35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT Forum

(Applications Advice, Letters of Recommendation . . . )
Post Reply
mpgold

New
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:19 pm

35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by mpgold » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:29 pm

I've seen other post like this, but I'm a bit different than the typical undergraduate.

I was a mess in college, no excuses, simply did the bare minimum to graduate. My grades actually went down as the years progressed. I graduated from U Texas with a BA.

I eventually got my life together and got a lucky break to get into a well known private equity firm as an analyst and have been there ever since, working in Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago. For the last 5 years I've wanted to go to law school, and so I decided to take the LSATs and was fortunate to score a 172.

I sure you can figure out what I will ask....is it worth my time to apply to any decent schools? Does an extensive, unique job history matter?

I currently live in Chicago and I'm sure I can get into Depaul or John Marshall, but, I'm not sure I'm interested in a lower tier school. Do I have any chance at all of getting into a decent school?

Thanks for any input you can provide.

User avatar
Dmini7

Silver
Posts: 724
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 2:20 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by Dmini7 » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:36 pm

Northwestern. They are pretty forgiving of a poor GPA for work experience, and the 170+ LSAT is just what they want. With that said, nearly all mid tier 1 and tier 2 will probably bite on the LSAT and understand that you have distanced yourself from the GPA. I would expect large amounts of money from those schools personally, but I can't really say since your such a large splitter. I am not certain, maybe someone else can enlighten me, but do the schools still have to submit their students GPA if they are "X" amount of years out of undergrad?
Last edited by Dmini7 on Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

WanderingPondering

Bronze
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:47 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by WanderingPondering » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:38 pm

Don't go. You're life is better now than it will be in and after law school.

User avatar
manofjustice

Silver
Posts: 1321
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 10:01 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by manofjustice » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:38 pm

Dmini7 wrote:Northwestern. They are pretty forgiving of a poor GPA for work experience, and the 170+ LSAT is just what they want. With that said, nearly all schools 25 and up will probably bite on the LSAT and understand that you have distanced yourself and matured from your gpa. I am not certain, maybe someone else can enlighten me, but do the schools still have to submit their students GPA if they are "X" amount of years out of undergrad?
This. Your range is T50.

User avatar
francesfarmer

Silver
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:52 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by francesfarmer » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:42 pm

WanderingPondering wrote:Don't go. You're life is better now than it will be in and after law school.
Since you are an adult with extensive business experience, you should be smart enough to recognize a risky investment. That said, you are obviously capable of excelling in the real world, so you could do very well for yourself with a JD. Please take the time to read about how difficult it is to get a job as a lawyer right now, and how (if at all) a JD will affect your ability to continue working in your current field after law school should you strike out in the legal field.

Good luck!

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
bizzybone1313

Silver
Posts: 1001
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:31 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by bizzybone1313 » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:46 pm

What if he ED to Virginia every year until he got admitted? Virginia does truly seem like one of the biggest number whores in the T-14. In this guy's case, it isn't a running joke. All those people that Virginia is throwing $100K at aren't going to accept their offers. They are taking their talents to the T-6.

User avatar
dingbat

Gold
Posts: 4974
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:12 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by dingbat » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:48 pm

WanderingPondering wrote:Don't go. You're life is better now than it will be in and after law school.
Ignore this.
As an equity analyst I'm sure you can analyze for yourself whether or not it's worth going. If you want I built a model calculating weighted average outcome and comparing NPVs that I'm happy to share.
A lot of schools will forgive your Paleolithic GPA - you've got strong work experience and an excellent LSAT. As people have mentioned, Northwestern is splitter friendly, loves work experience and is a T14 in Chicago

User avatar
paratactical

Platinum
Posts: 5885
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:06 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by paratactical » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:48 pm

francesfarmer wrote:
WanderingPondering wrote:Don't go. You're life is better now than it will be in and after law school.
Since you are an adult with extensive business experience, you should be smart enough to recognize a risky investment. That said, you are obviously capable of excelling in the real world, so you could do very well for yourself with a JD. Please take the time to read about how difficult it is to get a job as a lawyer right now, and how (if at all) a JD will affect your ability to continue working in your current field after law school should you strike out in the legal field.

