Top Law Schools

3.86 UGPA and 167 LSAT

Decent Softs:
3 letters of Recommendation, including one from a former PHD student/Assoc. Professor @ UCLA - late 1970's - (Honors Thesis advisor)
President of Collegiate Chapter of American Marketing Association while I was in University (Grad. 12/2007)
Volunteer in the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Volunteer with the Amigos Program - Worked with developmentally disabled adults
Unique Personal Statement - This is subjective, I think it was strong but who knows.

I applied to the following:

GULC
UCLA
Vanderbilt
USC
BU
Emory
Boston College
George Washington
Fordham
Washington & Lee
Alabama
Wake Forest
George Mason

Any Feedback on my chances for any of these schools would be hugely appreciated. Nerves are killing me and I am pretty late in the cycle. Thanks in advance.

This is a nice, realistic list. You'll get in to most of these schools, with $$ options.

I think you should give a few more T14s a shot with that excellent GPA.

Cornell, Michigan and UVA (ED and you'd have a good shot) would be good reaches, along with GULC.

Thank you for the quick reply! I am getting a lot of mixed opinions on this subject because of how late in the cycle I am. I am still waiting on my files to go complete at every school. I just finished my applications this past week. Do you believe this fact could make for a more interesting/disheartening outcome at many of these programs?

With your numbers, I would add Cornell, Michigan, Virginia, and Northwestern. Your lateness and lack of interview at Northwestern will hurt, though.

Thanks for the feedback. Additional opinions are welcome!

I second Cornell in particular. http://cornell.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats

You stand a solid chance - definitely worth an application. Shoot high!

dsglad wrote:Thank you for the quick reply! I am getting a lot of mixed opinions on this subject because of how late in the cycle I am. I am still waiting on my files to go complete at every school. I just finished my applications this past week. Do you believe this fact could make for a more interesting/disheartening outcome at many of these programs?

If you want to do Cornell, you better do it today -- their deadline is Feb. 1.

I'm not one who subscribes to the theory that your application date is the determining factor. There's a bump to applying early, but if a school wants you, they'll take you in October or January. These schools know they will see well-qualified, late apps and make adjustments.

Get them in quick though!

I would throw at app to Boalt if I were you, but I'm just crazy like that.

Hello,

Sorry to be naive, but those numbers on Law School Predictor indicate only Yale and Harvard as a deny, and all the rest as possibles (yes, weak for the next 3, but possible...)

Is that site, or at least--that information, not good? It seems that you are not considering some that you may have a shot at. Why?

Is it the consensus of this site that a "weak consider" or even a "consider" is basically a deny?

And, what is the deal with the actual stats of admits with much lower numbers than the predictor shows? If you show as a "deny" but have a good story and adequate numbers will they even open your application? If so, maybe you should apply to all of them if you can afford it.

I hope to have similar numbers, so I am interested in your progress! Good job, and good luck to you.

2807 wrote:Hello,

Sorry to be naive, but those numbers on Law School Predictor indicate only Yale and Harvard as a deny, and all the rest as possibles (yes, weak for the next 3, but possible...)

Is that site, or at least--that information, not good? It seems that you are not considering some that you may have a shot at. Why?

Is it the consensus of this site that a "weak consider" or even a "consider" is basically a deny?

And, what is the deal with the actual stats of admits with much lower numbers than the predictor shows? If you show as a "deny" but have a good story and adequate numbers will they even open your application? If so, maybe you should apply to all of them if you can afford it.

I hope to have similar numbers, so I am interested in your progress! Good job, and good luck to you.

Law school admissions is pretty much a numbers game. For your own reference, if you are below a school's median GPA and below its median LSAT, then it is unlikely you will get in. Period. If you are on the borderline of both, THEN you "story", etc. might swing you one way or the other.

The OP's main issue is that he is applying quite late, which hurts your chances, even though his stats are quite good.

Thanks. I will watch the medians closer now.

One more question:

If you pay to apply is it a guarantee they will look at your file? Do "they" (sorry) automatically trash applications that do not have the numbers?

I have interesting softs and hope they help me, but if my lsat/GPA matches this OP would the top 5 schools even open the application to see them and read the personal statement, LOR etc... ?

Thanks

2807 wrote:Thanks. I will watch the medians closer now.

One more question:

If you pay to apply is it a guarantee they will look at your file? Do "they" (sorry) automatically trash applications that do not have the numbers?

I have interesting softs and hope they help me, but if my lsat/GPA matches this OP would the top 5 schools even open the application to see them and read the personal statement, LOR etc... ?

Thanks

If you don't have the numbers, they'll take 5 seconds to check that the URM box is unchecked and trash your app. Everyone gets a "full and careful" review, but they didn't guarantee it takes more than a minute.

I've been reading through this section for the past few weeks, and I have to say it's nice to see someone with a decent grasp on what is going on around them. I can't help but laugh at some of the threads in here.

Definitely give Cornell, UVA, and Michigan a shot, but I'm not sure about Northwestern. If you're into Chicago go for it, but if not save the $80. If they're still accepting admissions, I'd say apply to OSU as well if you're interested in that kind of atmosphere.

Any other suggestions about overcoming the issue of being so late in the cycle?
Possible Addendum?

Thanks

Do UVA ED u have a great shot it's an especially good option since ur pretty late in the cycle