New UC Irvine Law Schools Recruits Class with Numerical Credentials That Will Give UCLA and USC Real Competition

A median LSAT of 167 and a median GPA of 3.65.  The press release engages in a bit of Sextonism in pronouncing Irvine "the most selective" school in the nation, since a huge number of factors go into acceptance rates and yield that have nothing to do with some of the connotations of "selective".  Irvine's first class is small (about 70), and the three-year full tuition ride is obviously a major attraction.  But Sextonian hyperbole to one side (and a new school like Irvine needs that hyperbole more, obviously), the results are still impressive, but consistent with the faculty recruitment success Irvine has enjoyed to date.  The 25th/75th numbers are 164-168 for the LSAT, and 3.43-3.76 for GPA.  By the methodology I have used in prior years to rank schools based on the numerical credentials of the student body, Irvine's inaugural class would be solidly in the top 20, even allowing for its small size.

UPDATE:  As a couple of readers correctly pointed out, these statistics are based on those who have put down deposits, and not necessarily those who will enroll come fall.  On the other hand, I would guess that the three years of full tuition will result in less attrition than would be typical at other schools similarly situated.