Low GPA, High LSAT...

<p>I recently graduated from Wake Forest with a 2.999 (BA in PoliSci and IntlStudies) and I got a 176 on my LSAT. I am really only interested in going to Georgetown (MSFS and JD joint program), but I am going to work for a few years before going back to school. There is not a whole lot of data on my combination of GPA and LSAT and, while I know a higher GPA would obviously be a lot better, is there anything that I can do now to increase my chances of getting in? While I was involved in a lot of extracurriculars in college, I don't really have any excuses for the GPA, other than that I started out pre-med before remembering that I am no good at science! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>im no genius about law admission, but i talked with admission officer in UCLA law school and they said that LSAT is taken in the highest consideration because law professors say it is the best way to test students entering law school.</p>

<p>A 2.999/176 would give you pretty good chances at Georgetown, as well as other top schools like Northwestern, Michigan, Duke, and Virginia.</p>

<p>you could always put in a short addendum indicating that your gpa is much higher in your major and shows an upward trend.</p>

<p>As a Wake student I feel your pain. There are schools, though, that put more of an emphasis on LSAT than GPA and vice versa. I don't remember where you can find this information to see if Georgetown is one such school. Did you get any Cs? I'm thinking writing a good personal statement and perhaps a short addendum might increase your chances.</p>

<p>Check with admissions, but, when I applied, Georgetown was very much a GPA school. You might be able to find data from your school on the stats of who applied and who got in (or did not). The exact phrasing from an admissions officer is "We want to see a high GPA, no matter what."</p>

<p>I know a Ivy undergrad who was waitlisted at G-town Law with a 179 and a 3.5. </p>

<p>While GPA and LSAT are the most important factors in law school admissions, schools can and do put different weights on them relative to each other. Try to find those admissions grids (GPA ranges on one side; LSATs on another; percent admitted in the corresponding middle squares) and see where you fall. </p>

<p>IMHO, don't waste your $80 on the Georgetown application. A lot of other schools of the same caliber will cut you more slack with the GPA. Also, and anyone can feel free to disagree, but your addendum should not be, "I'm applying to law school because I'm not good enough at sciences for med school."</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice. No Cs, but unfortunately also not a dramatic upward trend and not that much better in my major. Wake has a rather annoying grade deflation policy (not that I'm saying I didn't deserve the grades I got).</p>

<p>And I was being glib about the sciences and med school; about 75% of Wake students start out pre-med, strange but true, and then realize that they aren't really interested in becoming doctors.</p>

<p>Sloner, check out lawschoolnumbers.com to see where you might be a good fit. According to the graph, Georgetown is not wholly out of your reach.</p>