Self-study
I am a 27 year old father of 3 with special needs children. I major in Computer science, am in my junior year as a full time student, and currently have a 3.28 GPA (I expect to graduate with a 3.5). I work 19 hours a week in my university's I.T. department as a network technician. Ive worked in the past as a crane operator, bank teller, and Helpdesk Tech. Right now, I am intending to take the June 6th LSAT to make the early application cycle, with hopes of attending Harvard (I know that's a stretch). Before any studying, I scored a 146 on my first PT. I am studying exclusively through 7Sage and don't intend to PT/drill again until at least finishing the core curriculum. My target score is a 176, and I will retest if I am not at least in the 170's.
Am I going about this the wrong way? is Harvard an unrealistic super reach for me? Is 25 hours of studying a week even close to enough? All I read online indicates a score in the 170's requires a minimum (usually more) of 6 months of intensive study...
any opinions would be greatly appreciated, the more honest, the better...
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6 comments
I also scored a 146 diagnostic, and didn't improve much after finishing the curriculum. Now that I started drilling though, I am starting to see some small improvements. However I feel like it would be extremely difficult, if not a bit too hopeful/optimistic to go from a 146 to a 176. I guess I'm saying this because I don't ever see myself getting to the 170s, some people are naturally good at this test whereas others are on the same boat as us. Learning it from the very beginning. Since you asked for honesty, I am not sure if your GPA could get you into Harvard even with a high 170 score (not saying it's impossible, there have been super splitters), and like I said it's really hard to have a 30 point jump, but some people have done it. Who knows, you can be one of those people!! Keep studying and pushing through the curriculum, and measure the possibility of this plan happening after you drill for a bit and take another PT. If there's significant change, then I would say absolutely go for that 176!
I guess I would just ask why it is you're focusing on Harvard? I always see people shoot for schools like that when there are way better schools for their life, location, and career path. You can still make as much money as a lawyer from a lesser-known school while you enjoy programs that have special clinics/focuses that best suit your interests and give out more scholarships too, but that's really only if you don't simply focus on the name of school. You have to allow yourself to believe there are other schools out there that are better/just as good for you than just Harvard. Harvard may be regarded as a top law school generally, but that in no way means they have the best programs/resources in every type of law. This is especially true if you're thinking of going into tech. The law school admissions process is already stressful enough especially being that you're a family man, don't bog yourself down even more by adding extra stress for something that may not even be worth it in the end. I would focus on schools that will help support you most in your area of law not just ones that are widely known. Good luck with all your endeavors though, and tell the kiddies I say hi! :) Edit: Also if this sounds in any way passive aggressive I did not mean for it to at all!! Wishing you the best!
I often get worried too, having similar goals but a much worse gpa than yours. I have a buddy in law school at UPenn that I often vent to when I get worried about admissions and he tells me two main things. First, is that no matter what the admission predictor tells you, it is people that admit you into law school, not machines. Secondly, and most importantly, is that there are many factors moving forward that you cannot control, but the one factor that you can control is your LSAT score. Focus on that and the rest will move into place as it needs to.
Use https://lsd.law/ to browse school profiles that match your stats. At Harvard, with a 3.5 GPA and 176, 2.6% of the users on LSD.law were accepted into Harvard University.
With your stats, I'd probably target schools between T30 and T100. After you've identified schools that are a good fit for your stats, use Hey Future Lawyer's ROI calculator to estimate the debt load you'd take on at each school, the salary you'd earn after graduation, and the time it would take to pay off your law school debt.
I've been studying for 2.5 months. I'm also a parent. I study 1-2 hours every night, take a practice test every weekend, and review wrong answers. I've gone from a 154 (diagnostic) to a 165 (my personal best practice test). I plan to take the LSAT at least twice before fall applications. 25 hours a week is more than I have been doing, but keep in mind that you will need a solid plan for who is going to care for the kids in the evening while you study. I definitely feel like my progress is slower than someone without young kids.
If you're going to go through with this, you need to go to a school that practically guarantees you'll be able to pay down your debt (could be $200K+) and take care of your family. I'm thinking that you'll need to start at a minimum of $125 in order to do that which may not even be comfortable. You probably really want $150+. That means top schools, basically T30 or better. With your GPA, you'll need a 165 to have a real chance.
I see you as being several steps down a very dark and very long path. I highly recommend you abandon whatever insanity possessed you to pursue this, and focus on your family. Those kids need you more than they need you to go to law school for 3 years and then work 80+ hours a week through the prime of your life and their foundational years. Ya, maybe they'll get to go to a good school and enjoy some summer vacations. But you can give them those things without going to law school. You're a father first, and everything else second.
You could stay on the IT route. Double down on your skills. Work from home even. If you have the ability to do all this LSAT stuff, you can most definitely move up in CompSci fields. Work on your skills as hard as you work on the LSAT. You could, alternatively, go back to manual labor. Mechanics, plumbers, welders—these people live comfortably with a high level of autonomy.