URM 171 3.89 GPA, Prospects?

Graduate School Law School
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<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>So I'm Puerto Rican, and I have a 3.89 GPA at Boston College and a 171 LSAT. I really want to be on the east coast, but I also need $$ since I'm financially independent. I want T-10, if possible... any suggestions from the CC world? Should I retake in December to try to raise my LSAT? Thanks.</p>

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<p>lawschoolnumbers.com</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-content/uploads/Law-School-Predictor-Full-Time-Programs.htm[/url]”>http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-content/uploads/Law-School-Predictor-Full-Time-Programs.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>how accurate is lawschoolpredictor?</p>

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<p>Your first post in September stated that you had a 168 on the LSAT, and were thinking of retaking it in December.</p>

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<p>I ended up retaking it in October… I was nervous that I wasn’t ready and needed the extra preparation, but I realized that this was mostly nerves. I’m quite happy with my 171, and while I think I have the potential to do a little better, I realize taking more tests will be more of a detriment than to my advantage. I really have my heart set on Columbia, but I know that is a long shot with my score. I do have quite a unique personal statement and story (my father is in prison and I am home every weekend helping with my 12 year old brother). I guess I just feel so alone in this entire process–compared to college admissions this is highly individualized, and I don’t want to make a mistake and miss out on a great opportunity. Any words of wisdom or general advice would be greatly appreciated…</p>

<p>thanks again.</p>

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<p>OP, </p>

<p>Congratulations on your GPA and phenomenal LSAT scores. With 171 + 3.9 GPA, you stand a very healthy chance of getting into Columbia Law.</p>

<p>Do you intend to enroll in law school starting next fall? If so, start applying to schools right now because law school admissions are rolling. </p>

<p>Usually, successful Columbia Law applicants have 3.7+ GPA and 172-173 LSAT. With the URM boost, I think you will get into Columbia and you should also apply to Harvard and Stanford. If you need scholarships, I highly urge you to apply to most of T-14 schools and see how much merit money each law school offers you. </p>

<p>I think you can end up getting substantial merit scholarship offers from lower T-14 law schools such as Cornell, Michigan, and UVA. You have nothing to worry about.</p>

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<p>You should do well, but I’d recommend applying broadly to maximize your chances of financial aid. (Be careful about relying too heavily on scholarships that require maintenance of a specific GPA for renewal, as a lot of students who were counting on these being renewed in the past have been disappointed.)</p>

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<p>Probably in at Harvard.</p>