Y'all are doing so great! :) Awesome to hear back about these results from so much hard work.

Schools all differ in terms of whether they accept additional application elements. I would send an email to the admissions office and ask if you can attach it as a addendum to your application. The worst they can say is no.

Here's a helpful guide to writing a Why X essay. It's written partially for undergrad, but just replace all of the school elements with journals, professors, clinics, and law classes that you want to take.

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/why-this-college-essay

Looks like people are getting better at the LSAT. :) Thanks for sharing!

@ said:

@ said:

@ said:

@ said:

As an odd tip schools won't know about multiple deposits until early May so if you're negotiating after seat deposits that's an option BUT no idea if you'll still show up on deposits even if you withdraw one before the May notification schools get.

How do schools find out about multiple deposits by may?

The LSAC Deposit Overlap program.

So it does seem like the May 1 is the last day to withdraw before they get the report on May 15 (or around there)

I couldn't say exactly! It likely depends on the exact policy of the school.

@ said:

@ said:

@ CONGRATULATIONS! That sounds awesome! :) You've done some really great work. I've been seeing and following your posts for like nine months and it's really cool to finally see where you've decide to go. ^^

Super cool!

Yes, I'm excited too!

I'm born and raised in Michigan so they always had a small natural edge because of that. It also made it easier to convince them I would attend if accepted.

I also turned them down in undergrad for a scholarship despite liking it in Ann Arbor a lot so in a way it will be coming full circle to go there for Law school. And oddly, attending will be a vindication that it was the right decision to turn UofM undergrad down since I was able to make it back.

The scholarship at Michigan together with the lower cost of living makes it a deal I consider better than the early decision money at Northwestern and I am very glad I got something better than that since I decided not to apply ED there.

I'll definitely keep in contact with 7sage some although my attention is probably going to start to shift away from the LSAT and admissions a little and toward the 0L prep I'll be doing over the summer. I'll also definitely report back on how that goes after a semester.

@ said:

@ said:

@ CONGRATULATIONS! That sounds awesome! :) You've done some really great work. I've been seeing and following your posts for like nine months and it's really cool to finally see where you've decide to go. ^^

Super cool!

Yes, I'm excited too!

I'm born and raised in Michigan so they always had a small natural edge because of that. It also made it easier to convince them I would attend if accepted.

I also turned them down in undergrad for a scholarship despite liking it in Ann Arbor a lot so in a way it will be coming full circle to go there for Law school. And oddly, attending will be a vindication that it was the right decision to turn UofM undergrad down since I was able to make it back.

The scholarship at Michigan together with the lower cost of living makes it a deal I consider better than the early decision money at Northwestern and I am very glad I got something better than that since I decided not to apply ED there.

I'll definitely keep in contact with 7sage some although my attention is probably going to start to shift away from the LSAT and admissions a little and toward the 0L prep I'll be doing over the summer. I'll also definitely report back on how that goes after a semester.

All of this sounds great. I definitely looks like you've made the right decision. :) A lot of this decision for me as well comes down to personal history and intuitive attraction--compared to just simply going to the highest-ranking school possible. All the best with 0L prep!

YES! NICE JOB! :)

@ CONGRATULATIONS! That sounds awesome! :) You've done some really great work. I've been seeing and following your posts for like nine months and it's really cool to finally see where you've decide to go. ^^

Super cool!

@ said it perfectly!

Ho boy. If we had to disclose every law that we'd broken, that would be--I don't know--intense. Just make sure you don't have any formal disciplinarian actions, and if you don't, you're all clean to not disclose. The law school shouldn't have any reason to reach out to your school and ask questions.

The question of why you switched schools, however, would be something that schools might ask about.

@ said:

@ said:

As an odd tip schools won't know about multiple deposits until early May so if you're negotiating after seat deposits that's an option BUT no idea if you'll still show up on deposits even if you withdraw one before the May notification schools get.

How do schools find out about multiple deposits by may?

The LSAC Deposit Overlap program.

I wanted to weigh in particularly as it relates to public interest folks out there, as people typically say a PI career is the best justification for going to a cheaper, lower-ranked school. However, I'd say that going to an expensive, higher-ranked school is still worth it for those who have high aspirations. If you want to work as an assistant public defender in a rural town your whole life, then you probably won't benefit a whole lot from a higher ranking school (unless you really want to work in a coveted city like NYC or SF). But for those who want to climb the public interest ladder or work in academia:

#1: Competitive PI employers for also consider rank important.

