Loyola Law School - Los Angeles 3L, Taking Questions Forum

[NoleinNY]

I am strongly considering loyola after visiting, received a nice scholarship, however I am really worried about making it into the top 30 percent after the first year. Do you know any information about those who just miss it? Is loyola willing to work with students, bc I would hate to attend and then have to scramble to transfer after my first year

The school is good about NOT section stacking, however; people have a fair shot at keeping their schollies (though it is certainly not guaranteed).

Edit: I would like to add, for the sake of disclosure and honesty (I have no fear of admitting the following, as it will neither affect my pride or anonymity) but I have a scholarship with stipulations and did not get the grades I would've hoped for in December. They aren't insurmountably bad; however, I need to push extra hard this spring to hope to keep it. [While this is no excuse, one of the reasons I didn't perform as well was because I was very sick around exam time. This just goes to show that you can plan, work hard, study right, go in prepared and still be thrown a curveball.]

This is one of my main concerns. I tried looking for data on the percentage that keep their scholarships but was unable to find it. Can you give me a rough estimate? I doubt people talk about this a lot, but do you know of many who have lost their money (top 30% req)? I remember reading somewhere that top 30% is about a 3.4...is that accurate? Thanks!

I do not personally know the number of people who have lost their scholarships. I mostly associate with fellow 1Ls, and scholarships are only recalculated at the end of the academic year.

The school does not section stack, so it is not like there is a set number of people who must lose their scholarships. Here is an illustration (note that I making these numbers up, as I don't recall the exact ones off hand):

Hypo 1: The school hands out some type of scholarship to 50% of the class, contingent on being in the top 30%. The school spreads out people with scholarships evenly among the sections among the 4 sections. By chance, all the people in the top 30% are people who got the scholarship. In this scenario, 60% of the people with scholarships would keep them.

Hypo 2: The school hands out some type of scholarship to 50% of the class, contingent on being in the top 30%. The school puts all the scholarship people in 2 of the 4 sections. In this scenario, it would be almost impossible for most of the recipients to keep their money.

That number you pointed out, with 3.4 being approximately the top 30% was accurate... for last year. Because of how the grades are calculated, that isn't always going to be the case. This year, it could be 3.3, or 3.5(!). This is because your individual grades are calculated by section, but your GPA rank is against the whole school. You could have a different few people (in theory) get the A's in each of your different classes within your section. Same goes for everyone else in every other section. So if most people have very mixed results on their tests, the GPA required for a Top 30% will be lower.

If it looks like I qualified my statements a lot... It's because, well, I did. Law school isn't the right place to go if you can't handle uncertainty haha.

[071816]

I am strongly considering loyola after visiting, received a nice scholarship, however I am really worried about making it into the top 30 percent after the first year. Do you know any information about those who just miss it? Is loyola willing to work with students, bc I would hate to attend and then have to scramble to transfer after my first year

The school is good about NOT section stacking, however; people have a fair shot at keeping their schollies (though it is certainly not guaranteed).

Edit: I would like to add, for the sake of disclosure and honesty (I have no fear of admitting the following, as it will neither affect my pride or anonymity) but I have a scholarship with stipulations and did not get the grades I would've hoped for in December. They aren't insurmountably bad; however, I need to push extra hard this spring to hope to keep it. [While this is no excuse, one of the reasons I didn't perform as well was because I was very sick around exam time. This just goes to show that you can plan, work hard, study right, go in prepared and still be thrown a curveball.]

This is one of my main concerns. I tried looking for data on the percentage that keep their scholarships but was unable to find it. Can you give me a rough estimate? I doubt people talk about this a lot, but do you know of many who have lost their money (top 30% req)? I remember reading somewhere that top 30% is about a 3.4...is that accurate? Thanks!

I do not personally know the number of people who have lost their scholarships. I mostly associate with fellow 1Ls, and scholarships are only recalculated at the end of the academic year.

