinois - Yes
University of Wisconsin - Yes

Good money at W&M, UofI, UofW
Small money at BU, GW, Wash U
No money at ND

In what universe does this applicant get money at WashU? They toss out giant scholarships like candy for good numbers, but the OP is below both medians.

I'm just going off my personal experience from last cycle. I was surprised as well.