<p>Please don't make fun of me or put me down although I may deserve it. I'm really hoping to get some constructive advice on a particular issue I have.</p>
<p>I go to one of the best schools in the country (top 10) but my grades are probably the lowest in my class. Perhaps I don't deserve to be here but I assure you I'm not an AA admit nor an athlete nor a rich developmental admit. I was so used to getting by HS without having to lift a finger that when I came to college, it took me a long time just to realize how much work it would take to succeed and even longer to adapt and make significant adjustments in my work ethic.</p>
<p>I'm in my 5th semester of college and I have a C+ gpa. This is primarily because I compounded a terrible work ethic with the most competitive course load my first three semesters (calculus, economics, premed courses). I just got over a 3.0 my fourth semester of college.</p>
<p>What would it take for me to get into a competitive grad school given my situation? I'll do anything (pursue a master's at a non-competitive college, volunteer, fellowships, etc.). Does anyone have any constructive advice?</p>
<p>You've pretty much sealed your fate at all top 10 law schools. They hardly ever accept someone with a 2.7ish GPA. If they do, the person will have outstanding ECs---and I mean great---in addition to a stellar LSAT score. Northwestern is the highest ranked law school you have a reasonable shot it in. They love work experience, and are known to place the least emphasis on GPA of all the top law schools. An LSAT of 170+ will be required, but it's doable. Also think of working for a year or two, then applying.</p>
<p>As for all other schools outside of the the enigmatic "top 14" (from UCLA and Vanderbilt on down to Cooley), you have certainly not taken yourself out of the running. The key will be a killer LSAT score. Study hard, aim for a 165+, and you should get into at least a lower tier 1 law school.</p>
<p>A few suggestions: Work really, really hard for all your remaining semesters. Do not apply to law school in your senior year, since you won't have your 8th semester grades in. Get your full 4 years of grades in, and make the remaining semesters count.</p>
<p>You could think of taking summer courses to help improve your gpa. The more A's you add, the better off you will be.</p>
<p>Study really well for the LSAT. Don't let it scare you. Buckle down and work hard at studying for it.</p>
<p>Lastly, are you sure you want to be a lawyer? You sound to me as if you are nervous because of a low gpa, and are frantically looking for anything you can do to make up for it. (You took pre-med courses. Is medicine still your choice, but you're afraid you won't get into med school?) If you want to take the LSAT then go through law school, you should be sure that's what you want to do.</p>