The school does not section stack, so it is not like there is a set number of people who must lose their scholarships. Here is an illustration (note that I making these numbers up, as I don't recall the exact ones off hand):

Hypo 1: The school hands out some type of scholarship to 50% of the class, contingent on being in the top 30%. The school spreads out people with scholarships evenly among the sections among the 4 sections. By chance, all the people in the top 30% are people who got the scholarship. In this scenario, 60% of the people with scholarships would keep them.

Hypo 2: The school hands out some type of scholarship to 50% of the class, contingent on being in the top 30%. The school puts all the scholarship people in 2 of the 4 sections. In this scenario, it would be almost impossible for most of the recipients to keep their money.

That number you pointed out, with 3.4 being approximately the top 30% was accurate... for last year. Because of how the grades are calculated, that isn't always going to be the case. This year, it could be 3.3, or 3.5(!). This is because your individual grades are calculated by section, but your GPA rank is against the whole school. You could have a different few people (in theory) get the A's in each of your different classes within your section. Same goes for everyone else in every other section. So if most people have very mixed results on their tests, the GPA required for a Top 30% will be lower.

If it looks like I qualified my statements a lot... It's because, well, I did. Law school isn't the right place to go if you can't handle uncertainty haha.

I am thinking of attending Loyola next year and was offered the 87k scholarhip. I emailed the admissions office a few weeks back to ask a few questions about Loyola scholarships and this is how they responded (pretty much what I expected):

Mr. X

All of our scholarships have the same renewal criteria. I don't have any solid data on what percentage of the scholarship recipients renew their scholarship under this criteria because this is the first year we have used the top 30% as a criteria. I estimated based on previous data that about 40% of scholarship recipients will renew their scholarships. I also estimate that we will have somewhere around a 130 to 140 recipients.

If you do not renew after your first year the scholarship is lost for the remaining two years. We do have other privately donated scholarships that you could qualify for, but they are in small amounts and are fairly competitive.

Our 1L sections are divided evenly based on academic factors (primarily LSAT and GPA). In addition, we divide them out evenly based on gender and diversity.

I think I answered your questions, but if you have others please feel free to contact me.

*Also, don't forgot about our scholarship reception on April 14 at the City Club in downtown LA and the preview day on April 15 here on campus.

Thanks,

John Hoyt
Dean for Enrollment Management

[NoleinNY]

I don't remember hearing that...

In any event I am staying right here haha.

[Danteshek]

I don't remember hearing that...

In any event I am staying right here haha.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Let's migrate

[071816]

I don't remember hearing that...

In any event I am staying right here haha.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Let's migrate

Dude, it's probably an April Fools joke.

[NoleinNY]

I don't remember hearing that...

In any event I am staying right here haha.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Let's migrate

Haha. I know I'll be missed but it won't really effect me if this place is under new management - as long as I can answer 0L's questions about our school and occasionally drop 2¢ every now and again when someone asks a "Where should I go to school?" thread.

[Judge Philip Banks]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. Am I remembering this correctly? When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do students actually get the discounts? Do you need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

[Pleasye]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do we actually get the discounts? Do we need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

I'm almost positive you can use the LMU gym for free (it's not at all close to the school though).

[Judge Philip Banks]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do we actually get the discounts? Do we need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

I'm almost positive you can use the LMU gym for free (it's not at all close to the school though).

If you can use it for free, it is definitely worth the drive out to Westchester. I plan on living somewhere in between LLS and Westchester, in the West LA area, so it isn't too bad a drive from there.

[NoleinNY]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do we actually get the discounts? Do we need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

I'm almost positive you can use the LMU gym for free (it's not at all close to the school though).

Not true; the LMU gym is not free for law students. It is, however, very inexpensive. http://www.lmu.edu/Assets/Membership+Po ... n+Page.pdf

Of course, it is all the way in Westchester...

[Judge Philip Banks]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do we actually get the discounts? Do we need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

I'm almost positive you can use the LMU gym for free (it's not at all close to the school though).

Not true; the LMU gym is not free for law students. It is, however, very inexpensive. http://www.lmu.edu/Assets/Membership+Po ... n+Page.pdf

Of course, it is all the way in Westchester...

That is pretty cheap. Thanks for finding that pdf. What about the Gold's Gym and Westside Rentals discounts? Am I crazy or do students get those, too? Any other cool deals LLS students get?

