<p>Hi guys, just got my June LSAT score - 172
Percentile: 99%
- I'm pretty happy with my performance, but even more happy they released scores early....lol
So with this final score - and my GPA around 3.77, how do I fare if I apply this year to law school? What are my chances at a JD/MBA program, what schools are best for this, and how do I fare applying to those school?
Let me know what you guys think - for those of you that dont know, my profile is in the first post of this thread, but the main point of interest/detraction/attraction, depending on how you look at it - is that I am graduating from berkeley in two years.
Thanks for your opinions!</p>
<p>You'd probably have a good shot at any law school outside of HYS, and a decent shot at HYS if you have certain edges. Upenn/Wharton, and Boalt/Haas seem like good matches for your scores, which is nothign to scoff at.</p>
<p>What do you think would be "edges?"</p>
<p>A lot of people have talked about maturity when entering law school, what can be done, assuming that I am applying this fall (I am not for sure - I am just wondering in this scenario) - to demonstrate my maturity?</p>
<p>Also, what would be the best way to go about contacting these colleges to see what they think of my candidacy pre-application? What schools are more score-based (ie, my forte), and which schools are more "personality" based - something that I would not lack in, excpet for my shortened time in undergraduate?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>One would think that a guy with a 172 LSAT would be able to research and find the answer to those questions.</p>
<p>The answer to these questions have already been posted ...</p>
<p>is there a link? i really havent gone through this site's forums in detail, and im sure most of you who have spent more time here know it better offhand.</p>
<p>if you get a chance, please post links that have any useful information.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>lol, and btw, i dont think my 172 is that amazing - im just good at the kind of questions that are asked - what can I say, i like standardized tests....so dont take as proof of intelligence, lol</p>
<p>Hats off to you for graduating early! Some of the greats like Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, and many US Senators graduated from college at an early age. Frankly, your early graduation has saved you or parents quite a deal of money. USE IT for law school!
Actually, my goal is to graduate early as well; prestige, head start on your career, GREAT OPPORTUNITY!</p>
<p>hahaha, thanks, you seem to be one of the few that doesnt see this a big negative - thats some encouragment for me.</p>
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hahaha, thanks, you seem to be one of the few that doesnt see this a big negative - thats some encouragment for me.
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</p>
<p>
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Let me know what you guys think my target schools should be - and how important the fact I'm graduating in two years and the only-one-year GPA will be when colleges evaluate my application.
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</p>
<p>You received a response from well-informed persons; however, it is obvious that you are only looking for positive responses. In the case, do what you want. It is not as if anyone here with an opinion that contradicts yours will change your mind.</p>
<p>nspeds, i did not say or imply that at all.</p>
<p>i was just saying its nice to hear someone who has a similar point of view on graduating early - not that thats the only advice that i would listen to. like honestly, im just looking for advice here - and i know that theres good and bad things and i need to hear both. but as is natural, hearing nice things makes me happier.</p>
<p>however, that does not say at all that i am not paying attention to the wise and useful comments of other people, which i value greatly and am taking into deep consideration in my thoughts about applying to law school.
