Advice for friend: 170 LSAT/2.65 GPA Forum

[cam1992]

Note: I am posting for a friend.

My friend is an extreme splitter (170 LSAT, 2.65 GPA). Does she stand a chance for a school like UoH, Tulane, Baylor or SMU? Finances aren’t the biggest issue, but $$ would be helpful. She is only interested in working in Texas (preferably Houston or Dallas) or New Orleans (she knows this is a tough market). If she can raise her LSAT (the 170 was a first time score with basically zero studying), would UT be an option? Also, should she include an addendum explaining her poor undergrad GPA. She has a pretty inspiring story about overcoming severe depression and substance abuse. Will the fact that she went to a top 10 liberal arts college mitigate the poor GPA at all? Thanks!

[hoosier41]

Note: I am posting for a friend.

My friend is an extreme splitter (170 LSAT, 2.65 GPA). Does she stand a chance for a school like UoH, Tulane, Baylor or SMU? Finances aren’t the biggest issue, but $$ would be helpful. She is only interested in working in Texas (preferably Houston or Dallas) or New Orleans (she knows this is a tough market). If she can raise her LSAT (the 169 was a first time score with basically zero studying), would UT be an option? Also, should she include an addendum explaining her poor undergrad GPA. She has a pretty inspiring story about overcoming severe depression and substance abuse. Will the fact that she went to a top 10 liberal arts college mitigate the poor GPA at all? Thanks!

I can't speak to the other schools because I didn't apply, but she has a shot at Tulane. I was in a similar position (good LSAT, terrible GPA), wrote an addendum explaining my GPA, and was waitlisted at Tulane. I eventually got in off the waitlist and attended at sticker price.

[QContinuum]

Note: I am posting for a friend.

My friend is an extreme splitter (170 LSAT, 2.65 GPA). Does she stand a chance for a school like UoH, Tulane, Baylor or SMU? Finances aren’t the biggest issue, but $$ would be helpful. She is only interested in working in Texas (preferably Houston or Dallas) or New Orleans (she knows this is a tough market). If she can raise her LSAT (the 170 was a first time score with basically zero studying), would UT be an option? Also, should she include an addendum explaining her poor undergrad GPA. She has a pretty inspiring story about overcoming severe depression and substance abuse. Will the fact that she went to a top 10 liberal arts college mitigate the poor GPA at all? Thanks!

I'd actually suggest that your friend set her sights a little higher. While she will likely have an unpredictable cycle, her very strong LSAT should give her a reasonable shot at UT. See below:

I suggest she apply to at least UVA, NW, Georgetown, UT and WUSTL. WUSTL with $100k would be an incredible outcome, certainly better than UofH, Tulane, Baylor, or SMU.

(Thought process in setting my MyLSN ranges: Extreme splitters are relatively rare, so I wanted to widen the range a bit to draw in additional relevant datapoints. Sub-3.0 GPAs are treated similarly, so I took GPAs from 2.5 all the way up through 2.99. I set LSAT cutoff at 168, which is UT's LSAT 75th. Anything over the 75th should be treated fairly similarly.)

[albanach]

(Thought process in setting my MyLSN ranges: Extreme splitters are relatively rare, so I wanted to widen the range a bit to draw in additional relevant datapoints. Sub-3.0 GPAs are treated similarly, so I took GPAs from 2.5 all the way up through 2.99. I set LSAT cutoff at 168, which is UT's LSAT 75th. Anything over the 75th should be treated fairly similarly.)

I agree with QContinuum. If tuition wasn't an obstacle, I'd consider ED to UVA, particularly if they had any UvA friendly softs like military service.

I say that only because I fear a recession and a T14 spot, while certainly not recession proof, is at least a hedge against it. And UVA places fine into TX.

Other than that, yes $100k to WUSTL would be a great outcome for an extreme splitter.

If they can raise their LSAT by another four of points, it night help a little but only insomuch as it shows ability and determination in the individual. As pointed out above, generally when you pass the 75th percentile it doesn't change much.

[jsnow212]

(Thought process in setting my MyLSN ranges: Extreme splitters are relatively rare, so I wanted to widen the range a bit to draw in additional relevant datapoints. Sub-3.0 GPAs are treated similarly, so I took GPAs from 2.5 all the way up through 2.99. I set LSAT cutoff at 168, which is UT's LSAT 75th. Anything over the 75th should be treated fairly similarly.)

I agree with QContinuum. If tuition wasn't an obstacle, I'd consider ED to UVA, particularly if they had any UvA friendly softs like military service.

I say that only because I fear a recession and a T14 spot, while certainly not recession proof, is at least a hedge against it. And UVA places fine into TX.

Other than that, yes $100k to WUSTL would be a great outcome for an extreme splitter.

If they can raise their LSAT by another four of points, it night help a little but only insomuch as it shows ability and determination in the individual. As pointed out above, generally when you pass the 75th percentile it doesn't change much.

Seconded.