Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you guys had insight as to what I should do. I went to a pretty large public school where, for most of my classes, I had hundreds of people in my class. I had a select few smaller classes with 20-40 people, so I was thinking about asking the professors from those classes. Problem is that I don't have a particularly close relationship with any single one of those professors nor am I sure they even remember me anymore (as it's been several years since I left school). I've heard a lot of people suggest putting together a packet of information to help the professor write the LOR. However, I find it a little weird to pop out of nowhere to ask a professor who may or may not remember me for a LOR. Do you guys think I should still just put together a packet, email the professor or hope for the best? Or should do something like request a coffee chat or check-in lunch etc. before asking for an LOR?

Thanks!!

I understand the diversity course gives socioeconomic + early respond ability which I have both. However, I am a white, straight male and have been told by pretty much everyone that I am not diverse and would have nothing to in that department. TLS for instance is universally negative, and to be honest most adcomms have given lukewarm responses at best. Is it better if I don't do it even if I think it would add to the diversity, or is it really just race/sexuality?

Hey everyone, I have some idea about this topic but I was wondering what others think about this, and if anyone else had other insights or can help.

Since I graduated from my transfer school I technically graduated with two GPA's, one from my community college and one from my University. I graduated from a top university in California and was wondering how the admissions offices view my GPA as a whole.

Do they JUST look at my cumulative GPA cold? As in they just look at that and nothing else?

or

Do they consider also my last two years at the University that I graduated from?

My cumulative GPA is: 3.62

My last two years at my University I graduated from is: 3.75

I am a little unsure about how they read transfer GPA's.

Maybe other transfers can post similar stories and can get answers as well.

Thanks.

Hey guys! I have a question. With my second deposit , UChi is asking me to file a "commitment agreement". I fully intend on attending but I like to know exactly what I am signing. It isn't asking me to withdraw applications but I am sure there is more to it. What would happen if I broke it, if something came up and I wanted to attend to school closer to home?

So I have a question that has been on my mind the entire time I have been studying for the LSAT, how important is your undergraduate institution?

In High School I had no hope of ever going to College and actually failed to meet admissions requirements for in-state schools. During senior year I decided that I would want to attend college and enrolled in a tribal university (university for Native-Americans only). I worked extremely hard and managed to get a 3.87 GPA and for the LSAT I hope to get a 161, and everything I have done to this point leads me to believe that I will score around that point. I do not have dreams of attending top law schools but somewhere around top 50 or so (realistic goals for my metrics).

I met with admissions counselors and they are normally very positive in their responses about meeting admissions requirements but when I asked if my institution would affect my chances they gave a very worrisome response and sort of dodged a direct answer but implied it was a big factor. I was told that admissions officers are able to check the general scores of people applying to Law school from the same institution but if there is insufficient data it will be blank and they will not have a benchmark to compare myself with.

I understand that a high GPA from my institution does not carry the same weight as a large research university, but to what extent does it affect me and is there anything that I can do to lighten the burden?

I'm sure many of you have heard the recent story of Harvard rescinding offer letters to several students due to social media activity the administration deemed inappropriate. A few reports that stemmed from the news noted that many admissions reps turn to social media to learn more about their applicants and around 40% said it left a negative result on their application. Has anyone thought of completely deleting all of their social accounts prior to applying to law school just to be safe?

Hi friends!

I'm revamping my resume this morning to send to someone who's agreed to write me a recommendation. Did y'all use the GPA you graduated with, or the one that LSAC calculated for you? My LSAC GPA pushed me into a different percentile, so obviously this matters for admissions, but it feels a little dishonest to put the higher number on my resume. Thoughts? Thanks!

Hey, quick question: Should I register for CAS before the June LSAT? Is there any advantage to this? Or, can I just wait until after the exam? Where is the box to check if you want schools to be able to contact you after your exam is scored? I'm thinking fee waivers...

I have always been a fan of looking at different rankings since everyone focuses on certain variables when generating rankings. ATL focuses more on employment outcomes the most so I find theirs interesting. As they say, knowledge is power...

