[Prince of Persia]

(03-31-2016 09:02 AM)Easy_C Wrote:  

Don't relax. It just might mean that GPA/test scores aren't your problem. You need to be able to clearly articulate both the benefits you see in an ivy league education(they want to know that you understand, and that understanding marks you as upwardly mobile) and the benefits that you bring to the program.

Incidentally if you can find ANY hispanic, native american, or other such genetics in your family lineage it may help you exponentially.

Another update, I was rejected at all 7 Ivies I applied to plus UMichigan. Lol. I thought that my essays showed understanding of those things you just mentioned, but I guess not. It's just become way too competitive...2% acceptance rates = crapshoot.

[scorpion]

Prince of Persia, I'm sorry to hear of your setback, but consider this your first lesson in the school of hard knocks: nothing in this life will be given to you; everything you get must be taken through effort and sheer force of will. Internalize this lesson now and I assure you it will be more valuable than any Ivy League degree.

Beyond that, consider the fact that it's often better to be a big fish in a small pond rather than vice versa. PM me if you'd like to discuss this further.

[rungoodinc]

Honestly undergrad does not matter much, if at all, for a law degree. If anything, it can help by going to a lesser school since it will be easier to pad your GPA. The law school admissions process is extremely quantitative between GPA and LSAT as you may already know.

However, SDSU really does have a strong reputation as a party school. I'm not saying you can't get into the T-14 there since you are good at taking tests, which means you should do well on the LSAT. However, you should definitely kill it GPA wise if you go to SDSU--nothing less than 3.8, which will also give you the option to transfer after a year or two to a school like UCLA or Berkeley if you so choose.

In either case, do your best to enjoy the college experience, both academically and socially. SDSU isn't a great school but it's not a horrible one either and there are plenty of people from there who have been very successful.

[Prince of Persia]

(03-31-2016 08:33 PM)rungoodinc Wrote:  

Honestly undergrad does not matter much, if at all, for a law degree. If anything, it can help by going to a lesser school since it will be easier to pad your GPA. The law school admissions process is extremely quantitative between GPA and LSAT as you may already know.

However, SDSU really does have a strong reputation as a party school. I'm not saying you can't get into the T-14 there since you are good at taking tests, which means you should do well on the LSAT. However, you should definitely kill it GPA wise if you go to SDSU--nothing less than 3.8, which will also give you the option to transfer after a year or two to a school like UCLA or Berkeley if you so choose.

In either case, do your best to enjoy the college experience, both academically and socially. SDSU isn't a great school but it's not a horrible one either and there are plenty of people from there who have been very successful.

I'm pretty much set on transferring out from there. I've been looking at the Honors College which is not that hard to get into (you need a 3.2 1st semester) which will offer smaller class sizes and a better chance to get to know your professors. I'll aim for a 4.0, try to get awesome letters of recommendation, get involved with political ECs, and get the hell out ASAP. Schools like Cornell and USC seem very accommodating to transfers so hopefully the second time will be the charm.

[Prince of Persia]

If I were to get off of the waitlist at UW Madison, do you guys think that paying out of state tuition w/ no financial aid would be worth the FAR superior education? The total price would be about $43,985 a year, with my parents being able to afford about half of that. The rest I'd need to cover with loans/scholarship/a part time job. I was already planning on working a bit during college, and I'm not scared of taking out minimal loans (10k a year shouldn't be too bad).

[PartManPartMonkey]

^^ No. Do not take on any extra debt to go to UW. Unlike undergrad (your situation is very puzzling) law school admission, as mentioned, is at least 90 percent quantatative btw lsat and gpa. The difference btw UW and your in state school is not relevant to your future success.

Undergrad is all about what you do once admitted. This is very different than law school. Law school is all about getting into a top school. Once you get into a top school, results are much less relevant. My friend went to a top 5 law school and was just average. Didn't matter. Still got offered a top job at a big firm.

Bottom line is the edge UW has over the state school will not be relevant in getting into law school. If you have a great gpa and score 170 or better on the lsat, you will be fine.