Law School Admissions Factors

[lambert8]

Hello, I'm going to be applying to law school this upcoming fall and had a few questions on how much stock law school admissions people put into certain things. My dream school is UMiami and I'm from NJ so my areas of question are how much stock do they put into geographic location of those applying (will being from a decently far away state help me), how much is put into if you played varsity sports in college (I'm a 4 year athlete), and how much do withdrawals hurt you? Right now I have 3. Thanks a lot for your help and any insight would be appreciated.

[minnbills]

Hello, I'm going to be applying to law school this upcoming fall and had a few questions on how much stock law school admissions people put into certain things. My dream school is UMiami and I'm from NJ so my areas of question are how much stock do they put into geographic location of those applying (will being from a decently far away state help me), how much is put into if you played varsity sports in college (I'm a 4 year athlete), and how much do withdrawals hurt you? Right now I have 3. Thanks a lot for your help and any insight would be appreciated.

Was the withdrawal punitive? That is, were you failing the course and dropped it to retake it?

[rman1201]

Hello, I'm going to be applying to law school this upcoming fall and had a few questions on how much stock law school admissions people put into certain things. My dream school is UMiami and I'm from NJ so my areas of question are how much stock do they put into geographic location of those applying (will being from a decently far away state help me), how much is put into if you played varsity sports in college (I'm a 4 year athlete), and how much do withdrawals hurt you? Right now I have 3. Thanks a lot for your help and any insight would be appreciated.

Dream bigger.
I have 2 Ws on my record and it hasn't effected me.
Varsity sports might give a slight bump, but it really is 98% numbers barring significant work experience or something incredible.

[lambert8]

minn: none of the withdrawals were punitive, they were more because the teachers were horrendous and I didn't feel like I was getting my moneys worth for the courses

rman: what do you mean when you say dream bigger? Thanks

[lambert8]

rman: just saying because what I feel like I have a chance to get on the LSAT and what my gpa is I feel like miami is a reach at this point

[aspire2more]

Dream bigger = Better school than UMiami

If you don't think you will score well on the LSAT, study more and wait for a later test administration. It can make all the difference.

[tea_drinker]

what lsat score are you currently practicing at?

[rman1201]

rman: just saying because what I feel like I have a chance to get on the LSAT and what my gpa is I feel like miami is a reach at this point

gpa?
How many practice tests have you taken? Average?
Have you read the LG + LR powerscore bibles?

Miami just isn't a good idea, especially at sticker. You'd be much better off doing something like Rutgers-Newark where you are with in-state tuition.
Is there a particular reason you want to be in Miami? Is it Lebron? Are you aware the FL legal market is crap?

[lambert8]

rman: I have a 3.1 gpa at The College of New Jersey..I don't know if your familiar with it not sure where your from but it has a good reputation in the tri-state area as a top public school...My practice tests have been in the low 150s and I'm taking a Testmasters course in April for the June LSAT..I like Miami because I want to be involved in sports law and I have some family in the area so it wouldn't be too challenging to adjust (I hate Lebron I'm from NJ I'm a Knicks fan)

[Miracle]

You only have 3 w's and you're panicking?

I had over 15+, a semester full of them (6) plus some on the side. None of them affected me negatively.

[lambert8]

I've just read some things that law schools look down on W's

[Miracle]

I've just read some things that law schools look down on W's

they don't! this question comes up often on TLS and everyone can tell you from experience that they don't.

[rman1201]

I've just read some things that law schools look down on W's

Law schools say a lot of things.

Seriously though, Miami at sticker just is not a good idea, and your odds of breaking into Sports Law from UM is virtually nil. But just read the bibles, take more practice tests, and see if you can get that LSAT up, at least enough for some decent scholarship $$$ if you do decide on UM.

[tea_drinker]

rman: I have a 3.1 gpa at The College of New Jersey..I don't know if your familiar with it not sure where your from but it has a good reputation in the tri-state area as a top public school...My practice tests have been in the low 150s and I'm taking a Testmasters course in April for the June LSAT..I like Miami because I want to be involved in sports law and I have some family in the area so it wouldn't be too challenging to adjust (I hate Lebron I'm from NJ I'm a Knicks fan)

Try to get to high 150s on LSAT and you have a good shot. Schools don't care about Ws as long as your current GPA= your LSAC GPA= 3.1

[lambert8]

why do you think there's a small chance of getting into sports law coming out of um? I've read some things that its pretty good for this field and have seen it has a pretty big sports and entertainment law symposium every year...

[ArchRoark]

I don't even think I my transcript has withdrawals on them. Do all schools list withdrawals? Last time I pulled an official transcript on myself, I don't remember seeing any and I know I withdrew a ton.

[rman1201]

why do you think there's a small chance of getting into sports law coming out of um? I've read some things that its pretty good for this field and have seen it has a pretty big sports and entertainment law symposium every year...

This thread has solid advice.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=148194

[aspire2more]

Your practice tests are in the 150s and you have four months before your LSAT administration. That is plenty of time to break the 160s. You are not in dire straits at this point.

[lambert8]

so your saying trying to get into somewhere in LA would be a better option?

[rman1201]

so your saying trying to get into somewhere in LA would be a better option?

Not necessarily, the main thing is that it usually requires an elite school and/or serious connections and luck to break into Sports/Entertainment. I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to LA unless you get into UCLA or USC.
But if you have your heart set on Miami just make sure you do your research and look for good hard statistics rather than anecdotal cases touted by the admissions department.

[lambert8]

I hear ya. I just feel like sports have been a part of my life since I can remember and I would excel in a field like that while being happy with what I do and not sitting in a booth hating my life...You seem to be pretty informed...have you ever heard anything about St.Thomas in Miami and their Sports Adminstration JD/MBA?

[rman1201]

I hear ya. I just feel like sports have been a part of my life since I can remember and I would excel in a field like that while being happy with what I do and not sitting in a booth hating my life...You seem to be pretty informed...have you ever heard anything about St.Thomas in Miami and their Sports Adminstration JD/MBA?

All I've really heard about St. Thomas is it has bleak employment prospects. Florida just isn't a great state to be in right now because it was one of the hardest hit by the recession.
Is there any particular reason you want to go into law? I can understand the passion for sports and all, but surely there's a cheaper route that can lead you into better prospects, at least until you get the experience to help you land a job if you do decide to attend law school at some point.

[lambert8]

I figure I can at least get some $$ from there if I were to apply...Reason for going into law would just be to get into the Sports Law business..I basically just have a goal to work in sports

[TheOcho]

I figure I can at least get some $$ from there if I were to apply...Reason for going into law would just be to get into the Sports Law business..I basically just have a goal to work in sports

I heard MLB is hiring people to blog about baseball.

[minnbills]

I figure I can at least get some $$ from there if I were to apply...Reason for going into law would just be to get into the Sports Law business..I basically just have a goal to work in sports

It sounds like you're not really sure that this is for you...

EDIT: as in law school