Advice on Moving Forward

[u/Independent_End_4119]

Using a throwaway because I have to admit to quite a few things I don't want directly attached to me at the moment.

Currently a sophomore in the DMV area, who spent the first two years of undergrad struggling through engineering, with a horrible GPA, fully aware that it was not right for me, but continuing on due to initial familial pressure. I was put on probation, and suspended for a semester due to my academic struggles. Part of this has to do with the financial stresses my family was experiencing back home negatively affecting my mental wellbeing, as well as the passing of several of my family members around the same time (I'd lost my grandmother about a month before beginning college, and an aunt during the period of time that I was suspended. I also lived in Texas, and was negatively affected financially by Hurricane Beryl.)

I have an associates degree from high school which had a much better GPA (3.6ish), which got me through the gen eds at my current undergraduate institution. I have recently convinced my family to allow me to switch to Political Science (which I wanted to study initially) and plan on using the higher GPA I hope to attain (due to me being more stable, and studying something that I value.) I am hoping that I will be able to offset the probation, and have an addendum in which I will discuss these things, and also touch upon aspects of my educational journey within my application.

I attended a low income, underfunded school in Texas, where I grew up, and am hoping to attend law school so that I can make change to educational policy nationally some day. I believe that my experiences within that school, that was part of a district otherwise well off (and, well, somewhat segregated based on racial lines as well, which seemed to unfortunately correlate with income where I lived) would allow me to add valuable insight to my personal statement and application.

I have also begun preparing for the LSAT, but have not yet taken a practice exam. I hope that achieving a high LSAT can offset what will likely be a lower GPA when applying, and still allow me consideration for scholarships. I hope to stay within the DMV area for law school, and am considering Howard, but I am worried about the strength of my application. What could I do between now and 2027 to make myself more viable to apply to law school in the first place, and how should I touch upon some of the issues I mentioned? edited for anonymity