Did anyone else get an invite to interview with WashU today???

I did not apply to WashU so I am very confused.

Hey everyone!

I was recently admitted to UChicago and I've gotten a handful of questions about the UChicago interview, so I thought I'd write up an in-depth post about it so that those of you interested in Chicago now and interested 7Sagers in the future can know what to expect :smile:.

For the sake of transparency, here are my numbers and how my cycle has gone: lawschoolnumbers.com/ApplicantFor2018

To add some color, I transferred universities from a T50 to a T20 after my first year of college. After transferring I received a 4.0 in all semesters. My letters of rec came from two professors - one I took for 3 semesters and the other just for 1 - whose classes I was #1 in consistently and whose office hours I attended religiously. I also took ~9 months off of school to work on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign but am still graduating on time.

Time for the interview

In broad strokes, here are general points you should know:

1. It is structured.

In stark contrast with the Georgetown Alumni Interview (see: https://classic.7sage.com/discussion/#/discussion/14244/i-just-interviewed-with-georgetown-heres-what-to-expect), the UChicago interview is structured. As in, the interviewer has a set of pre-determined questions they are trying to get through and they are taking notes on what you say. In this regard, this interview seems to matter a good amount. While the Georgetown Alumni Interview felt like a "gatekeeping" interview - where you were basically already admitted but they want to make sure you're not a weirdo - the UChicago interview felt more like your answers could not only preclude you from admission, but also EARN you admission. In other words, this interview is important and you should prepare for it.

2. But that doesn't mean be a robot.

A structured interview doesn't mean your answers have to be rigid. Demonstrate your intelligence and capability but also demonstrate your interpersonal skills. While the questions are structured, it is still fair-game to ask questions mid-interview. For example, it turns out my interviewer took time off of school to work on Obama's campaign, so we had something in common. I asked her a bit about her experience there and it was a great way to bond with her as an interviewer. Someone once told me people rarely remember what you said, but they always remember how you made them feel. It makes people feel good to talk about themselves, so let them. However, in the context of THIS PARTICULAR interview, because of it's more rigid structure and clear "we have to answer these questions" motive, don't ask too many questions as to seem scatter-brained or to be deliberately digressing. If an opportunity for a cool tangent comes up (like shared work experience, place of birth, etc.), take it! But DON'T MAKE one happen.

3. It is a short interview.

They're only 20 (max 25) minutes. When you first see your interviewer on Skype, he/she won't waste any time - they will jump STRAIGHT into the questions, so be prepared. There isn't much small talk beforehand to warm up, so make sure you're already warm and personable before you get the Skype call. (Also if it wasn't clear, UChicago ONLY conducts interviews via Skype - they do NOT offer in person interviews).

Here's how you should prepare

1. Practice these questions:

Thankfully many past UChicago interviewees have posted the questions they've been asked on various forums. Here are the potential questions you may be asked - practice answers for all of them:

Why law?

Why law now?

Why Chicago?

What am I doing between now and law school (I was a December graduate from UG)?

Resume related questions (questions about specific items or bullet-points on your rezzy).

Have you ever had a time when you were out of your element or comfort zone?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

If you could go back in time and redo one thing in your life, what would it be?

Discuss a memorable class or moment in a class.

Why did you choose your undergrad?

What is your preferred work style?

What do you do in your free time?

How would your professors describe you?

How would your peers describe you?

How would your coworkers describe you?

Do you have any questions for me?

"Who most influenced your decision to go to law school?"

Tell me about a challenge you faced?

Tell me about your current job.

Any points you want me to especially emphasize with the admissions committee?

"What is on your bucket list?"

If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

2. When practicing your answers, make sure they are ~3-4 minutes.

Again, the interview is short. The interviewer will likely ask you 4-5 questions. As such, allocate your time wisely and be succinct in your answers. Don't be afraid to tell a narrative when answering them, but don't be too verbose either. Also, oftentimes after I would give an answer the interviewer would comment on it. For example, I said I wanted to go into administrative law and the interviewer talked about how fascinating it was for maybe 30-40 seconds after I finished my answer. Be aware that this will also cut into your time.

3. You will 100% be asked why UChicago and Why Law/Why Law Now and What Kind of Law

Okay, maybe not 100%, but as I perused all of the forums people were almost ALWAYS asked these questions. As such, prioritize constructing good answers for these. Remember UChicago has a reputation for being very academic, so I recommend focusing on something academic in your answer (though do whatever you think is best!).

