Top Law Schools

Should I retake the LSAT in December?
What are my chances at getting into the top 20 law schools?
Should I rush myself to apply as an early decision applicant?
Should I broaden my horizons in terms of law schools to apply to?

My dream schools are Stanford, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, USC, UC Hastings [In order from most to least, based on my limited knowledge of overall quality/atmosphere]. I plan to practice law in California and am interested in tax law and corporate law in particular.

I took the LSAT just once in September and scored a 166.
Overall my cumulative g.p.a. is around 3.67 in terms of how it will be Caclulated by LSAC.

So here is my gpa story:
Right after high school I went to UC Irvine for almost a year where I had a 2.069.
Then I went to junior college for 2 years and had a 3.92.
Finally I transferred to UCLA Fall 2008 and I have a 3.84 here (I don't get any extra points for my 3 A+s).

I also need to write a letter explaining my disqualification from UCI for failing to take a placement exam.

How bad is it?

Your numbers will only get you into UC Hastings, so you should definitely retake the LSAT in December. You probably just need 1 more point for USC, and 2 more points for UCLA and Cornell.

You might want to check your GPA math again. My calculations put you at a 3.44 (2.07, 2x3.92, 3.84). Also, LSAC counts A+ as 4.33.

Its because I only attempted 29 quarter units at uci with the 2.069, then almost 80 semester units at a junior college with 3.92 and a 3.84 in 55 quarter units at ucla, 3 of those 4 unit As being A+s therefor making my ucla/overall gpa higher in terms of how the LSAC views it even higher. The cumulative ugpa being around 3.67 but it has only been getting better and I have 3 quarters of grades to go.

You can get into quite a few in the top 20. Good shot at USC, BU, apply to all of them virginia and below and try to get lucky

Major bummer being rejected from Hastings, oh well, I like the sun. Accepted to Houston Law Center and Loyola Law School, so far it looks like Loyola with the idea of a 2 year joint JD/LLM program which is far more appealing than an extra year after Law School since that was already the plan. I did not end up retaking the LSAT.

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LawandOrder wrote:
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You beat me to it, mi hijo.

..A little confused, but ill take it. But truth be told I think Mexico is on the route to being the next Colombia

rpilking wrote:..A little confused, but ill take it. But truth be told I think Mexico is on the route to being the next Colombia

.... they posted those pictures because you misspelled Columbia University in your original post.

rpilking wrote:Major bummer being rejected from Hastings, oh well, I like the sun. Accepted to Houston Law Center and Loyola Law School, so far it looks like Loyola with the idea of a 2 year joint JD/LLM program which is far more appealing than an extra year after Law School since that was already the plan. I did not end up retaking the LSAT.

Wait - how did you get rejected from Hastings w/ a 166/3.67?

I'd say w/ a 166/3.67 you should have been in at Hastings perhaps w/ $, in at UCD, and perhaps even in at USC, not to mention BU, BC, etc.

I'm really torn as to what to do now. Should I reapply this fall for Fall 2011 Law School? or stick with attending Loyola LA? I wasn't even offered $$ at Loyola, only $7K at Santa Clara. I applied at the very end of the cycle last time, the end of January.Now I would be ready to apply by October since I finished my personal statement, maybe I can jazz it up a bit. Would reapplying early in the cycle help me or because I already plan to attend Loyola and put down my seat deposits would they not offer me money if I reapply? I am nervous at this point for the gradplus loans because there are a few dings on my credit from Dec 2006, which would be 5 years old next year but now I believe it might make it so I won't receive GradPlus loans which I cannot afford to attend Law School without anyways. I really messed up in applying so late. Advice?

rpilking wrote:I'm really torn as to what to do now. Should I reapply this fall for Fall 2011 Law School? or stick with attending Loyola LA? I wasn't even offered $$ at Loyola, only $7K at Santa Clara. I applied at the very end of the cycle last time, the end of January.Now I would be ready to apply by October since I finished my personal statement, maybe I can jazz it up a bit. Would reapplying early in the cycle help me or because I already plan to attend Loyola and put down my seat deposits would they not offer me money if I reapply? I am nervous at this point for the gradplus loans because there are a few dings on my credit from Dec 2006, which would be 5 years old next year but now I believe it might make it so I won't receive GradPlus loans which I cannot afford to attend Law School without anyways. I really messed up in applying so late. Advice?

You should certainly apply again. Your numbers place you firmly in the T30 w/ maybe even some $ at a few. Like I said, you should certainly be in at Hastings, and probably at UCD as well. Wait a year - don't go to Loyola, you will regret it.

Also, LSAC GPA truly is 3.67, right?