<p>I'm in the Navy, been in for 7 months. They're letting people out, and I'm in the process of getting released. If it's granted, I'd like to go to law school. Here are my credentials:</p>
<p>Undergraduate: Georgetown SFS '09
Degree: B.S.F.S. International Politics
GPA: 2.97
LSAT: 162 practice, haven't taken the real deal.
Employment: Officer, United States Navy (May 2009 - August 2010)</p>
<p>Now, my question is, is it worth a shot applying to top-tier law schools? I think my low GPA might be balanced out by a kickass LSAT, and good recommendations. The Navy experience should help as well. </p>
<p>When it comes to law schools, it<code>s not like applying to undergraduate schools.They only thing they care about is numbers,numbers, and guess what - numbers.Therefore, I can</code>t see how a Navy position can be helpful.
However ~~3.00 GPA and 160+ LSAT can get you into many good law schools.</p>
<p>I do not think that 7 months in the Navy is going to help his cause unless he has done something substantial during the time where he can write one really great personal statement about it.</p>
<p>Generally, military service is an outstanding soft factor for law school, but I’m not sure that serving for 7 months is going to be the overwhelming “plus” that the OP would need to overcome the low GPA and LSAT score. The OP’s best hope for getting into a top law school will come from retaking the LSAT once, when the OP is well prepared, and doing extraordinarily well. Even then, it may not be possible to get into a T14 with under a 3.0 GPA.</p>
<ul>
<li>It’ll be 15 months as an officer by the time I leave the Navy (if it happens). I’ve been in flight school, stationed in Florida. Gotten through flight training without a hitch, but they’re overmanned and asking for volunteers to get out. </li>
<li>I’ve written a supplementary essay explaining the low GPA. Factors included ROTC and an internal transfer after freshman year. I had two years of 21-22 credit hour semesters, with 2 calculus, 2 physics, and 6 intensive foreign language courses dragging me down. Plus military training and naval science courses. My sub-major specialization was Foreign Policy and Policy Processes. I’m not a math or science person, definitely not a foreign language person. </li>
<li>There was an upward trend. My last semester GPA was 3.6. </li>
</ul>
<p>Well as I said, I’m in the embryonic stages of thinking about this. As I said above, I scored 162 in my first practice test, although I understand it means nothing until I take the real deal. So foolish maybe, but I’m just testing the waters at this point.</p>
<p>Why does everyone on CC seem to think that after studying, anyone can achieve a 170+ on the LSAT? Of course, preparation and studying help, but there is a reason why most people do not obtain LSAT scores of 170+, and it’s certainly not for lack of trying.</p>
<p>Since you seem to know a lot about this, what do you think my chances would be at the second group of schools? Villanova and Boston College are settling as more realistic possibilities in my head. Assume no improvement in my score (an LSAT in the 160-165 range). </p>
<p>sallyawp,</p>
<p>I have a friend who improved her score 12 points from her first practice test to the first real test. Nobody suggested that anyone can get 170+, but clearly improvement is a possibility for anyone. </p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I know I won’t get into Harvard, even with a 180, but my parents are pushing it, saying they’ll foot the bill. Not sure why. I do think Cornell and UPenn are crazy reaches, but not impossible reaches. Need to score quite high before I pull the trigger on them, clearly.</p>
<p>Not sure if that’s true. Thought I read somewhere that college applications are decreasing soon. Though you may be right… it might take a while for that decrease to reflect in law school admissions. Hmmm.</p>