Linky:

http://abovethelaw.com/law-school-rankings/top-law-schools/?rf=1#rankings

The answer is: Northwestern

I was not surprised to see more T14-T20 law schools take GRE. Yet, the speed is so FAST.

http://abovethelaw.com/2017/05/another-elite-law-school-eyes-accepting-the-gre/

So i am planning on taking the September LSAT. I am almost done my bachelors, all i have left is a 6 week online capstone. My question is, can i apply to school without having finished my bachelors yet? I dont want to take the capstone during my LSAT prep. So i was considering taking it at some point next year but i want to be considered for early decision for fall 2018. Was wondering if schools will extend an offer when i have not completed my bachelors yet. As of right now i have 3.9 gpa and i dont think this capstone will change that. Thanks for your help!!

I have taken the LSAT twice (both times over a year ago) and got 170 and 172, in that order. I have a 3.95 GPA and am considering retaking a third time because I know if I can get myself above 175, I would at least put myself in the running for some good money from CCN (specifically Hamilton at Columbia, since I know they tend to have a 174/175 cutoff). But I've also heard that having 3 takes can ding your application at HYS. Any thoughts on what I should do?

I am about a third of the way done with the CC and plan on taking the LSAT in February 2018 (unless I'm not ready in which case, I will push back to June). I have fully subscribed to JY's notion of taking the test when ready not necessarily by a deadline so am in no rush. That being said, when would be a good time to start admissions prep? I have not thought much about it as I am more focused on mastering the test but I also don't want to be surprised and then have to scramble to throw together a (hopefully) good admissions packet. I feel like it shouldn't even be on my radar now but I have heard from other people that they spend part of their study time on admissions prep. Is there ever a time when it's too early to start ... or too late?

So I finished University back in 2012. I doubt any of my professors remember me, and even if they were able and willing, they couldn't give an honest account of me. I finished my Masters back in 2016, I have a Professor who says she'll write me a letter of recommendation, and she does remember me. I'm afraid her letter won't mean much because it doesn't seem anything that isn't your bachelors really matters? What should I do? I know I could get 2 letters of Reccomendation from my Masters program but I'm scared it won't be worth anything.

Thank you guys for your insight

Thinking about asking past bosses who are now pretty high up in tech and entertainment (Apple, Production Company Owner, Best-Selling Author who was my former editor). These are two fields I'm interested in working in with copyright and IP, but I realize this won't be enough.

I need some academic letters and I'm coming up short on where I might find one, since I've been out of school for 10 years now and didn't form any relationships with my professors. The one exception is an advertising professor in the Communications department. Other than that, I don't really anyone in academia except for my ex and I'm definitely not going down that road.

Only other option I can think of is that I was employed in a workstudy program for 3 years and worked under a couple different Deans (engineering and biochemistry), both of whom I presume hold me in high esteem. But again, I haven't talked to these people in years.

Are these options even worth a shot? Or should I just find some people to pay off?

Hi all,

(Background Info) I was originally going to sit for the June LSAT, allowing me (hopefully) ample time to perfect my applications to apply early cycle next fall. However, the semester and work got in the way and I did not want to sacrifice my grades to simply devote more time to studying LSAT when the LSAT can always be postponed. Thus, now taking in September. Being as that I plan to apply early cycle, can any fall LSAT takers share some advise on how they balanced both of these goals to crush the LSAT and also produce an awesome application? Please note that I work T-F 8-5 at a law firm as a legal assistant. FWIW, I have my past

Criminal Law professor that specifically offered to write me a LOR and am close with my Faculty Advisor who I plan to ask to write me a LOR. I also plan to ask one of the partners at the firm I work for to write me a LOR and have a great relationship with all of them.

Also, can someone please let me know if the following are considered medium/good/great softs? I am not sure how to accurately assess where I am on the soft scale.

Thank you in advance!! :)

If I am applying to enroll Fall 2019, will they look at my midterm grades from Fall 2017 (considering I apply this November)?

Hey guys,

I've been waitlisted and would like your help in editing my LOCI and giving me your general thoughts on it.

I would really appreciate your input!

How much consideration does law schools place on academic performance in graduate school?

My question is on what Law Schools will they be looking at GPA from? I went to a community college to get my Associates and then finished the other two years at a University. My grades at University were not as good as they were at Community College. At community College I finished with I believe around a 3.45 GPA, and at University with a 2.88 GPA. That averaged to about a 3.25. I'm hoping Law Schools will look at that 3.25, and count Community College, as that was work towards my Bachelors and that was about 80 credits. I don't see why they wouldn't look at that. My University Transcripts show some of Community College classes but they don't show the GPA, they indicate it as 0.0, meaning they're not counting that towards that University's GPA.

