Chances? :)

Graduate School Law School
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I’m a junior at a top 30 undergrad. I have a 3.7 currently, but expect to raise it to 3.75 at the end of this semester (first four semesters were a 3.4, 3.6, 3.75, and 4.0, respectively. I started off pre-med before I found my love of politics, such a big mistake!). 3.75 average in-major (which will admit me to my major honors program) and 4.0 in my minor currently. I can also hopefully raise my 3.6 from second semester freshman year to a 3.71 this coming spring semester, as I had three As and one B- in chemistry, which I can raise to a B by retaking an old midterm I missed while in the hospital.

I haven’t taken the LSAT but am about to start the Manhattan Prep private tutoring course. I know the LSAT is much harder than the SAT, but I scored in the 98th percentile of the SAT and am generally a good test taker, plus I’m giving myself a lot of time to study.

I am a woman and black.

My extracurriculars have centered around conservative politics (hoping this won’t hurt me with all the bias in academia these days) and work with underserved youth. I interned for a senate campaign this summer, am active in multiple political clubs on campus (executive board of one), I teach underserved high schoolers a comprehensive health class every week during the school year, and I judge for a middle school debate league. I’m also on the policy debate team and a National Debate Scholar (Magna Cum Laude). I’m a volunteer note-taker for our center for disabled students and have a few other smaller credits sprinkled about. I’ll intern on Capitol Hill this summer almost certainly. I’m thinking of going for a “helping children and communities of color” angle for my personal statement.

I’d die to go to a top 6. I know that I can get my GPA well above Columbia’s average by the time I apply, but other than that I’m really in the dark about my chances and getting antsy while I wait for an assessment with my consultant. I’d really appreciate any opinions at all :slight_smile:

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sorry I don’t know why this posted twice!

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major/minor GPA’s don’t matter – your cumulative does. To maximize cumulative GPA, consider applying after graduation, with gives you another full semester worth of grades – hopefully, all A’s.

Ace the LSAT and you will be looking at significant of merit money if you apply broadly, i.e., most of the T14. (Ask them for fee waivers after you get your LSAT #.)

There are a couple of internet sites who in which you can input law school numbers and URM status and get chances. (Unfortunately, cannot post them w/o violating ToS.)

Good luck.

4

If law school numbers stats are any indication, you have a great chance with good GPA and URM status. But you still need a good, but not great, LSAT. If Law School Number is believable, then you could get by with just a 162 and have a reasonable shot at a top school. I think you are better served maxing your LSAT rather than your GPA on that basis.

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Max both. They’re not exclusive.

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Extracurriculars won’t help much with law school admissions. A killer LSAT score is worth probably 50 percent of the overall admissions decision. URM status is helpful and women are underrepresented in law schools. Other than the top 3 schools, your gpa should be good enough but try to get 170 or higher on the LSAT

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Top 6 schools are looking for work experience, not extracurriculars. If you can parlay your internships into an actual job on a campaign or Capitol Hill for a year or two, it would help a lot with law school admissions. Get your GPA and LSAT as high as possible and you can get into HYS.