Any advice for an aspiring law student?

Graduate School Law School
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<p>So I decided I'm going to Hofstra University, not the best college, I know... but from what I understand Hofstra is enough to get you into some really good grad. schools. </p>

<p>The University itself is currently ranked in the top 200, and it climbs 20 spots every year.</p>

<p>By the time I graduate, it should be a 2nd tier school.</p>

<p>Not that it's too important, because from what I read on these forums is that the college isn't entirely important, it's the sheer numbers. </p>

<p>I wasn't a spectacular student in high school, freshman year I had a C+ average, sophomore year I had a B- average and junior year I had an A- average. Then senior year came and I slacked of because I was admitted to colleges already.</p>

<p>The point is, I'm planning on getting a good GPA at Hofstra, I'm going to major in economics and I'm going to try to apply to some really top notch law schools. </p>

<p>The problem is, I'm intellectually challenged. </p>

<p>I'm not stupid, I may even consider myself to be above average, but I can't see myself competing with the geniuses that apply to law schools like Fordham Law or Cornell. </p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Will hard work be enough for me?</p>

<p>My memory is weak, which seems to be most important for something like law school, but verbally I'm pretty good.</p>

<p>Based on sample tests and overviews, the LSAT's seem something I would excel at(by my own interpretation of excel.)</p>

<p>So what do you guys think?</p>

<p>Suppose I finish Hofstra with a 3.6 GPA and I score an 165 on the LSAT's. </p>

<p>Will my application look good for: NYU LAW, Cornell, Fordham?</p>

<p>I'm trying to get into a top 10 NY law school. </p>

<p>Some extra facts about me: I'm bilingual(speak Russian) and come from an ethnically underpresented community. Also a very good chess player.</p>

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<p><a href=“Search for Law Schools – LSAC Official Guide | The Law School Admission Council”>Search for Law Schools – LSAC Official Guide | The Law School Admission Council;

<p>definitely not getting into NYU or Columbia with those numbers, maybe Cornell</p>

<p>Top 10 NY law school is Columbia, NYU > Cornell >>>>>>> Fordham >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brooklyn, Cardozo, NY etc</p>

<p>I’d just aim for Columbia, NYU or Cornell, then some other T20’s which could get you into the NY market and then Fordhma as your safety if you really wanna work in NY.</p>

<p>PS - HYS will get you into the NY market just as easily as any other school, so you might wanna think about aiming for those schools so long as you haven’t started college yet and still have a clean slate for a uGPA</p>

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<p>Cornell isn’t happening with those numbers, either.</p>

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<p>I don’t think you should count on Hofstra climbing 20 spots every year. That’s an enormous jump for a single year on US News and even if it did occur one year it doesn’t mean that trend will continue for subsequent years.</p>

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<p>Retake the LSAT. Your GPA is fine for NYU. A 173+ should get you a fighting shot at NYU and an in at Cornell.</p>

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<p>lol, he isn’t even in college yet</p>

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<p>Assuming you get those stats:
NYU: Deny
Cornell: Consider
Fordham: Strong Consider</p>

<p>But remember, the LSAT is the most important component, not GPA.</p>

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<p>“Cornell: Consider”</p>

<p>If you look at lsn… there is almost no chance of getting into cornell with those numbers. Now there may be a very very slim chance for some reason I don’t know about but 98 percent of the time he will get denied from cornell with those numbers.</p>

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<p>In that case, study your ass off for the LSAT. The LSAT is, besides the bar, perhaps the most important test that a lawyer will take in his entire life.</p>

<p>The law school game favors splitters-especially high LSAT splitters. GPA is less relevant when your LSAT is 173+, short of wanting HYS.</p>

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<p>…aside from exams.</p>

<p>Someone please remind me why this pre-law student actually has any credible advice on this stuff.</p>

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<p>Uhhh… it’s still hugely relevant for Columbia, Chicago, and NYU.</p>

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<p>Take the advice of a lawyer of 25 years… find another career path. Lawyers are in the top 10 most dissatisfied professionsal.</p>

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<p>I said less relevant, not irrelevant. OP said his/her GPA was a 3.6. That’s fine for even those schools paired with a high LSAT.</p>

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<p>Thank you for clarifying your earlier, vague post.</p>