IU Bloomington Class of 2014 Forum

[Barbie]

Trying to decide if I should apply! I've heard great things but I wonder if its throwing away money (auto-ding)

Are you worried about your #'s being too low or too high (yield protect)? Ask for a fee waiver. They waive them automatically if you've received an LSAC fee waiver.

too low!! I dont have an LSAC waiver. I've gotten merit-based from @ 80% of the schools I'm applying to, though. Do you think they would give me one?

[angiej]

Trying to decide if I should apply! I've heard great things but I wonder if its throwing away money (auto-ding)

Are you worried about your #'s being too low or too high (yield protect)? Ask for a fee waiver. They waive them automatically if you've received an LSAC fee waiver.

too low!! I dont have an LSAC waiver. I've gotten merit-based from @ 80% of the schools I'm applying to, though. Do you think they would give me one?

Its certainly worth a quick email or phone call. You've got to throw some reaches in the mix . . .let this be one of them.

[Barbie]

Trying to decide if I should apply! I've heard great things but I wonder if its throwing away money (auto-ding)

Are you worried about your #'s being too low or too high (yield protect)? Ask for a fee waiver. They waive them automatically if you've received an LSAC fee waiver.

too low!! I dont have an LSAC waiver. I've gotten merit-based from @ 80% of the schools I'm applying to, though. Do you think they would give me one?

Its certainly worth a quick email or phone call. You've got to throw some reaches in the mix . . .let this be one of them.

That's true! I just feel like all my schools are reaches haha. I don't want them to laugh at me I suppose I will send them an email though!

[justadude55]

they approached me with a fee waiver with a nice video attached to it that made me feel good about myself. nice people

and my #'s aren't that great YET. i'm right around their medians.

[Barbie]

they approached me with a fee waiver with a nice video attached to it that made me feel good about myself. nice people

and my #'s aren't that great YET. i'm right around their medians.

do you mind sharing with me your numbers and how you got the waiver? email?

[justadude55]

they approached me with a fee waiver with a nice video attached to it that made me feel good about myself. nice people

and my #'s aren't that great YET. i'm right around their medians.

do you mind sharing with me your numbers and how you got the waiver? email?

e-mail
3.6 167 (retaking--registered a month before the test the 1st time, and started studying only a couple weeks before the test [i thought i could approach it like the sat's] but pt is i realized it was worth some effort to do better after i heard how learnable it is.)

again, #'s don't mean i'm in. but they did say, i "have their attention, and students with my academic blah blah blah are in high demand by top law schools."

edit: fee waiver doesn't mean i'm in. maybe they can see LOR? or the fact i had multiple majors helped my gpa?

[Barbie]

they approached me with a fee waiver with a nice video attached to it that made me feel good about myself. nice people

and my #'s aren't that great YET. i'm right around their medians.

do you mind sharing with me your numbers and how you got the waiver? email?

e-mail
3.6 167 (retaking--registered a month before the test the 1st time, and started studying only a couple weeks before the test [i thought i could approach it like the sat's] but pt is i realized it was worth some effort to do better after i heard how learnable it is.)

again, #'s don't mean i'm in. but they did say, i "have their attention, and students with my academic blah blah blah are in high demand by top law schools."

edit: fee waiver doesn't mean i'm in. maybe they can see LOR? or the fact i had multiple majors helped my gpa?

no they cant see any of that but 167 is above their 75th percentile if I remember correctly...

[justadude55]

they approached me with a fee waiver with a nice video attached to it that made me feel good about myself. nice people

and my #'s aren't that great YET. i'm right around their medians.

do you mind sharing with me your numbers and how you got the waiver? email?

e-mail
3.6 167 (retaking--registered a month before the test the 1st time, and started studying only a couple weeks before the test [i thought i could approach it like the sat's] but pt is i realized it was worth some effort to do better after i heard how learnable it is.)

again, #'s don't mean i'm in. but they did say, i "have their attention, and students with my academic blah blah blah are in high demand by top law schools."

edit: fee waiver doesn't mean i'm in. maybe they can see LOR? or the fact i had multiple majors helped my gpa?

no they cant see any of that but 167 is above their 75th percentile if I remember correctly...

maybe by a point or two. frankly, i don't understand their fuss over a point. it's a single question in that region, but i'll take it.

[Barbie]

no they cant see any of that but 167 is above their 75th percentile if I remember correctly...

maybe by a point or two. frankly, i don't understand their fuss over a point. it's a single question in that region, but i'll take it.

I don't even know what you're talking about. Also, above you say you're around their median but really your above their 75th percentile. You're ALL over the place here....

[JakeL]

3.0 and 166.
Fee waiver received and application submitted.

