Top Law Schools

andy? Top 5 undergrad, decent softs but nothing that impressive. Applying next cycle so I can get my apps in by early October or even September. Taking the LSAT in February.

Id say a 172 would give you a solid shot at all of them.

If you get your apps in early (good idea), a 170 will likely be sufficient to get you in at least one. A 172+ will get you in most of them.

Just to be clear, when I say 170, I mean 170, as in "a 169 will not do".

I suppose I could have figured that out myself, but I'm constantly on the lookout for more incentives. Seeing that I need to get a 172 by looking at an Admissions profile is one thing, but for some reason, when I have someone say to me, "You need to get a 172 to get in," that helps me buckle back down and work harder. So thanks for that. Plus, I was trying to convince myself that I'd be okay with a 168 or 169.

whitman wrote:I suppose I could have figured that out myself, but I'm constantly on the lookout for more incentives. Seeing that I need to get a 172 by looking at an Admissions profile is one thing, but for some reason, when I have someone say to me, "You need to get a 172 to get in," that helps me buckle back down and work harder. So thanks for that. Plus, I was trying to convince myself that I'd be okay with a 168 or 169.

170 is becoming a very hard floor these days, especially for people with below-median GPAs.

i had a 3.48 and got in UVA ED with a 171 i would say a 170+ would get in you 3 outta 5 at least

Word. Just got the 172. I hope yall are right.

whitman wrote:Word. Just got the 172. I hope yall are right.

Write "Why X?" essays to all of them. Try to be as detailed as possible about why you would want to attend each. Really sell them on it. Consider EDing to at least one to increase your chances as much as possible (probably not UVA at first, since their deadline is much later and you can ED to them afterward if you ED to Mich/Penn and aren't accepted).

Or, hell, with a 172 you could consider EDing to NYU or Chicago if you really wanted. It's at least a possibility, and as mentioned, if it doesn't work you can turn around and ED to UVA after you get the reject/WL/hold there.

whitman wrote:Word. Just got the 172. I hope yall are right.

Nice work. Get your apps in on the first day possible and write all your why x/diversity statements. If I were you I would ED to NYU and see what happens (if you goal is simply to go to the highest ranked school that will admit you, it's worth a shot).

I have a similar GPA, and a 169. I got WL at Duke and UVA so far, in at Michigan, and am waiting to hear back from GTown and Penn. Good luck!

whitman wrote:andy? Top 5 undergrad, decent softs but nothing that impressive. Applying next cycle so I can get my apps in by early October or even September. Taking the LSAT in February.

My name isn't Andy so I can't answer your question.


/172 is a good place to be. I have a slightly higher gpa and a 169 - Waitlist at Virginia and Duke. In at Michigan. Out at Penn. If V means Vanderbilt, I'm In and a 169-170 should be enough.

Thanks guys.

So it sounds like even if I had a 175+, HYS would be out right? My preferences are basically HYS (of course), then MVP, UCLA, Vandy, Texas, and possibly Duke. Given that I'm not really interested in NYU, Columbia, or Chicago, there's really no point in retaking is there? I definitely think I could prepare more and do better, but it'd obviously be a huge pain in the ass. Would, say, a 175, significantly boost my chances at money from these schools or possibly give me a shot at the very top?

whitman wrote:Thanks guys.

So it sounds like even if I had a 175+, HYS would be out right? My preferences are basically HYS (of course), then MVP, UCLA, Vandy, Texas, and possibly Duke. Given that I'm not really interested in NYU, Columbia, or Chicago, there's really no point in retaking is there? I definitely think I could prepare more and do better, but it'd obviously be a huge pain in the ass. Would, say, a 175, significantly boost my chances at money from these schools or possibly give me a shot at the very top?

Prob out at HYS but you have a great shot at MVP! Check out my cycle for reference (and I only had a 171).

Wow, that's an amazing cycle. Have you decided where you're going?

whitman wrote:Thanks guys.

So it sounds like even if I had a 175+, HYS would be out right? My preferences are basically HYS (of course), then MVP, UCLA, Vandy, Texas, and possibly Duke. Given that I'm not really interested in NYU, Columbia, or Chicago, there's really no point in retaking is there? I definitely think I could prepare more and do better, but it'd obviously be a huge pain in the ass. Would, say, a 175, significantly boost my chances at money from these schools or possibly give me a shot at the very top?

HYS is pretty much out with your gpa. If you have a look at the lsn graphs, no one under a 3.5 has been admitted to HYS this cycle no matter the LSAT score. Boosting the score would give you a better chance at cash at MVP, but you're in pretty good shape for all your schools.

Thanks for the response. Yeah, I figured I'd have to write a bestselling novel to get into HYS, which hasn't happened yet, but I just thought I'd throw it in there. I'm going to sit tight and shoot for MVP unless someone has some experience with 3.5/172 --> 3.5/172+ and how significantly that affects acceptance and scholarship money at those schools.

I got a 175 and got wait listed at Mich, UVA, Duke and G-town. Apparently it doesn't matter how high over 170 you get (contingent on the fact that you don't submit January 1 like I did) Good luck.
... and I wrote, what I considered, a strong "Why UVA"

whitman wrote:Wow, that's an amazing cycle. Have you decided where you're going?

Gracias! I'm 50/50 between Michigan and Penn at the moment. Already visited Penn so I am waiting for the UM ASW to make my decision.

Both excellent choices. Bwana, I'm sorry bro, that's rough. Did you have a strong GPA?

Anyone care to make a strong case for me doing a retake? I am very confident I could improve if I buckle down and take some of the ~40 practice tests I didn't touch, but I really don't want to. I do, however, want to get into the best school possible - although I really don't have any interest in going to CCN - with the most scholarship money possible.

Bwana, I'm sorry bro, that's rough. Did you have a strong GPA?[/quote]
I had a 3.52... it really depends on when you turn in your apps. I got into NYU, so I can't really complain.