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Hi!

I elected to do an interview as part of my Vanderbilt application. I didn't see any other posts about this on the forum, so I wanted to share my experience.

The "interview" was over lunch. It was really more of a conversation and less of an interview. He did not ask me any questions remotely similar to an interview question. We chatted about the law school application process in general, the law school experience, the reality of law school debt, etc. His insight was very useful and reminiscent of the advice given in Don't Go to Law School Unless... that I read this past weekend.

If you have your Vanderbilt interview coming up that you chose to do as part of your application, no worries! I prepped all these question answers, which was useful, but not entirely necessary. I'm sure my experience is in part dependent upon my interviewer being very casual, but it seems as if these interviews are just to figure out if you're a nice person who would make an interesting and pleasant classmate to the incoming students.

Be yourself and soak in the insight that your interviewer has to offer! Best of luck this application season!

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Anybody else find the LSAC website to be extremely frustrating and difficult to navigate? I'm in the middle of setting up my applications and am finding it redundant and overly complicated. It even kicks me out sometimes and I'll have to restart my browser just to get back in.

You'd think that after CAS fees, LSAT fees, and application fees the LSAC would be able to afford and produce a seamless website that would expedite this entire process 100 fold. Anyways end rant. I just wanted to let anybody else out there who finds the LSAC website more aggravating than it has to be that you're not alone. I'll get back to work now.

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Hi,

UNC Chapel Hill has a specific personal statement prompt that reads:

The legal profession plays a vital role in the pursuit of justice and in sustaining the institutions of society, including governments, private corporations and organizations, nonprofit organizations, families and individuals. Please write a statement discussing why you want to become a member of the legal profession and why you think you are prepared for the ethical, professional, and time demands of the profession.

My personal statement is a narrative and indirectly answers these questions but doesn't spell it out so specifically as it seems the question is asking. I wrote an essay that answers these questions specifically, but it seems more like a résumé rehash and way less interesting than my personal statement. My personal statement is 2 pages (the limit for UNC), so I don't have a lot of wiggle room other than decreasing the font to size 10 (their minimum font size).

Is anyone else applying to Chapel Hill? Did you write a new personal statement or just tweak a narrative version that you're using for other schools?

Thank you!

1

I read somewhere that some schools like to see "why x" essays even if the topic is not specifically listed as an optional essay. I’m concerned because I’ve aleeady submitted a few applications without this addendum, and I don’t want those schools to think I don’t really want to go there. I just thought it wasn’t necessary if they don’t ask for it. Anyone have info on this?

UPDATED QUESTION 12/20: I want to write a Why X essay for Columbia and NYU because I am below both their medians and they are dream schools. I originally thought it couldn't hurt to include a short one (350 words or so), but after reading over a super old thread on a different forum, I'm concerned that I may hurt my chances (and annoy admissions officers) by including unsolicited additional reading material...especially given that it's obvious someone with my stats would love to go to their school. Any advice?

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Hi everyone,

Reading the LSAC website it says they do not accept transcripts sent by email, or electronically unless through a few providers. Parchment is one of those providers, however, they submit transcripts via email. On the Parchment website it says LSAC requires mail orders from them, but that directly conflicts with what the LSAC website says about accepting electronically through them. Has anyone else tackled this?

Thanks

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My recommender was just asking me to whom he should address the LOR to. I told him just write "Dear Law School Admissions Committee" on there since I'm using his LOR for all the schools I'm applying to. That's ok, right? A school wouldn't look down upon that, would they?

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So I'm based in Melbourne, Australia and my first preference is Melbourne University and my second is Monash University. I have already been accepted into Monash (my alma mater), and today I was notified that my application from Melbourne was rejected because my score was too low. My LSAT score is 156 and they have indicated they'd be looking for 160+ for a successful application. I'm 24 and I'm kind torn on whether I should try the LSAT again and wait till the next round this time next year, or accept Monash and start in January. If I wait I would be graduating at 29 or possibly older and feel that might be too old, but Melbourne is 8th in the world and the LSAT standards in Australia are so much lower than the rest of the world, I feel like its an opportunity I shouldn't squander. The next LSAT exam is in January here but there will also be one in March, and probably June as well as September, so I'm also not sure if I do opt to take it again if I want to draw it out for more study time, or do it sooner so as to not forget stuff or burn out.