[Pleasye]

Not true; the LMU gym is not free for law students. It is, however, very inexpensive. http://www.lmu.edu/Assets/Membership+Po ... n+Page.pdf

Of course, it is all the way in Westchester...

I said I was "almost" positive, not that I knew it was true.

It's a great facility and there are a lot of classes and stuff but it's always suuuper crowded.

[NoleinNY]

I think I remember reading in the acceptance packet somewhere that LLS gets its students various discounts/deals in the area. For instance, I think students get a discount for the LMU gym or Gold's Gym. Also, students get a discount with Westside Rentals, which would be useful in looking for apartments this summer. When do students officially find out about these things? As in, when do we actually get the discounts? Do we need a LLS email or ID? If so, when are students issued a LLS email?

I'm almost positive you can use the LMU gym for free (it's not at all close to the school though).

Not true; the LMU gym is not free for law students. It is, however, very inexpensive. http://www.lmu.edu/Assets/Membership+Po ... n+Page.pdf

Of course, it is all the way in Westchester...

That is pretty cheap. Thanks for finding that pdf. What about the Gold's Gym and Westside Rentals discounts? Am I crazy or do students get those, too? Any other cool deals LLS students get?

Gold's is about 35 per month. I don't know about Westside Rentals.

[Judge Philip Banks]

Pleasye - you've been to the LMU gym? I might be willing to deal with crowds and the drive if it is so cheap, especially compared to paying $30-35/month for anywhere else.

And thanks Nole. Hopefully the Westside Rentals deal isn't a figment of my imagination... It would be nice to get a discount for a good apartment-finding resource to use in conjunction with craigslist.

Do you remember when LLS issued you your LLS email address? I hope it is earlier than orientation, so that those that are for sure going to Loyola can take advantage of these discounts, and also Amazon Prime for students, student pricing of various software, etc.

[NoleinNY]

Pleasye - you've been to the LMU gym? I might be willing to deal with crowds and the drive if it is so cheap, especially compared to paying $30-35/month for anywhere else.

And thanks Nole. Hopefully the Westside Rentals deal isn't a figment of my imagination... It would be nice to get a discount for a good apartment-finding resource to use in conjunction with craigslist.

Do you remember when LLS issued you your LLS email address? I hope it is earlier than orientation, so that those that are for sure going to Loyola can take advantage of these discounts, and also Amazon Prime for students, student pricing of various software, etc.

You get the email at orientation. You get access to the LLS student classifieds around ASD time.

[Judge Philip Banks]

Pleasye - you've been to the LMU gym? I might be willing to deal with crowds and the drive if it is so cheap, especially compared to paying $30-35/month for anywhere else.

And thanks Nole. Hopefully the Westside Rentals deal isn't a figment of my imagination... It would be nice to get a discount for a good apartment-finding resource to use in conjunction with craigslist.

Do you remember when LLS issued you your LLS email address? I hope it is earlier than orientation, so that those that are for sure going to Loyola can take advantage of these discounts, and also Amazon Prime for students, student pricing of various software, etc.

You get the email at orientation. You get access to the LLS student classifieds around ASD time.

Thanks. Kind of unfortunate the email isn't issued earlier, but I guess it makes sense to get it around orientation time.

[NoleinNY]

Pleasye - you've been to the LMU gym? I might be willing to deal with crowds and the drive if it is so cheap, especially compared to paying $30-35/month for anywhere else.

And thanks Nole. Hopefully the Westside Rentals deal isn't a figment of my imagination... It would be nice to get a discount for a good apartment-finding resource to use in conjunction with craigslist.

Do you remember when LLS issued you your LLS email address? I hope it is earlier than orientation, so that those that are for sure going to Loyola can take advantage of these discounts, and also Amazon Prime for students, student pricing of various software, etc.

You get the email at orientation. You get access to the LLS student classifieds around ASD time.

Thanks. Kind of unfortunate the email isn't issued earlier, but I guess it makes sense to get it around orientation time.

Yeah. Honestly, though, the only reason you would need it any sooner would be to get on the LLS network on facebook haha.

