<p>Currently live in Salisbury, on the eastern shore of MD. My dream is to go to law school, and according to US NEWS World Rankings, PITT has a Philosophy program number 7th, higher than Stanford and some other way more "prestigious schools." I go to community college at Wor-Wic Community College and have finished 29 credits going to my Gen. Studies AA degree. I don't know which credits would transfer for sure, but I used the ARTSYS to evaluate my transcript for UMCP and all my credits transfer into the Phil. program there--besides one=Health and Fitness-the only class I got a B in [88.5%]. Anyways, what are my chances of getting into UPitt? I've got a 3.893 GPA and am taking the Honors designation. I am in Phi Theta Kappa, I tutor, and Mentor disabled students. Since it is an out of state school, Pitt is going to be harder as far as money aid. I am a 25 year old white male as well. Have not taken SATs, but I plan on taking LSAT and scoring VERY high(have taken practice tests and always study for LSAT) My practice scores range from 700-745. I will take LSAT prep classes also, so I will get a nice LSAT score guaranteed--I am a very good test taker, and I am a lawyeristic mindset(I challenged my PHE teacher-the one who gave me a B when I got an 88.7%, and inquired about the FERPA laws etc.. so I do question and LOVE to argue-and beat opponents in debate (especially with stuck up profs) Anyway:</p>
<p>Here is my current transcript.
Wor-Wic Community College Fall 2012 PHL101 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Fall 2012 ENG101 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Fall 2012 SDV101 1 P
Wor-Wic Community College Fall 2012 HIS151 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Fall 2012 SOC101 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Spring 2013 ENG151H 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Spr. 2013 SPH101 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Spr. 2013 HIS201 3 A
Wor-Wic Community College Spr 2013 PHE101 3 B
Wor-Wic Community College Spr. 2013 BIO101 4 A</p>
<p>Other interested schools are:Georgetown, UVA, Columbia, NYU,Yale, Harvard
But I heard PITT has a great Philosophy Dept. sop that's why I am set on it.
I plan on finishing with roles as SGA President, PTK Leader in some role,and tutorship/mentorship roles. I also planned to start a soup kitchen in a local county that does not have one. What are my chances of getting into a good undergrad and getting into othe best law school possible as a transfer student with some years between a less than stellar highs school career.(Dire family problems led me to drop out in senior year, I had a low GPA maybe 2.something, but I got my H.S.D in nite classes) Thanks!!</p>
<p>720-780 scores resemble more GMAT scores than LSAT ones.</p>
<p>You probably mean 172-178 if you really took the LSAT. Plus keep NYU, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Georgetown or UVA for law school, in which case you’re on the right track. </p>
<p>You might want to attend Rutgers as well. That is, if you can afford it.</p>
<p>Oh, Im sorry guys, I meant like around 165-175 as far as the LSAT scores I usually get on the practice tests I take. Dunno where I came up with 745.</p>
<p>I hope for your sake that you will be able to:</p>
<p>1) Maintain a 3.8-3.9 GPA for the remainder of your college days
2) Score 170+ on the LSAT for real (preferrably 172-175)</p>
<p>Then you can apply to all 6 law schools you mentioned and stand a fighting chance; I expect you should be able to attend at least one of the six.</p>
<p>Hi again, I was just curious, because I know I am only in a very remedially challenging CC right now (they have very inconsistent profs, among other things.) But one thing I was wondering was, would it be better to go to a mediocre undergrad(like Salisbury University or St. Johns in Annapolis) and say go for a philosophy major/History minor and get stellar grades or would a law school like it if I went to say UMCP or UVA(I wish lol) and instead got a somewhat lower GPA (like a 3.5 at UVA compared to a 3.90 at Salisbury Univ.)for the remainder of my B.A? Also, would a law school like Harvard strip away all the Health, or “fluffier” kind of classes and stick to the CORE studies grades to calc. my GPA?</p>
<p>Sorry if the question sounds pedantic, but I’m basically asking–for law school-- is a prestigious undergrad worth the risk of a lower GPA and class rank? Or is it wiser pragmatically to finish at a med. ranked school with a very high GPA for the remainder of my Undergraduate? I’ve been struggling with this alot lately…</p>
<p>"I hope for your sake that you will be able to:
Maintain a 3.8-3.9 GPA for the remainder of your college days
Score 170+ on the LSAT for real (preferrably 172-175)</p>
<p>Then you can apply to all 6 law schools you mentioned and stand a fighting chance; I expect you should be able to attend at least one of the six. "<--------Catria</p>
<p>Thanks for the somewhat ominous compliment Catria! Lol, just kidding; but I don’t really know how to take that, as a compliment, or as a veiled prediction that I may not be able to keep up such a high grade avg. at a 4 yr Uni.<br>
I really feel under-challenged at my current school, and really can’t wait to get into a “real” academic environment where my highly inquisitive nature isn’t routinely scoffed at and seen as an impediment to their “teaching” and going home on time… I hate apathetic profs…please tell me it gets better!</p>
<p>I literally had my Health and Wellness teacher get rude and yell “DONT ASK ME I’M NOT AN EXPERT!” at me in front of class because I asked about the efficacy of all these new protein and health bars while we were supposed to be on the Nutrition chapter for crying out loud. I mean these small CC’s really don’t encourage free thought. And if you question current policies? Oh fuggedahboudit…/endrant</p>
<p>It is not a given that a prestigious undergrad is going to yield a lower GPA, since prestigious schools are usually more friendly to inquisitive students. Is UMD a problem for humanities/social science? Perhaps UMD is less expensive than UPitt or Rutgers…</p>
<p>But prestige is only going to come into play when comparing two 3.6/171 applicants and that the first came from UVA, while the second attended Salisbury U, for example.</p>
<p>Yes, UMDCollege Park would be substantially cheaper, and they have a route where you can start law school in your senior year at UBalt. school of law and finish your B.A as well during that same year. I just don’t want to go to UBalt law school. It is like a 2nd or 3rd tier school, and I want to go to a Top-Tier. Would most likely prefer to be OOS for Law school. I know that UVA is a great school and that is where I am aiming for. Also, I picked UPITT for undergrad because they have such a great Philosophy Dept.</p>
<p>You don’t have to use UMD’s accelerated BA/JD program if you don’t want to… </p>
<p>There are people who got into Georgetown, UVA, Columbia, Harvard, Yale or NYU for law school from UMD! (At least one for each of the six yearly, I think, but then again, so does UPitt)</p>