So, here I am, trying my luck at law school. I double majored in history and philosophy from a UC here in California. I don't have the greatest GPA, but I truly had a difficult time balancing work and school during my first 3 years in college. My last two years, I focused on doing volunteer work in hopes of joining the Peace Corps. I applied and managed to get a nomination after my interview, but after my last quarter in school, I decided I'm not prepared to volunteer overseas for 2 years. My dream is to grow old knowing that I helped many people throughout my life. I love giving people a sense of security and I truly want to help those that need a voice in law and society, but my dreams can only get me so far. I need a career, and law school can take me there. I'm planning on taking the LSAT in December because I missed the October deadline. I've contacted the schools I'm interested in applying to ask what would be a good LSAT score to go along with my mediocre GPA. I know others are in a similar position like mine (Shitty GPA, big dreams), or at least I hope there are others like me in a weird, twisted way... but I can't help but be scared and uncertain about what this process will be like. I have NO CLUE what my chances are and I find myself wondering if it's possible to get rejected by every single one of the schools I want to apply to. I'm sticking to California law schools, although a Canadian law school sounds enticing. Maybe I'm in over my head with my choices (Although I completely understand that Stanford and UCLA are long, long, LONG shots), but my gut tells me I can make it into some of these. Ideally, I would love to get into Loyola, but their statistics are tough to meet up to. USC is right in my backyard and I felt I just had to apply because it's every parent's dream in my neighborhood to have their offspring indoctrinated by the mighty Trojans. Pepperdine would be lovely (Have you SEEN that school? It's BEAUTIFUL. :|) But anywho.... Please, please, please!!! If you have advice, words of wisdom, encouragement, or a slice of reality pie to share with me, PLEASE just find a way to let me know! I'm like a vacuum right now, I'll suck as much information in me as I can! What irks me right now is this whole "Top tier, second tier" bullshit... It's so discouraging and it makes me want to reconsider my whole list of schools, but I put too many hours of research into this already!! If you also know of any schools that might suit my qualifications, PLEASE! Let me know!!
Oct. 5th- A few days ago, I learned about the URM... then I found out I wasn't a URM. Woop dee doo. On another note, I got a response from the schools I e-mailed. I asked what they would consider a good LSAT score to compliment my hideous GPA and the consensus seems to be 160 and up. I knew that already, since it seems that to get into ANY good law school, you need something higher than a 159. Wouldn't it be absolutely lovely to score a 175? What an attractive score... Besides my score, many suggested I choose my recommendations WISELY. I have two professors in mind already... Overall, most of the answers I received were helpful. Stanford, USC, TMJLS, and Loyola were the most helpful... San Diego and UCLA were a little lazy in their responses, but I have to keep in mind they must receive a buttload of e-mails a day. In general, I'm just using this time as a way to research. Research schools and, ultimately, decide if this is a path I truly want to travel. I'm bombarded with insecurity, statistics about the saturation of unemployed lawyers in the field, and the overall consensus that if I'm not in a top tier school, I'm never going to lead a happy life in law. I just have to burst through this bubble of fear and go for it! Right?
Thanks for the comment. My lsat was free and I've spent about $400 in applications. Just get the fee waiver! If you can pull off USC or UCLA that would be great!! Both are amazing schools!!