Law School

[Peaches-n-Cream]

If you are taking a poll, I vote that you take the LSAT again. I took them once and bombed, well not bombed, but not great. My mother took them three times. She is a lawyer, and I am not if that's any help.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
If you are taking a poll, I vote that you take the LSAT again. I took them once and bombed, well not bombed, but not great. My mother took them three times. She is a lawyer, and I am not if that's any help.

I'm definitely taking them again - but thanks for the vote of confidence. I didn't bomb and I could get into a TTT with no money with them, but I'd rather go to a stronger school with money, because hi, who wouldn't?

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I'm definitely taking them again - but thanks for the vote of confidence. I didn't bomb and I could get into a TTT with no money with them, but I'd rather go to a stronger school with money, because hi, who wouldn't?

I hear you about the money. My friend just graduated from an Ivy League law school and the tuition is so expensive. Now he's preparing for the bar exam. Good luck with the LSAT!

[SSmith15]

I want to go into Politics and legislative law. When I graduate I will have a BA in Political Science and a BA in English. I've always been told I'll then have to go to law school. Any recs for schools?

[deadbear80]

Originally posted by Glitter650
If you retake you should find out your schools' policy on retake scores some take the higher, some average, some only "note your improvement"

I STRONGLY agree with this statement. And remember, in order to raise your score a bunch if they average, you need to score about 10 points higher than you did the first time. I don't know about you, but I am not a great test taker. I'm the one who found logic games fun because that was my best section! Had loads of trouble with logical reasoning though (go figure).
I ended up doing well--at least, well enough for me. I got a 162. And I knew that I was never going to do much better...maybe a couple of points, but that wasn't really going to help me. I applied to 12 schools (some of which were HUGE stretches but I applied to a lot as a dual degree MSW/JD so I thought maybe they'd give me a chance). I got into 5, got the big "HELL NO" from 5, and waitlisted at 2. One of the schools that waitlisted me basically said up front that my score wasn't high enough but they really liked my academic record (only a 3.56; but from a top-10 undergraduate institution; 3.7 if you don't count my terrible frosh year) and resume and offered me a conditional transfer if I wanted one for the following year (depending on my 1L grades). I kindly declined (pretty much because they didn't have an MSW/JD program and I was happy with where I had decided to go)--but that could be an option for some. That particular school is a top-10 school and takes a large number of transfers to fill out those who drop out after their 1L year (PM me for the school if you want).
I'll actually be a 1L this year (I'm in an MSW/JD program and did all MSW work this past year) and I'm at a top-20 Law School. Of the schools I got into, 2 are top-20, a third is top 25, and the other 2 were safeties (all within the top-80). One of the schools that waitlisted me was in the top-30, and a top 25 rejected me (the other 4 rejections were top-10 schools and I didn't think I'd get in).
One can never tell with Law School admissions. While yes, the LSAT matters, it's not the whole picture. Your resume and grades can be decided factors as well. And don't forget that essay.
Yes loans suck. And scholarships are few...but everyone finds a way to make it happen.
Do not stress about the LSAT--it can't determine everyone's life. I know others who got less than a 160, are happy at their schools, are on Law Review and are towards the top of their classes. Go figure.

Sorry for the long rant, I just had to get out my .15 cents

[GeekyPenguin]

deadbear thanks for taking the time for a long response - I did a few points worse than you did, but my academic record is really not so hot - my GPA took a big digger last year due to some very unfortunate circumstances and so I'm hoping that a higher LSAT score will reflect that I am not in fact a moron. I'm mostly applying to the 75-100 schools and a few tier 3s - I got fee waivers already from a few schools that surprised me so I'm thinking that if I get my LSAT score up even 4 points more it will help.

[APhiRattlerGal]

ok i have a question....how mant schools should one apply to? What would ya'll recommend??

[GeekyPenguin]

Most people say 2-3 far reaches, 3-4 reaches, 2-3 safeties. I think I'm applying to about 15, plus whoever gives me fee waivers.

