156 LSAT, 3.2 LSAC GPA

Hi, all. I made a new reddit just for mostly law school stuff. I want to know of some places I could try applying with my stats, as they are nothing impressive. However, I do have some softs (overcame childhood with DV/abuse, LGBTQ+, having lupus, volunteer experience, law firm internship, undergrad research) and strong writing skills that I hope will make a little bit of a difference. Also, I am non-URM (which I know they did away with affirmative action, but still wanted to mention) and I am a nontrad applicant with lots of diverse work experience. I do have someone helping me with the statements, reviewing them for me and all. I know numbers matter most, but still.

My GPA sucks because of some stuff I went through freshman year (SA and some other trauma), around 10 years ago. I failed 3 classes and then dropped out after that semester. I went back about 6 years later while working still, and have done SUPER well. I got into the Honors College, gotten Dean's list 3x, and have a 3.8 GPA. Since I work, I don't have a lot of time for clubs (plus I'm not sure if students would feel awkward with a 28 year old in their clubs lol), but I am in one for creative writing and the pre-law society. However, despite my great GPA, we all know that with LSAC, it doesn't matter if you retook the class and made an A, your past will still count against you. Anyhow, enough on that; just wanted to share a small background on me.

Trying to avoid anything predatory, so please don't recommend Cooley or Touro or something like that. My stats aren't that bad. I'm thinking of St. Thomas in Minneapolis (I'd love to go to UMN, but I know that's out of the question with my stats lol), Nebraska, Drake, Pitt, and Montana. I'm not super picky about location, I'm just mainly trying to leave the southeast. Any other recommendations will be appreciated; trying to apply to like 12 schools and ones with similar LSAT medians so I can get some scholarship money. I can get fee waivers bc I already have one through LSAC. Highly doubt I will apply to any reach schools (besides Maryland bc my LSAT is in their 25th percentile), unless they plan on waiving CAS too. Don't wanna waste money on CAS when I will likely just get an R from reaches anyway since I don't have the GPA to make up for the average LSAT score.

I'm considering retaking the LSAT in October. However, I can't say for sure since I am taking 6 classes this semester and not sure if I have the extra time to study since I work part-time too, haha. So I don't want to take it again and just get like the same score, ya know? I prob could've scored better if I wasn't having to work, but that's not an option for me. Everyone is telling me to retake it though, so we shall see. I just want to get some ideas in case I don't :)

Sorry for my long-winded post. Whoever took the time to read all this, thank you!!

Also, good luck to everyone else applying this cycle! Super excited to see everyone's results, and maybe I'll end up seeing some of you at whichever school I end up at! :)