What would look better on a law school app?

HappyAlumnus
Sun, 25 Jan 2015 20:13:11 +0000

For the post above saying that all that matters are your GPA and LSAT score: that is not true.

If you look at the “scattergrams” (charts showing students’ self-reported GPAs, LSAT scores and admissions decisions) that are used to justify that statement, those scattergrams show that above certain thresholds, admission is more likely than below certain thresholds. Even above thresholds that are given as the “cutoff” for admission to a law school, many people can get accepted or rejected; admission is definitely not certain. “Softs”, school names and majors matter somewhat.

In the specific scenarios described in the first post, of course the 169/3.9 from Pomona is the best option, but Colorado School of Mines is a good school as well. The majors are all good ones. It’s impossible to say that a specific “formula” of major, school, GPA and LSAT score will get you into a specific law school or not, although the highest grades and LSAT scores certainly make it more likely. It’s important to have a fascinating “story” to show to the admissions committee-something that will make you a “must-have”, appealing person.

GPA/LSAT matters the most, but other factors are also considered.