<p>There are occasionally bizarre happenings; I believe one (white) best-selling author was admitted to Yale Law despite remarkably subpar numbers. I’ve seen a (white) girl get into Boalt with I think a 159, etc.</p>
<p>I believe we explicitly said as much:
</p>
<p>There’s definitely some wiggle room involved. But very little.</p>
<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as the OP, and I guess I would like some (brutally honest) advice.</p>
<p>I’m in a top 10 LAC. I got reasonable gpas in the freshmen year (3.9 and 3.8) but did terribly in sophomore year (3.4 and 3.5) owing to one thing - I refused to drop courses I knew I was struggling in due to pride (I got a straight B in both of them) and I refused to stop overloading on classes even though I knew I didn’t have the time for them. For some reason, I believed that the gpa was not THAT important (I guess I believed in the whole **** on your gpa, success in the corporate world does not depend on it stuff) and I have paid dearly. My cumulative now stands at a disastrous 3.68 and mathematically I have no chance of getting a 3.9. Even attaining a 3.85 (assuming 4.0s with normal course load) is wildly optimistic and right now the most realistic thing for me is to end up with a 3.76 cumulative. I am double majoring in econ and philo, but I know law schools don’t look at major gpas.</p>
<p>I’ll spare you guys the roll-eyes experience of the torment I’ve put upon myself through this entire summer. Let’s just say that my history of depression/anxiety attacks is not helping.</p>
<p>Right now, I’m considering taking a year off, doing something worthwhile, applying to another school for transfer in 2010, and working my ass off in there, try to graduate in 3 years with a single major with an actually good gpa (at least a 3.9). To make up for the grief I’m causing my parents, I’ll take a loan from them this time to finance my undergrad education. Of course, I’ve always planned on taking the LSAT, and working very hard day after day for it, but of course, all those bloody high achievers who sunk in their 3.9’s in stone after sophomore year can easily put in the same effort as I do and still come up on top in law school admissions. I am a ****ing international from a Southeast Asian country, ethnicity Chinese. There’s TOO MANY of them in the States. So my race and ethnicity doesn’t help either.</p>
<p>God, all I want is a chance to work in the USA, and law school a good option. My class rank is probably in the ****s. I don’t know what to do. talk to me, please. I don’t care if you sneer at me or sniff at me and tell me to grow up or something, just try to suggest something substantive on possible options after doing so. I want to try and get into a top 15 law school in corporate law. Thanks for tolerating.</p>
<p>First, DT, there is nothing disastrous about a 3.68 GPA at a top LAC. The measuring stick by which you are judging yourself must be pretty darn tall, because you are obviously a bright and hardworking student. </p>
<p>I am concerned that you are tormenting yoruself over this, particularly if you have a history of depression/anxiety attacks. You need to focus on all of the positive things you have going for you. You are doing extraordinarily well at a top college. You are doing the things you need to do to chase your dreams. I hope that you are also taking some time to enjoy your college experience, joining organizations and giving your time to efforts in which you believe, and doing your best to have a well rounded experience as well. </p>
<p>Second, why would transferring to another school help you? You are doing so well academically where you are now. How would going to another school help you achieve your goals? What worthwhile thing would you do during your year off? </p>
<p>Finally, if you want a chance to work in the U.S., in my opinion, law school may be a difficult option for you. Other than in L.L.M. (a graduate law degree typically earned by lawyers who are admitted in a foreign country, which then allows them to sit for a U.S. bar exam) hiring, most U.S. law firms may hire only a handful of non-U.S. citizens/permanent resident aliens. The cost to obtain the appropriate visas is very high and can be very time consuming. I know that the main argument that is often made to hire international LLM students is that they bring different legal knowledge and experiences to the table than what is typically found among U.S. citizens. The same argument could not likely be made for an international J.D. student. Just something to consider . . .</p>
<p>A 3.68 is perfectly fine if your goal is (very reasonably) the top 15. Heck, a 3.68 is even fine if your goal is (less reasonably) the top 6.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t transfer.</p>