What do you mean by manually? I've never heard of that before. I have always used the double-space function that you find in the paragraph formatting option.

The same thing happened to me! I asked a supervisor months ago about a LOR, and when I followed up with them a month ago, they asked me to draft it. It's actually a pretty common thing from what I've heard from my colleagues. I chose to see it as an opportunity rather than as an inconvenience. It's another part of your application that you have some control over. My supervisor has dozens of people under their watch, so this way I could make sure to include details and examples of my work that they may have otherwise forgotten about.

With all that being said, it can be hard to write about yourself! I just googled "law school professional letters of recommendation", and looked at various websites (usually from colleges/universities) that detailed what you should and should not include.

Unfortunately, I don't have a template to give you, but if you keep looking I'm sure you'll be able to find some great resources to help you out.

Good luck!

If you can't take the LSAT until June 2019, then why not give the GRE a shot. I wouldn't make GRE studying detract from LSAT studying, but from what I've heard from friends who have taken the GRE, it is a much more manageable test and is easier to study for. Plus the testing dates are x1,000,000,000 more flexible than LSAT testing dates.

I have a feeling that more schools will continue to jump on the GRE bandwagon. If you want to apply for fall 2018, then take the LSAT. But if you're not looking to apply until fall 2019 or later, then give both a shot.

@ said:

@ Wow thanks for sharing this. Do you think your firm is representative? I've heard this before from several sources both online and in-person even from the partner level in one instance. It makes sense to me. My sense is that, the further down you go in the rankings, the higher one's class rank has to be to compete. At some point though, somewhere in tier 3/4, not even #1 class rank can help.

I just feel obligated to state planning to transfer into T14 is not a wise strategy. For every example of someone who did it successfully there are many who did not. The best option is still to invest your time upfront into the LSAT and get the best score you can.

@ - Yes, I do think my firm is representative. School rank is important, but doing well at your school is just as important. If you go to Harvard (which has a large law class), and end up not being on law review and being 100th in your class, then there may be someone from GW or BU who was top 10% in their class, and on law review who firms may be more inclined to take.

I work at a Vault top 20 law firm as a paralegal, and spoke with our head of recruiting today. She said they'll look at anyone who is top of their class regardless of school. Obviously going to a T14 school helps, but if you do well (top 10%) then you'll have options. I work with lawyers who went to University of Maryland, George Mason, Florida International, Pepperdine, etc... I work with two younger associates - one got a 150 on her LSAT, went to a school that isn't even ranked, and transferred to Georgetown, the other got a 175 on her LSAT and went to Harvard - and now they're both at exactly the same place.

Okay - so I think my best bet is apply early to Northwestern, cross my fingers that I'm not outright rejected, and then hopefully be able to submit a higher LSAT score in January.

Does anyone have insight as to my odds of being waitlisted at Northwestern with a 166/3.6 (from a good college), and work experience as a paralegal from a big law firm (top 20). I think I have solid soft factors.

Mindset is key! I have realized this as well after I took the December 2016 test, and completely psyched myself out.

I was a college athlete, and so for my retake I channeled my experience of dealing with nerves before competition into dealing with nerves before the LSAT. So there are definitely ways to get your mindset under control in addition to meditation (which I've never tried, but may have to give it a shot now).

Congrats on getting a score you wanted!

@ - sorry for the confusion - I took the June 2017 as a proctored practice test. I took it as a PT about a week before the September LSAT. The conditions were pretty realistic (proctor, room full of people, break after 3 sections). The September LSAT was my real LSAT.

@ - Interesting advice! Just so I'm clear - even if I'm rejected in the ED pool, I could apply again as regular decision?

If being burnt out is your number one reason for not wanting to take it again, then you should suck it up and take it again. Law school will put you through the wringer a million more times than the LSAT. Consider this a dress rehearsal. I'm in a similar situation, and am almost certain I will be retaking.

Thank you! That's a good attitude to approach it with. I doubt law school admissions would look negatively on someone for submitting too many transcripts. They really only care about LSAT and undergrad GPA.

No - if you can get a transcript from a college/university then you should submit it. That was my impression at least. I described the situation to the LSAC person (I have credits at a university, but these credits were acquired during high school), and they were pretty blunt about it.

Even though LSAC told me I should, I'm not convinced I actually should... How would they know that I wasn't submitting these random credits? Also, I don't want it to look like I'm doing numbers gymnastics or trying to inflate my GPA.

Thank you for all your insights! I actually ended up calling LSAC, and they said I do need to submit the transcripts if they come from a college/university.