<p>I'm planning on applying to law school for either this upcoming cycle or the next. I would really like to believe I could have a shot at the top 5 (much less the top 14) law schools with that LSAT score. Unfortunately, I've been looking at lawschoolnumbers.com and it looks like unless your a URM, you just don't get into those schools with such low gpas... that being said, I don't really recall anyone with such a huge disparity.</p>
<p>What would any of you suggest? I have major circumstances as to why my GPA is the way it is that required me to withdraw from school a few times during my undergraduate years. </p>
<p>I’d suggest applying ED to Penn. I think you are pretty much locked out of the top 6 unfortunately (sorry!), but definitely you will get in somewhere in the top 14. Congrats.</p>
<p>Be careful about saying the OP will “definitely” get into somewhere in the top 14. That’s far from a guarantee. In fact, I would bet against it, even with the strong LSAT. I’ve seen applicants with 3.0/180 and 2.9/180 locked out of everywhere except a WL at GULC. </p>
<p>The numbers will still get you into a fine school, though. Probably at least somewhere in the top 15-20 range.</p>
<p>The major circumstances were in fact, really major. </p>
<p>It would be on the same level as… say someone who went through an abusive relationship during college, got constantly hit and knocked around, scared to do anything about it - perhaps for their own safety, didn’t go to class because the person didn’t allow it… </p>
<p>So… I personally would say I feel like I have a strong case to explain my GPA. </p>
<p>And as far as it being resolved, it definitely has.</p>
<p>My last 2 terms, my GPA was around a 3.7 level</p>
<p>I am not sure about this, and GPA isn’t that low. But would doing a Masters Program help at all getting into a law program, or is it basically all #'s and you are capped at your first BS?</p>
<p>From what I understand, master’s program grades aren’t really factored in… its more like what I did in those programs and having it shine somewhere in my application. That being said, I’m not sure if that would be any more helpful in getting into the top schools…</p>
<p>A master’s would show that you’d gotten your life back on track and were able to succeed academically…but your strong showing in your last year of college and some steady work experience should do the same. </p>
<p>I agree with what everyone else says. There are good odds that some T14 school will take a chance on you, but it’s really hard to predict which one and you should definitely apply to lots of schools…I’d say anywhere in the top 25 you’d be willing to go, plus a few more ranked 26-50 in the city/state/region you want to ultimately practice in. The good news is you should get fee waivers from some places based on your awesome LSAT.</p>
<p>I think that only makes sense if s/he is willing to go to those schools if accepted. I would’ve preferred a lower-ranked school to attending Cornell or Stanford, so I didn’t apply to them. Other people hate the cold, or big cities, and I think 3 years is too long to be miserable. </p>
<p>Also, it might be better to go to school #22 (or #32) in a region s/he wants to practice in than school #19 in a completely different part of the country. </p>
<p>But yeah, if s/he applied to all of the top 20 I’m confident there’d be at least one acceptance.</p>
<p>I think your second point is valid. As to the first, though, I’m not totally sold. Frankly, a 2.9 restricts your choices enough that putting up with Palo Alto (!) or Ithaca really probably is worth it, especially because you’re not sure what you’d be left with, y’know?</p>
<p>Hey op, the trick is, if you have a 179 lsat out of 180 which is basically perfect your basically a genius. It won’t matter what law school you go to because you will rank in top 15% of class meaning that you will get a top job no matter what. If you have an A average from any tier 1 law school or top 40 school then you will get any job you want. Only when you go to a top 20-40 school but have average or below average grades is job problem</p>