Lateness really hurts. My personal hunch is that one doesn't have a chance unless their numbers are in the 90% of the school stats. If you are not in a hurry to go to law school, just apply again. Or you can transfer -- don't do it unless you don't mind graduating from the first school if you don't get to transfer to your preferred school. That being said, Northwestern is not bad at all, congratulations!
Hi Leah,
My school has more 30+-year-old students than I expected (on their website I think the average age is 24?). We have a huge LLM program and the LLM students are usually more experienced and older -- after 1L, classes usually have mixed JDs and LLMs. If you commute to school, you probably will miss many school events, which are good opportunities to network. Living on campus will help you make more friends and stay connected. Sign up to join the student organizations at the beginning of the school year, you will get help and outlines from 2Ls and 3Ls.
My interest is in public service and I have been able to connect to people and projects that I find really interesting. In public service, I think people care more about your passion and interest. Work experiences are generally helpful in big law job interviews (especially if they are law-related) but most employers still care most about 1L grades. As older folks, you only need to come up with good stories about why law? why law as your second career? The rest of the questions you get are pretty standard. Don't worry! Your school's career office will help you and they are very good!
I want to apply for clerkship after graduation. After that, I have no plans yet and I want to keep my options open.
Keep your mind open (I used to be very age-conscious but I am learning to do less of that), reach out and talk to people whom you find interesting, and never hesitate to ask for help!
> @leahbeuk911 said:
> @msirchia692 Hi there, and welcome back!! :) Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm 34 and just went through the application gauntlet, but decided to push back a year and reapply. It's really encouraging to hear from you!
>
> That's one of my concerns going into school, the social/community aspect. I don't know if I'll be the sole old woman that the whippersnappers think is boring haha. Good to hear that it's been a positive experience for you though!
>
> What did you do for your 1L summer? Have you seen any differences in how employers view you vs the youngsters? Any challenges there? What are your goals/plans for post-school?
>
> I could probably pick your brain forever haha. I'll leave it at that. :) Thanks for stopping in!
Hi Folks,
It's been a while and I missed the 7sage community.
I am finishing up my 2L and so far it's been an incredible ride and I have loved every minute of it. I think if you still want to go to law school at this age (I was 35+ when I started), it IS something you are meant to do and you will not regret it!
I have made friends at school and in general law school is very supportive -- but you have to reach out. (If possible, I suggest you pay a school visit before deciding which school you want to attend. ) The best part about being older is that I have a different perspective and I don't get stressed out like those younger kids, which has made law school much more enjoyable.
Congratulations!! Happy for you.
It will hurt but you have to move on. You have to show them that it is PAST. Try to end your addendum with a positive note such as "After xxx, I finished school with a 4.0/4.0 GPA" or "I finished my last two semesters in college with straight A's."
@msami1010493
Thank you so much for your reply! How should I contact the admissions to submit this additional LOR? Do you have any suggestions?
Dear 7sagers,
I have this dean who knows me very very well. I was afraid that she could not write LOR before school deadlines, so I submitted all my applications without indicating that there will be a third from her. Now hers has arrived. Shall I talk to schools to submit one more LOR? Does it hurt? Does it help?
Thank you so much!
Thank you 7sage for $50 toward my law school fund! Haha
Congratulations!!
Proctors: Either the proctor could not read, or it was the first time she read the LSAT instructions.
Facilities: The restrooms are close by. The building is old but it has everything.
What kind of room: Big lecture room(s).
How many in the room: 100+
Desks: Well you have chairs with tablet arms. At lease enough space to put your answer sheet there. I spread the test booklet on my lap and put my watch on the chair next to mine.
Left-handed accommodation: Didn't pay attention but I would say no.
Noise levels: Minimum
Parking: Ample parking close to the building.
Time elapsed from arrival to test: People were still arriving after 8:30 am. I would say we did not start till 10 am.
Irregularities or mishaps: I sat in the front row and the proctors whispered on and on during one section - in the end, I had to stop them.
Other comments: The test center is not at St. Johns Law school, but one of the main lecture hall in the university. Your LSAT instruction sheet will not reveal this till one week before the test. The proctors are not familiar with this test so they are lax about the procedure. You can bring your cell phones to the test center - they will just store the phones in a white plastic box. The bad thing is that one phone went off during the test...
