Hey all!
I’m approaching my senior year of undergrad, and accompanying the prospect of graduating is the stress of applying to law school. I plan on going to law school straight out of undergrad, and was seeking a little guidance in terms of potential schools you all my recommend, in addition to your evaluation of my chances with the schools currently on my list.
I am a Rutgers University Political Science major and English minor. I am the President of Rutgers’ Pre-Law Society, as well as RU Progressive, their largest political organization. I am currently a paralegal at a criminal defense firm, was formerly a Speechwriter for NJ’s Secretary of State, and am in a selective Political Associate’s program at Rutgers. I will be graduating with a GPA between 3.7 and 3.75, and am projecting, based on diagnostic scoring, an LSAT Score between 160-169. I have worked on several political campaigns, and, as a result, have some strong recommendation letters and some cool experience. I have made Dean’s List every semester at Rutgers, and am in their Political Science National Honor Society.
My top choices for law school are NYU, UCLA, Georgetown, and Boston University. As mentioned above, any thoughts on other potential choices, and an evaluation of the realistic chances of getting into these ones will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time!
As President of Rutger’s Pre-Law Society you should know better than to ask this question without an actual LSAT score in hand.
Fair point haha, would just like to gauge some opinions though. One part I failed to mention is that I may take a gap year to increase my score based on how I feel about my chances regarding getting into these schools.
Based on your two posts in this thread, my opinion is that you are too young for law school.
take a gap year or two and ace the LSAT. Then come back for advice.
My daughter went through Law School admissions and started at Duke Law on Monday. There is a very good Reddit website for Law School Admissions and the Top Law Schools website. You have very good EC’s or softs for someone finishing undergrad. My suggestion is that you do a little research on what LSAT score will be required and you prep for the LSAT as if your future depends on it because it does. I have no idea what the GPA distribution is at Rutgers but a 3.7 - 3.75 GPA would be on the low end for some law schools but competitive for most. Of the schools you mentioned there is a pretty major difference in terms of the LSAT and GPA required. NYU Is ranked number 5 and it is very hard to get into. Georgetown is ranked number 14 and it is less competitive although still considered a “T14” school. I’m not sure where BU and UCLA fall in terms of rankings, probably top 25. If you want to work in “big law” after law school you either need to do very well at a lower ranked school or attend a T14 school. Big Law means a very high starting salary and the work hours to go with that big salary. Starting salaries last year were $180K for new associates. You might not know this but law schools give out an awful lot of merit scholarships sometimes disguised as “financial aid” to strong students. My daughter is going to Duke with a $40K/year scholarship which led her to pass up spots at Columbia and NYU despite their higher ranking/prestige. The total cost of attending Law School varies from about $80K to $100K per year. Every single point on your LSAT changes both your chances for admission and the amount of merit money you might be eligible for.
Choose a law school with good law job outcomes for its graduates.
https://www.lstreports.com/schools/
Biglaw salaries on the Cravath scale started at $190,000 base salary last year. Many firms still start at $180,000. The market rate for biglaw varies by city with some firms starting associates at $165,000. Base salary is separate from the year end bonus payment.
OP: The “projected LSAT score” of 160 to 169 inclusive is meaningless as the liklihood of schools that one can consider on a reasonable basis are dramatically different for one with an LSAT score in the low 160s to one with an LSAT score in the high 160s.
In my opinion, your ECs are typical & insignificant for a law school applicant. The good news, however, is all that really matters is one’s LSAT score, undergraduate GPA, & one’s URM status.