177/3.1/International - What schools are realistic and should I take more classes?
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:59 pm
My GPA is a combination of curve (the honors cutoff for my program was 2.9 GPA because almost every class was curved with a median of C+) and medical problems throughout most of it, but I'm aware that outside of truly phenomenal factors it doesn't mitigate much. My softs are alright, nothing incredible. I'm a Canadian trying to move to America so my GPA does transfer as usual. I'm a fair bit older, and could possibly qualify as a disability applicant if that's a consideration.
I know admissions largely boils down to LSAT/GPA. It seems I'm in the super splitter category where bottom T14 is maybe possible, but where even if I go much farther down the list I'm pretty unlikely to get significant scholarship. Given I'll be an international applicant with super splitter status I'm not sure what schools make sense to apply to. I know I could blanket the mid T14 all the way down to T25, but that's a lot of money for me right now so I'm hoping to be a bit more selective. Is there splitter friendly T25s that might have scholarship for me? Do I have a chance at any of the mid-low or bottom T14s? What seems reasonable?
I'll also apply to some Canadian schools, but my goal is to practice in America so it seems more sensible to study there if feasible rather than have to jump through the hoops of learning a new legal system and competing vs domestic school grads.
As for classes I could still take some that would be reported to LSAC in uGPA. But moving that GPA needle would be very slow even with solid As. Is a gain of .1 or .2 worth delaying applications another year, being unable to work full time, and spending say $15,000 in tuition? I know in some situations it would be because it would likely result in scholarship which could be easily +50k, but I think even at 3.35/176 I'm not likely to get scholarship somewhere I want to go compared to 3.1/176 so it seems like a huge gamble for very unlikely benefit. I'm open to the idea though.
Thanks in advance, your input is greatly appreciated.
I know admissions largely boils down to LSAT/GPA. It seems I'm in the super splitter category where bottom T14 is maybe possible, but where even if I go much farther down the list I'm pretty unlikely to get significant scholarship. Given I'll be an international applicant with super splitter status I'm not sure what schools make sense to apply to. I know I could blanket the mid T14 all the way down to T25, but that's a lot of money for me right now so I'm hoping to be a bit more selective. Is there splitter friendly T25s that might have scholarship for me? Do I have a chance at any of the mid-low or bottom T14s? What seems reasonable?
I'll also apply to some Canadian schools, but my goal is to practice in America so it seems more sensible to study there if feasible rather than have to jump through the hoops of learning a new legal system and competing vs domestic school grads.
As for classes I could still take some that would be reported to LSAC in uGPA. But moving that GPA needle would be very slow even with solid As. Is a gain of .1 or .2 worth delaying applications another year, being unable to work full time, and spending say $15,000 in tuition? I know in some situations it would be because it would likely result in scholarship which could be easily +50k, but I think even at 3.35/176 I'm not likely to get scholarship somewhere I want to go compared to 3.1/176 so it seems like a huge gamble for very unlikely benefit. I'm open to the idea though.
Thanks in advance, your input is greatly appreciated.