Self-study
I'm currently going into my 4th year undergrad and I'm taking the LSAT this June. I just started reaching out to professors to get a confirmation that one is willing to write a letter of recommendation for my law school applications, but it is very difficult since my major is huge and all of the lectures have 200+ people. My grades are all in the A and A+ ranges. One of the professors I reached out to replied to me and said that she cannot write it since she does not know me first-hand, but she is okay with me reaching out to my TA to write about me, and then she will sign off on it but still explicitly state that she does not know me. In my opinion, I don't think that will be very helpful, but she says that method has been successfully used by other students in my position. I'm honestly just a little stressed and nervous and not sure what to do here. I'm still waiting for 2 other professors to reply to my emails. I honestly just need one academic letter since I plan on getting one from my boss at work. I'm applying to Ontario law schools only.
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4 comments
@Ssss - Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, that's stressful and I can hear where you're coming from. I hope I can alleviate some stress and give you a few ideas!
Alleviate stress - the LoRs aren't a make-or-break section of the application. They aren't anywhere near as important as the matters within you control (GPA, LSAT, resume, and statements). When I was reviewing applications as an admissions officer, I read the LoRs last. I entered them already knowing if I was going to vote to admit, waitlist, or deny. All I wanted from the LoRs was confirmation of my vote. And it was rare - even in cases where the profs clearly didn't know the student too well - I would get nudged from "admit" to "waitlist" because of the LoRs. In those really rare cases, it was because the LoR was very direct and very honest about the applicant's negative behavior in classes and on campus.
OK, so what can you do? First things first - if you want to apply in this coming admissions cycle, you just have to do what you have to do. If that means the LoR written by TAs, that's fine. While this isn't ideal, it's also fine.
Should that fail, your next best option is to be very personable with your profs next semester. Attend office hours. Tell them that you're thinking about applying to law school, etc. They wouldn't be able to write you a letter until after the class concludes (which may be a problem for any Ontario schools with Nov 1 app deadlines) but it's what you have to do.
And related to that is a recognition that maybe it'd be best to graduate and then apply afterwards while working a year. How viable this option is will really depend on a) how badly you want to go to law school right after undergrad, b) how possible it is to work post-grad for a year, and c) what else is going on in your life. But I at least wanted to throw this thought out there for you.
But back to the "first things first" - if you know you want to go to law school next year after college, well, do what you have to do to get those LoRs!
@JacobBaska Thank you! I really want to avoid a gap year and I have reached out to my TA.
Hello, I would try to go and ask your professors in person if possible. Take your resume and go talk to one of them.
@AdamLaw The semester is now over and I won't be able to ask anyone in person until September :(