lawfuture

Kwu: I'm sorry about my ignorance but I don't understand those numbers. What do they mean? Obviously not a math major here.

frazzled1

^ re post 29: it's the LSAT:GPA ratio of how heavily each is weighted.

lawfuture

^^^So does that mean if the ratio is 2.30:1 for LSAT :GPA?

One more question which maybe could be a thread of its own. If my S applies to schools this cycle and either doesn't get in or does get in and decides not to go, (that would most likely be due to money) is it frown upon for him to reaply to the same school again either with a higher LSAT, earlier in the next year's cycle or with a little more cash after having worked for a year? Is there a need to explain reapplication?

sybbie719

THe application will ask if you have previously applied to the school and the outcome.

His reapplication would be looked down upon if he did not accept due to money.
Remember your son will be considered an independent student for law school. Some schools will look at the income assets of both parent and spouse if the student is under 27 (30 at some schools). The student will still have to file the FAFSA an some school will ask for need access, to get the financial information from the parents.

The majority of financial aid for law school will come in the form of loans. There are no longer subsidized loans for grad school. Your son can theoretically borrow the entire cost of law school as a direct loan from the federal government (based on his credit worthiness).

If money is going to be an issue, perhaps he may have to consider working in order to afford law school. He should check the policy for deferral before he applies as some schools will only allow you to defer for TFA/Peace Corp or to fulfill complete military service. Perhaps he should consider working a couple of years while living at home to bank money before he applies.

bluebayou

That just cries out for kwu's source document, does it not? (and in particular, a source doc that was produced by real statisticians, or former adcoms)

But assuming it to be even close to being correct, how does the math work?

btw: take YLS: mean gpa of 3.9, and mean lsat of 173.

lsat/gpa ratio = 173/3.90 = 44.36. How does one get to a "2.3"?

frazzled1

I happened to be on the site lawschoolpredictor and saw the values posted as "LSAT/GPA Ratio," then noticed lawfuture's question about post 29. Just trying to be the information middleman here. The site explains the ratio this way: I hope I'm within the TOS to post this link: Law School Predictor: Full-Time Programs And many apologies if I'm not within the TOS - I really try to be. The site isn't a discussion board or social/commercial site, so I hope it's okay.

bluebayou

thanks frazzled. I'm sure if you breached the ToS, you won't be severely chastised.

btw, did you happen to see this in the faq:

Yale is one of those that does not publish/have a formula. So, I ask again, where does that "2.3" come from?

lawfuture

So what I'm getting from this is that it is pretty confusing and that perhaps my best shot at guessing the likelihood of admission would be by going to the predictor websites. A couple of which both myself and my son have checked out.

Sybbie: So it is clear that schools will be asking if he had previously applied, but if he had new credentials, more work experience, or a higher lsat score or even if he just applied next year with similar credentials but earlier in the cycle do you think that would be a negative. That is assuming he is applying to a school that he previously was not accepted to.

The other part would be if he was accepted but did not receive scholarship money. At this point my S is pretty much thinking of borrowing the full cost as daunting as that seems. I expect that over Christmas break we will have time for face to face discussion about the implecations of this but by then I expect the applications will be out. In the end it is his decision and his debt, but yes very scarey. I suppose of that reality hit him hard it would be time for him to speak with the school about deferral or reapplying when he had better credentials or more cash. But from the gist of what you said you think that reapplying to a school that previously accepted you would be frown upon.

sybbie719

In the event that he is waitlisted or deferred this cycle, he can still update his file with new credentials (retaking the LSAT).ONe year of work experience would not be significant or what the school considers significant work experience (5, years work experience, TFA, MIlitary, Peace Corp, Americorp, etc), for unhooked applicants it will not make an appreciable difference in the admissions decision. The raise in LSAT would have to be significant (~6 points). Some schools will ask for an explanation if there are multiple test with a 5 to 6 point spread.

Applying the following year without any significant credentials, even earlier in the cycle is probably going to net the same result as I believe the school holds the original application for at least a year and the student would have to submit new everything (essays, recommendation letters, scores). Some schools will not consider reapplicants for early review/admission You/he can check his list of schools for the school's policy on reapplication.

If he has received any fee waivers, he should just apply now to schools that he may stand a good chance of admissions and scholarship money.

Here is an old thread

How much does applying and being rejected one year effect your chances future years?

rankinr

Be careful about the LSAT/GPA weighting that was given above. It's used very, very loosely. Besides, the numbers on LSP often don't even agree with the information offered by LSAC, and they break down particularly when you get to situations where one or both of the LSAT and GPA are outside of the 25th/75th percentile range.

lawfuture

Thanks Rankinr, I think I've given up on doing any calculations, so is relying on the predictors and also guaging where he stands with regard to median GPA and LSAT. But what is LSP?

sybbie719

LSP= law school predictor(the link referred to in post #36)