<p>i'm using my little sister's account for this but anyway i am going to be a senior at umd college park this fall and i want to know my chances.</p>
<p>major: econ
minor: english</p>
<p>gpa: 3.7
the only thing is i got a D- and an F my freshman year. i retook those classes and aced them. after that, i've been getting > 3.5 ever semester</p>
<p>lsat: 172</p>
<p>what are my chances at T14 schools?</p>
<p>i'm a little uneasy about applying to law schools and i'm not sure now if it is what i want to do.</p>
<p>Yea I think you're going to have more like a 3.6 after adjustments, but with a 172 you should be able to get into the lower T14s given the soft factors of your application are adequate. HYS are a stretch and I wouldn't apply there unless its your dream school. For #4 Columbia however, you have exactly the median stats for those admitted (172 3.7). So like I said, you have a good shot at all of them besides HYS, and you're almost guaranteed to get into at least one of them, whether it's the one you want or not, that remains to be seen.
As for not being sure if it's want you want to do or not, only you can answer that. Some people may think you'd be crazy not to with that good of a GPA and an LSAT in that high of a percentile, saying other people would kill for stats like that. But you're not other people. And it really doesn't matter what other people would do in your situation, what matters is you doing what you think is best for you.</p>
<p>Yale-Reject
Stanford-Reject
Harvard-likely reject because of sub 3.7 gpa maybe waitlist
NYU, Columbia, Chicago- Decent chance
Penn, Michigan, Uva, -In
I dont think you need to apply lower than that.</p>
<p>thanks for the encouragement. even with the bad grades freshman year, do you think i will be okay? i've definitely showed an increasing grade trend.</p>
<p>You'll definitely be okay, they don't care about one or two slips freshman year as long as the overall GPA is good. If anything, they will be happy with an increasing grade trend much more so than they would be disappointed by an early slip. Like cartera45 said, William and Mary is a fine choice, but I'd still side with ElderCookies, t14 schools can open doors much much easier than schools 15-25. The education may not be much different, but the name recognition can work wonders. If tuition is an issue then I can see William and Mary as a possible alternative, but most T14 schools offer a generous debt forgiveness program if you enter public service after law school rather than taking the more lucrative biglaw path.</p>
<p>You do have a chance. However, your gpa will be lower because everyone's gpa is recalculated by LSDAS. The fact that your college forgave you low grades is irrelevant. They WILL be included when your LSDAS (Law School Data Assembly Service) gpa is calculated. That is the one that matters. </p>
<p>For a more professional look at your odds--which unfortunately won't include Columbia as it declines to participate--go two LSAC.org</a> Homepage. and look for the link that allows you to search for law schools usuing your gpa and LSAT.</p>
<p>I think if you want look outside the top 14, then William and Mary is a choice better than most. This does NOT change the fact it is a much worse choice than any top 14, as well as Vandy, UT-Austin, and UCLA. If you want biglaw-going to W&M is risky since only the top students will get it. If you want to do another kind of public interest law those jobs will also mainly go to kids from the top 14. Want to clear for SCOTUS? Same deal. My point is that there is a very real difference in the opportunities offered at the top 14. I am not saying that is a good thing, but for the sake of your career you should go the best school you can. Law is prestige driven just like I-banking is. Your school will determine a lot of your future prospects.</p>