<p>For those who are knowledgeable about law school admissions, I'm curious how I would fair against others trying to get into a "top" law school (by "top" I'm hoping top 25-ish)?</p>
<p>I am very very aware of my lower than normal GPA, but have worked to steadily improve it over the years through my final year of college. I got most of my poor grades my freshman year in college. I was working part-time and taking a full load of classes and honestly just wasn't sure what I wanted to do in life, nor what college was like. I don't think those poor freshman year grades were a reflection of my aptitude as much as they were of effort, focus, and preparation (I literally entered college as a newbie with no knowledge of what it would be like - esp. as the first in my family to attend). </p>
<p>I attended a very good undergraduate program, though, so the rigor was definitely tough all around too. I ended up with a D, a bunch of C's, a few B's....and one or two A's taht year. Then, through progressively greater effort on my part and dumping my PT job, I put in the work to raise my grades year after year after year (from sophomore through senior years)....the ONLY semester I didn't raise my grades was the final one of my senior year in college (where I was doing Honors research....I ended up with a 3.4 that semester, b/c I took on the challenge of an honors program....I got an A- on my honors thesis and the time it took to do it also cost me a few points in other classes......but I at least challenged myself.....plus, it's hard to raise your grades when the semester before was an 3.8). </p>
<p>So, all in all.....ONLY my freshman year did I get really terrible grades and my final semester of senior year I had a slight drop).</p>
<p>I don't have work experience other than a little bit of substitute teaching this past year, while preparing for the LSAT on my own after graduating. But, now with a very good LSAT score, I'm wondering how I'd do in law school admissions, given my lower than average GPA? </p>
<p>Are my chances at a TOP 25 shot? ....Is there maybe a slight chance they'll understand that my grades really only sucked my freshman year (granted they were pretty terrible that year)? .....Will the upward trend matter? I was a political science major with a statistics minor. Is that combo seen as challenging enough, along with an Honors program research thesis? </p>
<p>My goal was NYU, but honestly that seems impossible. I wanted to be in NYC or possibly Los Angeles (like UCLA or USC). I wonder how I'd do in admissions? </p>
<p>Should I apply and be looking at like really lower schools, given the competition? My main thing is that high LSAT, which I felt was more reflective of my aptitude than my GPA, given that one stupid year .......Thanks for everyone's input guys!</p>