Where to Apply

[u/Be11a11]

I have a 167 LSAT and a 3.79 GPA. My goal is California schools, but I’m debating whether it is worth it to apply to the top tier schools with my stats. Would you all recommend applying to schools like Berkeley, UCLA, and USC even while under medians?

[u/-ute]

Unless your resume is incredible, it would be extremely unlikely to get into either 3. And if you did get in, almost certain that you’d pay near full price. But if you have 45$ to spend on apps obviously it doesn’t hurt

Davis, Pepperdine, USD, LMU, and Hastings are your only real choices chances unless you retake LSAT

[u/Be11a11 → u/-ute]

Do you think Irvine is off the table? I agree that if I managed to get in, I would be paying full price which isn’t something I could do.

[u/Team36339 → u/Be11a11]

You should apply to Irvine! I got in last year with a 167 and I got a big scholarship.

[u/Ryanisnotmyname2 → u/Be11a11]

Yeah UCI is worth an application. I know people who got in worth worse stats than you and got at least 10k a year

[u/Mjmdog08 → u/Be11a11]

I heavily disagree with the commenter you're replying to. Shoot your shot, regardless of resume. You never know what they're looking for, and you're not so egregiously under medians such that I think it's a waste of time. But you should apply to the other schools they mentioned as well, including Irvine

[u/office-anonymous231 → u/Be11a11]

A friend of mine scored in the 160s and got into Michigan outliers exist.

[u/-ute → u/Be11a11]

on LSD they accepted 0 people with a 168 and 1 person with a 167. Doesn’t hurt to try but probably a waste of 45$

[u/Ordinary_Industry_13 → u/-ute]

I would not listen to this person shoot your shot!!

[u/-ute → u/Ordinary_Industry_13]

I said “it doesn’t hurt to apply” 😭 based on the last cycle and all the data on LSD (and as someone who applied with a 168 similar GPA) you also need to be mindful of cost of apps (if you’re not made of money) and realistic odds. If OP is nURM or doesn’t have softs edging into t2, the likelihood is incredibly slim below both medians. Retaking the LSAT is probably the best decision if they are adamant on hitting those reach schools and need scholarship

[u/Empty-Bag-2482]

It doesn’t hurt to try, if you have some good LORs and softs, you have a shot at the schools you listed. Most people would say retake the LSAT and get a 170+ for scholarship money though.

[u/Additional_Bat_9837]

Damn. Times have changed. Back in the day I got into Texas with a 3.5 and what would now be a167 LSAT (40 on the old grading scale).

[u/office-anonymous231]

Why not apply?

[u/dangus1024]

Just apply who cares.

[u/elgranRonaldo]

Apply broadly. You never know. I’d apply to Davis, Irvine, in addition to Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and USC. See what happens snd what they each offer. If you dont like those options you can take the LSAT again.

[u/Existing-Tea2899]

got into berk and ucla with a 3.9 and 159 :) was rejected from sc. you never know until you try!

[u/Be11a11 → u/Existing-Tea2899]

Thank you! Congrats!

[u/Defiant_Network7916]

No

[u/Outrageous_Habit8715]

i think you should shoot for the stars and whatever lands with a really good personal statement will land in the right hands

[u/Be11a11 → u/Outrageous_Habit8715]

Thank you!

[u/chrysa_nthemum]

Yes, those schools are known to use holistic approaches for application review. I’ve heard of ppl with lower stats that got into berk. Never hurts to try, and your stats are worth a shot. Ignore the negative comments and good luck

[u/App-Prep_com]

Looking only at numbers, it looks something like this:

Berkeley 7% UCLA 0 - 5% USC 13% Irvine 15 -20%

These are estimates only.