How to get into a top law/graduate school?

Question

I am a high school senior pursuing higher education. I am planning to apply to several state universities, but I live in a family with a single parent and five children (I am the oldest). Since I am the oldest, my single mother depends on me for a lot of things, including taking care of my siblings when she is out working/taking classes. She wants me to attend a university nearby so I can help her out at home rather than be far away. And I myself want to help her out in these difficult times for us. I liked the nearby university (let's call it School A) when I visited it (and I have a good chance at a scholarship there), but I wish I could attend a school of a higher caliber. School A is a fourth-tier school and I would prefer to attend a first or second tier school (which, with my grades and extracurriculars, I think I could get into).

I also hope to go to law school after I get my bachelor's. In a couple of years I will be more independent (siblings will be older, and my mother will be done with her own college studies) and I will be able to transfer into another school for law/graduate studies.

Would it be possible for me to attend School A and then apply to one of the top law/graduate schools in the nation? I consider myself ambitious and hard-working. What do you think my chances of getting into a top school if I worked hard while in School A (earned a high GPA, got involved in a lot of extracurriculars, and earned a high LSAT score)? I'm even planning to double major in political science and a foreign language.

I hope what I am asking is not confusing. I'm just curious and would love to know what I can do to increase my chances of getting into higher-ranked universities in the future when I am able to leave home and my mother and siblings can do without me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It is possible, but not likely, that you'd get into a top tier grad school from a fourth tier university. But there are always exceptions made. If you really take advantage of your time there, and rock your grades and the GRE (or GMAT, etc.), you might be one of the exceptions. But it will be far, far more difficult for you to get in from the fourth tier school than it would be if you went to a first or second tier school. You'd really need to have one heck of an application for this to work, as there are exceptions, but they are very rare. And if you chose medicine, it would be pretty much impossible.

If you think your family situation will stabilize in a couple of years, then I have an idea that might work with your current situation. Don't go to that fourth tier uni. Go to a local community college instead. Do amazing there, and once you get your associates, transfer into a tier 1 or tier 2 university. But if you do this, make yourself aware, now, of the transfer requirements for the universities you're looking at, so you can be sure you fill them at the cc.

Your having gone to a cc before going to a strong university will not hold you back from a top tier law, medical, MBA or other sort of grad school. It will not be an issue at all.

Another option is to see what tier 1 and tier 2 universities are in reasonable driving distance of your home. Expand your search a bit, consider much longer commutes, and see if that helps and is doable. You'd have to drive to the campus, probably stay there between classes, and drive home after. To help manage this, you might be able to cluster your schedule so you're there for classes just on M/W/F or just on Tu/Th; or only in the mornings, or etc. Have a look at the US News and World Reports college rankings to see if there are any tier 1 or 2 national unis, top 75 or so liberal arts colleges, top 20 or so masters degree unis, or top 10 or so bachelors degree colleges in any sort of driving distance of your home. And do consider the private schools as well as the publics, because sometimes they can surprise you with the financial aid they offer. At least apply to those you like and see what they offer you.

Answer 2

There is typically a difference between how law school and grad school admissions are run. Law School admissions consider primarily two factors: GPA and LSAT. LSAT is extremely important, probably the most important factor. The name of your undergrad school, your references, and your research experience do not matter much. The classes you took and your major also don't matter much. Simply put, the name of the game is getting a solid GPA, then studying hard for the LSAT and acing it. That's it.

Graduate school is slightly different, as your GRE scores are important as far as hitting certain "thresholds," but they will not get you in alone. Grades matter a lot, but they are looking for grades in specific classes and whether you took the most challenging courses in the field you want to study. Your recommendations also matter a lot, as does undergrad research experience. Going to a top research university might give you better access to research experiences and top recommenders who are respected in the field. A student going to a lesser-known school might have to be far more proactive.

Answer 3

Uh not only do you have to do really really good with grades but if you were to intern with a law firm or a local lawyer that would be good or help out at ur county court house so that youll have experience and pre knowlege of everything. Do something to stand out like write a book lol or something that will seperate you from all the other middle class really really smart kids applying somewhere.

Answer 4

I have attended or taught at four top 12 B-Schools and one ranked between 25-30.  Even at the lower ranked school, I see very few students who went to a fourth tier school.  There were just a handful of students who went to third or fourth tier schools in my MBA class at Duke -- and most of them were HBCUs.

So -- while it is possible, it will be very difficult for you to get into a top tier law school or MBA program if you go to your local school.  VERY difficult.

If you absolutely have to go there, you may consider transferring to a better school as a Junior.

Answer 5

High GPA, high LSAT score, or high GRE, GMAT, or MCATs.