<p>I am currently a sophomore at Vanderbilt and I am wondering what things I should do to get into a decent law school. I had a good GPa during HS but I find it alot harder to maintain at Vandy (I have about a 3.0) and I can't see myself getting much higher than a 3.4.</p>
<p>I haven't taken any LSAT prep yet but I want to soon. Basically, I am wondering what are the best strategies to prepare (keep doing old practice tests, etc.)</p>
<p>Other questions:</p>
<p>How important is what you major in? (I like Psychology and Philosophy)
Aproximately, what are the break-downs of GPA/LSAT score
How important are upward trends?
I don't have many extraculiculars -- which ones look good on apps
(writing for paper, sports, ???)</p>
<p>Also -- does anyone know any 'hidden gems' or good law schools (that I can get a pretty good job) but not impossible to get into.</p>
<p>btw, I am from New York and I like being in BIG cities. (Nashville is a little too small for me). So if you can recommend schools in Washington DC, Boston, New York, Chicago I will be very grateful.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter what you major in as long as you have a high gpa.
Someone on the other board said to stay away from "creampuff" majors, of which
the both you quoted above are not. As a matter of fact I think Philosophy was a top
5 major for law school applicants..(I think?)</p>
<p>LSAT is the more important of the two and I think the breakdown is about 70% consideration is given to the lsat and 30% to gpa.</p>
<p>The LSAC website says that adcoms recognise improving trends, and my pre-law counciler told me its focused on your last 60 credits of college.</p>
<p>EC's are good as long as they don't impede on you getting the absolutly highest grades you can in classes.. I don't think they weigh too heavily in the admissions process..But there are people on here more qualified to answer that than I.</p>
<p>What schools were you looking at? I would be happy to get you any info I can on certain law schools.. I work at a library and have access to a sh!t load of stat books on law schools and stats just tell me the school and I'd be happy to help...</p>
<p>UC-Hastings and Fordham are very decent. American U. and Case Western are also good.</p>
<p>If you can raise your GPA to 3.4 and get over a 163 on your LSAT, those schools are all possibilities. Of course, the higher your LSAT, the better your chances. A 3.4 GPA from Vanderbilt combined with a 170 on your LSAT could get you into top 15 Law Schools like Northwestern and Cornell.</p>