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!

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/

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

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...

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 Everyone hope all is well. So I have a quick question. How does application fee waivers work? I took the recent Feb LSAT and I received no fee waivers however when I saw some forums with people who had comparable scores to mine, they spoke about being able to apply to a bunch of reach schools because of fee waivers. Could it be due to the timing that I took the LSAT seeing as how I took it in February? I plan on applying for Fall 2018 by the way. Any insight would be great. Thank you!

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!! :)

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?

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!!

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

I don't know if there is a technical definition on the matter, but I'm curious what scores/GPAs make you a splitter. Is it overall, or specific to school?

For ex: a below 3 GPA and an above 170 LSAT is clearly a splitter.

But say you have a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA and an above 170 score. Is that STILL a splitter at the top schools? Or does the 170+ score override your good (but not great) GPA?

I feel like it becomes even more complicated when you parse out the scores above 170. At what point above 170 do the returns on another point stop increasing?

I realize this is a multi-layered question with a lot of hypothetical situations, so it may not be a worthwhile exercise for many. But then again maybe it is, since I know a lot of people probably have similar thoughts.

I attended David B's webinar and he suggested we apply to schools in Oct/Nov but is it possible to apply in Sept?

Can exposure to the legal system be written about in the personal statement, e.g. serving on a jury?

Thanks in advance

I am on HLS waitlist snd want to attend if offered. It seems H requires WL to attend if they offer. But its possible that due to a requirement at my current work, I may have to continue at it for one more year. If offered a spot, I want to have a choice to go there next year or reapply next year.

I don't want to withdraw as yet as it's possible I may be able to go this year, but it's uncertain.

What can I do to be able to decide after offer and not affect chances next year?

Hey everyone. Just wanted to share a lil' something that may be of some help. I'm not sure how many of you are aware of this, but about 3-4 years ago Kaplan used to conduct a live mock admissions panel in NY. They basically invited admissions officials from four Tier 1 (usually T10) law schools and had them do a live evaluation of transcripts, PS, ECs, etc. of "mock" candidates. They (i.e., the admissions committee) also provided some real handy tips on how to approach writing your PS etc.

I don't believe Kaplan conducts this anymore. They do, however, have recorded versions of the sessions on Livestream.

I personally think it's a great way to get first-hand insight into how law schools evaluate applications, and definitely recommend prospective students to check it out.

Here are the links (each video is about 2 hours long, btw):

Link 1 (schools: Harvard, UVA, Penn and NYU): https://livestream.com/kaptest/the-180-admissions-roundtable/videos/27765588

Link 2 (schools: UVA, BC, GWU and NYU): https://livestream.com/kaptest/lsat-180-live-mock-admissions-panel/videos/60476031

P.S.: You may need to create a free account in order to view the videos.

Hope this helps!

I'll be studying the LSAT for several months, hopefully getting a high score. I've realized that 4.5 months until September may not be sufficient study time for the score I need. I also know early admission is ideal for splitters, so I may have to wait until 2018 application period for my best chance. (Thoughts? Does Early Admission matter that much?) I take my diagnostic this weekend.

I tanked my GPA at an average school, significantly improving during the last year, but that was obviously not enough to offset the average. (2.2 to be exact) This is a primary reason as to why I put off the idea of going to law school some years after college, aside from my serious concerns about debt and job prospects, but I'm finally going to apply. I'm also seeing if some MPP programs will accept the LSAT, just to maximize my options. (Due to my background experience, I qualify for scholarships and significant discounts for some other programs, including MPP programs.)

Has anyone here succeeded as a splitter with a low GPA?

Any tips for succeeding? I know the gist - addendum, great recommendations, and essay.

Does anyone here have good experiences with T3/T4 schools? (Education and Employment)

Is anyone else applying to such schools?

In my true nature, I've already read and analyzed the shit out of my dim prospects and the looming financial burden, but more advice is always welcome. I'm applying to schools way out my reach, mostly to see what happens. I may not get into any schools, and I know my best chance is with fourth/third tier schools. It seems like many lawyers have good careers after a T3/T4 education here in the MD/DC area. I'm also interested in possibly going back to NYC after school. I'm hoping the networks here would help with that, if I chose that route. Jobs in DC will probably be more accessible. In MD, we only have two schools and neither are top tier, so it seems that most of the attorneys here come from UB or UMD. I've heard that the strong local networks mean good job prospects in the MD/DC area. My idea is that doing well in a lower tier school + networking my bum off = getting a good job in MD or DC, which could provide more opportunities in NYC, if I chose that route.

Sorry for the long post. :)

On my online status checker for TAMU Law, it says that my application is still "Under Review" but under "Decision Status" it says "no decision made". I've heard that this means that someone in admissions reviewed it and has decided that another faculty member needs to review it and has made no decision from there. Any thoughts?

Help!! A friend and I submitted our apps for a number of t14's almost simultaneously (on the deadline days of Feb. 1, Feb. 15, etc.), sometimes within minutes or hours of each other. She has heard back from some of these schools (and I believe most were rejections, though I'm not 100% certain), but I have not yet heard from those same schools. I have also heard back from a number of t14's (these were rejections) that we both applied to, but she has not. What does this all mean? I know I am driving myself crazy trying to understand this seemingly incomprehensible process, but am wondering if anyone out there might have some insight.