4. Know your resume AND BEYOND

UChicago is not like other schools in their interview process. They want to know that you have critically reflected on key aspects of your life. For all interviews, you should know your resume. But while other schools (like Georgetown) would just ask "can you tell me about what you did on X/Y/Z job?", UChicago will ask "What did you learn about yourself from this job?" This is a much different question and requires introspection and navel-contemplation. I was asked this exact question pertaining to my campaign job - just be ready for it!

5. As always, bring questions.

Like in most interviews, the interviewer will allot a few minutes after the interview to answer your questions. Make sure you have some!

I hope this is helpful to everyone! I wanted to be 100% transparent in this since I know admissions and interviews are often such a nebulous, daunting process. If anyone has any further questions about the interview just comment down below or PM me and I'll respond!

P.S. - Your Skype ID is the thing that pops up in the top left corner of your Skype app when you open it on your computer. So if you made your Skype account with an e-mail, it will be that e-mail. If you made it through Facebook, it'll be something weird like facebook.paul.caint. This ID is what you send UChicago when scheduling your interview.

Hey all,

Has anyone ever tried the 3 watch method J.Y. mentions in the core curriculum? AKA - that you buy 3 (LSAT approved) watches, set each of them to 12:00, and turn each of them "on" at the beginning of each section? Then reset after the break.

Has anyone ever tried this? And has anyone gotten in trouble for it? I'm gonna do it this weekend.

I'm in at UChicago and I couldn't be happier. Thank you so much to 7Sage, both to the curriculum that helped me do well on the LSAT and the AMAZING community that has given me advice, helped me through struggles, and generally kept me sane through this whole process.

:smile: Thank you all!

Submitting a LOCI before a waitlist - has anyone ever done this/is this at all advisable? I feel like as I'm still waiting to hear from schools this late in the cycle, it might be good to reiterate my interest in some of the schools for those weighing me hard...

Hey everyone,

I just got off the waitlist at Harvard Law. Still in shock about it all.

Thanks to the 7Sage community for all the support you've given me over the past year. Truly truly truly I would not have been this successful without you all. My cycle has ended with my dream outcome.

If there's anything I can do to help the community going forward - anyone that wants tips/tricks from the LSAT to admissions - just let me know.

Best,

Paul

Hey everyone,

I need advice. I was planning on using the next two weeks to write the optional essays for the schools I'm applying to, thinking that the December exam scores wouldn't come out until ~January 3rd. But now that the scores are coming out tomorrow, I'm debating whether or not I should write the optional essays or not. For example, the ones for UPenn, UMich, etc. I know there's a benefit to submitting early, but also a benefit to writing the optionals, but only if the optionals are good.

https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/153416/should-i-write-the-optional-essay

I read through this article that essentially said, "If you feel like your optional essays will be forced, then don't write them."

If I'm being honest, I feel like they will be forced, but then again I haven't 100% committed myself to the writing process - I just haven't had enough time.

Thoughts? Advice?

Hey everyone,

I just got done with my INDIVIDUAL Georgetown interview. I thought it would be helpful if I laid out my experience so people may learn from it, or in case you have a Georgetown interview coming up soon!

So first, in case you were wondering, it went really well for me. Like really really well. Like extraordinarily well :smile:

Here are my "situational" takeaways:

1. It was very informal

You should still wear a suit, but the interview itself was not structured at all. In fact, when my interviewer walked in (after a brief banter about the ties we were wearing) he explicitly said "This interview is very informal, so don't be stressed."

2. It was "so I could learn more about Georgetown."

In fact he never said it was so Georgetown could learn more about me. It honestly felt more like he was selling me on Georgetown than I was selling myself to Georgetown.

3. It was so they could make sure I was a human being.

In fact, my interviewer explicitly said that. They want to make sure that you aren't just a great resume and numbers, but can actually be social and like, you know, talk to people :smile:

Here are my suggestions of how to prepare:

1. Know your resume.

Be prepared to discuss the jobs you held and what roles you played (informally). My interviewer talked through some of the jobs I held and asked me about what my role was. He asked me about my time working on a presidential campaign, and I talked through my general responsibilities. Additionally, he asked me about my time interning for an appellate court. *He asked me about the procedure of how appellate cases were decided. I recommend that if you have any law-related experience on your resume, you should work hard to remember the specifics of what you did. Afterall, you'll be interviewing with (presumably) a lawyer and they will know the topic in depth.

