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Applying Fall 2009. Here it is...

2.7 GPA (really irregular semesters... (approx. 2.5, 1.8, 3.6, 3.1, 1.9, 3.7, 2.8, ____)
170 LSAT (February '09)
In Undergrad
Social Sciences Major
Large Public Midwest University
Decent softs (internships with various nonprofits in human rights/social justice)
Non-URM

I know, my grades are all over the place. Wish I had better reasons, but it's the usual family/relationships/illness/too much partying in college mix. Mostly, I've been irresponsible and now extremely regretful.

I know that without WE and with such erratic grade, UIUC, Wisconsin, ND, WUSTL, Minnesota are all but completely ruled out save some sort of miracle. What are my chances at one of the Chicago schools (Depaul, Loyola, Chicago-Kent)?

Since I'm such a weird splitter, I'm sure those probability calculators online aren't too accurate. Input anyone? Thank you!!

To avoid some of the long rants I've seen on similar threads on these schools, let me just say, I have no aspirations for BigLaw. I plan on going into public interest law. Just looking for some input on my chances of admission.

Um, do you have a 167 or a 170?

animalcrkrs wrote:Um, do you have a 167 or a 170?

Yeah, I'm confused.

Oops, my mistake...

167 (Sept. '08)
170 (February '09)

I took the test quite early because I had planned to apply this cycle, but decided to wait pending an additional semester of school (graduating this December).

Thanks!!

a social sciences major with a 2.7 will be regarded as lazy, but your LSAT will help you out. any way you can take it again and add a few (or 10) points?

(Note the update above. Didn't realize I deleted a line.)

But no, I think I've topped out at a 170.

so your grades were constantly up and down like that? did they happen to get better more consistently toward the end? like now, for example?

grades listed are in order of semester (numbers approximated, but close)

hmm. you've put yourself in a quite a pickle mr. regretfulsplitter

really? no chance at even depaul, loyola, kent??

regretfulsplitter wrote:really? no chance at even depaul, loyola, kent??

oh no, i never said that! i'm just saying i understand being regretful when you have a nice LSAT

Some t-30s will bite. Do you want to go to LS in Chicago or end up working in Chicago?

you'd almost certainly get into DePaul. Look at http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

you have a fine chance at all three. get a decent gpa addendum together and apply to a lot of reaches as well.

Do you want to go to LS in Chicago or end up working in Chicago?

I'd like to end up working in Chicago. I'd be open to going to school almost anywhere (actually, 3 years in a different city sounds like a good experience), but considering my poor numbers, I just decided I should be looking at a regional/local school with good placement in Chicago.

you'd almost certainly get into DePaul. Look at http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Thanks for the link. I've browsed LSN, but I've noticed that most of those who got in have WE and/or an upward grade trend. How necessary is it do you think?

regretfulsplitter wrote:

Do you want to go to LS in Chicago or end up working in Chicago?

I'd like to end up working in Chicago. I'd be open to going to school almost anywhere (actually, 3 years in a different city sounds like a good experience), but considering my poor numbers, I just decided I should be looking at a regional/local school with good placement in Chicago.

you'd almost certainly get into DePaul. Look at http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Thanks for the link. I've browsed LSN, but I've noticed that most of those who got in have WE and/or an upward grade trend. How necessary is it do you think?

it's hard to tell. i didn't apply to any of those schools and i'm not much of an expert on them, so take my opinon with a grain of salt. an upward grade trend would help you, but you really need to start thinking of an addendum to explain the inconsistency of your grades. saying "i liked to party" won't cut it.

This guy got into Illinois with Illinois with a 2.8/168 http://lawschoolnumbers.com/kflyer
Wisconsin and DePaul with a 2.66/172 http://lawschoolnumbers.com/MountainCreek
Kent with a 2.5/172 http://lawschoolnumbers.com/exanarchist

Indiana may be another midwest law school to take a look at. You should be able to get in with your numbers.

Yo man with a 170 and 2.7 you have a great shot at even Illinois or Minnesota. Hell, I got in at U of I with a similar GPA and a slightly lower LSAT score. Don't see why you couldn't do the same.

regretfulsplitter wrote:I know that without WE and with such erratic grade, UIUC, Wisconsin, ND, WUSTL, Minnesota are all but completely ruled out save some sort of miracle. What are my chances at one of the Chicago schools (Depaul, Loyola, Chicago-Kent)?

Since I'm such a weird splitter, I'm sure those probability calculators online aren't too accurate. Input anyone? Thank you!!

About all you can do is use LSN and hourumd and go back several years, realizing that admissions strategies change from year to year (e.g. MN is no longer splitter-friendly).

I'd go ahead and take your 170 and apply to all those schools listed. It looks like of the first 5 you have the best shot at UIUC and WUSTL. Prior to this year, Minn was very friendly but it now appears that it has turned against splitters.

I've been studying this GPA-LSAT range intensely for a couple months because I'm also a sub-3.0 applicant. I would assume that the precedent is weak and softs like work experience become more pronounced at this level. What's weird is that some T25s like WUSTL and UIUC are willing to take a sub-3 GPA, while a number of lower schools, even down past the 50 mark, are not very friendly to it.

Since you got a 170, it might be worth applying to GULC and maybe to other low T14s like UVA for reaches. If you have work experience, apply to NU. If you don't have work experience, consider waiting a year or more to get some. Anecdotally, it seems to be a positive for splitters to have some kind of redeeming resume.

Edit - on re-reading my post, I don't want to get you overly confident. Your GPA is erratic, whereas a lot of splitters have either upswing trends or WE or both to counteract poor performance. Apply to plenty of safeties lower down the list, but also reach for a couple T14s and absolutely apply to WUSTL and UIUC. If the cycle comes out poorly, get a job to prove yourself before reapplying. Work is generally the only way to compensate for a bad GPA, and you might consider that.

I don't want to be a dick but do you really think law school is a good risk for you? At best you get into UIUC, which is a pretty good school, but you'll be paying full tuition. Probably 150K including spending money and R&B. And your academic record has been terrible in an easy major. And it shows no improvement over time. Law school will be harder. So its not inconceivable you'll be graduating with 150K debt and bottom 25% of your class. I'm not sure what type of public interest job you can get with that, but make sure you are okay with being in that situation.

Does UIUC have ED? If so ED there, and make sure you ace your final semester. If you aren't busy this summer, take tons easy credits (but not joke). It will show you ended well, and boost your GPA. Send an updated transcript to schools in January too showing your final grades.

Gaius wrote:I don't want to be a dick but do you really think law school is a good risk for you? At best you get into UIUC, which is a pretty good school, but you'll be paying full tuition. Probably 150K including spending money and R&B. And your academic record has been terrible in an easy major. And it shows no improvement over time. Law school will be harder. So its not inconceivable you'll be graduating with 150K debt and bottom 25% of your class. I'm not sure what type of public interest job you can get with that, but make sure you are okay with being in that situation.

Does UIUC have ED? If so ED there, and make sure you ace your final semester. If you aren't busy this summer, take tons easy credits (but not joke). It will show you ended well, and boost your GPA. Send an updated transcript to schools in January too showing your final grades.

TINTCR

UIUC is a good school that places well in big law for a non T14. Make sure you really want law school though and work your ass off. You clearly have what it takes with a 170. Don't ED. You've got a really good chance RD with a 170, a chance at better schools and you'd be giving away any chance at scholarship money.