Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Apply for Membership

Categories

How 'decorated' must ones profile be to enter into the top 5 law schools in the US?

Michelle H.Michelle H. Alum Member
edited May 2016 in General 38 karma
My question is assuming a candidate has hit the median GPA and median LSAT score for the top 5 law schools in the US, do they need additional experience/achievements like leadership positions, research, volunteer experience to have a shot at these law schools or is the LSAT score and GPA the main determining factors?
Show Related Discussions

Comments

  • stepharizonastepharizona Alum Member
    3197 karma
    I would say it extra activities help you be more competitive, but are the extra activities a necessary requirement for admittance? No.

    Yikes, I just LSAT"ed" that....

    I do think every candidate should do everything possible to make them the most attractive and competitive. Your numbers are a huge part of that picture, but, so it your application. Two people with median only scores and one has an outstanding PS and the other had one with a ton of typos and didn't follow instructions has a far less chance of being admitted, with or without a great resume.

    Scores are a main focus, but there are so many other factors that come into play, at a lesser degree. URM status, Legacy and then of course the items you mentioned, plus others.
  • mes08mes08 Alum Member
    edited May 2016 578 karma
    I would say the LSAT and GPA are the primary factors to even be considered. But given that there are quite a lot of high LSAT scorers with strong GPAs, once you've met the minimum criteria, I think things like leadership positions in student orgs, work experience, graduate degrees, or things like the Fulbright etc certainly help a lot. I don't know how much "average" extracurricular activities/resume fillers help...
  • UsernameChangeUsernameChange Free Trial Member
    349 karma
    Yale/Stanford: the extra stuff matters a bit more than any other schools. At least that's the reputation they have.
    The other 3 of the top 5 is primarily a numbers game.
  • GordonBombayGordonBombay Alum Member
    456 karma
    I have a close buddy at a T-5 law school. He had almost no extra curricular activities, and 1 year work experience as a student instructor. He had an almost perfect GPA and a strong LSAT score. Those two factors are always more important.
  • allison.gill.sanfordallison.gill.sanford Alum Inactive Sage
    1128 karma
    Mostly numbers, I think, with strong softs accounting for who you might beat out for a spot in the class if you are otherwise similar. I felt on the edge with a dead median LSAT and GPA for HLS, got in with some moderately strong softs, but I was waitlisted by Stanford for reference (did not apply to Yale). I chalk that up mostly to the difference between Stanford and HLS class sizes.
  • allergicallergic Alum Member Inactive Sage
    246 karma
    LSAT and GPA are by far the most important. You don't need leadership or volunteer experience.
Sign In or Register to comment.