URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread Forum

Share experiences and seek insight regarding your experience as an underrepresented minority within the legal community.
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What type of music do you listen to when you get into a school?

Hip Hop / Rap
44
51%
EDM
1
1%
Pop / Top 40
12
14%
R&B
5
6%
Reggaeton / Bachata / Latin Trap / Dance Hall / Soca
14
16%
Rock
3
3%
Something less lit than the options above
8
9%
 
Total votes: 87

azpsych20

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by azpsych20 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:18 am

Hey all! Checking in!!

Stats:
Mexican-American, 1st generation college, K-JD
LSAC GPA: 3.72
LSAT: 159 (Feb '17), 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Shooting for Cornell, Vanderbilt, or UT.
Planning on submitting apps in two weeks (waiting on LOR's).

Good luck all!

PhilNoir

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by PhilNoir » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:37 am

God, I didn't even know 'bout this site until now...how, I don't know.

Anyways, stats:
black male, first gen.
3.75 UGPA
175 (Sept 2017)
Also "some softs", I guess (I don't know enough about the lingo to know what sorts of things are included here). And I'll have a PhD from Stanford by the time I would be entering... I don't know if that matters for these things.

Haven't decided where I'm applying yet (I plan on deciding over the next week),but I'm thinking that I should apply to 5-8 schools. The money situation might dictate that since I haven't really gotten any app fee waivers. Although I have a couple schools in mind to which I would like to apply, I really am not clear about which schools I should pick as ones where I have a pretty decent shot of acceptance. Also, finances are important as I am a poor graduate student (gettin' killed by Navient each month).

I'll spend about the next month or so (maybe a lil' more) drafting application materials to submit. I wish you all more than luck and am glad to have discovered this resource!

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zkyggi

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by zkyggi » Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:27 pm

PhilNoir wrote:God, I didn't even know 'bout this site until now...how, I don't know.

Anyways, stats:
black male, first gen.
3.75 UGPA
175 (Sept 2017)
Also "some softs", I guess (I don't know enough about the lingo to know what sorts of things are included here). And I'll have a PhD from Stanford by the time I would be entering... I don't know if that matters for these things.

Haven't decided where I'm applying yet (I plan on deciding over the next week),but I'm thinking that I should apply to 5-8 schools. The money situation might dictate that since I haven't really gotten any app fee waivers. Although I have a couple schools in mind to which I would like to apply, I really am not clear about which schools I should pick as ones where I have a pretty decent shot of acceptance. Also, finances are important as I am a poor graduate student (gettin' killed by Navient each month).

I'll spend about the next month or so (maybe a lil' more) drafting application materials to submit. I wish you all more than luck and am glad to have discovered this resource!
Law school will be free for you if you decide to turn down the HYS acceptances you are going to get with those stats.
Last edited by zkyggi on Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

AaronCarter

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by AaronCarter » Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:34 pm

Checking in

Stats:
African-American male, working 3-4 years
LSAC GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 149, 164, 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Applying to every T14, UCLA, Vandy, WashU, Alabama
I've submitted most of my apps.
Hoping and praying for three schools in particular

Good luck all!

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urmlaw17

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by urmlaw17 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:54 pm

azpsych20 wrote:Hey all! Checking in!!

Stats:
Mexican-American, 1st generation college, K-JD
LSAC GPA: 3.72
LSAT: 159 (Feb '17), 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Shooting for Cornell, Vanderbilt, or UT.
Planning on submitting apps in two weeks (waiting on LOR's).

Good luck all!
Honestly, you should be blanketing T14!

You'll have a great cycle.

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urmlaw17

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by urmlaw17 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:55 pm

AaronCarter wrote:Checking in

Stats:
African-American male, working 3-4 years
LSAC GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 149, 164, 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Applying to every T14, UCLA, Vandy, WashU, Alabama
I've submitted most of my apps.
Hoping and praying for three schools in particular

Good luck all!
Are those three the Holy Trinity?

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stjeff00

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by stjeff00 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:15 pm

AaronCarter wrote:Checking in

Stats:
African-American male, working 3-4 years
LSAC GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 149, 164, 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Applying to every T14, UCLA, Vandy, WashU, Alabama
I've submitted most of my apps.
Hoping and praying for three schools in particular

Good luck all!

Impressive LSAT jump , do you have general tips for improvement? Or what worked for you?

AaronCarter

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Posts: 396
Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:59 am

Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by AaronCarter » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:05 pm

urmlaw17 wrote:
AaronCarter wrote:Checking in

Stats:
African-American male, working 3-4 years
LSAC GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 149, 164, 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Applying to every T14, UCLA, Vandy, WashU, Alabama
I've submitted most of my apps.
Hoping and praying for three schools in particular

Good luck all!
Are those three the Holy Trinity?

hahahahah I hope they are the holy numbers that get in!!