Opinions would be greatly appreciated.

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So for this tricky SA question ...

I was looking for a statement that would say “D”

A and D ——> M

Not M ——-> Not A or Not D

Conclusion: Not M --> Not A

Would a way to conclude Not A is if we have D?

Would this be logically sound?

Can another right AC be just D? Why did they decide to go with A -> D?

Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Admin note: edited title and added link

https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-71-section-3-question-11/

0

Hello,

Here is my reasoning for question 18 in section 4 for prep test 62. Since this is a sufficient assumption question, I want to be able to find a “connector” that would assure the conclusion from the premises, or evidence given.

Argument Analysis:

Premises:

• We can’t reach E.T aliens via spaceship

• If we can talk with the E.T aliens, then they need to be as smart as we are (most likely so they can understand what we are saying to them).

Conclusion:

• If there are E.T aliens, we won’t be able to know this unless they are as smart as we are.

Prephrase:

Initially, I was trying to look for something along the lines of connecting being able to communicate with the E.T aliens that are as smart as we are. For instance, maybe we don’t have the technology to transmit messages to them or perhaps they want their identity to remain hidden for all of eternity. However, looking more closely to the set up of this argument I found another primary issue. The issue is that we are only given two options for determining if they exist. Well, couldn’t there be other ways? For example, (this is purely made up) maybe we could get into a teleportation machine and teleport ourselves to their planet or we could build a massive slingshot to sling ourselves to their planet. My gist is that we have to get to the idea that it is necessary that the aliens be as smart as we are in order to determine if any actually do exist in the entire galaxy.

Answer Choices:

A. No. This doesn’t work because the person never rules this out.

B. I don’t believe that this guarantees anything. Maybe we could send them a signal and if they accept it, then we know there is life. A conversation isn’t necessary to prove that there is life.

C. No not need, the author never suggests that we need both options to determine if they exist.

D. Yes, because this AC rules out all other choices and substantiates the necessary condition in the conclusion.

E. This is slightly a premise booster and slightly a reversal of one of the premises mentioned in the stimulus.

Problem: My major problem with this question is that answer choice B is very compelling for me and I am afraid that I would select it during a timed test.

It would be great if I could have further feedback on why B is wrong or what we need to do for this particular type of SA question.

Admin note: edited title and added link: https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-62-section-4-question-18/

0

I have recently decided to leave my full time job in order to dedicate more time to studying. However, I have read that it is generally not a good idea to have a large gap on your resume. So I am in the process of seeking a part time position. Does it matter what it is?

0

Do I correctly understand the argument and why, especially, the correct answer is correct?

(s)PT13 S4 Q9(/s) Admin note: PT14.S2.Q10?

Premise: Government bans outdoor advertising, outside of particular type.

Premise: A Gov Report states that every industry using outdoor advertising, not necessarily of the particular class, had a larger market share than others.

Conclusion: Gov’s actions would reduce the overall volume of business.

(A) WRONG - The merchants seem to be protesting the government’s actions, which suggest that they are worried about loss of business, which is a good reason for NOT restricting the use of outdoor advertising.

(B) Correct. Marketshare (P2) and volume of business (Con) are not the same. Nevertheless, this answer implies that the outdoor advertising increased advertiser’s market share in a manner that wouldn’t necessarily just change where Penglai consumers spend their money on that island. A small mental leap is required to see that if the market traffic isn’t just diverted at current levels then overall volume can be damaged, for which there is no support.

(C) Whether the survey is objective or not, the conclusion that the overall volume of business would be reduced isn’t warranted.

(D) Even if the market share was proportionate to the use of outdoor advertising, that doesn’t mean that the volume of business would change.

(E) We have no idea what the Penglai constitution says.

Admin note: edited title

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I marked (A) and eliminated (C), which is the correct answer, without hesitation. My reasoning was that if certain types of trees are less effectively pollinated, then honey production will decrease. At the same time, (A) seemed compelling to me because if the honeybees native to Brazil and those native to the United States are different, it's possible that the bees native to the U.S. might off the bat be superior to the Africanized honeybees. But I do realize that even if (A) were granted as true, whether they're superior or inferior to the Africanized honeybees is not determined and, while it could potentially weaken the argument, as stated, it doesn't necessarily do so.