[Judge Philip Banks]

Pleasye - you've been to the LMU gym? I might be willing to deal with crowds and the drive if it is so cheap, especially compared to paying $30-35/month for anywhere else.

And thanks Nole. Hopefully the Westside Rentals deal isn't a figment of my imagination... It would be nice to get a discount for a good apartment-finding resource to use in conjunction with craigslist.

Do you remember when LLS issued you your LLS email address? I hope it is earlier than orientation, so that those that are for sure going to Loyola can take advantage of these discounts, and also Amazon Prime for students, student pricing of various software, etc.

You get the email at orientation. You get access to the LLS student classifieds around ASD time.

Thanks. Kind of unfortunate the email isn't issued earlier, but I guess it makes sense to get it around orientation time.

Yeah. Honestly, though, the only reason you would need it any sooner would be to get on the LLS network on facebook haha.

Haha, yeah, that is a big reason - good point! Speaking for myself though... I wanted to use it to get some free Amazon prime and get student versions of Adobe software! Also big reasons! (to me at least...)

[greg737]

Has anyone here tried to see if the stipulation on the scholarship can be removed? I received $69K, but, as I've heard on here, it's best to just think of it as a one-year deal.

It's tough to want to think that when I have guaranteed money from several other schools, including Irvine, which I guess will be ranked higher than Loyola by the time I'm set to graduate.

[Danteshek]

Has anyone here tried to see if the stipulation on the scholarship can be removed? I received $69K, but, as I've heard on here, it's best to just think of it as a one-year deal.

It's tough to want to think that when I have guaranteed money from several other schools, including Irvine, which I guess will be ranked higher than Loyola by the time I'm set to graduate.

Good luck with that.

More evidence that UCI is competing with Loyola for students, not USC/UCLA.

[greg737]

Good luck with that.
More evidence that UCI is competing with Loyola for students, not USC/UCLA.

I agree with you... at least on my end. Still waiting on USC/UCLA (I doubt I have a shot), but if I get in, I'd go to those two in a heartbeat over UCI.

However, I was at UC Irvine's preview day and there were a few USC/UCLA admits who decided then to go to Irvine, so they are not that far off in terms of perception. UC Irvine is doing some impressive things already.

[LockBox]

I'm not sure if this has been addressed/discussed in this thread yet, but I was wondering how students pursuing intellectual property/patent law do at Loyola? Do any of the current students know others emphasizing this route? Any feedback would be appreciated.

[NoleinNY]

I'm not sure if this has been addressed/discussed in this thread yet, but I was wondering how students pursuing intellectual property/patent law do at Loyola? Do any of the current students know others emphasizing this route? Any feedback would be appreciated.

I know a few people looking into IP/Patent, but they're 1Ls. They're just trying to do well in school, going to networking events, and I think one of them is going to be working for a firm that has a decent IP practice (it's not a biglaw firm to my knowledge). Perusing a few firm websites, I've come across recent LLS grads working in IP and they all seemed to have some sort of work experience before hand. I know this is all completely unhelpful, but that's all I know. Sorry.

What kind of background do you have? Work experience, degree, etc.

[071816]

.

[LockBox]

I'm not sure if this has been addressed/discussed in this thread yet, but I was wondering how students pursuing intellectual property/patent law do at Loyola? Do any of the current students know others emphasizing this route? Any feedback would be appreciated.

I know a few people looking into IP/Patent, but they're 1Ls. They're just trying to do well in school, going to networking events, and I think one of them is going to be working for a firm that has a decent IP practice (it's not a biglaw firm to my knowledge). Perusing a few firm websites, I've come across recent LLS grads working in IP and they all seemed to have some sort of work experience before hand. I know this is all completely unhelpful, but that's all I know. Sorry.

What kind of background do you have? Work experience, degree, etc.

No no, any info is appreciated. I have a B.S. in Chemistry and about 5 years w/e as a chemist in industry. I also started a Ph.D in physics before leaving due to extenuating circumstances. Just waiting to hear from Loyola now and considering what my prospects of going into patent/IP law from a school like Loyola would be. Thanks for the info...