Feeling Crushed - Is There Any Hope?

TaylorL17

I'm starting to feel like I'll never get into law school. I live in the DC area and have to stay here for work, and though I know the surrounding schools are very competitive, I'm just not sure what to do beyond just taking the LSAT over and over until I hopefully crack 170.

My current score is 165, my aggregate GPA was dragged down by my first year of college (leaving a cult and its associated university at the time), but it's still close enough to the median I'd need. I worked full-time for the rest of my degree program between a community college and UMGC (online).

Because most of my professors were online, I've never met any of them, and it doesn't really make sense to ask for a recommendation from someone I've never spoken to. As for my career, I've essentially worked in e-commerce for the past 10 years. That doesn't really translate well for most people. Finally, I have no diversity bonus points for an add-on essay.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? I'm on year 2 of waitlists without a single interview.

No, my personal essays are not dwelling on the items listed above. I don't mean to rant or complain, but I'm having a tough time. I'm not really sure what I'll do next if I'm never admitted.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I wish I had several thousand dollars to shell out to an admissions councilor, but I just don't right now. I wish everyone else the best of luck!

spittingnickels

move out of DC, maybe out to virginia, and go to a law school there. plenty of quality schools will take a score of 165 which is a stout performance. richmond, uva, regent, george mason etc. one of those schools will take you

Constantine

I was in the same situation. I never could finish one out of 4 games on my official test. I ended up going to school with 168. However, since you no longer have logic games, if you decide to retake the test, I can share my approach to Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning.

RiddledBasinsOfAttraction

Get LORs from your ecommerce suppliers

yhtkim

@spittingnickels said:
move out of DC, maybe out to virginia, and go to a law school there. plenty of quality schools will take a score of 165 which is a stout performance. richmond, uva, regent, george mason etc. one of those schools will take you

I have no idea what the situation is in virginia, and this person's advice might be spot on, but uva's median is 171

MattyCzar

What law schools are you applying to? A 165 is a very competitive score for many law schools, even some in DC. I'm not sure what your GPA is, but if your early grades are that bad, you might want to write an addendum explaining that. But if you've not had a single acceptance in two years, you might want to lower your expectations and consider applying to schools you might be more likely to get into. Plenty of schools in DC/Virginia where that LSAT score alone would give you a solid shot at getting in.

TaylorL17

@spittingnickels said:
move out of DC, maybe out to virginia, and go to a law school there. plenty of quality schools will take a score of 165 which is a stout performance. richmond, uva, regent, george mason etc. one of those schools will take you

Sorry for the late reply - I am in VA, and you've just listed the schools I was WL'd or rejected by. The aggregate GPA is 3.66, and I think the lack of a professor recommendation (or even the lack of prestige from attending school online) is dragging me down. Here's hoping my April score is markedly improved!

PriYanksya

"Finally, I have no diversity bonus points for an add-on essay." Everything before that sentence suggests otherwise. Left a cult and had to do online school to get you on the right track? There is certainly a case to be made about difficult circumstances to put in an addendum.

It also would not hurt to ask a professor for a recommendation anyways. Were you diligent in sending in assignments? Asking for help or questions even if the classes were online or submitted writing you were particularly proud of? Any class which you felt like you excelled in, I would strongly suggest asking that class's professor. Even asking them for advice would be a huge confidence boost. Sometimes you can find all kinds of support in the unlikeliest of places!