<p>I'm a rising senior and obviously curious as to where I should be applying and/or where, if I do apply, I'll at least be considered - and possibly stand a probable chance - for admittance.
I'm also curious as to whether or not any of following are 'different' or somehow 'boosters'/'unique' and will viewed as pluses by admissions?</p>
<ol>
<li>I'll be applying at 19 and graduating at 20 (Finishing in 3 years, rather than 4)</li>
<li>I'm a triple major in philosophy, politics and psychology</li>
</ol>
<p>So now for the basic 'stats':
LSAT: 169
GPA: 3.35 (low, I know)
- I doubt it matters, but my GPA breakdown thus far:
- Philosophy, 3.52
- Psychology, 3.46
- Politics, 3.18</p>
<p>I've held two internships:
(1) County Prosecutor's Office for two summers - clerical work
(2) District Attorney's Office for a semester - hands-on work (Processing arrests, conducting interviews, reviewing cases, basic legal research, etc.)</p>
<p>I'm looking to apply (maybe?) to:
Northwestern
Cornell
Gtown
WUStL?
GW
ND?
BC?
Fordham</p>
<p>I've already ruled out NYU, as I doubt I'll even be considered.
Responses greatly appreciated. =)</p>
<p>Points number 1, 2 and the internships really will not matter in the admissions process. Actually point number 1 may hurt you as you go through OCI (the main vechicle for gettting a job after law school).</p>
<p>Should you decide to graduate early consider doing a 2 year stint at TFA, Americorps, peace corps or simply working.</p>
<p>Unfortunately the GPA is going to hurt you. That said with your 169, WUSTL and ND will probably offer you at least 60K or so scholarship. So you’re certainly not aiming too high by applying to those schools, they are well within your grasp.</p>
<p>I would really work on LSAT, try to boost by 2-3 points, and you will be much better off. Really try to go for a T-14: Cornell, UVA, Northwestern (w/ work exp) are within your reach, provided that you boost your LSAT. </p>
<p>Avoid schools such as Notre Dame or Wash U like a plague - not worth your time, money, and effort for a dismal shot at a good employment.</p>
<p>i’m gonna give opposite advice from lazyKid- the 169 is not going to keep you out of cornell, georgetown or northwestern- but the 3.35 might. Though LSAT is weighted more heavily than gpa, the GPA does matter alot. The higher the LSAT, the less affect the gpa might have, but I think we are talking a pretty high lsat (172 and above).<br>
so figure out what is easier to do- bump the lsat score up 3 points (I guess that is what Lazy Kid said) or try to get highest grades possible over the next year to try to boost your gpa.
I don’t like to suggest this- but pick courses based on chance of getting highest grade. Maybe an on-line SUNY course or two during winter break. (d #2 was SUNY student so I am familiar with suny on line courses). Those classes will count towards LSAT GPA.
I’m not a big proponent of padding your gpa for law school admission- but a 169 is a great score. Unfortunately 169/3.35 sounds like waitlist territory for Cornell and Georgetown.</p>
<p>Given that OP is a rising senior, I suspect s/he will be able to boost the cum GPA to the level where a T-14 acceptance is a strong possibility with 169 LSAT. Hence, OP would need to work on LSAT to improve a T-14 chance.</p>
<p>agreed LK- OP could be on cusp of T-14 acceptance and the bigger the boost to gpa and or lsat, the better shot s/he has. I know from my own kid, she was adamant about not taking LSAT a 2nd time. With a 167, she was also a “cuspy T-14 admit”. But with her higher gpa she was admitted to a few T-14 schools (though it was 2 years ago). I also realize that not everyone improves on the LSAT. If OP’s practice score was higher than the 169, I might suggest to do re-take, but if score is within average of practice range, it might be a better shot to just go all out and try to bring gpa up. Only OP knows if he prepared for LSAT as best as he could.</p>
<p>I’m outta here for the next few weeks- so can’t add anymore to this discussion. But good luck to NYU. A 169 and 3.35 and some work experience should give you some nice options.</p>