Potential Splitter - Questions

MelissaM

Hi All,

I just started studying for the LSAT. I believe I’m a potential splitter because I graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors at the University of Washington with a GPA of 3.98 and my GPA at community college was 3.37 hence the average GPA of 3.67. I was also the training and resources coordinator of universities club council and the vice presidential of national honor society at UW. For a year now, since I’ve graduated, I’ve been working full-time at a municipal court as a judicial specialist.

I’m trying to get 170+ to get into the T15. My blind was 156. Idk if that’s possible. I’m studying 5-6 hrs every Saturday and Sunday. I’m not sure if I should (if I’m able to) study more if I intend to take the Oct/Nov LSAT and get preferably a 175. I am willing to extend the test date for the score but it’s a last resort given I don’t want to stay at my job.

I also regret not asking for letters of recommendation from my professors when I graduated last June. I was scared to ask them although I had made good impressions. Now I’m not sure if they remember me after a year and idk how to specifically approach the “asking” email.

Should I spend lots of time on each email to each professor and demonstrate what I learned and what I valued about the experience in their class and them as a professor and attach assignments completed with feedback from prof and my resume? I read the lesson on how to ask for a recommendation - but i don't think it’s enough.

I’m interested to know how you asked your professors for recommendations. Was it short and sweet or lengthy and in-depth. Why did you chose to do it one way vs. another.

Also, I have a professor I plan to ask that got her J.D from Harvard. Should I ask her to write one for Harvard and one for general applications? I know I’m looking really ahead here.

1stWorldProblems

you just started studying for the LSAT? I'd focus on that first.

1stWorldProblems

Also, for me personally, I know that if the plan is to study an X number of hours weekly, cramming it over two days is not nearly as effective as spreading it over the week. LSAT isn't just about learning stuff and memorizing it, a lot of it is learning the fundamentals inside out and learn how to do gymnastics in their applications. You come across as someone who excels generally, so you probably know this better than most people.

canihazJD

I read the lesson on how to ask for a recommendation - but i don't think it’s enough.

It is. Writing recommendations is part of a professor's job.

Was it short and sweet or lengthy and in-depth.

As you'll soon learn, lengthy ≠ better. Be concise. Reference your work/experience in those professors' classes and include your resume and thesis or some other substantive work. You might offer to schedule a zoom call or meeting.

Should I ask her to write one for Harvard and one for general applications?

Fine but not necessary. And prioritize the strength of the letter over the credentials of the recommender... actually ask them if they are comfortable writing a strong LOR. A good recommendation from a TA is better than a weak one from a tenured professor with an ivy JD. Ideally, get a copy of the letter.

zbonnich

Hi! Fellow transfer here (thats also applying in the same cycle).

I don't think you're looking too far ahead at all. Professors should have at least 2 - 4 weeks notice for rec letters just to give them ample time to get them done. There's no reason (that I know of) that would make it so you shouldn't send out your requests in the next two weeks or so. 

To your point about the gap between graduating and asking, don't be anxious. If you made a good impression in class / were close enough with them that you feel they would have written you a letter of rec had you asked last year then I think it is highly likely they will still write you one now! Professors know that students don't always immediately jump into grad programs and will continue to rely on them for rec letters for said programs well after graduation.

Also, I think the answer to the one you posed regarding the ideal length for a request email is, well, it depends! When I wrote my rec l letter emails I wrote them in google docs and they were each over a page long single spaced. Now most people (myself included) would absolutely hate receiving any email of that length, but given that my professors know me I doubt they were shocked since I talk about as much in person. That being said, I agree with everyone else here that being concise matters. In my opinion, it's quality over quantity all the way when it comes to rec letter requests. If it only takes a paragraph or a few sentences to communicate your need that I wouldn't add more words just for the sake of adding fluff you don't have a word count to reach. Mine were longer but not for no reason. I took the time to really think about and explain why THEY were one of the only professors I would want to write my rec letters and point out genuine personal takeaways from the course or just from knowing them that I felt had a profound impact on me

zbonnich

Also, I would totally ask the Harvard professor to not only recommend you more generally, but to write a more specific one for Harvard. I'd communicate that its a dream school (if thats the case for you) and ask her to write a letter for it especially because you feel that a personal letter from the perspective of an alumni who knows the program personally and can attest to your professional / academic ability to succeed in that very program would be especially powerful.

I'll include my more general rec template that I made below in case its useful for you!

1. General greeting
   -hope this finds you well etc.

2. I reintroduced myself
   -I had your X course in the fall of X year)

3. Brief Life update / where you are now
   -Since your class I have graduated cum laude from X university in X year and as of now I am studying for the LSAT in order to apply to law school by X date.
   -you can even have a sentence explaining why law school
   like "As a poli/sci major law school was always the natural next step in my dream to become an international attorney etc. etc.) or explaining why you've pivoted from your college major field of study to pursue law (whichever one is applicable to your story) I was a psych major so I had a brief sentence in mine to clarify to my psych or humanities professors why I want this to be the next step not just in my career but life.

4. Official ask
   -I am writing to see if you would be willing to write me a letter of recommendation for my early decision applications to law school
   (if you're sending this to Harvard prof I would modify this to say "applications to Harvard as well as other schools).

5. Remembering their class/ Why them for the request
   -The knowledge I gained in your course has served me well beyond my time in college and has....etc. etc.
   -I've never felt so seen by a professor etc. etc.
   -Here is where I would make the specific note to the Harvard professor that "in addition to your being abet to attest to my performance in the classroom, being a Harvard alumni I feel you're especially equipped to recommend me etc. etc.

6. Conclusion, Thanks, Request for info, and Follow Up

   -I want to express my sincere thanks for the way your course impacted me etc.

   • in the case that you're able to write me a letter, I would be happy to set up a time to meet (over zoom or coffee etc.) to discuss my application or answer any questions you may have.
   • additionally, please let me know if you require any more additional information to write my letter including a resume or attached past assignments with feedback etc.

   I wouldn't attach feedback assignments and resumes immediately I'd ask them what they need from me and send them all of that in a follow up email but its just personal preference at that point.

• thanks for your consideration/time etc. etc.

Tip: don't focus too much on details like length it can be longer or shorter, you're writing a letter and what matters most is that its concise and from the heart. My stepmom is a professor and they get a lot of these from students! and just a lot of emails in general! so you def don't want to bog them down with unnecessary fluff but you want these people to remember you and recommend you highly so your email should feel like its coming from you not from a generic template or from the web. As long as you just make a sincere and respectful ask you can't go wrong!

I know this whole process to apply is so overwhelming and stressful so don't let this add to your anxiety this is one of the easiest most laid back parts of the application. These people want to rave about you and all you have to do is ask so don't overthink it.

MelissaM

@zbonnich Thank you so much for your detailed response. i actually drafted some ask emails last weekend, and I couldn’t get myself to send it because I thought they might have been too long and not personalized enough… I will try to work on them more this weekend with your advice! Especially with not including the assignments and mentioning that I can send them if necessary.

Also, for my supervisor for my leadership job at UW - I had a lot of public speaking opportunities with that job so she could speak on that - but she moved to another state so she no longer has the same email, but she has an instagram that I kept in contact with her with. For that message, I made it shorter, but its still pretty long for an instagram message. I also decided to delay my application to fall 2024 because I didn't want to cram my studying (might get a lower score) or rush to finish my essays especially with working full-time and trying to have good mental health.