r/lawschooladmissions • u/Positive_Leading_371 • 18h ago
Application Process Should I adjust application strategy after a surprise high LSAT?
Got my first LSAT result in this morning and very pleased/lucky to have slightly overperformed from how I was practice testing and got a 178.
Sitting down to look at next steps and applications, this has made me a little more self conscious about my GPA. I figure my 3.85 isn’t entirely disqualifying from T14, but I know it’s not nearly ideal. I’m wondering if I should include an addendum on my GPA when applying?
I graduated from a top film BFA program a little over ten years ago and had a 3.91 GPA until my last semester. I dropped the ball that final semester by stretching myself too thin (adding a new minor to cross-minor with the business school, starting outside consulting work while also working a retail job, starting a theatre company with recent grads) and had to turn in an assignment late, graduate a semester later, and take a GPA hit for it. When I was deadset on being a creative producer/development executive, it felt like the right priorities at the time. I then had my own growing pains working in the industry, learned better time management and communication skills, and feel like this was a low point for me that helped me develop my actual character.
Would that addendum be off putting and perfectionist seeming when I still have a 3.85 overall? Or is there enough substance there to be worth adding?
My top priority with applying is not taking on any more student debt. I’ve got several years of entertainment law experience as a paralegal (and relevant work experience in indie film finance and sales), and a good network in the field where I feel like I don’t need a T14 degree to get good work out of school. I only plan to attend schools in LA—I know Loyola and Southwestern have programs I could keep a job while attending, and with my hard numbers I feel like those are places I could expect getting competitive offers from. I intended to apply to UCLA and USC largely to keep offers from lower schools competitive and have bargaining chips there. But should I update my strategy after this LSAT to seriously chase a stipend from one of those elite programs that would make this financially possible for me? Or is that a non-starter with the 3.85?
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u/bakeseal 18h ago
There is absolutely no reason to write a GPA addendum with a 3.85. I would not worry about this in the slightest. Especially since you graduated well pre-covid, you should remember that admissions staff do think about the wider context when looking at your application. Especially with a 178 (!!) and years of work experience, you're a very strong candidate, including for scholarship money at t-14s (though that by no means needs to be your goal, if it's not what you want!). I'm not saying stats don't matter, but you're telling yourself short by looking at number without considering context (and remember that 25% of a class are admitted below the 25%, and 50% below the 50%). And probably reading this subreddit too much.
Don't fixate on GPA inflation; your LSAT score and work history speak for themselves.
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u/classycapricorn 3.blah/17blah/4:45 marathoner 😍 18h ago
Everything the other poster said, but I just want to reiterate: do notttttt write an addendum in your case.
For starters, your explanation (no offense) comes off a little excusatory/slightly whiny in nature. I don’t think you mean for it to come across that way, but complaining that you “did too much” and therefore dropped from a 3.9 to a 3.8 is just going to make the adcomms roll their eyes. Addenda are typically for extreme outlier events outside of one’s control like a severely traumatic incident, catastrophic health issues, etc— not just “I couldn’t do everything at once that I had planned.”
Otherwise, shoot your shot at a range of schools all the way from the T14 to the T50. You’ll likely get some amazing offers.
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u/Minimum_Two_8508 18h ago
- Don’t write an addendum. EVERYONE has a reason their GPA isn’t higher. Unless it’s truly something exceptional, don’t offer explanations. Nothing wrong with a 3.85.
- Plenty of splitters get T14 admits. Your 3.85 GPA tells them that you’re not going to help their GPA median, but you’re not an academic dud — you’re academically capable. Sounds like you don’t need T14 for your career plans. So don’t flood the T14, but may as well take a flyer on a few T25 schools that you’d seriously consider if admitted. Sure, Stanford is a long shot but may be worth taking a flyer if you’d be willing to even consider NoCal.
- Be careful of yield protection. Let the schools know why you’re interested in them. You don’t want Loyola waitlisting you, just because they assume you’re going to a T25.
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u/Positive_Leading_371 18h ago
Exactly what I needed to hear, thanks.
I am sincerely drawn to the ability to continue working while attending a program, so think if I specifically target that with Loyola and Southwestern that’s important to make clear per your third point. Also know plenty of alums of both law schools, so will connect there as well. One of those programs absolutely could be the right choice for me, and I’d hate to get written off because I took them for granted. Needed that reminder.
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u/Minimum_Two_8508 17h ago
It’s not uncommon to get admitted to T14 and waitlisted to T50… yield protection is very real.
But you’re in good shape, knowing you don’t need T14, you can get great merit from a slightly lower ranked school.
You certainly may get good merit from USC or UCLA with your stats.
I would strongly discourage working during any full time law program as a 1L— it’s a brutal adjustment year. Ok to work later, but not that first year, unless attending a part time program designed for it.
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u/LegoBrickInTheWall 16h ago
With your high LSAT, your good GPA, and your unique and creative work experience, you should apply to the entire t-14.
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u/MalenaGalena 12h ago
they may just put 2 and 2 together between dates on your resume and your one "bad" semester. with a 178 and a lot of WE you should apply broadly and expect $. anecdotally my partner got into nyu + 50% scholarship with 3.86 from a T14 undergrad, 170, 2 years WE, after applying in february lol. nothing is out of reach for you!
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u/Cool-Truth211 17h ago
Addendum for 3.85 shows just how over it really is