[kddani]

It really depends on if you know what you want and what you know you'll get into. I only applied to 2 1/2 schools... lol. Pitt (knew i'd get in), American (figured i'd get in, and I did) and Wake Forest (didn't finish my app- forgot the Dean's letter thingy, and by the time I found out didn't want to go there anymore). But if you don't know what you want or aren't sure if you'll get into schools, they it's probably best to apply to more. Though the app fees can make you go broke.....

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by kddani
It really depends on if you know what you want and what you know you'll get into. I only applied to 2 1/2 schools... lol. Pitt (knew i'd get in), American (figured i'd get in, and I did) and Wake Forest (didn't finish my app- forgot the Dean's letter thingy, and by the time I found out didn't want to go there anymore). But if you don't know what you want or aren't sure if you'll get into schools, they it's probably best to apply to more. Though the app fees can make you go broke.....

Which is why you get fee waivers - I have fee waivers at 5 schools already, all of which were on my list.

[APhiRattlerGal]

ok this may be a dumb question but i'm new at this...how do you get fee waivers? Just contact the schools?

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by APhiRattlerGal
ok this may be a dumb question but i'm new at this...how do you get fee waivers? Just contact the schools?

I started getting them in the mail after LSAT scores came out.

[SigmaChiCard]

say goodbye to me...i'm starting week 3, so not that i popped in here too frequently anymore, but life as a law student is very unlike life as an engineering student...should be good times...hard time though, very hard

Cory

[shinerbock]

The most important advice for people interested in law school (IMO, of course):


-Be smart when deciding where to go, or whether to go. If you can get into a top 20 school, then sure, take the leap, take the big loans if necessary, and go ahead and do it.

-If you're looking at top 25-50 schools, just be smart. If you can go to the 35th best school at in state rates, and the job prospects are strong, don't go to the 30th best school with similar prospects at 3x the cost.

-If you're looking at schools in the 50-100 range, be careful. You want to go to the best school you can, for the cheapest amount. In this range jobs will be a little harder to come by. Pay attention to location. The 50th best law school located 250 miles from the nearest major city may mean nothing compared to a school ranked 65 in a major metro area, if that school has a strong reputation there.

-If your realistic range is 100-200, be EXTREMELY careful. Try for scholarships, and consider financial info carefully. Again, consider area. If you are in a situation where you're looking at 100-150k of debt for one of these lower tier schools, I simply wouldn't recommend going unless:
A) You have a guaranteed job coming out, or have substantial personal wealth.
B) You want to be a lawyer, regardless of the cost or how much you end up making.
C) You're 99.99% positive you can finish in the top 15% of your class (be realistic).

[unspokenone25]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

The most important advice for people interested in law school (IMO, of course):


-Be smart when deciding where to go, or whether to go. If you can get into a top 20 school, then sure, take the leap, take the big loans if necessary, and go ahead and do it.

-If you're looking at top 25-50 schools, just be smart. If you can go to the 35th best school at in state rates, and the job prospects are strong, don't go to the 30th best school with similar prospects at 3x the cost.

-If you're looking at schools in the 50-100 range, be careful. You want to go to the best school you can, for the cheapest amount. In this range jobs will be a little harder to come by. Pay attention to location. The 50th best law school located 250 miles from the nearest major city may mean nothing compared to a school ranked 65 in a major metro area, if that school has a strong reputation there.

-If your realistic range is 100-200, be EXTREMELY careful. Try for scholarships, and consider financial info carefully. Again, consider area. If you are in a situation where you're looking at 100-150k of debt for one of these lower tier schools, I simply wouldn't recommend going unless:
A) You have a guaranteed job coming out, or have substantial personal wealth.
B) You want to be a lawyer, regardless of the cost or how much you end up making.
C) You're 99.99% positive you can finish in the top 15% of your class (be realistic).

I concur with this advice.