Law School

[deadbear80]

Originally Posted by als463

If most places say they usually take up to 3 recs., would it be in bad taste to have one from 5 different sources?

YES! The easiest way to get rejected...not following directions! Law schools have umpteen number of applications to read. If you attempt to make their job harder, they'll just do the easy thing and reject without really reading it.

I'm assuming you're applying for Fall 2009 admission since it's a little late for Fall 2008.

As far as the joint degree thing...I did a joint MSW/JD program at a Tier 1 school (Top 20) with a Social Work School ranked in the Top 5. I passed up a lucrative scholarship at a Tier 3 so I could attend this other school. There is NO way I would've gotten my job had I gone to the Tier 3. I also passed up a Tier 2 that had a joint program (the money offered between the Tier 1 and Tier 2 was about the same) because I didn't enjoy the Tier 2 program offerings as much. I happen to now work in the city with the Tier 2 program and I can guarantee that having gone to the Tier 1 school actually set me apart from a lot of other candidates. It's not just about the JD ranking, you should be looking carefully at the Social Work ranking too! They both matter. Top schools with top JD AND MSW programs are well known no matter where you go. Tier 3 schools...not so much (unless like someone else said, you're staying within the area for the next 5 years and people know the school well). Even if you want to do public interest work--jobs are incredibly competitive and the school names on your resume will have an effect on your future hiring.

If you're looking at schools near any of the Ivys, there are definitely Tier 1 or Tier 2 JD/MSW programs at least 2-3 hours or less driving distance from each of them (that aren't the Ivys themselves...although Penn and Columbia both have set JD/MSW programs). Some of them are even in the same general town/area as Ivys (e.g. both Boston U and Boston College have JD/MSW programs; so does NYU).

While where you go to school may not matter for your 2nd or 3rd job; it has a big effect on Job #1 (which will then help with later jobs).

[als463]

Thank you for all the advice. My sister told me I should check out moving my LSATs up to October (instead of having it in December) so I can get a head start on my applications. My Graduate GPA is very good-especially compared to my Undergraduate GPA. If anyone has attended Syracuse or Widener Law-that would be helpful if they would want to talk to me about it. I am also looking at "Top Tier" schools, as well-but, I went to the Widener Open House and fell in love....I really like Syracuse, as well. Any advice on either of those institutions, Temple University or Rutgers-would be GREAT! Thank you so much and everyone have a WONDERFUL DAY!

[adpiucf]

Your graduate GPA won't be considered as anything but a soft factor, similar to whether you have had work experience or won some special award, campus leadership, community involvement.

Take your LSAT as early as you feel ready so you can have the option to retake and/or get your applications in earlier.

Your application will largely be based on 1) LSAT score and 2) undergraduate GPA. Many schools give some additional weight to historically underrepresented minorities (specifically: Black, Latino, Native American). Other than that, your personal statement, recommendations, resume and soft factors will be considered with considerably less weight. However, they may be a tie-breaker if you are a borderline candidate at a school.

There's a big difference between your chances at getting into Syracuse or Widener and a top tier school like Columbia. See where your LSAT places you and then you can decide which schools to apply to from there.

Good luck!!!

Originally Posted by als463

Thank you for all the advice. My sister told me I should check out moving my LSATs up to October (instead of having it in December) so I can get a head start on my applications. My Graduate GPA is very good-especially compared to my Undergraduate GPA. If anyone has attended Syracuse or Widener Law-that would be helpful if they would want to talk to me about it. I am also looking at "Top Tier" schools, as well-but, I went to the Widener Open House and fell in love....I really like Syracuse, as well. Any advice on either of those institutions, Temple University or Rutgers-would be GREAT! Thank you so much and everyone have a WONDERFUL DAY!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by als463

Thank you for all the advice. My sister told me I should check out moving my LSATs up to October (instead of having it in December) so I can get a head start on my applications. My Graduate GPA is very good-especially compared to my Undergraduate GPA. If anyone has attended Syracuse or Widener Law-that would be helpful if they would want to talk to me about it. I am also looking at "Top Tier" schools, as well-but, I went to the Widener Open House and fell in love....I really like Syracuse, as well. Any advice on either of those institutions, Temple University or Rutgers-would be GREAT! Thank you so much and everyone have a WONDERFUL DAY!

I know a couple of people who went to Syracuse, including an adjunct for one of my classes, and they really liked it. I haven't heard much about Widener though.

One thing to keep in mind, when choosing schools, is where in the country you want to practice. If you want to stay in the area of the school (i.e., upstate New York for Syracuse), then it's not such a big deal, but if you want to go to another area, you're going to have to do very well for grades.

Now, that doesn't mean that you're out of luck if you want to go to another area of the country; it just means that, depending on where you want to go, you may have to ratchet up the grades accordingly. Just try to make sure you're going somewhere where you'll be happy and be intellectually challenged. Law school is too much work to end up somewhere where you'll be miserable.

Wherever you go, good luck with the process, and feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions.