as someone who is not ethnically or socioeconomically diverse is it inappropriate to write a diversity statement?

either:

Hi Everybody,

So I graduated from college in May 2015. A few months ago I asked 2 of my professors to write a LOR for me. I sent them my resume, my transcript, and a few of the essays I had written for their respective classes. Neither of them had any issue writing a letter for me, and I was a dedicated student throughout my college years. I went to their office hours, participated in class, and got As in both courses; however, I don't know that I was anything that special or particularly memorable (especially 3-4 years after the fact). I also had my current manager who is a corporate attorney (I am a paralegal at a hedge fund) write a LOR for me - he knows me quite well personally and professionally, and I have been working for him for 2 years now. While I know it is commonly said that your academic LORs are much more significant than your professional LORs, I think my manager's letter would likely be stronger than either of the ones that my professors wrote. So my question is....for the schools that only accept 2 LORs, should I select my 2 professors' letters? Or 1 of my professors' letters and my manager's letter?

Any opinions? Thank you!

Hey everyone I've never posted before but I just wanted to take the time to say how amazing the comprehensive consulting is. I wavered on the price, but I am so so glad I went through with it. David and Kurt really really know their stuff. Their writing and editing skills are beyond my ability to put in words. They really held my hand and helped with every single aspect of the application. They answered every question I had and responded in a professional manner without fail. I owe them more than I can express. They helped me write 12 point font/ 11 point font versions of everything - 1 page /2 page versions of my diversity statement, personal statement, resume, etc and provided guidance on whether I should submit an addendum for multiple LSAT scores and David even personally reached out to an admissions committee at a T14 school on my behalf to seek a clarifying answer for me (without even my having requested his doing so!) I had a character & fitness issue as well and they helped ensure that I had the best possible answer uniquely tailored to my personal situation. They even made sure that the differences between my essays as they had to be filled in the textbox vs. being an attachment would look perfect. To sum it up, if I could, I would TOTALLY do it all over again. I seriously cannot recommend or thank them enough. In short - you are getting exactly what you sign up for and more. As you can tell by my username - I wouldn't have been able to do it without them (3(/p)

The assistant dean of admin said they’d have a decision to me by the end of this week. Pray for me.

To everyone else applying or still working on LSAT, good luck. I mean it. GOOD LUCK. And remember that everything happens for a reason.

Hi all,

I have taken the September and November LSATs and basically got the same score--which, was not what I wanted. Can I take the March LSAT or June LSAT or will schools not look at it? Is the January LSAT the latest acceptable LSAT for this cycle?

Hey 7Sagers,

We're posting on behalf of a 7Sager. They would like to get advice from you!

I took the Sept. LSAT and got a 150 and then studied full time until the Nov. LSAT and got a 165 although the second time i got an accomadation for ADD and got 20 mins extra per section. For schools that ask to explain a large difference in scores what do you recommend?

Hi all,

I was wondering if a separate essay is needed for addressing each one. It seems to me that they are the same thing. So can I just write a diversity statement or do I have to write one for UG as well or include it as an addenda.

Thank you in advance!

Hello admin, please delete this post. I’m so sorry about the inconvenience!

Through my first 4 semesters I had a 3.0 GPA. During the last of these 4, I withdrew from 2 classes and received a D- in another. Over my final 5 semesters, I earned a 4.0. Needless to say I got my act together. Do you think I need to explain this shift in an addenda (especially the semester with two withdrawals and a D-)? I was in a rough relationship, and wasn't focused on school.

Hi all,

I was wondering if the honors, awards or other recognitions we list under the education section of the application have to be listed on the education section of the resume.

Thank you!

I finished a Canadian university, which gives out A+ with a GPA of 4.125/4.5. If I covert my GPA to 4.0, my GPA should be 3.6. LSAC converted my grades to 3.88.

Am I missing something? Is LSAC's GPA out 4.3? Did I convert my incorrectly?

I'm asking mainly those of you who have already applied through a cycle! How did you receive your acceptance or rejection from each school? I hope most of them don't send snail mail rejection letters lol.

I'm gutted. My Nov score was 7 points lower than my goal, and my top choice school doesn't accept the Jan score. If I apply this year, even my chances of admission to the other schools on my list are very slim (Jan scores come out mid-Feb). I just turned 28. If I apply next cycle, I would be entering law school at 30 years old. This may be getting personal, but I want to move on with my life, have children, etc.

Would you guys advise me to apply anyway this year, apply next year, or change trajectories altogether? Feeling low and needing input. Any perspective would help. Thanks.

Hello Everyone I am a URM (AA). GPA:3.3, 156 Nov Score I've used the 7sage predictors and according to that if I was to increase to a 160 Jan score(realistic case scenario) in February, my chances would not increase only by about 2% to many of the schools I'm applying . Is this worth retaking? I would love above 160s and have done it in the past on pTs but don't want to shoot myself in the foot

Hey guys, looking for some advice.

So like 6 or 7 of the schools I am looking at, both my GPA and LSAT fall smack dab in the 25% percentile for that school's class last cycle, per their respective admissions website.

Is it of any worth to apply to them? Maybe apply to couple as reach schools? I don't want to sink money into applying for them if I don't really stand a chance as 25% range for both their GPA and LSAT.

So #10 on the USC Gould app says to explain the variance in multiple LSAT scores or whether or not you feel your scores shack up to your full potential. I am thinking about discussing how my test day anxiety led me to underperform on test day. And how I went to see a psychiatrist for this anxiety so I could take care of it for test day -- but obviously it wasn't to much avail if I scored a few points below my full potential on the real thing. Note: I don't get testing accommodations and never have. But I've had problems with anxiety since I was a kid.

