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jstought347

Joined: Apr 2025
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General · Michigan 1L: Advice Based on 1 Semester in Law School

jstought347

Monday, Jan 28 2019

@ said:

IMO, with the exception of the extremes (The A's and the B-'s), law school grades are arbitrary.

What do you mean? I'm not saying you're wrong. But how did you come to this conclusion?

LSAT · We've heard about pre-test rituals--what are your post-test ones? :)

jstought347

Tuesday, Nov 28 2017

Ha... finish all of my semester projects that have almost entirely been on hold while preparing for the test.

Admissions · Verbal agreement not reflected in written scholarship offer

jstought347

Friday, Apr 27 2018

@ said:

If that doesn't work - try not to activate your GI bill until year 2/3 and have it pay the last two years and use the scholarship to pay the first. This could be another work around so you don't lose out on $$$

The nice thing about the scholarship is that it is renewable for all three years. So, to me it makes sense to use the VA money first and if it comes to getting a loan, waiting to do that until the last year.

Admissions · Verbal agreement not reflected in written scholarship offer

jstought347

Friday, Apr 27 2018

@ said:

It reads to me that the administrator simply doesn't know how to process this less-than-usual scholarship agreement. However, is it possible that you misunderstood the Dean's commitment?

It's absolutely possible that I misunderstood what the dean told me. I do think that he explained it fairly simply, though, and that his message was that through this combination of funds, I wouldn't have to take any loans to pay for my degree.

Admissions

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Friday, Apr 27 2018

jstought347

Verbal agreement not reflected in written scholarship offer

Hey y'all,

A few details to explain the situation:

My VA benefits will pay for the first two years of law school.

I was offered a 50% scholarship.

For those first two years, the school will be paid full tuition by the VA and the scholarship will not apply until I have exhausted my benefits.

During a phone conversation with the dean of admissions, he told me that he could apply those unused scholarship monies to completely cover my tuition for the third year.

However, when I received the official letter yesterday, there was no mention of reallocating those funds per the phone conversation. Another member of the admissions team told me that practically speaking the school would have to give me a 100% scholarship, which they are not willing to do. She then told me would she have the dean call me, but I have to yet hear from him.

Any thoughts on how I should go about having this conversation with him?

General · if you've reached out for a fee waiver...

jstought347

Saturday, Dec 23 2017

Some schools only give fee waivers to those who got one from LSAC. Others give them if you just ask. Others want you to show some kind of financial need. Others just give them to everyone to get people to apply.

I didn't include any information about LSAT score or GPA, I just emailed the admissions offices and asked for a fee waiver.

Admissions · My really bad looking AA degree dilemma

jstought347

Friday, Dec 15 2017

@ said:

I took over a decade to complete my undergrad, mostly part time (finishing up full time right now) while I built up a career. My personal statement discusses the path I chose and my reasons for that, and in addition I got permission from the admissions committees where I am applying to use a professional reference in place of academic. I'm not in yet, but I would be surprised if it detracted from my chances. If you are worried include some of it in your personal statement or in an addendum!

Same.

And most of the applications ask you to explain any gaps in your education timeline in the education tab of the application.

Admissions · LOCI Help!

jstought347

Thursday, Apr 12 2018

@ said:

Looking at other LOCIs can help with certain phrasing but the "meat" of it will have to come from your own personal reasons why you want to attend a particular school. Remember that you are not the only one that is writing a LOCI - so your letter needs to be as unique as it can be. Try to take some time to figure out why you really want to go to X school - something that is unique to you and something you haven't already mentioned in your personal statement. Its not easy so I suggest brainstorming so you can figure out why you want to go to the school that waitlisted you.

Exactly. Simply put: you start by thanking the admissions committee for all of their hard work; then if you're willing to commit, tell them in plain language, otherwise express some sense of how much you want to go to the school; and then identify several things about the school that appeals to you and why you would make a good fit there.

Admissions · Are T25 law schools still worth the investment?

jstought347

Wednesday, Apr 11 2018

I don't know, I haven't gone to law school. But, I'd wager, yes, I'm sure they're fine schools. Most of the successful lawyers I have met did not go to a T14 or 25 or 30 or whatever arbitrary cut-off you want to make. And, most of the people I know who ended up hating being lawyers went to T14 schools. The point is, it is such a subjective thing that only platitudes like, "you have to do what's right for you," will truly suffice as an answer.

Admissions · Sooooo all my decisions are basically in...

jstought347

Wednesday, Apr 11 2018

I feel ya man. I've also been waitlisted at a bunch of schools. I just sent my LOCI to UVA last week. The letter outlined that UVA was my top choice and that if accepted, I would commit and then I covered my own work experience and how it relates to specific research of a couple UVA law professors.

Admissions · Transferring

jstought347

Tuesday, Sep 11 2018

That's dope! I started law school this semester with the intention of staying here through graduation. As the semester has progressed I've found many aspects of the school off-putting and I am now considering transferring. I haven't seriously looked into the process yet, I'll wait until this semester's grades are released.

In the meantime, any tips for civ pro? ha!