<p>Just got a 163 on the October LSAT and I'd like some advice on what to do.</p>
<p>My stats (3.73 LSDAS GPA; 163 LSAT; Not-URM; Average softs) give me a realistic chance at only a few schools, considering I am only applying within CA. UC Hastings is one of these schools, and probably the only school I would consider going to this cycle (I don't think I would like to live in Davis for 3 years). </p>
<p>Firstly, I'm wondering, how likely is it to make six figures out of UC Hastings? I hear a lot of scary things about the job market in SF (which, along with Southern CA would be where I would like to work), and Hastings' consistent drop in the US News Rankings hasn't instilled confidence. Is it still a good school to attend if I want to work in CA?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>you’d probably need to rank top 10% - 15% of your class at Hastings to have a realistic shot at BigLaw. But, with SF and CA market being the way it is, even that is no guarantee. I know 2 kids from Berkeley’s Boalt who went to my high school, who ranked top 30%-40%, who still struck out at all BigLaw firms in CA market.(they told me getting BigLaw in CA market was no guarantee even with top 10% grades at Berkeley) If I were in your shoes, I would probably think long and hard about going to law school, and additionally, really consider working in non-CA market also.</p>
<p>I would recommend doing a retake and perhaps applying next cycle. Get your recommendations together, if you are graduating in the spring, you will have a complete set of grades. Take a prep course course if you have to (Testmasters or Blueprint). the difference between a 163 and a 165 is big and those 2 points will open up another whole range of schools for you. If you can do better than the 165 even more doors will open (you can probably even get $$). </p>
<p>If you can raise your scores, apply early in the cycle next cycle.</p>
<p>thanks. i actually took blueprint and improved from 146-163, though i was practicing in the 167’s before the test.</p>
<p>i’ve been thinking long and hard about retaking the test in either february or june and having to take a year off after graduation and applying next cycle, but i’m not sure what i want to do. if i don’t get into hastings, i will definitely be taking a year off, though.</p>
<p>i’ve got another question: is uc davis a better option now than hastings?</p>
<p>i was under the assumption hastings was better, especially in sf, but davis’ ranking by usnews has been rising quite a bit. has anything really changed?</p>