Looking back, knowing the right answer, I can see how this is an assumption I made on my own since it's possible that the "certain types of ornamental trees" might not even contribute to the honey production to begin with, but I'm still not sure that I would come back to this question in the future and approach it this way.

Are there any additional and/or complementary reasons for why (C) is the best answer?

Admin note: edited title

0

Hello. I know there are a lot of splitter posts here, but i wanted some feedback on my particular situation. I graduated a year ago with a dual degree in women's studies and biology. I am not gifted in math or science, but i really pushed through and graduated, This however brought my GPA down to a 2.8. My major gpa for women's studies is a 3.99 while my biology gpa is about a 2.1. I have been working for a large medical device company for a year now. I am taking my LSAT in January and was wondering what LSAT score I would need to best boost that low gpa. I know i should try my hardest to break 170, but I'd just like to know if anyone with a low STEM undergrad gpa got into a top school and is so, what your lsat score was. Thank you!

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Hi everyone,

This month only, 7Sage Consultant Selene Steelman is offering a new service called Application Review.

What is Application Review?

Our goal is to tell you what an admissions officer might think after reading your file. Selene will review your application (a PDF preview) along with other materials that an admissions committee will see (LSAT history, academic summary, etc.). She’ll give you feedback in a conversation via the phone or Skype and send you notes after the call.

Who is Selene?

Selene worked in law school admissions for fourteen years before coming to 7Sage. You can read more about her (and all of us) here: 7sage.com/admissions/about-us

What’s the difference between Admissions Consulting and Application Review?

Admissions Consulting comes with unlimited help on all aspects of your application, including strategy, editorial guidance on every essay, and after-app follow-up (for interviews, letters of continuing interest, etc.). Application Review is, well, a review of a single application. It’s evaluative (“Is this good?”) rather than editorial (“How can this be better?”).

The difference between Admissions Consulting and Application Review is like the difference between (1) going to your college’s writing center and (2) turning your paper into the teacher. Imagine, though, that you could turn your paper into someone else’s whip-smart teacher and process her feedback before you turned it into your actual teacher for a grade: that’s Application Review.

How much does it cost?

$499.

How many Application Review packages are there?

Five.

What do I need to do before I use this service?

You need to write all of your essays, fill out an application via LSAC, and upload all of your attachments. You should be ready to hit “submit” before you buy this.

If you’ve already applied, we can give you a post-mortem.

Who should NOT use this service?

Don’t purchase this if you want to apply right now. Selene may advise you to revise or rewrite large portions of your application.

When she was working in admissions, she was known as a hard-a$$. Just saying.

How do I purchase?

Email editors@7sage.com with the subject line “Application Review” for a reservation. We’ll give you a start date. If that date works for you, you can hold the spot by purchasing the service through a link that we’ll pass along.

4

Hi! I applied to Duke via priority track and heard back saying that I have been provisionally admitted. The e-mail I received says that I will be officially admitted once I finish the financial aid/scholarship application process, and that Duke's Financial Aid Office will send the scholarship application form by e-mail in December. Is there anything for me to do before they send me the form (for example, am I supposed to e-mail their office and let them know that I plan to apply for scholarship)?

Also, it says that the "scholarship application process includes the opportunity to participate in a Skype interview with a member of the committee" -- does anyone have any advice on how to approach/prepare for this optional scholarship interview?

Thank you!

1

The last set of PDFs I printed had like an 8 point font, while in the past it was probably a 12 point font and I don't think I changed the settings. @studentservice What are your thoughts? Thanks.

0

I've searched all over the forum and couldn't find anything on this topic. I'm prior military and I went to several institutions before and during my service to complete my undergrad degree. The LSAC has my GPA listed as "3.0 - 3.49". Why is that? What does that mean (other than I was a very mediocre student 😁)? It never really stood out to me because I thought perhaps everyone's was listed in a similar way, but having searched the forum, I can't find another example of anyone with an LSAC GPA listed as a range... I'm a bit confused because my actual degree GPA is within that range, so why not just use that GPA?

Can someone explain this sorcery?

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