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I'm applying a bit late in the cycle after some other opportunities didn't pan out.

GPA: 3.76 Triple major in math, econ, and philosophy

(Have compelling personal reasons for it being low - father released from prison and began harassing me, mother had a heart attack, became housing insecure)

GRE: 170V/161Q

Softs: Marshall finalist, founded nonprofit featured in NYT, helped successfully sue a state and force them to redraw a district under the VRA, helped pilot education nonprofit, Teach for America, other political and community organizing experience

A few thoughts...

gaflaher wrote:I'm applying a bit late in the cycle after some other opportunities didn't pan out.

What other opportunities? Do you actually want to be a lawyer, or is this a backup plan?

This is kind of related to the question of why you're applying with the GRE instead of the LSAT. The standards for admission for a GRE-only applicant are unclear, but it looks like these applicants normally have to be non-traditional (i.e. advanced degrees and possibly former careers in non-law-related fields). Since you seem like a fairly traditional law school applicant, I think it makes far more sense for you to not rush this process and take the LSAT if you actually want to go to law school.

gaflaher wrote:(Have compelling personal reasons for it being low - father released from prison and began harassing me, mother had a heart attack, became housing insecure)

Those are indeed compelling reasons for a GPA addendum, but 3.76 isn't a low GPA. It's possible an addendum could help you if you have a semester or two where your grades were noticeably lower across the board, but without that, it seems like you performed well in college.

cavalier1138 wrote:A few thoughts...

gaflaher wrote:I'm applying a bit late in the cycle after some other opportunities didn't pan out.

What other opportunities? Do you actually want to be a lawyer, or is this a backup plan?

This is kind of related to the question of why you're applying with the GRE instead of the LSAT. The standards for admission for a GRE-only applicant are unclear, but it looks like these applicants normally have to be non-traditional (i.e. advanced degrees and possibly former careers in non-law-related fields). Since you seem like a fairly traditional law school applicant, I think it makes far more sense for you to not rush this process and take the LSAT if you actually want to go to law school.

gaflaher wrote:(Have compelling personal reasons for it being low - father released from prison and began harassing me, mother had a heart attack, became housing insecure)

Those are indeed compelling reasons for a GPA addendum, but 3.76 isn't a low GPA. It's possible an addendum could help you if you have a semester or two where your grades were noticeably lower across the board, but without that, it seems like you performed well in college.

My original plan was to pursue a master's overseas before enrolling in law school. I do want to be a lawyer. As far as GPA goes, there are two semesters in which my grades are noticeably lower.

gaflaher wrote:My original plan was to pursue a master's overseas before enrolling in law school. I do want to be a lawyer.

That seems like a weird way of going about it, but regardless, I'd strongly suggest taking the LSAT to make sure you're giving yourself a wider range of school options.