[Barbie]

fee waiver granted upon request today good thing! im sending out my apps this weekend

[angiej]

fee waiver granted upon request today good thing! im sending out my apps this weekend

That's awesome! I'm glad you went for it - I think you have a shot, especially if your applying early.

[justadude55]

no they cant see any of that but 167 is above their 75th percentile if I remember correctly...

maybe by a point or two. frankly, i don't understand their fuss over a point. it's a single question in that region, but i'll take it.

I don't even know what you're talking about. Also, above you say you're around their median but really your above their 75th percentile. You're ALL over the place here....

i didnt look up their median in particular. i just guesstimated based on ranking. im not all over the place.

also does anyone know, if a school can accept you before your lsat retake?

[Barbie]

fee waiver granted upon request today good thing! im sending out my apps this weekend

That's awesome! I'm glad you went for it - I think you have a shot, especially if your applying early.

Thanks! Sent my app in last night so I guess we will find out!!!


and just dude, typically when a school sees you are retaking, they will not evaluate your app until afterward.

[AVBucks4239]

no they cant see any of that but 167 is above their 75th percentile if I remember correctly...

maybe by a point or two. frankly, i don't understand their fuss over a point. it's a single question in that region, but i'll take it.

I don't even know what you're talking about. Also, above you say you're around their median but really your above their 75th percentile. You're ALL over the place here....

i didnt look up their median in particular. i just guesstimated based on ranking. im not all over the place.

also does anyone know, if a school can accept you before your lsat retake?

On most applications, the school will have a question asking you if you plan on taking a future LSAT. Most of the time, if you indicate "yes," the law school will hold your application until they receive your next score.

You have something to weigh here, though. Your 167 is 3 points above IU's median (164). If you apply this early, you probably have a pretty good chance of getting in. However, if you believe that you can significantly increase your LSAT score, then you can take it again; BUT, there will be fewer seats available at the law school.

Anyways, I finished my application for Indiana last night. It is definitely a reach for me, as my LSAT is several points below their median. My GPA, however is right in the middle and I feel that the rest of my application is fairly strong. I also did not receive a confirmation email from them, which is a little annoying.

Oh well, good luck to all those who apply to IU!

[Barbie]

On most applications, the school will have a question asking you if you plan on taking a future LSAT. Most of the time, if you indicate "yes," the law school will hold your application until they receive your next score.

You have something to weigh here, though. Your 167 is 3 points above IU's median (164). If you apply this early, you probably have a pretty good chance of getting in. However, if you believe that you can significantly increase your LSAT score, then you can take it again; BUT, there will be fewer seats available at the law school.

Anyways, I finished my application for Indiana last night. It is definitely a reach for me, as my LSAT is several points below their median. My GPA, however is right in the middle and I feel that the rest of my application is fairly strong. I also did not receive a confirmation email from them, which is a little annoying.

Oh well, good luck to all those who apply to IU!

I didn't get my email from them until a few days later, so I wouldn't worry. I am below their median (moreso in GPA) but have a LSAT @ the median. I have really strong softs, IMO, so I am curious to see how the cycle plays out for us (since you mentioned you have a strong application outside of #s)

[justadude55]

who is to say someone has strong softs? unless you win an oscar or a medal of honor, who is to say what one person reading your app will favor? #'s are #'s: they do something tangible for the school, and they aren't open to subjective opinion.

[ZachOda]

who is to say someone has strong softs? unless you win an oscar or a medal of honor, who is to say what one person reading your app will favor? #'s are #'s: they do something tangible for the school, and they aren't open to subjective opinion.

Well I would think that certain things on your resume would be considered "strong" no matter what school you're looking at. Experience at a law firm or in the DA's office is always going to be a major plus for any applicant.

[Barbie]

who is to say someone has strong softs? unless you win an oscar or a medal of honor, who is to say what one person reading your app will favor? #'s are #'s: they do something tangible for the school, and they aren't open to subjective opinion.

Well I would think that certain things on your resume would be considered "strong" no matter what school you're looking at. Experience at a law firm or in the DA's office is always going to be a major plus for any applicant.

Exactly. Justadude, IMO, you have no idea what you are talking about. I believe my softs are "strong" because I'm a published author including articles and a full length novel, have worked at a law firm, and have a pretty unique diversity that I would bet less than 1% of applicants have. And to attack your argument specifically, justadude... "who is to say"= obviously you think you are, and that is hilarious to think that your opinion matters more than the adcomms I have spoken with. #'s are #'s is an absolute joke as well, because while they are the primary indicator, they are not alone by any means. And YES YOUR APPLICATION IS open to subjective opinion. Resume, personal statement, diversity statement, and LORs all contain matter that will sway an opinion from an adcomm.

