Lawstudents.ca

Sorry if the chances threads are not appreciated around here, but I'd like to know if my numbers make it even worth applying for.

LSAT - 168
LSAC GPA - 3.62 with classes dropped. (I have 4 A+ if that makes a difference for the LSAC GPA)

Additional Info:
- UVIC undergrad with excellent ECs
- Good reference letters (1 in particular from a UVIC tenured professor who is joint with the faculty of law)
- Upward trending GPA

Thanks for your help.

Yes, it is worth it to apply. Apply early.

I think your stats sound competitive to me. You would have probably been accepted in past years for sure, but its difficult to comment for this year (or next) as applications are skyrocketing.

However, given that you have a reference letter from a tenured UVIC law prof, admissions 'may' actually read it and apply it to your credentials.

You have nothing to lose. Apply early. My guess is that you'll be accepted or waitlisted at worst case.

UVic doesn't take reference letters, so I doubt that would make a difference. But those number are good. Unfortunately for the OP, UVic gives less weight to LSAT than GPA (30/70).

Is the letter from Colin Macleod?

Some philosophy students have made it in before.

Yup. Are you a phil undergrad? 2009? 2010?

Sure, but statistically some faculties fare better than others.

Show me these statistics and prove to me that they're a result of more than just higher numbers of applicants from said faculties.

There is information that indicates certain majors do better on the LSAT... Though it's hard to say whether they do better because of their major or whether people who are good at LSAT-type skills gravitate towards certain majors.

http://www.uic.edu/cba/cba-depts/econom ... /table.htm

2008

Thanks for the info -- it's a bit outdated, though (94-95). A quick search revealed some newer info:

http://taxprof.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341 ... 970c-350wi
http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal ... score.html

But I don't find these macro trends in standardized testing all too persuasive; look, there's only a 2.2-point difference in the score averages between Philosophy majors (ranked #3) and 'lowly' English majors (ranked #11).

Plus GPA is far more important at UVic than the LSAT (weighted as you know 70% GPA, 30% LSAT). And GPA averages by major vary from school-to-school, I'd say. I even did a bit of searching and only found these mediocre statistics which 'prove' (if you're brave enough to rely on them) that basically no average student in any field would get into law at UVic (when combined with the average LSAT scores up above).

To me, that means individual factors of intelligence, organization, and work ethic are far more determinant than structural ones like what major you take.

Anyways, the conclusion of all this, I suppose, is that plans is quite competitive based on numbers (and that ever-important early application), regardless of major. Letters of reference don't matter, either, unless you're applying in the Aboriginal Applicant category. plans, your index score is about 921.5, which (without bonus points, since they stopped giving them out partway through this year) probably would have given you an early offer if you'd applied September/October/November, and waitlisted in about 40th position or so if you'd applied December/January/February. In normal years (every year up until this year), you would have had no problem getting in.