Good luck!
This- plus, don't be afraid to apply and decide whether or not you should attend based on what schools you get into and what kinds of scholarships you are offered.

User avatar
Tiago Splitter

Diamond
Posts: 17148
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:20 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by Tiago Splitter » Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:51 pm

On the surface you seem like the perfect NW candidate, but the truth is we have no evidence that they'll take a GPA as low as 2.0. Assuming you want to practice a type of law that is somewhat aligned with your work experience, I wouldn't recommend going anywhere below T-14.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


WanderingPondering

Bronze
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:47 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by WanderingPondering » Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:41 pm

dingbat wrote:
WanderingPondering wrote:Don't go. You're life is better now than it will be in and after law school.
Ignore this.
As an equity analyst I'm sure you can analyze for yourself whether or not it's worth going. If you want I built a model calculating weighted average outcome and comparing NPVs that I'm happy to share.
A lot of schools will forgive your Paleolithic GPA - you've got strong work experience and an excellent LSAT. As people have mentioned, Northwestern is splitter friendly, loves work experience and is a T14 in Chicago
Let me clarify. It would be difficult for OP to land a career making as much money as he/she is now. Given the time commitment and the lost wages, it might not be a great idea purely from a financial standpoint. A 5th year associate at a successful private equity firm can make quite a bit of cash, as you know.

If OP has money saved up, or actually cares about the law, or really wants to do something fulfilling like govt or public interest then go for it, especially at a T14. OP is obviously a bright fellow and i think will be successful whichever route is chosen.

Good luck!

User avatar
BengaliFarmGirl

New
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:28 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by BengaliFarmGirl » Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:52 pm

Tiago Splitter wrote:On the surface you seem like the perfect NW candidate, but the truth is we have no evidence that they'll take a GPA as low as 2.0. Assuming you want to practice a type of law that is somewhat aligned with your work experience, I wouldn't recommend going anywhere below T-14.
They've taken 2.1 in the past. I wouldn't say he's a "perfect NW candidate" and more like NW is probably the only decent school who will even consider him.

User avatar
Tiago Splitter

Diamond
Posts: 17148
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:20 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by Tiago Splitter » Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:59 pm

BengaliFarmGirl wrote:
Tiago Splitter wrote:On the surface you seem like the perfect NW candidate, but the truth is we have no evidence that they'll take a GPA as low as 2.0. Assuming you want to practice a type of law that is somewhat aligned with your work experience, I wouldn't recommend going anywhere below T-14.
They've taken 2.1 in the past. I wouldn't say he's a "perfect NW candidate" and more like NW is probably the only decent school who will even consider him.
Lowest I could find on LSN for a non-URM was a 2.54, but I believe you. That said, most of the apps on LSN with 170+ LSATs and sub-2.5 GPAs get rejected. Admittedly it's a small sample size.

The "perfect for NW" comment was made because the guy has a terrible GPA, work experience, and wants Chicago. Your explanation was better.

User avatar
dingbat

Gold
Posts: 4974
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:12 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by dingbat » Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:14 pm

WanderingPondering wrote:Let me clarify. It would be difficult for OP to land a career making as much money as he/she is now. Given the time commitment and the lost wages, it might not be a great idea purely from a financial standpoint. A 5th year associate at a successful private equity firm can make quite a bit of cash, as you know.
Maybe, maybe not. There are plenty of long term associates who don't make big bucks. You're also assuming OP only cares about money. I doubt I'll ever again have the kind of opportunity I gave up to go to law school. I don't regret that decision one bit (although, to be fair, grades haven't come in yet)

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


timbs4339

Gold
Posts: 2777
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:19 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by timbs4339 » Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:29 pm

What kind of law do you want to practice? For what kind of organization representing which kinds of clients? Are you doing this to change or improve career prospects, or simply for recreation?

BigZuck

Diamond
Posts: 11730
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:53 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by BigZuck » Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:06 pm

I think it would be useful if OP came back and explained how he got such a good job from a middling UG with a horrible GPA. We have so many kids on this site working shit jobs with better credentials and who feel law school is the only way out, maybe the OP could start a new thread and give some insight and help lots of people in the process.