---1a. If there are any atypical things on your resume, be prepared to discuss them.

----------For example, I transferred from one school to another after my freshman year. Just be able to come up with a coherent reason why you did the thing you did. If you transferred, I highly recommend you have a more compelling story than "I just didn't like my old school." You should be able to discuss at length why you did X, Y, or Z.

2. Be a good conversationalist.

As I said before, this interview was NOT formal. It was NOT my interviewer reading from a list of questions and jotting down notes. Instead, it was a conversation. That being said, you should be good at small talk. If they bring up their children it's not bad to ask about their age, what college they go to, etc. It's not bad to ask questions either, and you should ask questions throughout, since there is no formal "Q and A" portion of the interview. Just smile and be friendly and open, and don't be scared to go down a relevant tangent every now and again (me and my interviewer talked about felony disenfranchisement for 10ish minutes).

3. Bring questions! AND LOTS OF THEM!

And these don't have to be super specific questions either! Just ask what their experience was like at Georgetown, what the professors were like, what was the student community like, etc. Also as said above, just ask questions throughout the interview since there is no Q and A. The interview will be more like a conversation, and it's good if you have questions ready to be able to fill the awkward lulls and transition to new topics.

----3a. Ask questions about your interviewer's experience

-----------I feel like this is just a good interviewing tip. Someone once told me "people rarely remember what you say, but they remember how you made them feel." It makes people feel good to talk about themselves, so let them :smile:

4. Be prepared to answer soft-ball questions.

Like your typical ones: why law? what field of law are you interested in? I wasn't explicitly asked a question about "why Georgetown?" but I'd be prepared to give that answer too. I had no hard-ball questions though. Nothing like "what was a stressful situation you were in and how did you get out of it?" type questions.

All in all, my Georgetown interview process was really nice. Congruent with what others have said before, its very informal and felt more like they were selling me Georgetown than I was selling myself.

If you have an individual interview, it's probably a good sign! It felt more like a gateway than a test for admission. One pre-law advisor said that among individuals who received an individual Georgetown interview, 75% are admitted. So if you got an individual interview, just sit back, relax, and be yourself! So long as, you know, "yourself" is a cool person :smile:

Hey all,

Seems like a lot of waitlists are being sent out today. I just got waitlisted at both UMich and Columbia. My numbers make me pretty competitive for both schools so I'm kind of wondering - what gives?

In both e-mails they seem to be stressing the huge number of qualified applicants this cycle, but I'm wondering if they say that every cycle. Then again, some of us saw the data from earlier this year that the number of 170+ scorer applicants increased dramatically this cycle. I'm also wondering if it's because I applied to some of these schools sort of late in the cycle, and I would have been admitted had I sent my application earlier.

Any thoughts? Concerns? Anyone else getting waitlisted this weekend???

Best,

Paul

Do law schools receive your school's official transcripts, or just the LSAC transcript, or both?

Hey everyone,

I just finished my final round of edits for my personal statement. I got edits from one particular professor who I trust very much, and he only listed one change.

I used the word "Cognizant" in my paper. As in, "Cognizant of this fact, I decided to do X."

My professor told me to simplify the word "Cognizant," but I honestly don't think it is a complicated word. Additionally, only 1 other person told me it was too complicated of a word (out of ~16 people who read my PS).

What do y'all think? I could easily just replace "Cognizant of this fact" with "Conscious of this fact."

Hey all,

Do you think after an interview you should be sending thank you e-mails to the person who interviewed you? (even if it was over Skype)?

Hey all,

So I went through my LinkedIn notifications this week and one notification I got was,

"Your profile has been viewed by people who work at the following companies:

Duke University Law School

Duke University

Stanford University"

Now I'm not saying these law schools are snooping my/our social media presence, but I'm also not saying they aren't.

There is some evidence that this is a regular practice:

http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/law-schools-facebook-google-find-dirt.html

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/10/30/campus/campusarchived/law-school-admissions-use-facebook-google-to-screen-applicants-study-finds/

http://www.dailycal.org/2011/10/26/law-schools-check-digital-trail-of-applicants-more-than-other-colleges/

Just be careful!

Hey everyone,

For those of you applying to Yale, how did you approach the 250 word essay? What was your thought process when devising a topic?

Also does anyone wanna read mine and give thoughts :smile:?