Basically, my question is, do ya'll think it's taboo to write about my anxiety and the medical help I sought during the time I was studying/taking the LSAT (hopefully it shows my effort to remedy what was causing me to underperform)?

I'm in a bit of a dilemma right now in deciding if I should apply to schools now or wait to retake the LSAT in January. I took it for the first time in November and got a 167. Now, I know that sounds great, but my GPA is below the 25 percentile for every school that I am looking at. Sometimes well below. I’m not delusional and looking at HLS or Yale, mostly top 20-50. My 167 is above the 75 percentile for almost all the schools I am looking at. My goal for November was above 170. Now, I know that it is always better to apply early, but I think I can break 170 in January. Do you think I should wait to retake, or will it not make too much of a difference and just apply now?

So, November scores are out! Unfortunately for me, it was a bummer.

I scored 166 in October in Asia but in the hopes of get at least 1-2 score bump, I flew to Canada and set for the November LSAT. I honestly felt quite confident after the test and thought I would get at least the same score. Yet, here I am with a 162... last LR section just killed me :(

I should've studied more in between and maybe I shouldn't have expected much from 1 month more preparation. If I am being honest, I was quite distracted by preparing for the admissions with my 166 score. But I was scoring solid mid-high 160s and I thought that was it.

Enough with excuses, here I go with my actual question.

I have taken in total 3 LSATs and my scores are literally all over the place.

158 in June 2017

166 in Oct 2018

162 in Nov 2018

I took my June 2017 test in the middle of my master's thesis research and I was overwhelmed by the test day anxiety. But after I finished my thesis and graduated this Feb, I had more time on my hand and studied, although I had to work part time to make some money. I believe this study has resulted in the 8-point increase in October 2018. And for 162 November 2018, I have explained a bit at the beginning.

I know some schools encourage and some schools require addendum for multiple LSAT scores especially when the score gap is big. And I think mine shows a big fluctuation. In that, I have no idea how to proceed with the addendum. I would like to highlight my 166 score shows my potential the best, but the 4-point drop in Nov 2018 poses a significant challenge in doing so. I know I am going out on a limb here by saying that I have no idea how to proceed, I would surely appreciate anyone's input on my situation.

Thanks! And congrats to all who sat for Nov 2018! I wish the best for all of you in this admissions cycle!

I am not sure what to say in the LSAT addendum that I think I definitely need to write. On the September 2014 LSAT, I was in my senior year of college and didn't do a great job studying - I got a 160. Then I decided I would take a few years off and get some work experience before I applied to law school. On the September 2018 LSAT, I had a serious case of test anxiety and totally bombed (I'm still not sure why I didn't cancel my score) - I got a 161. On the November 2018 LSAT, I studied with a tutor for the 8 weeks before the test, put a ton of time/effort in, and didn't freak out during the real thing - I got a 171 which was close to my PT average.

I don't feel like I have any reasons for my large score improvement (that are legitimate at least) to discuss in an addendum since I just studied harder and didn't have a panic attack during the test. I am just really not sure what to do at this point. I was hoping to get a few opinions on whether I should forgo writing the LSAT Improvement addendum? Do I just frame my test takes in a different way that might sound a little better? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi all,

For those of you who have applied to uiuc law how did you handle the portion of the resume that asks for interest/hobbies/academic pursuits. Did you use a list or or a short paragraph. I could see how hobbies/interest could be listed but I feel like academic pursuits would be best as a paragraph.

Happy Gray (Grey ?) Day!

I've been out of college for almost 25 years. Getting LORs was a bit of a challenge, as all my professors have since retired and are travelling or don't check their official emails very often. Of my first two choices, one said she was travelling for the foreseeable future and wouldn't be able to write one for me; the other hasn't replied. With that in mind I approached two others, and was so pleasantly surprised to find that both remembered me well, even though I'd only had a couple classes with them 25 years ago, and both were very encouraging and overjoyed to write me LORs.

One of them mentioned a paper I'd written that "revised, corrected, and refined a theory" of hers regarding a certain novel. I don't even remember this! So don't assume that just because you've been out of school for a while (or even a LONG while) that professors won't remember you. It doesn't hurt to ask, and you may be surprised :)

I have gotten admitted to my safe school, but I got put on a wait list for my preferred school. Are there any suggestions to up my chances?

In the character and fitness section for some applications they have you describe what occurred in a box within the section. Because I am already describing what happened in the c&f section, do I still have to attach an addendum explaining the situation further or would that just be unnecessary? Thanks

I worked for two years straight out of college (from May 2016 to July 2018) and then started studying for the LSAT full-time as well as doing some volunteer work. Do I need to address the time between when I left my job (July 2018) to when I will be hitting apply on my application (December 2018) somewhere on my resume? I have my volunteer activities during this time listed under my volunteer section. U Chicago, for instance, says "If your education or work has been interrupted for more than a normal vacation period, please describe your activities during that time in your résumé or in a separate addendum". Perhaps just a bullet under my personal section saying that I studied for the LSAT full-time from August 2018 to November 2018?

Hi everyone,

So I graduated without a minor as I had to transfer campuses within my university and the campus I transferred to did not have the required classes to complete the minor I originally chose. Upon viewing my school’s recommended academic plan for my major, I noticed that taking a certain economics class (that I took during my freshman year) entitled me to a business minor (but I was never told about this while I was in school!).

I’ve been on the phone with my school for weeks trying to see if I can get this minor added to my transcripts but they are giving me the run around. Is there any way to write an addendum (or something along those lines) in my application to show schools that I completed the work for a minor and am waiting to see if it will be granted? Also, if this is possible, is it worth doing so?

I’m worried because I was a communications major and didn’t have the best gpa (3.26, but my last few semesters were all 3.75+). I’m thinking a minor would help me a little and I would really like it shown on my application.

Thank you!