#2: The relationships that T20 schools have to non-profits and government agencies are much more diverse, specific, and can really give you a leg-up in turning those externships/clinics into real jobs post-graduation, particularly if you know the niche you want to work in.

#3: If you're going into PI, then you're obvs not doing it for the money anyway (you're choosing to make 1/2 to 1/3rd you would otherwise). So having manageable debt and living a decent standard of living while paying it off for a while shouldn't be a big concern, particularly if you can use your higher ranking school to get that coveted PI position where you can make the biggest impact and be the happiest.

Just a few things I've considered. I think it all depends on your aspirations. If you have low aspirations, then rank doesn't matter as much. If you have high aspirations, then go to a great school and pay for it. I think people are afraid that they will have high aspirations early on, pay a ton of money at a school, and then fail at achieving their goals. Sure, going to a cheaper school is safer, but you also reduce your chances of achieving those high aspirations.

@ said:

I have a couple objections here...

First of all if you face the choice of Hofstra with a 75% grant vs Harvard, you should essentially never take Hofstra.

Harvard is a great school which will give you employment outcomes worth that amount of debt if you want them or the protection of an LRAP if you don't, but that is not the main reason you shouldn't take Hofstra with a 75% grant over Harvard at sticker.

The main reason is that if you can get into Harvard you should be able to get scholarship offers in the Top 14 or at the very least a close to full tuition scholarship at a place like WUSTL. So if you are debt adverse enough to pick Hofstra at a 75% scholarship over Harvard at sticker, you still shouldn't because you should be picking at least a full tuition scholarship at a Top 25 over Harvard.

Aside from this let's question the basis of @ 's conviction we are likely to succeed from Hofstra. @ spoke to successful attorneys from tier 3 and 4 schools. This establishes that it was once possible to succeed from these schools. What it doesn't establish is that it was ever likely to succeed from these schools let alone that it is still likely to succeed from these schools. After all, if @ had instead spoke to several of the many Tier 3 and 4 students who graduated and never found a legal job or worked Document Review we would be hearing a very different story.

Zing!

@ said:

As an odd tip schools won't know about multiple deposits until early May so if you're negotiating after seat deposits that's an option BUT no idea if you'll still show up on deposits even if you withdraw one before the May notification schools get.

This is a really good point! My timeline actually requires that I do this (stupid law school admission system). I have to put down a deposit at a school whose deadline is April 15th (luckily it's only $200) to keep my seat so that I have time to hear back about awards from other schools and appeal an award letter. But if I don't hear back from them by the 23rd of April, then I'll have to make a second deposit at another school and double-deposit. Luckily, neither of these schools have stipulations about double-depositing. However, a third school that offered me a scholarship (USC) does have a stipulation around it such that I have to withdraw from all of my other schools before their May 1st deposit deadline to keep my scholarship. Here's the language from USC's terms and conditions:

"You may not hold seat deposits at other law schools. USC Gould participates in the LSAC Deposit Overlap program, which provides participating law schools with the names of admitted students who have submitted seat deposits to other law schools. We require that since we are making a financial commitment to you, that in return you make a final commitment to us. If you elect to pay our tuition deposit you must withdraw from all other law schools to which you have been admitted no later than May 1st. Verification that this condition has been met will be determined when the LSAC Deposit Overlap Report is released to law schools. If your name appears on the list, then your scholarship offer may be revoked. If you remain on any waitlists at the time you place your commitment deposit to USC Gould, it is not required that you withdraw from consideration unless you wish to do so."

So read all of your award/acceptance letters and see what you can work out. Worst-case scenario, you might be able to appeal for a deposit deadline extension from the school's dean. Hoping it all works out for you! Let me know if you have any questions or want any advice for negotiating these treacherous waters. :) There should be no reason for you to be forced to fully commit to a school without being able to make a fully informed decision (ie. after all of your visits and with all of your award notifications in front of you). Screw any school that tries to make you do otherwise.

@ said:

@ thanks! Yeah my parents are really amazing. Im blessed to have them. My mom moves her beds out of their room when the synagogue gets packed to make more room. I dont know how she does it lol

Find a way to put that detail in your essay. Seriously. It's powerful. And then find an area in your life were you've "moved the bed out of the way to make room for others" (so to speak) to show how you've been influenced by your parents, and then specifically connect this to how you're going to carry this value into your future career (especially if you intend on going into PI law).

