Top Law Schools

My July LSAT came back many points higher than I realistically expected. I had been PTing in the range but didn't imagine I'd execute like that on the day.

My GPA is 3.85. LSAT 176. (I'm an older than average, international, not URM, grad degrees and decent softs).

My original list just doesn't seem quite right now. I was looking in the T 10-20 range. What am I supposed to do now? I mean, this is a GREAT situation, I'm delighted. Yesterday was a great day. I just want to make sure I making the most of this, in terms of quality of school and money.

Would really appreciate all of yours insights while I build a new list. Thank-you in advance.

what guidance do you need?

step 1: look at US News law school rankings
step 2: apply to the top 13-14 of those schools
step 3: ?????
step 4: profit.

Yeah, this isn't complicated. Blanket the T14 - write the Why X's for Penn and Duke and UVA - and you'll get some great offers.

Oh, you really do just blanket the T-14?! I read a while back about people doing that. Ok.. makes sense... that's definitely straight forward.

Am I right in thinking that even in the t-14 there's a vastly different approach to merit based scholarships? I'm pretty sure I've seen that Berkeley is quite stingy no matter what, for example.

pnl wrote:Oh, you really do just blanket the T-14?! I read a while back about people doing that. Ok.. makes sense... that's definitely straight forward.

Am I right in thinking that even in the t-14 there's a vastly different approach to merit based scholarships? I'm pretty sure I've seen that Berkeley is quite stingy no matter what, for example.

Yeah, I'd avoid committing early in the cycle. You might find that a school really needs a high LSAT to maintain get a certain median or wants a solid GPA that won't negatively impact their LSAT median. Essentially, a school's needs may change over the course of a cycle such that you become more valuable to them. As is, you should not accept less than a named scholarship to any school below the top 6. You're in a great position. Just avoid coming across as an asshole in your personal statement or having careless typos. I wouldn't stress about making sure to get your app in the day they open. Just make sure it's good to go. Your numbers are going to play no matter when you apply.

Thanks so much for advice. I appreciate it. I'll spend the next few weeks writing!

pnl wrote:Oh, you really do just blanket the T-14?! I read a while back about people doing that. Ok.. makes sense... that's definitely straight forward.

Am I right in thinking that even in the t-14 there's a vastly different approach to merit based scholarships? I'm pretty sure I've seen that Berkeley is quite stingy no matter what, for example.

You don’t have to apply to every T14 school but I think it’s worth it to apply to most of them. You can often squeeze more money out of a school with a scholarship offer from a similarly ranked school — even if it’s a slightly lower ranked school. So, for example if you get a full ride to Cornell you might be able to use that to get Penn to give you a less than full but more than half scholarship. You just want to maximize this and think hard about where you want to live during law school and work after. I’d be surprised if those numbers don’t get you into HYS but they also may get you a full ride from 1 or more T14s...so you’ll have amazing choices.

FWIW, Berkeley has a matching scholarship program where they’ll consider matching any T14 scholarship except maybe Northwestern and Georgetown? Anyway I know they do sometimes match very large scholarships from Michigan, Virginia, Penn etc so if that’s one of the schools you’re most excited about all things being equal, and/or you want to practice in a California, I’d definitely apply.

Your stats are great. Probably one of HYS and almost definitely one of HY/CCN