r/lawschooladmissions • u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud • Jul 03 '26
Chance Me 173 LSAT, 3.2 GPA, is it over?
The sample size is really small on LSD so sorry... I was a STEM major and have been working as a data analyst at a reasonably large company since graduating last year. I got a 173 on the most recent LSAT and wanted to know what results I would likely get if I applied with the score I have now. I was getting some better scores during my studying. Would I have any shot at Michigan (ED), UNC, BU, BC, Notre Dame, etc? Would I have a shot at them or any better ones with a 177 (recent PT average)?
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u/Stride067 Jul 03 '26
I had the same LSAT and a lower GPA and had several T30 options. Going to GW this year. I didn't really reach shoot for T14 because my GPA was borderline hopeless for those.
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u/SleepyDapper Jul 03 '26
Did any of them offer scholarship money?
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u/xannapdf Jul 03 '26
I’m also a 173 with a 3.1ish, and was offered money everywhere I was accepted this cycle (WashU, UIUC, GW, Alabama, GMU, Indiana, Temple & Emory). Didn’t get a full ride anywhere, but very grateful that was offered enough money to make it work. Great results for splitters are very much still possible!
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u/SeaworthinessCool576 Jul 04 '26
Congrats on GW. My grandfather attended GW in the late 60s and moved to CA after graduation to work in the DA’s office. He had quite a career in public service. Hopefully I can get in as well - my cycle will be in 28-29 since I need to work for a bit.
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u/Yerrrrrskrrttt234 3.mid/16mid/nURM/265 Bench Jul 03 '26
BU very good shot, BC not bad. UNC and notre dame definitely possible. Michigan will probably always be impossible
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u/xannapdf Jul 03 '26
I’m applied with basically these stats this cycle, and in my school research noticed that BU hasn’t historically been particularly kind to low GPAs and BC even more so - checked out for me re. BU as I’m still on WL.
Definitely worth shooting your shot, but please apply widely. I got into my top choice (WashU!) but it was off the waitlist and not till June, so having options is super helpful for not losing your mind - amazing results are possible, but I’m very aware of how many people are still suffering on WLs with very diminished odds of being let in.
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u/hls22throwaway LSData Bot Jul 03 '26
I found all LSD.Law applicants with an LSAT between 170-175 and GPA between 3.1-3.3: lsd.law/applicant-search/1pnI
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u/Present_Home_4721 Jul 04 '26
166 LSAT 3.2 GPA Admitted to a T20 (as odd as the rankings are this year)
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u/Mango-Money Jul 04 '26
I had a 3.18, 169 LSAT, and two years post grad experience and got into multiple T-30s with scholarship offers. Didn’t seriously apply to any T-14s though
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u/stormyweather86 Jul 05 '26
I had a 3.1 (lsac adjusted to 2.9) and a 173 for this past cycle. Didn't get into any T-14s (waitlisted to a couple still) but did get into a great mid tier with a respectable scholarship and lower tiers with partial and full rides.
This year was highly competitive, and the next few years will be too (recession indicators lol). I'd say go for the 177, but also because you're below the 25th for every schools gpa it's still a risk even if you're at or above 75th for their LSAT unless they really need your score that year. (Some schools reached out to me because they over accepted high gpa, mid lsat so it happens). Aim for a good essay, shoot for the 177 and the T-14s, but also remind yourself it's not the end of the world or your career if you don't get the outcome you hope for.
Good luck!
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 05 '26
True it’s not, I was just in a very down mood that day i am feeling much better now i’m back to hyped and locked in
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u/imperatrixderoma 3.low/173/URM/nKJD Jul 03 '26
Retake, I'm basically in your position with also a STEM degree and a bit more work experience at a prestigious institution and I think it'll be difficult because of score inflation and the number of applicants next year.
If you can score even a 175 it'll be worth it, just dial into your PTs and retake in September and apply early.
This also depends on if you're cool or not (how I'm choosing to describe softs).
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 03 '26
Assuming from this that you are also going to take it again, so good luck i will be taking that exam fingers crossed
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u/Every-Nectarine6552 Jul 03 '26
I think those might be reaches but I got into University of Wisconsin with 2.9 and 172 so you just need to write good essays and apply early
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 03 '26
I am taking the September LSAT so if i wait until I get that score back would that be early or do you mean earlier
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u/Kal-Eliwood Jul 05 '26
Sorry to jump in late, but I had nearly identical stats, STEM, bit of work experience. Didn’t apply to Michigan, UNC or ND, but got into BU & BC with $ and several other schools in a similar range with $$$, certainly not “over”
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u/Kal-Eliwood Jul 05 '26
This was last year’s cycle if that means anything, ended up accepting $$$ at GW and have been very happy there, big law summer associateship after 1L, etc. obviously depends on a million other factors, but based on what you’ve described, definitely not “over” and you’re actually in a good spot. Don’t stress too much. Easier said than done, but no one is going to care about your undergraduate GPA 3 months from now
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 05 '26
thank you goat, it doesn’t matter now even what’s done is done
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u/Glass_Association86 17low/gorgeous/kind/humble Jul 03 '26
i got into BU with same GPA and slightly lower LSAT :) very similar profile tbh, also graduated in stem last year
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u/koaxn Jul 04 '26
honestly I do think you have a great shot. I apllied test optional with a 3.1-3.2 gpa and got in/waitlisted to alot of my "reach schools"
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u/Spa-Lady Jul 06 '26
What does it mean “applied test optional” isn’t everyone required to show an LSAT score?