please dont take this the wrong way - i am happy to hear nice things, and very ineterested (and, yes, maybe less happy) but no less willing to change my mind and be influenced by things that are negative.</p>
<p>i appreciate everyone's input, and i look forward to getting more advice on this matter, and please realize i am not just looking for the positive - if i was doing that i would just sit and look at my gpa or lsat score all day - but im really looking for honest opinons here, and especially on the topic of differentiating myself. any input is greatly valued.</p>
<p>thank you.</p>
<p>Nah, you're right, Berkeley does suck as an undergraduate experience and you should get out quick, but applying to law schools right away might not be a good idea as your reach schools might be more likely to reject you.</p>
<p>Get a masters degree or some work experience (gotta save up for that 180k law school debt anyways) and your chances will improve.</p>
<p>lol. yeah berkeley undergrad, not that much fun. </p>
<p>well my two options as i see them are either ibanking (or corp. finanace) after graduation + mba a couple years down the road (maybe jd then), or apply to jd straight out of undergrad.</p>
<p>i'm not that interested in a masters in anything but business, or any other graduate degree except a jd. </p>
<p>i am lucky enough to not have to worry about law school debt, which i know is something i should be thankful for. after speaking to my father, we have compiled this preliminary list of schools that i am considering applying to - </p>
<p>reach:</p>
<p>harvard
yale
stanford
columbia
NYU</p>
<p>target:</p>
<p>UC berkeley
chicago
georgetown
duke
U Penn</p>
<p>safety:</p>
<p>????</p>
<ul>
<li>what do you guys think, how should the categories be distributed, and what schools are good safties? let me know what you guys think - i am interested in your opinons here.<br></li>
</ul>
<p>keep in mind, this is not the only path i am pursuing - i AM thinking about other paths post graduation at berkeley -i am just looking for what is open to me if i apply now, to get an idea of the field.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>from looking at lawschoolnumbers i would say columbia would be in the target category, assuming they dont treat your graduating early too harshly. </p>
<p>im not sure if the concept of safety is very valuable in LS admissions. people talk about ugrad safeties because going to college is much more the norm. but i think for you, if you dont get into the top schools, you might want to work and apply again in a year or two. </p>
<p>also, if you do get into some pretty good schools but dont like the price tag, you might want to work for a few years and re-apply with the hope of getting scholarships the second time around. columbia has a lot of them, even a 126k one. chicago's largest is 64k. you would certainly be a better applicant with your work experience and a solid recommendation (though professor recs are best). and you may come to realize things about yourself that lead to a better essay, or find that LS is not so attractive anymore. </p>
<p>i am wondering though, you are planning to graduate next year as a sophomore, so you took the LSAT your freshmen year? if so thats sort of funny.</p>
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Nah, you're right, Berkeley does suck as an undergraduate experience and you should get out quick, but applying to law schools right away might not be a good idea as your reach schools might be more likely to reject you.
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</p>
<p>This isn't really the place to discuss it, but if it's so bad, transfer or go elsewhere.</p>
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Get a masters degree or some work experience (gotta save up for that 180k law school debt anyways) and your chances will improve.
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</p>
<p>A masters might be a good idea, but it's often also a great way to rack up debt. Many of the best programs only have doctoral students anyways. And 180k law school debt? I thought it's usually more like 150k.</p>
<p>Random interjection here, sorry, but I've heard that many employers look down on Masters and other advanced degrees. Supposedly it brings up the question of how serious you are about actually practicing... is this true?</p>
<p>If you are becoming a patent lawyer, a master degree in your specialty will help a lot.</p>
<p>Considering the vagaries of the economy, its usually good to establish your own niche so you don't have to worry about job security much.</p>
<p>A ton of people have college degrees nowadays. A lot have a jd or mba, but very few have combinations of post-graduate degrees; which can be very useful.</p>
<p>sreis, thanks for the information.</p>
<p>regarding safety schools, which there seems to be a consensus that there are no such concept in applying to law schools - what schools should i feel comfortable applying to and getting accpeted to, regardless of my status as younger.</p>
<p>also, today while registering for the LSDAS, it became clear to me that my GPA will be higher than the 3.77 i reported - due to other courses taken at other universites prior to my undergrad at berkeley that will be counted by LSAC. Conservativley, lets say 3.8, and LSAT of 172.</p>
<p>regarding master's degrees, i'm not that intersete in one thats not in business - which is what i discussed as a possible alternate career path. jd/mba is kind of attractive to me - but i would probably want a few years in the industry before jumping into something like that, if not for the jd component, for the mba side of things.</p>
<p>anyways, thanks for all your advice - and any input regarding the list above of schools is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>MBA is out of the question. You need WE to get into a good MBA program.</p>
<p>Out at HYS.</p>
<p>In everywhere else.</p>
<p>yeah, i figured as much for MBA.</p>
<p>sorry, what do you mean by out at harvard, in everywhere else?
i'm unfamiliar with the lingo on this site, sorry im a noob.
lol</p>
<p>HYS = harvard, yale, stanford (not harvard yaw school). that prediction is not so bad either.</p>