<p>Recently I have been interested and thinking about applying to law school instead of a phd graduate program in engineering. I have always toyed with the idea of applying to law school, and a while back I took the LSAT's just for the heck of it (172). My GPA is not great compared to others applying for law school (3.55). </p>
<p>I was wondering what my chances are a top 5, top 10, top 15 law school considering my weak gpa.
Undergrad Major: Civil Engineering
Undergrad GPA: 3.55 (Although, I have a major GPA of 3.70)
LSAT Score: 172</p>
<p>Will I be given more leeway due to my major? Or will I be hurt significantly for the weak grades.</p>
<p>Law schools do give some consideration to the fact that engineering GPAs are lower than other GPAs from the same colleges and overall. However, do not expect it to be a huge consideration, e.g., at many places, your 3.55 GPA might be viewed as high as 3.65 in comparison to other majors. In any event, the GPA you would need to calculate is the one determined by LSDAS (the agency that calculates all GPAs for law school after receipt of transcript and also administers the LSAT) and thus I really do not know what your actual GPA for law school might be. Nevertheless, assuming it actually is a 3.55 after recalculating, you likely have a decent chance of admission even at some T14 law schools particularly because of LSAT although probably not for the very highest ranked ones.</p>
<p>Thank you Drusba for the response. I took a look at an LSDAS GPA calculator I found online, and it calculates my GPA to be at 3.60. </p>
<p>From what I have heard/read, I understand that the LSAT’s are a big factor in the selection process. I am fairly confident that I can score 175+, if I study and retake the LSATs. How much of an impact would such an action have? (I feel the LSAT’s are skewed towards math/science minded people, half the test seems like logical/math puzzles to me.)</p>
<p>No. However, once you are interviewing for firms at law school, your engineering background will be a plus for you in landing jobs. Besides, your GPA is not bad at all.</p>
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<p>With your stats, I’d say you can crack top 10, but top 6 will be hard.</p>
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<p>If you score 175+, you will likely to get a Top 6. (CLS and NYU likely) You might get some scholarship offers from lower T-14 schools as well. HYS are out, tho.</p>
<p>I would recommend against taking the LSAT again. This is not like college where they take the highest test score to determine admission. If you take it and score lower than your exisiting 172, that lower score will be considered against you in admissions by any of the high ranked law schools. It really is not worth the risk when you already have a 172.</p>