Of course there are exceptions, some do make it to top tier law schools. But if you look at the overall diverse applicants, first generation students, student of color and minorities, many of them end up in the bottom tier law schools. For example that topic cited above where Prof. Paul Campos replied in it. Someone 25 years old, getting married and can't study for another year to score higher than 160 on the LSAT, he wants to start his career journey. There are many of those out there. By no means i don't think 160 is a bad LSAT score. I've also seen topics of 175 LSAT and 2.5 GPA and students who are depressed because of their 1L grades. While others who were lower than them in the LSAT had better gpa.Jclubb wrote:If all law schools grade on a curve (im not sure they do but I believe at least most do) then how is this possible. Nobody in the lower tiered school without the outline bank would have an advantage in that school. Everyone has the same resources provided at their particular school as their classmates. Then grades are based on a curve. So then you end up with some people with a high gpa, some with a mediocre gpa, and some with a low gpa. I do not see how a lower tiered school could screw you out of your grades to prevent transfers. There will inevitably be people with high grades that are able to transfer if they wish simply due to the fact that there is a curve. The curve does not put people with outline banks against those without. If you get a low gpa at a school without an outline bank it's not due to the lack of an outline bank. It's due to the fact that the others in your class (also with no access to an outline bank) performed better than you.Bulla wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:Bulla wrote:They want to screw your grades to prevent high transfer out rates.
Also while the lsat does not perfectly predict law school success, there is enough of a correlation to say that at least part of the reason too law schools have higher bar passage rates is because their students are on average better equipped for law school before entering and it cannot be entirely blamed on worse professors and lower ranked schools.
The lsat and gpa numbers are not perfect. But they're the best predictors they currently have and that's why they are used.
Also I am one of those admitted to a top school without living a life of luxury. I find it someone demeaning to say that a first generation student cannot score high enough to get into good schools. I am first gen and scored well on the lsat without taking a practice course while also having a job.
As for diversity, I think law schools do make an attempt to accept a diverse class. That's why urms can beat their numbers. Numbers don't drive everything during admissions however I will say they matter a lot. I do not see a problem with a school trying to build a diverse class of elite students. Meaning taking high scores from those that did well from a variety of backgrounds. Diversity of Lsat does not equal diversity.
Would you know why a school like John Marshall Law School Chicago don't have 0 transfer out in 1L then suddenly 30 by 2L? I don't know but they must be doing something because if students think about transferring out, they do after completing 1L they don't need to wait until they finish 2L.
I think the solution to all this is to revamp the LSAT and design it tailored to actual law school materials and exam. Instead of having an exam that has nothing to do with law school other then the use of time pressure. What makes LSAT very challenging ? 1) you don't know the materials, it is not like studying tort, property and contracts 2) time pressure. But does it hit the nail on preparing students for law school? no. Yet it is being considered a prerequisite for admission to a JD program and that is where many things happen. We harm diversity and we have the bottom tier law schools who are predatory because we have an endless streamline of student loan borrowers.
I see you've just been admitted to NU, congratz! let us know how 1L feels after finishing it compare to LSAT. Work hard! Seek out great outlines, cut your study time to do more practice problems before final period. Most 1L pack some discover it sooner than later on how to beat the curve. Others take a while. Also let us know how diverse is class of 2020.
How is this different from past years. 20 years ago, law school was cheaper, it wasn't as diverse and only the privilege, most would get in. But things have changed. Law schools became greedy, they start raising tuition knowing that students have unlimited access to student loan from DOE.