Would you take the test here again? I was reassigned there (from Hofstra). I don't want to take it again at this place even though I got my highest score.
Date[s] of Exam[s]: 2015 Dec
Proctors: Very familiar with the procedure and strictly following them.
Facilities: Restrooms are close by and everything is clean and perfect.
What kind of room: Medium-sized lecture rooms.
How many in the room: 50 - 80
Desks: Long desks, more than enough space to spread out your stuff
Left-handed accommodation: Yes
Noise levels: Minimum
Parking: Ample parking in front of the building.
Time elapsed from arrival to test: Everyone was lined up in the first floor lobby first (testing rooms are on the second floor) and got assigned a piece of paper. If you arrive at 8:25 or later, you probably will have to be escorted to the testing rooms. The test started at around 9:30.
Irregularities or mishaps: Once during the test I heard a car alarm go off for about 15 seconds.
Other comments: The test center is at Hofstra Law School. People there are familiar with the test and the testing conditions are ideal. This place is just quiet throughout. The proctors can be very strict.
Would you take the test here again? Absolutely!
Date[s] of Exam[s]: 2014 Sept, 2015 Oct.
Hey I took LSAT three times and increased my score in every retake by 4-5 points, although my 2nd retake was a disaster because I could not sleep the night before. I think you need to take a break first. Just relax for two months and do nothing LSAT. Then you can start planning for Sept - still in time for next cycle.
@sheridickson10526 I share your concerns. I too am interested in public sectors. I think that in general people at better ranked schools are more interested in public sectors hence it is easier to find people who share your interest and build a network there. It sounds like you are going to law school to fulfill a personal aspiration. Good Luck!
I was in the 160 range and stopped studying for 9 months. When I restarted I scored 165 very easily. Maybe you just need a break. Also, I used to set my target scores. At some point I was so obsessed over it that I got super nervous about PT - didn't want to take it, put it off, etc... That's not good. That's burnout.
When I restarted LSAT again, I quickly broke into 170s. But I underestimated the newer tests which gave me a lot of trouble in my last stages of studying so my score was never steady (in the 168-173 range)... If I could do this again, I would spend less time on earlier tests and redo 70's three times. The 70's are just so different! Also, to me the difference between 170+ and 175+ is how much time you have left for each section, how easily you can get the earlier ones correct and save time for the killer questions.
Putting my 3-year-old son in daycare was extremely helpful, so I could do the timed PT uninterrupted. When he was at home, it never worked. He would ring the doorbell when I was in the middle of a section and that drove me crazy. The good thing about babies is that they are not running yet. I guess the difficult part is to find 3.5 hours to do the PT. I think you need to divide your studying into different parts and find best ways to accomplish each part.
p.s. I did my reviews with my son playing by my side. Sometimes he sat on my lap and watched JY's game explanations with me :)
Dear 7Sagers,
Do you give your PS a title? Why or why not? I can't decide right now..
Thank you!
I think for games you need to start working on them on your own to figure out your weakness. Don't do PT's. Work on a game untimed. Mark places where you are unsure. Watch JY's explanation (I can't think of games without hearing his voice in my mind.) Then going back to the particular curriculum that covers this type of games/setups.
@noobie1626
I did talk to my UG's career center and pre-law adviser! I found it extremely helpful - only wish that I had done it sooner. I have gained new perspectives after speaking to her - knowing my strength and weakness. She gave me general directions which are similar to what you hear from 7sage mentors. But she also helped me on details that I may not feel comfortable sharing on a public forum. She reviewed my resume and pointed out formatting issues. I strongly urge you to contact yours. It doesn't hurt right?
p.s. I can make an appointment at the career center with my school email...
Thank you so much for sharing this letter with us. His insight into the legal profession is timeless!
wow congrats! What are your numbers if you don't mind to share?
Can you postpone the test now? Have you checked the deadline to postpone the test? That said, your Feb score won't make it for this cycle. I don't see why you need to rush.
I agree with a post from above - the rumor of 3 points drop from PT scores on average was about right for me. Sitting in a test before did not help calm my nerves.
Same age, one kid, and rising 3L (at a T6). I would not have enjoyed law school this much had I done it at a younger age. So age is actually a blessing. As a single mom, you will definitely have to ask for help at times (family, friends,neighbors, etc.) and always get as much support as you can (don't feel bad about it because you can pay back later). You can do it!!