Top Law Schools

This is my first time posting, but I have used the site plenty. Thanks for all the wisdom!

I really want to go to a top-14 school, preferably Berkeley or Stanford; but in the end, any top-14 would do.

I have a 4.0 G.P.A and a 171 LSAT. I am guessing my LSDAS G.P.A would be similar, but I've no idea how to calculate it (help with this would be awesome). I will be applying basically as soon as schools start taking apps this coming Fall.

Anyways, I am nervous that my pretty average softs--tough UG courses, some volunteer work, some work experience and one great LOR--will be too unexceptional and that, as a result, I won't be able to get in to a top-14, and definitely not into the two I want.

I really want it badly and I will do anything that can boost my chances. I would appreciate if anyone could tell me whether or not my fears are unfounded, and, if they are not, give me some advice as to what I could do to improve my application so that I might be able to get top-14 (pref Berk or Stanford).

It really is a numbers game. Great softs can help you, but average softs won't hurt you.

Does that mean I will be able to gain acceptance to multiple t-14 schools?

dooterdude11 wrote:Does that mean I will be able to gain acceptance to multiple t-14 schools?

If your LSDAS GPA is a 4.0, yes. http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-co ... ograms.htm

I should mention, however, that a T-14 or bust mentality probably isn't a good thing to have.

I can't tell if this is a flame. 171/4.0? Berkeley will beg for you, and Stanford will probably fight them.

i dont know man, i have similar stats and i got rejected at boalt, however, stanford took me so it is possible

LieutKaffee wrote:I can't tell if this is a flame. 171/4.0? Berkeley will beg for you, and Stanford will probably fight them.

+1

$1.99 wrote:i dont know man, i have similar stats and i got rejected at boalt, however, stanford took me so it is possible

Funny thing, after posting that I decided to check Boalt's LSN graph for kicks (I haven't been following the graph or the thread since it's the only school 4-15 I didn't apply to). Man, that's the most brutal graph I've ever seen. I guess you can't take anything for granted. Congrats on SLS. It definitely seems like those are two of the hardest schools to predict.

$1.99 wrote:i dont know man, i have similar stats and i got rejected at boalt, however, stanford took me so it is possible

This is exactly why I post, and no it is not a flame. I have heard stories of people with numbers like mine who get rejected at schools even when both LSAT and G.P.A are above its 75%.

Is this because of crappy softs? Why would Berkeley reject a 4.0 171. This is the question I guess I'm asking. Thanks for feedback.

$1.99 wrote:i dont know man, i have similar stats and i got rejected at boalt, however, stanford took me so it is possible

Well... that is a valid point too I suppose. I was denied by schools that were substantially "easier" to get into than the ones I actually ended up getting into. Eh, whatever.

dooterdude11 wrote:

$1.99 wrote:i dont know man, i have similar stats and i got rejected at boalt, however, stanford took me so it is possible

This is exactly why I post, and no it is not a flame. I have heard stories of people with numbers like mine who get rejected at schools even when both LSAT and G.P.A are above its 75%.

Is this because of crappy softs? Why would Berkeley reject a 4.0 171. This is the question I guess I'm asking. Thanks for feedback.

I'll back off the Berkeley comment. But to answer your original post more generally, you are a safe bet for the t14.

Although my GPA isn't as high as a 4.0, I was above Berkeley's 75% in both GPA and LSAT and still got rejected.
It made me a little nervous that there was something in my APP that would end up hurting my cycle, but I ended up being accepted to other schools ranked similarly and higher, so maybe they just didn't think I would be a good fit in their 2013 class for some random reason.