Best,

Paul

Hey all,

I got an e-mail from Georgetown requesting a 1-on-1 interview with an alumni. First, is this a good sign? Does it mean I'm being strongly considered or that I'm a "marginal" candidate?

Second, for those of you that have done a Georgetown interview, what should I expect? What questions should I expect them to ask? And how should I prepare?

Thanks,

Paul

Hey everyone,

Columbia is currently the #5 law school in the nation. But relative to other schools within its ranks, its 25th/50th/75th percentile GPAs are incredibly low: 3.56/3.70/3.81.

Their LSAT scores are more on par with their ranking: 168/172/174.

To me, this could be the result of two competing explanations:

If scenario #1 is true, that is a really good case for GPA splitters - people who have good GPAs but meh LSATs. For example, a 3.90 GPA with a 167 LSAT might just get you into Columbia.

But if scenario #2 is true, then sorry GPA splitters! It doesn't really matter.

I was wondering what y'alls' thoughts were on this topic. I've always been dumbfounded as to how comparatively low Columbia's GPA standards are. Is this because people who apply their don't have as stellar GPAs, or because they just don't care about GPA as much? Or something else?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories.

Thanks,

Paul

Hey all,

I've been selected by Cornell as a finalist for a full-tuition merit scholarship. They're flying all the finalists (Approx 16) to Cornell for a ~2 day interview process (the first day is technically a "social" dinner but it seems like you'd want to be kinda in interview-mode for that).

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with these types of interviews. Was the formal interview you received with one person? A professor? An admissions counselor/dean? Or was it with a committee? Professor committee? Admissions committee?

@goingfor99th I'm not sure if you did the scholarship interview with Berkeley yet, but if you have do you have any advice?

All thoughts are appreciated!

Best,

Paul

Hey all,

I was just invited to do a Skype interview with University of Chicago.

For those of you who have done UChicago's interview:

Any other broad advice for Skype interviews or regarding UChicago Admissions more broadly would be helpful.

Best,

Paul

I've only seen a handful of these, but they popped up on September 2017 and PrepTest 75.

Their question stems are "Which one of the following is most appropriate as an analogy demonstrating that the reasoning in the argument above is flawed?"

And the answer choices look like:

"By that line of reasoning, we could conclude that it is better to eat red meat than to eat fish, since red meat is cheaper and more accessible to everyone else."

I haven't seen question types like this covered in the core curriculum, and I have no idea how to approach them.

Any suggestions?

Holy holy holy crap

Harvard just invited me to interview off the waitlist.

What do I do

What does this mean?!

Hey everyone,

I'm very confused about what the length of a diversity statement should be. I hear everyone touting "no more than 1-page," but then when I read examples of "Great Diversity Statements," including ones provided by 7Sage, they're 1.5 or 2 pages.

Mine has come out to be 1.5 pages, and I feel like further cuts could harm the impactfulness of the essay.

Advice?

Hey everyone,

So I applied to some schools already using my September 2017 score, but my December 2017 score was better. I want to send these schools I already applied to my December score.

I e-mailed an admissions office of a school I already applied to, and they replied by saying:

Thank you for your email and continued interest in [Insert School Name] Law. If you would like to submit another LSAT score, please send it to us through LSAC and we can add it on to your file for review. Please let me know if you have any other questions regarding your application.

"

I don't know how to submit a new score through the LSAC website - can anyone help?

Thanks,

Paul

Hey all,

I was wondering what you all thought of this. My GPA and LSAT makes me competitive at a few schools - not a shoe-in but pretty dang competitive. Specifically, I'm thinking of sending a round of applications out to Georgetown and Cornell as soon as my letters of rec are completed (in 1 week). I'm really really confident in my letters and my personal statement. I'm slated to take the December exam to make me competitive for higher ranked schools, but I kinda wanna just submit some apps now so I can hear back from some places earlier than February.

Should I do it?

Hey all,

Hope everyone is dealing with their post-LSAT anxiety well. For me, the exam felt fine. Much better than September, and I think I have a good shot at getting my goal score.

Still, I feel like I should register for the February exam just in case...even though I'm planning on applying this cycle. The testing center I use, and really really like, fills up pretty quickly, so I kinda want to get a spot just in case.

Thoughts?

Hey awesome-est LSAT community out there!

Signing off now. Going to turn my brain off for the next few hours. Just wanted to say good luck to everyone tomorrow; you're going to kill it!

Paul