Read me first

Graduate School Law School
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<p>In this thread, I hope to compile a simple FAQ so that we can stop answering the same three or four questions all the time. Feel free to add yours below. I'll keep my tone under control this time, so that maybe we can post this at the top of the page.</p>

<p>Q. How much will my degree from <em>insert impressve-sounding undergrad here</em> matter?</p>

<p>A. Very little, it's a soft factor. If your LSAT / GPA don't put you in the ballpark then you're probably going in the trash. Some very few exceptions apply, but only if you are a congressional medal of honor winner who cured cancer while raising your 9 orphaned brothers and sisters. We see this question every day. The answer is the same every day. It's nothing personal, it's just how the system works.</p>

<p>Q. I'm a freshman/sophomore/HS sudent with a near-perfect SAT and good grades. What are my chances at H/Y/S?</p>

<p>A. We can't even begin to venture a guess at ANY school without a real LSAT. If you have proctored practice scores and stay within a 3-4 point range then use lawschoolnumbers.com to see where you stand, but the only one that matters is the real one. </p>

<p>Q. What should I do durring undergrad to get into a top law school?</p>

<p>A. Get good grades. Live a little. Take an LSAT prep course before taking the real test. I know, you just spent 13 years reading College Confidential and gaming the system to get into your undergrad of choice, and now you think that law school is more of the same game. It isn't. Grades and LSATs are the game. Do something that you enjoy while you're in school, and you should have the softs (unless what you enjoy is pot and X-Box).</p>

<p>Q. I don't think I can get into a T-14, what are my chances as a transfer?</p>

<p>A. I don't know. Can you pull yourself together and make the top 10 (not 10%, 10 individuals) in your 1L class at a first tier school? I wouldn't go to a school intending to transfer out, the odds are extremely long, but if you dominate your 1L class it's possble. Talk to current students at schools like Fordham, Vandy, and GW about how hard it is to make the top of the class before you count on beating them.</p>

<p>Insert other FAQ - worthy material below.</p>

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<p>Jim–</p>

<p>First, at this point I’m not even sure this board has a moderator, so I don’t think it is possible to “sticky” this. </p>

<p>Second, I disagree with or think serious modifications are needed to each and every one of your proposed answers. There is more divergence of opinion than your answers suggest, and not every law school makes decisions the same way.</p>

<p>I do think you’re right in thinking a FAQ section would be helpful. At one point concerneddad was the moderator and said he was working on one, but it never materialized.</p>

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<p>Basically, if you want to get into a T14, or one of the top within the T14 at that, it essentially seems that you must have that in mind from the first day as an undergrad, at least insofar as you must get a near perfect GPA. Had a bad semester? Too bad, you’re out of the running for the best schools, or an extreme long shot at best. That seems to be the harsh reality. If you want to be at the top, no mistakes after high school.</p>

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<p>Well, it depends on what you consider “bad.” Knock out the LSAT in the 175+ range and you can probably survive a B-B+ freshman year no sweat.</p>