I'm trying to get very excited about it. I'm reaching the end of my wait cycle (I've heard back about acceptances but not $$) and so I'll probably make a final decision around mid April. But I've been overall excited about my results and am super excited for the next stage of hoops to jump through. :)

Seriously though, studying or the LSAT was the most diligent, emotionally and physically healthy I've ever been. I'm going to try my best to replicate that when I finally start classes.

I work two really rewarding jobs, have a rich social life, and recently fell in love (for the last time in probably a long time), so I'm really soaking up my final days as a non-lawyer.

What are y'all doing in your final months? :)

I might recommend giving the admissions office a call and ask. Since it sounds like it might be one or two schools, it shouldn't take too much time.

I know some schools really ask that you don't send anything. UC Berkeley, for example, doesn't even accept LOCIs, LORs, or ANYTHING for waitlisted students (which gives me the impression that they don't want to be bugged).

All that being said, GPA and LSAT together are anywhere between 70-99% of whether or not you'll be admitted. So don't sacrifice points on your LSAT or a .10 on your GPA spend studying in order to try and take on a job or extracurricular activity instead (unless it's REALLY impressive).

@ said:

@ said:

Heading to the University of Texas at Austin! :)

JUST decided. Hoping to hear back from them about a financial aid appeal, but I'm going either way.

It was tough deciding between them and Northwestern (because of NU's prestige), but I want to practice in Texas, so that's what ultimately pulled me. Also, I'm a Florida boy and the weather would kill me.

Anyone else going to UT? :)

Congrats! That is my top choice heading into applications this fall (believing I'll hit my LSAT goal haha)! Question. So far through what you have seen and heard from others, what did UT seem to stress the most with what they wanted to see in applicants?

I'd say law schools have like 80-90% overlap in terms of what they're looking for in applicants. So it's tough to say. From my vibe, they seem to lean on the more conservative side of law schools (maybe not the most since, well, it's Austin), so I'd recommend having a 3.7 GPA and at least a 168 LSAT and you should be fine. And of course write decent essays. :)

Heading to the University of Texas at Austin! :)

JUST decided. Hoping to hear back from them about a financial aid appeal, but I'm going either way.

It was tough deciding between them and Northwestern (because of NU's prestige), but I want to practice in Texas, so that's what ultimately pulled me. Also, I'm a Florida boy and the weather would kill me.

Anyone else going to UT? :)

Remember that by offering you more money, schools are making a commitment to you. In turn, you have a better shot at receiving an increase by making a commitment to them. Therefore, I'd recommend that, if you can, you give them the minimum amount that they'd have to give you in order for you to commit to attending to that school (and rescinding all of your other acceptances). This will make the school feel that the money they are giving you will be going to a guaranteed admit.

I would also definitely include amounts from other schools. This is pretty much mandatory, as this is how you have actual leverage in the negotiation.

Other important things to cite: 1. your interest in that particular school (for example, that you want to study in that area after graduation or they are your top choice), 2. if you're going into public interest law and will not be making very much money, 3. if you have a low-income background and have been able to manage your finances well (no preceding educational debt because of need/merit-based scholarships, for example).

Citation: from my very expensive law school admissions consultant.

I'd recommend "The Legal Analyst." It's pretty accessible, but provides some really great insight into the legal system and how legal decisions are made. They handed copies out to all admitted students at UT admitted students day.

I'd also second Law 101. Because I don't want to ask stupid in my 1L classes. :B

The deposit deadline also depends on when folks were accepted. I was admitted a little late and my deposit deadline is April 23rd. So maybe expect some movement then as well?

This is a great discussion. I'm so grateful that y'all are so interested in having it! :)

Self-help groups are a definite must. If NU didn't already have them, I would start my own at the school I would be attending.

When it comes to overcoming imposture syndrome, I might recommend attending a weekend seminar with the Landmark Forum, which is a self-empowerment weekend event that is really good at helping you learn to step into your power as an individual. My roommate's have gone through it and it really changed their lives. I'm doing mine in June.

@ said:

@ said:

We're bound to get a lot of decisions back this week.

What makes you say that?

Likely because law schools are aware of other schools' deadlines coming up.

I was there a week ago and another visiting student said he saw two giant black SUVs pull up to drop her off. XD

If Spivey comes back and is too expensive, I'd recommend my admissions consultant. She is amazing and has helped me work through some really complicated stuff as well. She's INCREDIBLE (and probably cheaper).

http://knowyouroptions.net/kimberly-snyder-mehta/