In a few weeks, I will begin embarking on a new journey as a freshman in undergraduate college at FSU. I am primarily curious as to what my margin of error would look like in regards to my GPA and such, and would like to know any essential recommendations, prior to beginning my college career, that would help me qualify as a better applicant in the near future.
In order, my preference in law schools go as: NYU>UC Berkley>UCLA>USC. I am fully aware and acknowledge the extremities and rigor in admission to these law schools, partly in which I am creating this post asking for advice to begin with.
Also, when should I begin preparing for the LSAT?
Thank you all in advance.
Get A’s, Lebron, and lots of 'em. Major is not important.
Wait until late Junior year to consider the LSAT. Even better, wait until after you graduate so you can work for a year or two.
btw: strange list of law schools. Unless you want to permanently reside in SoCal, any of the other T14 will generally beat UCLA/USC, unless the latter two are offering big merit money.
I agree with @bluebayou gets A’s. It does not matter what your major is as long as you have a good GPA although I do think it helps if you have to write papers and essays. Also, they do not take your best LSAT, they take the average of your LSAT scores so do not take it one time and “wing it” . Take a good prep course. I would take it your junior year after preparing for it. Join the Pre-Law Society if they have one, take classes where you have to do presentations and learn to be fluid on your feet if possible. Good luck.
No longer true. Ever since the ABA changed the reporting rule, most law schools have stopped caring about a retake.
In today’s low application environment, schools will be more than happy for a 17x, even on the third try. They NEED to try to keep their medians.
That being said, definitely prepare well, so you can ace it the first time. That is why I recommend waiting until after graduation. That gives another year of grades, in upper division courses which hopefully, will result in more A’s. Plus, it means that you can obtain a year of work experience, which always looks good, even if the experience is Retail.
Strongly disagree. Of not little value. Better to find a passion and get involved in that.
(I guess I pretty much disagree with all of w-mom’s post. 
)
Thanks a lot for your guys’ input. I appreciate them very much.
@bluebayou You’re right about the list being a bit unusual. It’s just that it has always been a goal for me to set up my law business in SoCal, therefore I’d love to experience the area as a law student. NYU being at the top of the list is solely based on lineage.
@bluebayou: Pre-law societies can be useful if they have contacts with local firms, so prospective law students can get internships. Otherwise I agree they’re useless.
^^yeah but a Floridian with aspirations of a T14 and/or SoCal ain’t interested in local (FL) firms.
@bluebayou: Agreed, but in many ways law is law, and I am firmly of the opinion that undergrads should spend some time in a real law office, if only to knock out as many of the TV law tropes as possible before they spend their quarter million in tuition.