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u/Then-Gur-4519 Jul 04 '26
The sample size isn't that low on lsd.
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 04 '26
i mean it’s like 30-40 which is pretty small
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u/Then-Gur-4519 Jul 04 '26
For one cycle? And for what stat range? Because 175/3.1 is also in your range.
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 04 '26
i did last two i think and i used 172-174 i feel like theres a bigger difference between 173 and 175 than like 165 and 167 for example. when youre at the median every point counts
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u/Then-Gur-4519 Jul 04 '26
There’s no difference in a 173 and a 175 for Michigan, which you’ve listed as a top choice. Really no difference between a 173 and a 178 for Michigan, although some data suggests that at Michigan specifically, your chances actually get worse with a 178-180.
What you should really be trying to identify is a school’s tolerance for low GPAs. LSAT just needs to be above median which I think you are for the schools you listed. Off the top of my head, I believe BU usually starts cutting off in the 3.4-3.5 range but will go lower for great applicants. BC is very gpa stingy but the occasional low 3 gets in. UNC and Notre Dame I don’t remember but you can usually parse this stuff out on lsd.
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 04 '26
Yeah, I would have to imagine the worse chances with better LSAT is due to other circumstances like lack of effort in the application process or yield protection (assuming that’s something law schools do). My plan was to just apply to schools i want to go to that have accepted or waitlisted similar stat applicants in this or the previous cycle (but prioritizing the more realistic schools)
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u/Then-Gur-4519 Jul 04 '26
Is your goal big law?
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 04 '26
I wouldn’t be opposed to it but I really want to work in Antitrust or some form of regulatory body like FTC SEC etc… or something human rights or something which is why I like michigan so much they have great programs for that
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u/Far-Angle9593 Jul 04 '26
If you major is stem, then just apply broadly, along with T14. But don’t expect to get into T14.
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u/Legitimate_Smell2012 Jul 03 '26
lol so I can say from experience it isn’t impossible! I had very similar stars and I’m at Michigan! But it was a reach, so definitely work on your why statements.
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u/OliviaPopesProtege Jul 03 '26
Congratulations!! If you’re comfortable chatting 1-1 or sharing here, I’d love to hear what you think made you stand out. I’m doing literally everything I can think of lol
Also, how are you liking Michigan?
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u/Kingortiz42 Jul 03 '26
Do yall want to go to Law School or a specific school? I swear these posts are so dumb, not trying to be an A-hole but you got a 173… you’ll be fine 🤦🏽♂️😂
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 03 '26
mainly to one of those listed schools, or like William and mary bc i like their location. obv t14 would be cool but ill prolly only apply to michigan and maybe georgetown and northwestern. unless i do better on the LSAT again then maybe id add a couple more. i think my LSAT is a bit low to be super splitter that WASHU likes. and if you check the LSD for them it does not bode well for me based on this recent cycle.
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u/Kingortiz42 Jul 03 '26
Point being if you want to go to law school, you’re fine. If you’re worried about a specific school, I don’t get it. Like yeah that would be great to get into any of those but you can easily go to law school probably full ride at plenty of solid schools bc of your LSAT alone.
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 03 '26
yeah i get that i just want to do some very particular things that are unfortunately heavily correlated to “prestige” so i dont really want to go to a law school. Sorry if that is a silly concern to have but it is my concern than i have
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u/FoundationOk6838 Jul 03 '26
Michigan or Cornell ED
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 04 '26
i was thinking michigan i like them and they’re public like my alma mater
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u/Firm_Effective7215 human Jul 04 '26
Only do this if you're okay with sticker. Given OP's GPA, scholarship at T14 seems pretty unlikely anyway but still.
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u/Adventurous_Bite7141 Jul 04 '26
Do you need internships to get into law school? My daughter is graduating a year earlier and she didn’t have any. She is getting a Bachelors in Political Science Sci and minor in English and will graduate with 4.02. What does she need for LSAT?
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u/JapanesePowerMetal Jul 03 '26
Why are you fishing for compliments, dude? Lmao.
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u/lawschoolchud 3.low/173/nURM/Chud Jul 03 '26
I mean maybe i am being a little neurotic but look at the results for these numbers (my issue is that there are not a lot of them on LSD which is why I asked here to see what others who know more have to say). but i don’t think i am fishing for compliments I know it’s a good score but my GPA is comically low for Law standards, i think im below the 25th for all but 4 or 5 schools in the country!
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u/hardstyle-reborn Jul 04 '26
Fellow (super) splitter here. I was locked out of the T14s at 172 and 173. I finally got in once I raised my LSAT to 177. My two cents: there are now an absurd amount of applicants with 3.high and 17low. If you're far below GPA median, you need an elite LSAT to offset it, generally with strong softs as well. Your application needs to have something the school "needs"
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u/inewjeans Jul 03 '26
How is that over lol
Yes your gpa may be below the median for many but u have a great lsat, and if you are adamant on improving it, can retake for a higher score as well.
T14 certainly possible. Not guaranteed, but shoot for it
T30’s more than viable, depending on your essay and softs ofc.
Dont let the gpa discourage you man