Three LSAT questions

[pbear19]

Thanks all! Interesting about the SAT score. Unfortunately I fell asleep a couple times during the SAT verbal section, and scored a lot lower than I ought to have. Silly me for testing the morning after Homecoming.

I graduated in 2001 with a 3.62 GPA BA in Economics and German, minor in Spanish. I did the exact opposite of what most people do. My freshman year was fabulous, but my final year I was so burnt out I got two C's - I graduated with 184 credit hours! Since then I have corporate work experience and a decent amount of community service. I can't do anything about the 3.62, or about anything else up to this point, which is why I said I'm only focusing on the LSAT.

For the record, I know that the chances of getting even a 50% scholarship are exceedingly slim. But I don't think it will hurt me to try. If I don't score high enough to be considered, I won't be heartbroken. It's simply something I need to do for myself, just to see. My goal on the LSAT is to score at least 170, which I thought would be a good number to potentially be considered for scholarship. But, I don't know if that is high enough, which is why I was asking for input here.

Bottom line, I don't have high expectations, but I am excited about trying and giving it 100% just to see what happens.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Thanks all! Interesting about the SAT score. Unfortunately I fell asleep a couple times during the SAT verbal section, and scored a lot lower than I ought to have. Silly me for testing the morning after Homecoming.

I graduated in 2001 with a 3.62 GPA BA in Economics and German, minor in Spanish. I did the exact opposite of what most people do. My freshman year was fabulous, but my final year I was so burnt out I got two C's - I graduated with 184 credit hours! Since then I have corporate work experience and a decent amount of community service. I can't do anything about the 3.62, or about anything else up to this point, which is why I said I'm only focusing on the LSAT.

For the record, I know that the chances of getting even a 50% scholarship are exceedingly slim. But I don't think it will hurt me to try. If I don't score high enough to be considered, I won't be heartbroken. It's simply something I need to do for myself, just to see. My goal on the LSAT is to score at least 170, which I thought would be a good number to potentially be considered for scholarship. But, I don't know if that is high enough, which is why I was asking for input here.

Bottom line, I don't have high expectations, but I am excited about trying and giving it 100% just to see what happens.

The 3.62 will look good - how good, though, depends on where you got yoru degree. More competitive schools will get looked upon more favorably by the admissions people. The number of credits probably isn't going to matter - they mainly care about your grades, not how many classes you took. (that's not said to sound harsh, just the way it is) The work experience could help, as could the community service, as it could help round things out - but, GPA and LSAT scores are #1 and #1a in determining admissions, and make up a large majority of the decision.

That GPA, with a 170, could put you in good position with regards to scholarships.

One final word, and I don't mean this to sound patronizing or anything; if you are going to do law school, definitely make sure that it's the right choice. It's a ton of work, whether you go full time or go part time (like I do, while working full time). It's a lot of work and a lot of stress, with long hours of studying and writing. You're going to be surrounded by a lot of very intelligent people, and (depending on where you go), the environment could be incredibly competitive. It's really only worth it if it's something you absolutely want to do; otherwise you could find yourself burnt out very quickly. I've wanted to be a lawyer for a long time, and even I have gotten down on myself at times, questioning myself.

If it's what you truly want to do, good luck with the process, and definitely PM me if you have any questions along the way.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by MandyPepperidge

KSigkid is referring to the very addictive Law School Numbers.

Assuming you have a good GPA (a 3.5 or higher), you need a 165 or higher for the top tier of schools. (Unless you are an URM or a super-duper legacy.) I was told to take your SAT verbal score, drop the zero and then add a one in front of the number. That is roughly around where you should score.

That's absurd. I know a lot of people who got 750s+ and definitely did not get 175s+ or they wouldn't have been at school with me.

This depends so much on what type of school you are looking at and whether you fit what they are looking for. My boyfriend got several full rides to T1s with a 3.7 and a 165 - but this was in 2000 and law school admissions have gotten a lot more competitive. I got a full ride to a T3 with a 2.8 and a 163 but I was also a good fit for what the school was looking for and partial scholarships at a lot of T2s - but this was in 2005 and admissions have gotten even more competitive.

I'd shoot for a 165 at least - that should guarantee you some sort of money if not a full ride. Keep in mind, though, that even with a full ride you have to pay for living expenses - which for me ended up being almost $45,000 in loans!

Also, almost everyone scores much higher on practice tests - to get it as close as possible, take the test in an uncomfortable chair in a poorly lit room under exact timed conditions. I think I was averaging around 170 on practice tests, although that was so long ago I don't remember!

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions - I think I'm also listed on SisterLink as a resource for this type of stuff.

[DoubleTDG]

One thing I forgot to mention, I would suggest looking at the book Law School Confidential. It is full of advice for all steps of the the law school process.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

That's absurd. I know a lot of people who got 750s+ and definitely did not get 175s+ or they wouldn't have been at school with me.

Haha...if that scoring thing were the case, maybe I'd be at the "other" law school in CT, the one in New Haven

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Haha...if that scoring thing were the case, maybe I'd be at the "other" law school in CT, the one in New Haven

Quinnipiac? If that were the case, I think I may have joined you there as well, bad college grades or not. I certainly would have made it to that "other" Catholic law school out in DC.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Quinnipiac? If that were the case, I think I may have joined you there as well, bad college grades or not. I certainly would have made it to that "other" Catholic law school out in DC.

Haha, Quinnipiac is in Hamden, but close Although, I have to say, in all seriousness, they have an incredible career services department. They always get a pretty decent number of graduates into federal court and high state court clerkships. I wouldn't be surprised if their US News ranking goes up steadily for the next few years.

Just think, if only that scoring system worked, we may have been on our way to SCOTUS clerkships. Although, I'd guess we'd want to work for different Justices...

[pbear19]

Holy Jesus. Ok, I know that in the grand scheme of things this means absolutely nothing. But I am pretty pumped that I just scored a 178 on a practice test. I'm sure it's just a random fluke, and it might have been an 'easier' test in general for some reason, but it still feels pretty fabulous to see that number. Nothing like a big ego boost two weeks out!