- Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:13 pm
#550
Hey Nova,
My answer will be a long one; I hope some of it helps you. Here's the deal: A 2.29 GPA is incredibly low, even by the standards of unranked law schools. I don't know what the circumstances behind your low numbers are; however, regardless of the reasons, a 2.29 GPA will still be incredibly damaging. You're going to have to do a great deal to prove to schools that you can handle the academic rigor of law school.
As to your chances, they're not good. As it stands right now, I would put your chances at a T-20 school at nonexistent, your chances at a T-30 school at 5-10% (maybe), and a T-50 school at 15-20% (very optimistically). You're going to have to really work on your app and your profile to even stand a chance.
Your first step should be to retake the LSAT. A 167 LSAT score would be good for a T-30 (even a T-20) if you had a 3.3+ GPA, but not with your GPA. Schools will be looking to your LSAT to see if the problems spelled out by your GPA are valid. A 167 will tell them that you have some skills and perhaps could handle the academic rigor of law school, but will not really eradicate the doubts in their minds. You're going to have to aim for a 170+ (172+ if you can manage it) to really make that LSAT score work for you--even if you're not aiming for schools in the T14.
Secondly, the rest of your application is going to have to be exceptional. Not just good--exceptional. Be particularly mindful of your personal statement and your letters of recommendation. In your case, your "softs" are going to be incredibly important--they'll tell the story that your numbers don't, and will allow you to bring a personal element into your application that you will need to play up to stand a chance.
You're definitely going to have to write an addendum explaining why you got the grades you did. You need to make sure that what you provide are reasons, and not excuses--and you will tread a fine line here, given how low your GPA is. You don't state why your GPA is so low, so I can't help you to figure out how you should broach it; however, I will tell you that the best addenda stick to the issue at hand, are devoid of dramatics, and are factual and concise.
If you decide to apply right now, here's the step-by-step game plan:
1. Retake the LSAT. Aim for a 170-172+.
2. Think long and hard about what you want your personal statement to be about. Then spend various weeks writing it, getting feedback from others, and having it edited either by professionals or by friends who are very, very good at what they do.
3. Carefully consider your recommenders. They need to be people who love you, have spent extensive time with you in an academic setting, and want to see your succeed. Their letters need to be glowing, lengthy, personal accounts of who you are and what your academic potential is. Anything less than that, and it'll be another ding against you.
4. Write an addendum explaining the circumstances behind the GPA. Be careful what you say; tread lightly, and give reasons, not excuses.
5. Submit your completed applications as far ahead of the official deadlines as possible. Applying early will only help someone in your position; the fewer applicants you have to compete against, the better.
Needless to say, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Even once you do it all, your chances will still not be much more above 50%, if that--it really all depends on who is reading your application, what else they've read that day, and how they're feeling that particular day. I wish I had better news; it's better to be realistic about your chances, though, and know what you need to do to give yourself the best shot possible.
Have you considered delaying your application by a few years? It might be worth it to put some distance between you and the GPA, build up your professional résumé, and give yourself time to study for the LSAT and get that 98-99th percentile score.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any additional questions. Good luck!
Anne Chaconas
PowerScore Test Preparation