So what can I expect they'll look at?

Thank you

Hi everyone!!

I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE SCHOOL I WANTED AFTER BEING ON THE WAITLIST! Which, is obviously awesome and I'm very excited. However, I already accepted a 1 year leadership position with AmeriCorps because I got nervous about not hearing back for a while. Also, this is an awesome position I genuinely want.

They offered me scholarship money, but not very much at all...I COULD make it work financially, but I would have to take out a LOT of loans. I applied kind of late in the cycle, and that could be why. Also, I know that I didn't reach my full potential with the LSAT yet, but I was in a rush to take it and just get enough to get in because I didn't know what I was going to do the next year and that was scary. I want to if at all possible defer my enrollment, but I am unsure if they will allow me to do that. If so, I guess I will decline and apply for early admission next cycle. If I do this, I will re-take the LSAT and hopefully get a better score. My question is, has anyone experienced anything like this before? If I don't accept, and cite money as the main reason, and re-apply, will that affect my chances of getting in again? When I do this, should I call the admissions office, visit them, or email them? I'm just so darn grateful to get in I really don't want to mess this up! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

In college I had a shaky first semester (had a c and a b+ for a 3.4) but then maintained a 3.9+ average the rest of the way with nothing lower than an A-. My GPA isn't bad (3.85), but for top law schools, I'm wondering if they care more about stats (3.85 is 3.85) or if they pay more attention to trends. I'm shooting for a top 3 law school or a scholarship (my preptests are generally in the mid 170 range and I'm trying for high 170s to have a shot at Yale). My GPA doesn't really hurt me, but is still slightly sub 50 for those schools. Are schools primarily concerned with their stats, or would it not matter as much for a borderline 50ish percentile GPA?

I was wondering around when the law school applications?

Thanks.

OK guys... so it is time to start cracking down and getting that application all pretty... except, I am a non traditional student that just decided to up and quit her job last year to volunteer and I don't know... not work??? I mean I do work now in retail a girl does have bills... but her is my issue.... I want to go to Texas A&M in Ft. Worth... they want a resume... here is the description...

The applicant’s educational background, honor societies, military service, extracurricular activities, public/community service, honors and awards, publications, foreign language proficiencies, and any other significant achievements and involvements.

Educational Background- ok easy... except I you know, like most typical non traditional students... drank and partied too much and I sure do not have any honors.... I mean I have a year I could go back to school... but that is a last resort

military service- None

Extracurricular activities... I am pretty sure jet setter and binge novel reader isn't really an answer.... any other ideas??? or things I could do to make this look better... remember I am 35 and a decade removed from college...

Public Community Service- I am going to discuss working with kids in Costa Rica and volunteering with an animal shelter in Mexico... I am also about o start volunteering with various human rights groups here in Dallas... I also make chew toys for the local animal shelter out of recycled materials... I do a lot of community service thankfully this might be my saving grace.

Publications- Sounds cool... not published. Open to ideas.

Foreign Language... sigh still not fluent in Spanish... but getting better every day. I would like to list Spanish but I am assuming they want fluency... not hoping to be fluent someday.

Any other significant achievements... I got nada... I have 6 months to achieve something so I am open to ideas.

Guys I am frustrated... I can discuss work history... but quitting a job to volunteer in Costa Rica & Mexico... then coming back and working in retail just doesn't sound great you know???

Along with the LSAT this my current "Admissions" hot topic... so give me ideas guys I need them...

Thanks

-The pretty boring Jen.

So I just got rejected from my first choice law school in Canada today (3rd rejection so far, sadly).

Disappointed but I have no time for negativity...gotta think of waitlist strategies!

I am currently on the waitlist at one university and being considered for the waitlist at another.

I wanted to ask if anyone has any advice on waitlist strategies:

I have visited both campuses and already sent a LOCI to the one in which I am being considered and am currently writing another LOCI to send to the other school.

Is this pretty much the only strategy going forward?

I am also scheduled to write the June LSAT but both schools do not consider that.

I would appreciate any input.

Thanks in advance.