| Topic Name: |
beating a dead horse GPA/LSAT |
| Message Name: |
Don't despair. |
| Date Posted: |
11/01/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Situation here is:
3.0 (even) from U of MD
history of grades was decent at first, atrocious sophomore year (i joined a frat... big mistake), junior year 3.5's, a's in a few summer courses
163 LSAT
Very weak and mediocre, I suppose.
What are the pro's and con's of working as a paralegal (1-3 years)? Will this strengthen an application?
What is the word on spending an extra semester/year in school to specifically raise GPA? Should I dely applications?
With what I have now, what are my realistic chances of getting into a top 40-50 law school?
BTW, i'm Asian. Is this necessarily going to be a negative, especially since most Asian's typically overachieve? |
| Message: |
OK, first off, in terms of where you have a "chance" of getting in, use the LSAT/GPA calculator. Please do note that the numbers that it spits out are based solely on the LSAT and GPA factors, not the entirety of your application.
That having been said, it is only your LSAT/GPA combo that gets you into the "yes" or "maybe" piles. You can get a good chance of what schools will think of 3.0/163 as a yes or a maybe. Given, these aren't hard percentages, but they're something to work from.
As for taking another semester/year to do it, just remember that it's all averaged out. Obviously, right? But the fact that you have an additional year's worth of credits might make another semester's 3.5 not worth it. Just be sure that it's worth the extra time/money, and that you're sure you can up the GPA.
Paralegaling. Well this is a tough one. I do think it can help your application, but only after you've made it into that "maybe" pile. But more important than the application process, the effect of having worked in the real world before law school can make a tremendous difference later on. I'm applying to law schools right now, but I know lots of people who have worked before 1L, and lots of people who went straight from undergrad. Without a doubt, the people who worked before hand are happier and much less stressed about classes, etc. That will help you succeed in 1L, assuming that you can keep up with the work.
Also, a 163 isn't a "very weak and mediocre" score. I don't know what your percentile is, but think about it in those terms. You did better than X% of your peers.
Additionally, if you are going to be a paralegal, and you think you have a good chance of being in a "maybe" pile of a top 40-50 school, try to work for the most prestigious firm possible.
As for your ethnicity question, if you're honestly worried that they'll think that sort of thing, you can choose not to report your ethnicity.
Hope that helped. I know I didn't give any direct answers, but there aren't any really solid answers unless it's a clear-cut case.
Cheers.
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