<p>From reading these forums, it seems admission to the top law schools (HYS) is really all just numbers. Is this true? The admissions sites for these schools stress the fact that they look at all applications as a "whole" rather than any one numerical factor such as GPA/LSAT. Is this all just BS in reality? And is GPA and LSAT looked at 50/50 or is LSAT really considered <em>the</em> most important admissions criteria?</p>
<p>I think you know the answer. IMO, LSAT score is most important factor. Once you have your lsat score, you can realistically figure out what schools to apply to.<br>
As an example a 4.0/ 169 ain’t getting you into HYS. Whereas a 3.75/ 174 might gain admittance to HYS. It’s all numbers, with the LSAT score being the more crucial element in the equation.</p>
<p>It isn’t ALL about the numbers at YHS. It’s ALMOST all about the numbers at Harvard and slightly less so at Stanford and Yale. That doesn’t mean you don’t need the numbers at Stanford and Yale–you do. It’s just that the classes are smaller at Y and S, so they can pick and choose among the folks who have the numbers. Numbers alone won’t get you in.Numbers alone can keep you out.</p>
<p>And, yes, LSAT is usually more important than GPA.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that they don’t take some folks with strong but not quite as strong numbers. They do. Generally, though, those candidates have done something unusual. She wrote a best seller. She won an Olympic medal. he served 5 years in the military and saw combat. She was a successful union organizer for 15 years. These are just meant to be examples of some of the kinds of things people might have done.</p>
<p>Again, that doesn’t mean that these schools don’t take people with high numbers who haven’t done such things. It does mean that there’s usually a good reason why the folks with somewhat lower stats got in.</p>
<p>It’s not ALL about the numbers. People here and TLS will have you believe it, but there are other factors, most notably URM status and work experience. The LSAT has a lot of weight and can make or break you in many cases. But at the same time, many of the top law schools (talking about the T-14) have been known to accept students in the middle to low 160s and even a few sub 150s. It’s just those people usually are well phenomenal individuals.</p>
<p>There are always some notable exceptions. Things like combat experience seem to give applicants a huge boost. The numbers are the most important thing, but if you are just below the range, something truly unique about you can push you over the edge.</p>
<p>If you didn’t win a Bronze Star or better in combat and aren’t a URM, and aren’t the son or daughter of a major donor or major politician, it is almost all about the numbers…period</p>
<p>Numbers are UNDERGRAD GPA and LSAT. Grad school GPA doesn’t count at all in the equation, although the admission office will “Look at it” whatever that means. A well written, interesting, personal statement can also somewhat affect your determination. I don’t know if a well written personal statement will matter that much,but a poorly written one ,with poor grammar and typos would most certainly hurt you.</p>
<p>GPA counts very little… As a person with a 3.89 LSAC (thats 2 B’s in college) adjusted score and a 158 I had a hard time making it in to even third tier toilets. Nothing else matters except for numbers and the only number that really matters is your LSAT.</p>
<p>You can have a pretty bad GPA and split with a high LSAT and still be pretty safe. The other way around (remember that my LSAT score is better than average by 3 points) and you are in trouble.</p>
<p>It was not the same a few years ago when my brother was applying and got into UT (ranked 15 at the time) with a 3.78 and 161</p>
<p>If you are trying to get into a top law school, of course, numbers matter. However, that is not the end of the story. </p>
<p>Assuming that your LSAT score and GPA put you “in the range” to get into a particular school, you become merely one of the many applicants in that pool of possible acceptees. By in the range, I really do mean numbers that are closer to the 75th percentile (or higher) than the 25th percentile. If you are in the range, than law schools look at your other factors, including your personal statement, recommendations, work experience, activities, interests, etc. to make final decisions between candidates in this pool.</p>
<p>Rarely (and I mean hardly ever) will your “other” factors make up for an LSAT score or GPA that is outside of the generally accepted range for a particular law school.</p>
<p>Please note, too, that the trend at top law schools has been for the LSAT score and GPA ranges to go up every year. So, numbers that may have put you in the range one year may just not be enough the next.</p>