Hi everyone! I am a rising senior in undergraduate and am really hoping to go straight into law school. However, many advisors and peers have told me that taking a gap year and working in a legal profession is almost always recommended for boosting chances of admission to most T14s. I have been working part time with an attorney since junior year of college, so technically I have legal work experience, but it is not "official" as it was an internship. Would this experience be enough to count as legal work experience, or do I really need a gap year? Moreover, are gap years with legal work experience really that important for admissions? Are there any schools in particular that really really prefer students with gap years? I am seriously so stressed about this, so any responses would be SO appreciated-thanks!

Question about resume ordering.

I've been out of school for two years. Should Education or Experience come first on my resume for apps?

I have a GPA addendum because of a specific circumstance I was in during my undergrad, and I have a 4.00 gpa from my masters to back up that the undergrad was just a fluke and wont happen again.

I am just wondering where I am to include this in my application?

Thank you so much

Hey all, I'm in an odd spot with reccommendation letters. I have an old military supervisor and an advisor at my current undergrad insitution that have written really solid letters, but I just cannot seem to get one from a professor. My whole time in undergrad, I've never had the opportunity to take two classes from the same professor. Also, the professors I've gotten to know and who I could ask have a policy aginst writing a letter for anyone unless they've taken two or more of their classes. Law schools really emphasize that applicants should get a letter from a professor if they're still in undergrad, but I'm pretty much stuck without one. Is this something I could write an addendum to explain, or would that make the situation look even worse?

Can I purchase CAS in advance even if I do not know when I will start applying to schools?

Is there a way to see the writing prompts for schools I want to apply to before starting the application?

I recently turned 42, and law school has always been my dream since I was eight when an Uncle experienced police brutality in 1980s Southeast Texas. I always have done well in grade and high school – school has always been enjoyable. Left Texas for California at 21, primarily for a relationship that lasted 21 years. Although my relationship with my Husband lasted 21 years, it was not easy. As a gay man, he suffers tremendously from mental illness, severe depression, and alcoholism. In supporting my Husband, doing well at the community college was a struggle. I have taken classes on and off for the entire 21 years, intending to earn a bachelor’s degree – it never happened.

Fast forward to now, I’m the principal of a small tax practice, and I enjoy helping my clients solve their tax problems with federal and state tax authorities. One of my clients, a retired police investigator from Alameda County, encouraged me to return to school and finish what I started 21 years ago – especially since the recent dissolution of my relationship. Reflecting on our conversation, I decided to return to school to finish up and revisit my long-term goal of eventually enrolling in law school. But two things worry me about the realistic chances of being admitted to law school – my GPA and the school I’m transferring to.

I used the calculator provided by 7Sage to determine my GPA this far, going back 21 years, and it is calculated showing a 1.4. The undergrad school I’m transferring to does not calculate a GPA. It has a Pass/ Fail grading system. So this extracts any opportunity to get my GPA up. If I score well enough on the LSAT in the near future, what are my chances for admission to a law school? I’m considering moving back home to Texas or Louisiana, and the law schools I’d be interested in are Southern University Law Center (Part-time), South Texas College of Law at Houston (Hybrid), and Mitchell Hamline (Hybrid). What say you? Any advice?

Hello, I was wondering if there is any way to know the prompts for the upcoming law school admission cycle before the fall. Are the prompts usually the same as the previous year? Would the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action have impact on the essay prompts? Thank you in advance!

On Wednesday, June 28 at 8pm ET, join 7Sage admissions consultant Tajira McCoy for another panel discussion with law school admissions deans from across the country. For this conversation, hear from representatives of Boston College, Emory University, Loyola University Chicago, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Richmond, and the University of San Diego, as they weigh in on various parts of the reapplicant process and common reapplicant questions––should you write new documents? Will retaking the LSAT help? Will applying earlier make a difference? Do I have to specifically address being a reapplicant? We hope to see you there!

Register here: https://7sage.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_akOx91pHQSOyN07230Arqw

Note: if you can't make it the session will be recorded and subsequently posted to our podcast.

hi all! i took the LSAT for the first time in january and scored a 166. i studied a ton and recently took the june exam only to have scored a 165. i am aiming for a 170+ and planning on taking the test again in august. would you recommend cancelling my june score since i had a point decrease?

7Sage admissions consultant Tajira McCoy published a new blog post about SCOTUS decision on affirmative action. You can check it out here: https://classic.7sage.com/scotus-decision-on-affirmative-action/

Just curious to know how the recent USSC decision on affirmative action will affect admission chances. For instance, would this be put into play for this admission cycle? Thanks!

Hi,

I plan on applying to law schools this fall and I plan to study my butt off all summer and hopefully get a really good score come October. My original plan was to take it in September but I have had some complications come up that make that not really an option for me.

If I plan to have all my application materials ready to go by the time scores are released (including 2 letters and a 3.99 GPA), and hopefully get a better score than I would if I were to take the LSAT any earlier (ideally 170s), would submitting applications in very early November seriously decrease my chances at getting into top ~30 schools and scholarships (not necessarily from top 30s)?

I'm really worried about this and I'm wondering if since I cannot take it any earlier if I should just postpone my applications all together until next year.

Thanks!

Hi, do I qualify as a URM? I'm a first generation low income South Asian student. Also, is URM based solely on race/ethnicity or do economic factors play a role?

