Taking the long view

[Anonymous]

When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

[Anonymous]

T14 law school admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Assuming T100 undergrad, as you say, then attend wherever you will get the highest college GPA.

College rank doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. If I were handling grad/prof school admissions, I would 100% value a mid-range GPA from one of the notoriously difficult schools (MIT, UChicago, and I’m sure there are many others) over a top GPA from a less competitive school. So a totally different set of rules applies for grad/professional school admission compared to undergrad? (Excuse the naïveté as I went to an entirely uncompetitive grad school a long time ago and my kids aren’t planning on law/med school.)

Anonymous wrote:T14 law school admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Assuming T100 undergrad, as you say, then attend wherever you will get the highest college GPA.

College rank doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. If I were handling grad/prof school admissions, I would 100% value a mid-range GPA from one of the notoriously difficult schools (MIT, UChicago, and I’m sure there are many others) over a top GPA from a less competitive school. So a totally different set of rules applies for grad/professional school admission compared to undergrad? (Excuse the naïveté as I went to an entirely uncompetitive grad school a long time ago and my kids aren’t planning on law/med school.)

Anonymous wrote:T14 law school admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Assuming T100 undergrad, as you say, then attend wherever you will get the highest college GPA.

College rank doesn't matter.

The LSAT tells the story. Schools are intelligent enough to know that not all smart kids get to go to MIT or UChicago. They are also in the academic field, and so understand that a small college you never heard of can also have great professors who prepare their students for the next level. They may even know the professors personally.

[Anonymous]

This is half true, kids can go to a top law school from anywhere if they get a 4.0 and perfect LSAT. But the T14 law schools are going to favor kids from T20 schools on a per capita basis, especially their own undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is half true, kids can go to a top law school from anywhere if they get a 4.0 and perfect LSAT. But the T14 law schools are going to favor kids from T20 schools on a per capita basis, especially their own undergrads.

Your “half true” means 90% true — but we all know lawyers can’t add.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

GPA from top college such as MIT will be compared the same level form low ranked college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

GPA from top college such as MIT will be compared the same level form low ranked college.

That isn’t accurate. If a top school is known for grade deflation, grad schools do make small adjustments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

GPA from top college such as MIT will be compared the same level form low ranked college.

If this is true why do people chase prestige and rankings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

GPA from top college such as MIT will be compared the same level form low ranked college.

If this is true why do people chase prestige and rankings?

Opportunities. MIT people get access to jobs (Quant, top lab positions, graduate admissions, etc.) that others don't simply for being good students at MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When choosing undergrad colleges with an eye toward law or graduate school, is it better to graduate at the bottom half of the most rigorous college, perform in the top half of a lower ranked college, or the very top of an even lower ranked college? Assuming these are all T100 and majors are the same. We don’t care as much about prestige as outcomes and ROI.

Top portion of a lower ranked college. What matters is LSAT scores and GPA. Where you went doesn't really come into play.

GPA from top college such as MIT will be compared the same level form low ranked college.

If this is true why do people chase prestige and rankings?

Opportunities. MIT people get access to jobs (Quant, top lab positions, graduate admissions, etc.) that others don't simply for being good students at MIT.

It helps with law school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:T14 law school admission is almost entirely based on college GPA and LSAT. Assuming T100 undergrad, as you say, then attend wherever you will get the highest college GPA.

College rank doesn't matter.

Aside from a small group of schools like MIT, it's not tough to get good grades in college these days.

[Anonymous]

I hate to sound like an elitist jerk, which I'm not. But going to a top undergrad school is a big plus in getting into a top law school. You still have to do well in college, but you don't have to be all As. It's also much easier to get impressive internship and EC opportunities at a top undergrad college. Bottomline is you see a lot more recent HYP grads at Yale Law School than UMass, UConn, or Rutgers grads.

[Anonymous]

The #1 feeder school to all top law schools is its own undergrad…by far. I don’t know if that means those kids aren’t superstars, but if you think of law school like undergrad, something like 20-30% of Yale law was Yale undergrad which leaves only 70-80% available for everyone else.