I’m currently a Junior Political Science Major with a minor in Geography at the University of Florida. I currently have a 3.5 but after this semester I am looking at more of a 3.6 for when I graduate. I took a diagnostic LSAT and got a 163 and from my experience with self-study I think I can bump that by as much as 10 points to around a 173. I know my GPA isn’t terrible but honestly not the greatest especially for a common major in law school applicants. I know EC’s aren’t really looked at but I have done competitive mock trial all through undergrad and my friends who have already applied said it really helps. I was wondering what my changes are for schools like Georgetown, Boston University, University of Washington, and USC? I would also need financial aid to go, so getting in isn’t the only problem it’s getting enough money to afford it.
Earn A’s and lots of 'em. Plan to take the LSAT after you graduate. (That allows you one more semester of A’s.) For merit money, the higher the LSAT the better.
Jumping 10 points on the LSAT maybe doable, but will require a LOT of prep. Are you a strong test-taker? What was your SAT?
Take as many official LSAT released exams as possible. Eventually, you’ll have done so many that there’s nothing new for them to throw at you. They truly are formulaic.
As far as needing financial aid, a lot of debt is only recommended if you can get into a top school (top ten, maybe top twenty) and plan on practicing in a lucrative area. Do you know what type of law you want to practice?
I plan on studying for the LSAT over this summer where my only other commitments are some easy classes in the beginning half and a job of around 20 hours a week, taking the test in September. I was able to jump 3 points on the ACT using this method. I don’t know what type of law I want to do yet.
I do agree that GPA and LSAT are the two biggest factors – but I would disagree with your comment that ECs aren’t considered. My D’s friend who got into a top law school was involved on campus in things like the debate club and felt that helped her application stand out. She also worked at a law firm for two summers.
@happy1, it’s great that your D’s friend was admitted to a top law school, but unless those ECs included national or international level award status (and even with that, it’s unlikely that it made a significant difference in her results), it’s more likely that she was admitted primarily on her GPA and LSAT scores. They may be considered in the sense that if there are two identical applications and one student showed a consistent commitment to ECs or work experience and the other did not, it might make a difference, but to negate or support a lower GPA or LSAT score, not likely.
Your GPA and LSAT is very good. The elite schools are certainly possible, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on them. You would need to research schools and choose some reach, match, and safety schools. If you can ace the LSAT the second time, your chances would increase. Also, I believe once you graduate, you would then be considered an independent student and you would qualify for more financial aid independent of your parents. That would depend on state laws.
One diagnostic test is not going to be especially helpful in formulating a list of schools.
I would advise you to not assume that you can jump 10 points. My “cold” score was 163 as well and believe me, I never hit even close to 170 after 20+ prep tests and 2 books. (I actually got WORSE during some of my practice exams, though thankfully rebounded by the time I took the actual test.)
This board isn’t going to be really helpful re: chances until you 1) practice a lot more, and 2) get your actual score.
On the other hand, both my D and S had raw diagnostics of 164 and ended up scoring 176 and 173, respectively. It is an eminently coachable test, especially the logic games section. What @happy1 said, though…schools do look very favorably on work experience after college - consider working for a couple of years before law school.