User avatar
paratactical

Platinum
Posts: 5885
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:06 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by paratactical » Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:13 pm

BigZuck wrote:I think it would be useful if OP came back and explained how he got such a good job from a middling UG with a horrible GPA. We have so many kids on this site working shit jobs with better credentials and who feel law school is the only way out, maybe the OP could start a new thread and give some insight and help lots of people in the process.
Odds are that a huge part of the answer is that he wasn't trying to do it in this shitty economy.

User avatar
UVAIce

Bronze
Posts: 451
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:10 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by UVAIce » Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:23 pm

The 90's were a completely different era than today.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


mpgold

New
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:19 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by mpgold » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:45 pm

I've been extremely busy, I apologizing for not jumping back into the fray earlier.

Some more background (and this was during an excellent economy)....

I was working as a business banker (effectively a used car salesman for banking products), truly a pulse and a degree are all that's required when I met a partner from a new formed PE firm that was looking to establish accounts. Through about a year long relationship I was able to do some good for the company (good terms on a line of credit, noticeing some potential accounting issues in bifurcated accounts, etc). The partner in question eventually started speaking with me about various businesses and my impressions of them. I didn't realize at the time, but it was basically a practical interview. About 18 months after I first met him, he invited me to lunch with several other partners where I was offered an opportunity to take an intern role for about 1/3 of what I was making with no promise of a job past the summer (I found out later someone had quit and they needed someone fast). I was single at the time and just decided to take a chance, banker job are a dime a dozen. I worked about 120 hrs a week for 10 weeks. I was called into a partner's office (not the one I originally met) and was offered full time employment. About 3 years later, my firm was acquired by one of the major Wall Street banks (Ironically, the parent co. of the same one I worked for as a retail banker) and have been there ever since.

I will stay in the same line of business with a law degree, I think it would help greatly if I try to move on....

mpgold

New
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 3:19 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by mpgold » Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:46 pm

...and U Texas is not a middling school!!! McCombs School of Business is currently #9 globally.

aarwu2000

New
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:36 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by aarwu2000 » Fri May 11, 2018 3:58 pm

law school cares about two indicators to get their ranking up: (1) gpa; (2) lsat. I argue LSAT is weighted more in their selection process. In fact take a look at lawschoolnumbers website and sort by LSAT and GPA. you'll be surprised what schools you will get into. Some schools value LSAT so much they will give you a full ride. think about how easy you can get a high gpa (taking shit classes like bowling) yet how difficult it is to crush a standardized test (feels like an IQ test in a way). You probably going to law school for the credentials/status which is cool. Don't go for the money b/c you'll be too old to get picked up at BIG law as an associate or you will likely not want to grind for $8K a mo doing 60 hours a week. Your best gig would be in-house counsel to start up in emerging issues market such as blockchain tech. Whatever you do--->don't go to unranked or t4. With a 172 you likely could get into t20.

sparkytrainer

Silver
Posts: 807
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:32 am

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by sparkytrainer » Fri May 11, 2018 4:41 pm

aarwu2000 wrote:law school cares about two indicators to get their ranking up: (1) gpa; (2) lsat. I argue LSAT is weighted more in their selection process. In fact take a look at lawschoolnumbers website and sort by LSAT and GPA. you'll be surprised what schools you will get into. Some schools value LSAT so much they will give you a full ride. think about how easy you can get a high gpa (taking shit classes like bowling) yet how difficult it is to crush a standardized test (feels like an IQ test in a way). You probably going to law school for the credentials/status which is cool. Don't go for the money b/c you'll be too old to get picked up at BIG law as an associate or you will likely not want to grind for $8K a mo doing 60 hours a week. Your best gig would be in-house counsel to start up in emerging issues market such as blockchain tech. Whatever you do--->don't go to unranked or t4. With a 172 you likely could get into t20.
Why are you bumping a 6 year old tread?

albanach

Gold
Posts: 1986
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:05 pm

Re: 35 yo- 2.0 GPA from 1998, 172 LSAT

Post by albanach » Sun May 13, 2018 12:19 am

sparkytrainer wrote:
Why are you bumping a 6 year old tread?
No idea, but it'd be interesting to know what happened to OP. Did they end up applying to schools? Did anyone bite? Where are they now?

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Law School Admissions Forum”