How much do softs help? Forum

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:24 pm

My goals in the fall are HY, but after yesterday's LSAT I no longer feel like I have a strong chance at getting into either of these. My GPA is 4.18, but the LSAT could very well have put me into the 160s and I may not be able to rewrite for the rest of the cycle. I'm wondering how much softs will help me out. I have a lot of leadership experience, gone through a few leadership programs, have led many student groups and even founded one, 150 hours of volunteering with my Students Union and 450 hours with a hospital. I've also got varied work experience and a full-time research position for the current summer. The research and many of the student groups are directly related to the area of focus I want to have in law school, so I can definitely put together a sincere and coherent application. I'm also expecting my LORs to be quite strong. How much will these softs help me to compensate for the poor LSAT? Will I still stand a good shot at HY?

Helicio · Post by **Helicio** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:28 pm

If you are URM, you have a good shot (I'm assuming because of your name) even with a score in the 160's.

If you are not URM, then unless you have a score in the 170s I don't think you have a shot at H/Y unless your LSAT score really does end up being over 170.

Sorry, man

. But maybe your LSAT score is better than you think!

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:30 pm

Not URM, unfortunately (:P). Thanks!

Helicio · Post by **Helicio** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:32 pm

Actually, I just plugged your numbers in. You can have a 166 LSAT according to Law School Predicter and with your GPA still be a weak consider at HY. So maybe you do have a chance!

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-co ... ograms.htm

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:34 pm

Is "Weak Consider" a good enough shot? Or is it worth it to take a chance at rewriting in October instead (without a ton more studying, as I exhausted most of the recent tests and I don't have too much time so I'd likely just be going through PTs 20-40 in late summer and then doing the most recent 10 in September), cause I don't know how much better I could do with that little time and prep.

Helicio · Post by **Helicio** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:35 pm

You should DEFINITELY retake it. Weak consider gives you a chance, but only a small chance (and a very small chance at that).

Retake it and shoot for 170 and up. It can't really hurt you.

BTW, you should study harder than just looking at PTs. If I were you, I'd buy the Powerscore Bibles and go through them.

Good luck!

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:37 pm

Did the Princeton book and the LG and LR bibles, plus about 30 PTs. What else helps?

Helicio · Post by **Helicio** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:38 pm

brownpride wrote:Did the Princeton book and the LG and LR bibles, plus about 30 PTs. What else helps?

Hm, dunno. I'm going to be a junior next year and haven't taken the LSAT yet, so I am (admittedly) of very little use. I'm just telling you what I've heard on these forums.

You could always go through everything again. Just make sure you understand your weaknesses.

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:40 pm

Junior? Wow, you're dedicated

Thanks for the advice!

Patriot1208 · Post by **Patriot1208** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:40 pm

Helicio wrote:Actually, I just plugged your numbers in. You can have a 166 LSAT according to Law School Predicter and with your GPA still be a weak consider at HY. So maybe you do have a chance!

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-co ... ograms.htm

No, he doesn't. LSP is useless. OP your softs aren't really much better than the average law school applicant. You aren't getting into these schools without a good LSAT. TCR is to wait for your score and if you don't score what you want then retake.

Helicio · Post by **Helicio** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:41 pm

Patriot1208 wrote:
Helicio wrote:Actually, I just plugged your numbers in. You can have a 166 LSAT according to Law School Predicter and with your GPA still be a weak consider at HY. So maybe you do have a chance!

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-co ... ograms.htm
No, he doesn't. LSP is useless. OP your softs aren't really much better than the average law school applicant. You aren't getting into these schools without a good LSAT. TCR is to wait for your score and if you don't score what you want then retake.

Meh, this is probably right.

Good luck brown!!

bk1 · Post by **bk1** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:45 pm

brownpride wrote:Did the Princeton book and the LG and LR bibles, plus about 30 PTs. What else helps?

Depends on where your weaknesses are. And it's not like you're out of PTs, you still have 30 or so left even if they are older.

Weak consider is a lousy shot. For Harvard (http://harvard.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats) I'm seeing only about 3 non-URM acceptances below 171 and they are 169/170's who are surrounded by a ton of other similar numbered people who didn't get in. I'm gonna say you want to get yourself a 171/172+ to have a decent shot.

brownpride · Post by **brownpride** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:47 pm

Sounds about right. Thanks!

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:50 pm

Get your score and then worry about it. Worst case scenario, you can retake in October. Softs aren't going to change much, but they'll at least keep you in the discussion for HYS if you get a high enough LSAT score.

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