Law School Admissions Factors Forum

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lambert8

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Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:52 pm

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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by minnbills » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:58 pm

lambert8 wrote: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?

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rman1201

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:00 am

lambert8 wrote: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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:39 am

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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:39 am

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

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aspire2more

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by aspire2more » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:40 am

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.

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tea_drinker

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by tea_drinker » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:41 am

what lsat score are you currently practicing at?

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rman1201

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:42 am

lambert8 wrote: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?

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:48 am

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)

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Miracle

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by Miracle » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:49 am

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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:50 am

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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by Miracle » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:53 am

lambert8 wrote: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.

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rman1201

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:53 am

lambert8 wrote: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.

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tea_drinker

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by tea_drinker » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:54 am

lambert8 wrote: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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:57 am

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...

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ArchRoark

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by ArchRoark » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:59 am

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.

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rman1201

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:00 am

lambert8 wrote: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/v ... 1&t=148194

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aspire2more

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by aspire2more » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:02 am

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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:08 am

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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:12 am

lambert8 wrote: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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:14 am

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?

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rman1201

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by rman1201 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:17 am

lambert8 wrote: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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by lambert8 » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:24 am

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

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by TheOcho » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:26 am

lambert8 wrote: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.

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Re: Law School Admissions Factors

Post by minnbills » Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:27 am

lambert8 wrote: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...

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