Is it worth applying to Law Schools where your LSAT/GPA is in the schools 25th percentile?

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• 6 Likes

  Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  If you're a URM it's definitely worth it regardless of any other information you could provide. If not, then it's really all a matter of what you really want. If you really want to go to any or all of those schools then of course it's worth it for the small shot you might have at any one of them. And who knows, something in your background, resume or PS might get seen by the right person and you're in. All of those schools are excellent and H/S can be life changing. I'm applying to all of those schools and I have a sub 3.0 GPA and haven't taken the LSAT yet. I know it's a snowball's chance in hell but I figure I have a better shot of sneaking into one than winning the lottery and for 28 bucks a pop for the LSAC fee or whatever, then who cares? We all have dream schools, reach schools, target schools and safety schools. In my opinion you'll regret it more if you don't do it. Let them reject you, don't ding yourself.
• NYC12345 Alum Inactive Sage

  July 2015 edited July 2015 1654 karma

  Barring URM status or a close relative who gives millions of dollars to the school every year, all of those schools are major "reach schools" for you. Your best bet in the T14 with your #s are Cornell, Georgetown, UVA (with an ED app), Michigan, Duke (possibly?), Northwestern (if you have WE). YHSCCNP are all major reaches. IF you had a 4.00 gpa, that would be a completely different scenario, one which would most likely get you into NYU and down. But, as @Pacifico said, you have nothing to lose (aside from the application fee) and everything to gain by applying. Hope for the best. Either way, you will get into a T14, which will give you great opportunities in life. Congrats on doing well.
• EmergingAttorney180 Alum Member

  July 2015 133 karma

  Why not apply for them and meanwhile retake the LSAT in October or December? That way if you improve your score even by a couple of points, you can improve your chances from having an outside shot at acceptance to possibly becoming a much more competitive applicant.
• Pacifico Alum Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 8021 karma

  ^This is also a good idea if you have only taken it once or twice. These schools won't care about two or three scores especially if you trend upwards. Really nothing to lose on that front either. Cracking a 171/172 will likely get you into at least one of those, especially if medians fall again next year.
• nicole.hopkins Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  July 2015 7965 karma

  @Pacifico said:
  In my opinion you'll regret it more if you don't do it. Let them reject you, don't ding yourself.
  

  Yes. And a retake won't hurt you, methinks. You might consider getting a free consultation with an admissions counselor.
• GordonBombay Alum Member

  July 2015 456 karma

  Yes it is absolutely worth it. You're a strong candidate at damn near every law school in the country, so even if you're not getting fee waivers I would still apply, especially if you are a minority candidate. Also since there are generally less people applying to law schools these days your chances are as good as they ever have been to be accepted to a school where your LSAT or GPA is a little short of the 25th percentile. I have a couple of friends who both got accepted to t14's in the last few cycles and both of their LSAT scores where slightly BELOW the 25th percentile for their respective schools although both had GPAs at or slightly above the 75th percentile for their schools. Hope that helps.