Which schools are within my range?

Hello, first time poster! Thanks for your time.

I will be applying to law schools this fall. Please tell me which (if any) T14 schools are matches, which are reaches, and which are shoo-ins (probably none). I am also interested in Vanderbilt, Texas, USC, and UCLA.

Undergrad: BS in chemistry, 3.70 cumulative gpa (magna cum laude) from a midsized state school.
LSAT: 166 (first and only try)
URM status: Mexican American

Softs: Average

I do not plan on retaking the LSAT.

Please be honest - should I bother applying to all of the T14? Anything to make me feel better? Worse? Thank you!

Sorry, wrong attitude. Sure, you may be able to get into the lower T14, but not sure about merit money. OTOH, a retake and a 17x would mean a LOT of T14 acceptances and lotsa tax-freee merit money.

I would expect you to get into most or all of the top 10.

Happy:

Methinks you are extremely optimistic. Loading the OP’s numbers into myLSN, for the last few years, we see only decent shots at NYU, Boalt and Cornell (of the T14).

Blue,

I think that you are being optimistic about NYU and Boalt (maybe if OP is doing public interest). I would not guarantee Cornell (in this case URMs with the same GPA/scores at higher ranked schools, would knock OP out of the box.

I agree Op needs to retake.

Not saying that it is a great chance at these 3, sybbie, but those are the best odds of the T14 per myLSN.

Mexican-American URM, BS in chemistry, 3.70 GPA magna cum laude, 166 LSAT should be admitted to several T-14 law schools.

Not easy to predict due to URM status & due to chemistry major.

Although the better course of action would be to retake the LSAT, OP should apply to all 18 schools & see what offers follow.

Assuming an interest in patent law, OP should add George Washington University to the list of 18 targeted law schools.

@Lawschool2019: How do you plan to pay for law school ?

Do you want to live & practice in any particular location ? Targeting biglaw ? Planning to practice in patent law ? Are there any decent state supported law schools in your state ? If so, apply as a financial safety if low cost.

BlueBayou & Sybbie - I agree that retaking the LSAT would be the best option. In an ideal world I would have spent more time studying for it. Due to personal and family obligations, however, I don’t know how practical a retake is. If the chance for September becomes available for me, then I may very well take that option. I studied far less than I should have.

Happy Alumnus - Wow, that is good to hear, and I hope you are even half right!

Publisher - Thank you for your response. I have been reading on forums that having a STEM degree can give an applicant a slight advantage, but I wonder how much. To answer your questions, I plan on paying for law school with loans. If scholarship money became available, I would take it into consideration when choosing a school. I don’t know how likely this is at any of the schools I am interested in, but according to stats I have found on mylsn and other sites it is not unheard of. There is no particular location I would strongly like to practice in, but I wouldn’t mind the Austin, Texas area, so UT Austin is one of my top choices. I wouldn’t mind California, either, so UCLA or USC are strong considerations since Stanford is likely out. I am indeed targeting biglaw. I have no particular interest in patent law, but who knows - things can always change. My state (Utah) has a decent law school, but I am not applying there. I will, however, apply to several safeties.

To me, those are conflicting. Incuring massive debt to attend LS just HAS to impact personal obligations. Even a couple of points on the LSAT could mean big money at a T14. A 170 gives you an outside shot at Harvard (which is need-only).

play with the search function on myLSN.

Don’t settle. Retake in Sept and Nov, if necessary. (Have you considered the GRE?)

@LawSchool2019: I’ll PM you.

If you are planning to debt finance your law degree, you would be insane not to retake the LSAT. The difference between paying full freight and getting a merit scholarship can be life changing. I cannot imagine any personal or family obligation that would change this calculus.

The only one I’m familiar with is UT and I think you would get in there. It may be a little borderline. My husband was BS Chem and MS Chem Eng when he went there.

@momocarly: Is he practicing in the area of patent law ?

@Publisher he is a certified patent attorney. He is primarily in litigation doing oil & gas, technical cases, and patent law. He has also done some media cases.