[ZachOda]

who is to say someone has strong softs? unless you win an oscar or a medal of honor, who is to say what one person reading your app will favor? #'s are #'s: they do something tangible for the school, and they aren't open to subjective opinion.

Well I would think that certain things on your resume would be considered "strong" no matter what school you're looking at. Experience at a law firm or in the DA's office is always going to be a major plus for any applicant.

Exactly. Justadude, IMO, you have no idea what you are talking about. I believe my softs are "strong" because I'm a published author including articles and a full length novel, have worked at a law firm, and have a pretty unique diversity that I would bet less than 1% of applicants have. And to attack your argument specifically, justadude... "who is to say"= obviously you think you are, and that is hilarious to think that your opinion matters more than the adcomms I have spoken with. #'s are #'s is an absolute joke as well, because while they are the primary indicator, they are not alone by any means. And YES YOUR APPLICATION IS open to subjective opinion. Resume, personal statement, diversity statement, and LORs all contain matter that will sway an opinion from an adcomm.

Honestly, that sounds like a strong soft to me... ha

[RMstratosphere]

There are two types of "softs".

The first are extraordinary, life altering, universe shaping events. You cured cancer. You are a Nobel Laureate. You have been to the moon. You are the UFC's undisputed light heavyweight champion. These types of softs will get you into a school you otherwise wouldn't be accept to or money from a school you otherwise wouldn't see $ from.

The second type of soft, like being a published author, working for a law firm, or being a really sweet dude matter at the margins. To say that they aren't helpful is false. To say that they will get you into a school that you otherwise wouldn't get into, is probably false.

Your LSAT score and your UG GPA are the prime factors for your law school acceptance, in that order. All else, except the first category of softs, is generally only significant at the margins.

None of that is any reason to feel less accomplished or proud of your extracurricular achievements. Being a published author is an impressive accomplishment in its own right. But, it probably won't be a large factor in your law school acceptance.

Edited for grammar.

[Marionberry]

Barbie is the shit. Beyond her softs, she has about as compelling of a GPA addendum as you can get. Just FYI.

[Barbie]

Barbie is the shit. Beyond her softs, she has about as compelling of a GPA addendum as you can get. Just FYI.

aww <3
I don't think being an author or working @ a law firm are big softs. I think the biggest one I'm working with is the diversity thing, if it is to be called a "soft" is debatable, but I'm not a URM so not sure what else it would be refered to as...

and I'm speaking on the terms more of a borderline candidate. I think softs are what make or break these people, who already have mediocre numbers... (plus some schools are known to be more lenient with softs than others)

[RMstratosphere]

Barbie is the shit. Beyond her softs, she has about as compelling of a GPA addendum as you can get. Just FYI.

aww <3
I don't think being an author or working @ a law firm are big softs. I think the biggest one I'm working with is the diversity thing, if it is to be called a "soft" is debatable, but I'm not a URM so not sure what else it would be refered to as...

and I'm speaking on the terms more of a borderline candidate. I think softs are what make or break these people, who already have mediocre numbers... (plus some schools are known to be more lenient with softs than others)

I think that's an accurate assessment of things. I would view your URM status as a numbers affecting circumstance rather than a soft. It changes the goal posts for your numbers rather than supplementing them with qualitative achievements.

[AVBucks4239]

who is to say someone has strong softs? unless you win an oscar or a medal of honor, who is to say what one person reading your app will favor? #'s are #'s: they do something tangible for the school, and they aren't open to subjective opinion.

I've been through an application cycle and have researched how to get into law schools for over two years. I know what I'm talking about. To say that softs don't matter is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on this board.

Yes, numbers are numbers. They do matter a lot, but they aren't a guarantee of anything. If you are right at a school's medians, they aren't just going to say "Well, this kid has good numbers. Accept." They're going to review your entire application and make sure you are an active person and will bring a unique perspective to their law school. Trust me, plenty of people right at the medians are going to apply. Not all of them get accepted. Check out LawSchoolPredictor.com if you don't believe me. Hell, just to prove my point, I've already done this for you, and you only have a 68% chance of getting in if you're right at IU's medians.

More importantly, if you are slightly below a school's medians, your softs become a HUGE factor. Like I said, my LSAT is a little below Indiana's median and my GPA is right at it. How are they going to decide if me falling in their 25th percentile is worth admitting? By looking beyond my numbers--my personal statement, my resume, my letters of recommendation. My applications were entirely done last cycle (done with LSAT, graduated college, already have LOR's, etc.), but it still took me to October to perfect my personal statement as much as possible. Why? Cause it is what MAY get me into schools slightly above my numbers.

And seriously, you came into this thread asking several questions. People (including myself) did their best to answer them as thoroughly as possible. Then you're going to sit there and tell us we don't know what we're talking about? Come on man.