Self-study
Hey @JacobBaska ,
I’m hoping to get your perspective on my chances at Cardozo and Seton Hall, my top two schools. I submitted my applications mid-January to early February, fully complete, including detailed “why X” essays for both, and I’m trying to gauge both admit likelihood and scholarship potential.
Stats:
LSAT: 157
LSAC GPA: 3.93
LSAT / Addendum Circumstances:
Jan 2025: 148
June 2025: 157
Aug 2025: administration disrupted by documented proctoring issue; LSAC offered retest
On day of LSAC retest, my wife unexpectedly went into labor; LSAC rescheduled me two weeks later
Addendum explains these circumstances and my continued readiness for law school
Work / Soft Factors:
Professional experience in ERISA / 401(k) plan compliance, reviewing plan documents, processing loans/withdrawals, preparing Form 5500 filings, and advising clients
Volunteer leadership: 12 years at Chasdei Lev (food distribution)
Camp counselor & medical volunteer at Camp Simcha, supporting kids with terminal illnesses and lifelong disabilities
First-generation college student; academically nontraditional path through yeshiva studies, with exposure to rigorous Talmudic reasoning and analytic skills
LORs from:
My direct professional supervisor (analytical rigor, attention to detail, legal-adjacent work)
Head of one of my volunteer organizations (community impact, leadership, persistence)
A professor (academic abilities, intellectual curiosity)
Essays:
Personal statement highlighting lived experience, professional development, and motivation for law school
“Why X” essays for both schools, showing fit, interest, and alignment with transactional law career goals
Question:
Given my 157 / 3.93 profile with strong professional, volunteer, and academic background, multiple strong LORs, detailed essays, and documented LSAT circumstances, how would you realistically assess my chances at:
Cardozo – LSAT slightly below median, GPA above
Seton Hall – profile seems closer to median
Would you expect likely admits, waitlist range, or more reach outcomes? Also curious about merit scholarship potential, especially considering my first-gen status, professional and community experience, and strong softs.
Thanks so much for any insight!
2
3 comments
Hi @MichaelBerkowitz and thanks for the question!
So let's acknowledge out the chute that reading the actual app is different than hearing about the app. You've offered TONS of great detail! For example, there's a difference between reading what your PS is about (eg, "lived experience, professional development, and motivation for law school") and actually reading the thing. While that's a perfectly solid way of explaining your PS, there's a big difference if it's really well written and absolutely/convincingly explains why you want to go to law school versus "hmmmmmm, it's mostly just a resume recap with just a smidge of 'law school motivation' at the end."
So my "chance me" is going to be a bit more basic, which is sometimes the most accurate:
You're a GPA splitter at both schools based on last year's medians. You're far enough above both of their most recent medians that I wouldn't worry about possibily falling behind the schools' targets for this year (for example, if they had a 3.92 GPA median last year, it's conceivable that they could aim for a 3.95 target this year, thus meaning that your GPA is "low" for this year's consideration).
You have a lot of good professional experience. If your legal interest is in any way shaped by your professional background, that's a really good thing.
But you also applied in mid-Jan / early-Feb in a year when national applications are likely to be at a 15 year high. That's the real whammy here.
As a GPA splitter, you have a "statistical foot in the door." You are helping them with at least one of the two counting numbers. While your LSAT is below their most recent medians, a 157 versus a 164 (St. John's median last year) and a 165 (Cardozo) is not such a detrimental gap as to be worrisome. Your resume nudges that door even wider for you. My only worry is the timing of your app and the national increase in applications. If you'd submitted in September/October/November, I think you'd have a much more solid chance of an Admit. You still have a solid chance in my assessment based on the info you've provided, but it's lower and it may require a stop on the waitlist (and then a hope that they need high GPAs if/when they begin to pursue waitlist admission).
Regarding scholarship, the most comprehensive resource is to check out the schools' profiles on lawschooldata.
St. John's - If you filter the admitted students for GPA splitters, the most common award I'm seeing in this range is for $10k/yr.
Cardozo - They haven't admitted any GPA splitters with an LSAT below a 160 (yerp!!!) but it looks like their award in this range is for $15-$20k/yr.
To translate that "yerp!!!", I'd adjust my assessment for your odds at Cardozo. I'm not going to pretend that lawschooldata is comprehensive. But the fact that we're seeing no GPA splitters with sub-160 LSATs isn't a great sign for you. Based on this data, I'd put your pre-waitlist admission chances higher at St. John's than at Cardozo.
Fingers crossed for you!
Dude your awesome...