AaronCarter

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Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:59 am

Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by AaronCarter » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:10 pm

stjeff00 wrote:
AaronCarter wrote:Checking in

Stats:
African-American male, working 3-4 years
LSAC GPA: 3.3
LSAT: 149, 164, 167(Sept '17)
Average softs
Applying to every T14, UCLA, Vandy, WashU, Alabama
I've submitted most of my apps.
Hoping and praying for three schools in particular

Good luck all!

Impressive LSAT jump , do you have general tips for improvement? Or what worked for you?
To be honest, when I took it the first time, I was hellaaaa broke. I was working a ton of hours to be able to pay rent to stay in school and only had a couple of used (olddd) books to use. So relying on free articles and those books gave me a less than desirable result. I graduated, got a better job, and was able to use effective study materials. Hardwork and dedication. If you have more questions, definitely PM me.
Also, shout out to 7Sage and Powerscore.

AaronCarter

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by AaronCarter » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:16 pm

I can't get over this link.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=195443

"A 168 will put you 3SDs above the mean, a level that less than 20 AA test takers (around 1-1000, to be more precise-only 15 or so likely pulled this off in 2009-10) will reach annually in a normally distributed sample. HYS is probably a given here barring a very poor GPA, and one should probably expect plenty of money."

I keep thinking a 167 would put me in an excellent spot, but I've seen tons of posts of AA's getting dinged up and down the T14 with that lsat and a 3.2-3.3 gpa. At a max, there should be only 40ish AA's with that lsat.

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andysimbi

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by andysimbi » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:31 pm

That entire thread was a crazy read! I wonder how true it is now, or if things have changed dramatically in the last couple years.

I flip back and forth on how confident I can feel about how my admission results will go, and it feels like even more of a toss up now (somehow).

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principalagent

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by principalagent » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:33 pm

AaronCarter wrote:I can't get over this link.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=195443

"A 168 will put you 3SDs above the mean, a level that less than 20 AA test takers (around 1-1000, to be more precise-only 15 or so likely pulled this off in 2009-10) will reach annually in a normally distributed sample. HYS is probably a given here barring a very poor GPA, and one should probably expect plenty of money."

I keep thinking a 167 would put me in an excellent spot, but I've seen tons of posts of AA's getting dinged up and down the T14 with that lsat and a 3.2-3.3 gpa. At a max, there should be only 40ish AA's with that lsat.
For what it's worth, I don't think statistics tell the full story here - the LSAT bell curves for the general population, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a little hump at the end for AAs. That being said, I don't think there are like 100 AAs with a 168 or above either. It's still not a big number.

It seems that elite law schools seem to go for high GPA / meh LSAT rather than high LSAT / meh GPA URMs on the whole. I don't know why or what motivates this, but I also don't care to speculate and it is what it is. For what it's worth, I'm a slightly bigger splitter than you (slightly lower GPA, fairly higher LSAT), and I'm worried about what this will mean for the T6.

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soca_dancer

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by soca_dancer » Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:03 pm

As a reverse splitter, I too have concerns about what will come of this cycle. But what I have learned about the admission process, especially for AA, is that its truly is a holistic process. The numbers may not be "typical" but if your overall package - the LORs, personal statement, diversity statement, addendums, and interviews - illustrates to the committee that you are a serious and well equipped candidate, you'll be fine. As previously echoed, statistics are just part of the equation and really only speak to the tumultuousness of URM cycles.

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KENYADIGG1T

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by KENYADIGG1T » Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:17 pm

PhilNoir wrote:God, I didn't even know 'bout this site until now...how, I don't know.

Anyways, stats:
black male, first gen.
3.75 UGPA
175 (Sept 2017)
Also "some softs", I guess (I don't know enough about the lingo to know what sorts of things are included here). And I'll have a PhD from Stanford by the time I would be entering... I don't know if that matters for these things.

Haven't decided where I'm applying yet (I plan on deciding over the next week),but I'm thinking that I should apply to 5-8 schools. The money situation might dictate that since I haven't really gotten any app fee waivers. Although I have a couple schools in mind to which I would like to apply, I really am not clear about which schools I should pick as ones where I have a pretty decent shot of acceptance. Also, finances are important as I am a poor graduate student (gettin' killed by Navient each month).

