T-14 Chances? ~170 LSAT, 3.01 GPA, boatload of work experience
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 4:42 pm
I'm taking the LSAT for the first time on Saturday--my practice tests hover between 168-172, so let's assume for the sake of argument I get a 170. I've got a 3.01 GPA, graduating in in 2010. Since then, I've been working for public affairs agencies on issues directly related to the law--I regularly work directly with lawyers and help them do their work with federal agencies/courts. So I've got what I'm hoping are strong soft creds, and I'm sure I could get statements of support from a lawyer or two.
I'm applying for the 2019 cycle.
Complicating matters is that my longtime partner is in med school and needs to apply to residency programs mid-spring 2019. So I need to know where I'm going to be by then so she knows which cities to apply in. And I emphasize "city," because for a variety of reasons, that's where the best residency odds are.
From what I've heard, it seems like my best T-14 bet is Northwestern, which would be great, especially because I'd need to apply ED for next cycle anyway. But I live in Philadelphia now, so obviously UPenn is tempting assuming my GPAs not too low (which I suspect it is).
1) How strong a candidate will I be at Northwestern and UPenn?
2) Is UChicago out of my reach?
3) I keep hearing that very top-tier schools like students with substantial work histories. To the extent that's the case at all, should I be thinking about that emphasis as something that will actually offset a weakish GPA, or strictly as something to will help differentiate me from students with the same hard factors as me? In other words, does my work experience really open doors to higher-tier schools, or does it just increase the odds of my getting into schools already willing to consider me?
I'm applying for the 2019 cycle.
Complicating matters is that my longtime partner is in med school and needs to apply to residency programs mid-spring 2019. So I need to know where I'm going to be by then so she knows which cities to apply in. And I emphasize "city," because for a variety of reasons, that's where the best residency odds are.
From what I've heard, it seems like my best T-14 bet is Northwestern, which would be great, especially because I'd need to apply ED for next cycle anyway. But I live in Philadelphia now, so obviously UPenn is tempting assuming my GPAs not too low (which I suspect it is).
1) How strong a candidate will I be at Northwestern and UPenn?
2) Is UChicago out of my reach?
3) I keep hearing that very top-tier schools like students with substantial work histories. To the extent that's the case at all, should I be thinking about that emphasis as something that will actually offset a weakish GPA, or strictly as something to will help differentiate me from students with the same hard factors as me? In other words, does my work experience really open doors to higher-tier schools, or does it just increase the odds of my getting into schools already willing to consider me?