Hi everyone!

I am an upcoming senior at a university and will be graduating in a total of 2 years! Therefore, I was not able to declare my major yet, but am set to declare during winter break with my counselors; should I wait to apply until then, as my transcripts will reflect 'Undeclared,' or should I apply earlier and provide context that I am finishing my final requirement in the fall? Thank you for your time!!

A lot of schools list questions such as "have you ever had disciplinary actions/charges brought against you?" Does disciplinary action include inquiries?

Other schools specify that they're asking for "academic disciplinary actions/academic misconduct" so are academic actions included under all things disciplinary or do they differ from disciplinary actions?

I assume no matter the specifics an applicant should either call and ask the admissions office or just err on the side of caution and submit anything they think might apply.

I've been going to school full time (summer semesters included) for the past 3 years and I'll be graduating from undergrad this fall, all while working full time as an office manager, and now a paralegal. My GPA is 3.9. I took the April LSAT and got a 148, 10 points lower than my PT average. I'm planning to take again in June and aiming for high 150s minimum. When I apply to law schools, will my background benefit me in regard to acceptance?

Hello everyone,

I've unfortunately been waitlisted at UBC and McGill this year. Does anyone have any advice or experience for writing letters of continued interest?

Thanks in advance :)

I need help deciding on a school! My deadline to accept (provisionally or firmly) uOttawa is tomorrow, but if I accept there, my acceptance from Osgoode will be cancelled. I'm not sure what to do. I know Osgoode is ranked much higher, but I'm nervous about living there. My career ambitions are to go into the government/human rights/non-profit/humanitarian/international development sector(s), and I simply don't know what to do. Maybe I could transfer schools if I end up not liking it? I'm so nervous! I have also yet to hear back from UBC or McGill, and I have a deferral from UVIC. Please help (in a gentle way, I'm quite fragile at the moment lol).

Edit:

I wanted to add that I would love to make community in law school as I went to a small commuter school in undergrad. I also want to consider the school's abroad program and opportunities for growth. Prestige isn't necessarily the most important thing but I would love to make kind friends and have a lot of opportunities within the subject areas that I want to pursue.

Hi! I plan on applying to law schools this September for Fall '24 and had some questions about the FAFSA application. The LSAC advises law school applicants: "If you plan on enrolling in law school at the beginning of the fall term, you can apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA beginning October 1 of the prior calendar year." As the FAFSA 2022-2023 application closes at the end of this month, am I fine to apply for 2023-2024 when it opens up this October 2023? Or am I misunderstanding and should've applied 2022-2023? I'm having a hard time picturing my timeline as financial aid always worries me.

I studied abroad for the Fall Semester, and those classes appear on my undergrad transcript as transfer credits (no grade, I just received credit for completion). Do I need to submit a transcript from study abroad? A bit confused by LSAC guidance.

Hello all,

I am currently in my third year of a business program. In my second year, I became interested in computer science through elective courses I had taken, and decided to enroll into a dual degree offered at my school. This adds 1-2 years of course requirements (depending on how many courses you take per semester).

After a year in the program, I have realized that it is likely not for me. Overall I perform well in the courses, but since I joined the program late, I am realizing that I am unlikely to finish in only 1 additional year. I am most likely looking at at least 2 years due to a maximum allowance of courses that can be taken per semester. (I work full time over summers, so that is not an option).

Given that I want to go to law school, it seems silly to me to continue to pay for rent in a town far from home, and to continue paying tuition, simply because I find the courses interesting. With all that being said, I am wondering what people think the effects of dropping the second degree will be on my applications. Like many, I am hoping to go to a t14 school. According to my academic advisors, there will be a note on my transcript that I withdrew from the program, but it will not have any effect on my marks or my progress in my business degree.

TLDR: I am currently enrolled in two undergraduate degrees through a program offered at my school. I want to drop the second degree, and I am worried it will negatively impact my applications.

I read somewhere that some schools like to see "why x" essays even if the topic is not specifically listed as an optional essay. I’m concerned because I’ve aleeady submitted a few applications without this addendum, and I don’t want those schools to think I don’t really want to go there. I just thought it wasn’t necessary if they don’t ask for it. Anyone have info on this?

UPDATED QUESTION 12/20: I want to write a Why X essay for Columbia and NYU because I am below both their medians and they are dream schools. I originally thought it couldn't hurt to include a short one (350 words or so), but after reading over a super old thread on a different forum, I'm concerned that I may hurt my chances (and annoy admissions officers) by including unsolicited additional reading material...especially given that it's obvious someone with my stats would love to go to their school. Any advice?

Hey I am applying to a new school after being dismissed (due to external factors that have since improved) from another law school last year. This is my first time applying to this particular law school in question. Should I put first time or reapplicant as my applicant type? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi all,

I am in a bit of a shock at the moment. I received my cum GPA and it dropped from a 4.06 to 3.58. I had a rough start in 2010 and walked out on my courses without withdrawing. I need an expert to help me double check if LSAC may have made an error. I need an absolute pro to help me out. I don't want to ask LSAC to double check in case they made an error and somehow end up with a lower score. Any avail to help me out?

Thank you!

How high of a chance is it for a Law School to accept someone off the waitlist in August.