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dominicswain6

Joined: Apr 2025
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dominicswain6

Saturday, Nov 22 2014

hi! I am in Charlotte NC- definitely too far but I am looking for a study buddy in the case that I decide to take the Feb LSAT. Will you be in the CLT area at all?

General · help advice needed for discouraged applicant

dominicswain6

Wednesday, Nov 19 2014

First, I want to say thank you all so much for responding to my plea for help! I appreciate your comments. I do, however, realize a few things about myself now... As I mentioned in my previous statement, I did want to go to law school as a college student. After graduating, getting work experience(which I truly believe will help me upon graduating, in the case that I go), I worked and did well. I am not sure what to think of the common commentary you see on top law school-from 0Ls or 1Ls/other websites, who claim you will not get a job after graduation by attending lower ranked schools, basically ever. And if you do, it won't be worth it.. I totally understand that premise, however, I find most of the people saying these comments most likely lack work experience, etc...if you're coming out of law school with no prior work experience, I can imagine if would be a little more difficult to get a job. I also wonder if by job, they only mean JD/legal jobs..obviously understandable if they do, but I guess I just have a feeling that in this market, people who seek JDs should be flexible.

Also, my thoughts after reading your comments were this- being a good student in law school does not equal job retention or being good as a lawyer(just as it didn't guarantee that in UG), and I can't stand the narrative out there that first job = EVERYTHING. To be honest, all of the hoopla 'don't go to law school unless', which consequently isolates a majority of minorities...is at least part of the reason I have ambivalence about attending law school. How can we suggest - if the average lsat for AAs/MAs is sub 145- that they will not have a respectable future in law?? It isn't a consequence that these scores are what they are..I find it slightly baffling that everyone just nods their head at that. 'Thats just how it is'..?

With that said, I truly do appreciate both of your comments. @.smith thank you for trying to get to the bottom of things and @ thank you for expressing your insight- I think you are spot on on the anxiety affecting my performance bit!

General

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Tuesday, Nov 18 2014

dominicswain6

help advice needed for discouraged applicant

Where do I start? I began my LSAT studies in April of this year, with a diagnostic of 146. I felt discouraged but I felt hopeful. However...after taking TWO LSATs, the highest score I received was a 149. I haven't been working full time for almost a year and a half trying to get into graduate school..not necessarily my choice but lots of pressure from my parents to get in and not worry about work. I had a decent work history before the big gap in employment, but now I feel like...just low. I am not dumb by any means, and I don't think that the LSAT is an indicator of intelligence, but I have always struggled on exams and in school in general, my SAT score was on the lower end and my GPA from UG is sub 3.0..mostly b's and c's. Right now I am completing applications that I am not confident about and I don't feel as though they reflect my true potential, but I feel option less-given you can only take the LSAT 3 times in 2 years and family pressure to get into school asap(I am also an older student-over 25). On the flip side, I do well when on the job front. I am desperate for advice and I'm sure from the outside my problem seems very clear cut- but I struggle to get past the fog.

PS I FULLY committed when prepping for the the LSAT- I took a in-person prep course and I studied for a minimum of 6 hours a day-most days I averaged 8-12 hours. I PUSHED. During this time, I tried to be discipline-no drinking, parties, lots of meditation/positive talks and very light volunteer service. The highest PT I got was 156- 2 days before the exam on the most recent test. Like I mentioned earlier, I struggle with confidence scholastically so I tried to prepare myself in so many aspects for the exam. On the night before the exam I made sure to go to bed at 9pm- and woke up almost 2 hours before the exam- ate a light breakfast..stayed overnight in a hotel for the test so walked to the test location. I completely skipped 2 questions on the exam...so I'm sure I was anxious. I feel like I did everything right--except the fact that this exam may just take time that I don't feel like I have. I took the most recent exams in case anyone is wondering. I don't want to give up on law school, as it was my dream in undergrad, and most of the jobs I've had since UG in would benefit from a JD. Please please help..any advice would be great.

Does LSAT REALLY measure your success in lawschool?