I'll spend about the next month or so (maybe a lil' more) drafting application materials to submit. I wish you all more than luck and am glad to have discovered this resource!
I'm 99.999% sure I know who you are (we have a mutual friend who postdocs at Princeton). Congrats on the awesome LSAT!
Last edited by KENYADIGG1T on Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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KENYADIGG1T

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by KENYADIGG1T » Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:22 pm

soca_dancer wrote:As a reverse splitter, I too have concerns about what will come of this cycle. But what I have learned about the admission process, especially for AA, is that its truly is a holistic process. The numbers may not be "typical" but if your overall package - the LORs, personal statement, diversity statement, addendums, and interviews - illustrates to the committee that you are a serious and well equipped candidate, you'll be fine. As previously echoed, statistics are just part of the equation and really only speak to the tumultuousness of URM cycles.
This gives me hope
UGPA: 4.01
LSAT: 161
Softs: Launching own nonprofit, byline in WaPo, Getting a PhD from Berkeley Law, and have law profs recommending me.

I'm gunning for HYS.

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principalagent

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by principalagent » Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:45 pm

The one thing I do know is that by the end of this cycle, all of us will be basking in our melanin at the finest institutions of law in the world, and we will have all earned our way in. That's so beautiful to think about, and I can't wait to gas up every single person in this thread over the next few months as our hard work is appreciated by admissions offices across the country!

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KENYADIGG1T

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by KENYADIGG1T » Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:57 am

principalagent wrote:The one thing I do know is that by the end of this cycle, all of us will be basking in our melanin at the finest institutions of law in the world, and we will have all earned our way in. That's so beautiful to think about, and I can't wait to gas up every single person in this thread over the next few months as our hard work is appreciated by admissions offices across the country!
Bless

AaronCarter

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by AaronCarter » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:32 am

principalagent wrote:The one thing I do know is that by the end of this cycle, all of us will be basking in our melanin at the finest institutions of law in the world, and we will have all earned our way in. That's so beautiful to think about, and I can't wait to gas up every single person in this thread over the next few months as our hard work is appreciated by admissions offices across the country!

YAHSS

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soca_dancer

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by soca_dancer » Wed Oct 18, 2017 10:03 am

principalagent wrote:The one thing I do know is that by the end of this cycle, all of us will be basking in our melanin at the finest institutions of law in the world, and we will have all earned our way in. That's so beautiful to think about, and I can't wait to gas up every single person in this thread over the next few months as our hard work is appreciated by admissions offices across the country!
(Praise hands because the emoji won't work)

mmart207

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by mmart207 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:06 pm

Unsolicited merit-based fee waivers received from University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, University of Texas, Duke, and Cornell so far. One letter of rec is in, still waiting on the other. Didn't do nearly as well as I'd hoped on the September LSAT so I'm retaking in December. Any actual shot at these schools? Or are they just handing out fee waivers like candy? lol

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dietcoke1

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by dietcoke1 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:09 pm

mmart207 wrote:Unsolicited merit-based fee waivers received from University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, University of Texas, Duke, and Cornell so far. One letter of rec is in, still waiting on the other. Didn't do nearly as well as I'd hoped on the September LSAT so I'm retaking in December. Any actual shot at these schools? Or are they just handing out fee waivers like candy? lol
Fee waivers are usually no indication of admission, but if you have a fee waiver (and money for the LSAC fee) I would apply.

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jjdude14

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by jjdude14 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:11 pm

principalagent wrote:The one thing I do know is that by the end of this cycle, all of us will be basking in our melanin at the finest institutions of law in the world, and we will have all earned our way in. That's so beautiful to think about, and I can't wait to gas up every single person in this thread over the next few months as our hard work is appreciated by admissions offices across the country!
You are beautiful and deserve only the very best

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jjdude14

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by jjdude14 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:17 pm

YetSas81 wrote:Same here.

Are you guys planning to still submit now and hold for review (for the schools that allow it) or just wait until after December scores are released before submitting apps?
How does that process work? Is there somewhere to indicate that on the applications or do you have to contact the schools?

cardboard0917

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by cardboard0917 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:36 pm

jjdude14 wrote:
YetSas81 wrote:Same here.

Are you guys planning to still submit now and hold for review (for the schools that allow it) or just wait until after December scores are released before submitting apps?
How does that process work? Is there somewhere to indicate that on the applications or do you have to contact the schools?
.
Last edited by cardboard0917 on Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

das_Gesetz

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Re: URM 2017-2018 Cycle Thread

Post by das_Gesetz » Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:11 pm

Checking in. AA Male

GPA: 3.93
LSAT: cancelled, 169, 172
HYP Undergrad
mediocre softs

My dream is YLS - worried my testing history may be a problem

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