Drake c/o 2015 applicants Forum

[vpintz]

I didn't see a thread for people applying to Drake for the class of 2015, so I figured I would start one.

I applied in September, went complete in October, and just received a nice big envelope with an acceptance and a $10,000 scholly. (I'm from Des Moines, so Drake is more or less my safety option, as I wouldn't mind living/practicing in Des Moines.)

[shredderrrrrr]

Wait, I thought Drake didn't review applications Janurary?

[vpintz]

I thought the same thing, which is why it came as such a shock. (Hell, even the "app received" email stated that decisions would be mailed out starting mid-January.) Believe me, I'm still convinced the adcomm is just messing with me. But my status checker says "decision rendered," with a decision date of 11/7, and I got the acceptance package yesterday at my home address.

To be fair, I have strong ties to Des Moines, my dad went to Drake for undergrad, and my mom used to work in the law admissions office (all of this was over a decade ago, but still), so that could have had an effect.

(If you're still skeptical--which is fair, I would be too!--I can upload a screenshot of my status checker or something. :3 )

[shredderrrrrr]

Man, that's crazy but I believe you. Congrats! Mind sharing your stats? Maybe you were an applicant they wanted to snatch up right away!

[shredderrrrrr]

I re-read my email from Drake and it said:

"Please keep in mind that our Admission Committee will start meeting on a regular basis in mid-January, 2012."

From the wording, it suggests that there is a possibility for them to ocassionaly meet earlier. Man, I wish I would've submitted sooner! My app just went complete yesterday.

[vpintz]

I re-read my email from Drake and it said:

"Please keep in mind that our Admission Committee will start meeting on a regular basis in mid-January, 2012."

From the wording, it suggests that there is a possibility for them to ocassionaly meet earlier. Man, I wish I would've submitted sooner! My app just went complete yesterday.

Ah, good point! (And thanks! ^^ ) Either way, I'm not questioning it...but still in shock. ;]
My numbers are 154 (yes, I know, should have retaken)/3.7 ish. I had pretty good softs, but nothing stellar or fantastic.

Hmm...I understand the feeling of "man, should have applied earlier," but at least it's still fairly early in the cycle! Maybe you'll get a nice Christmas present from the Drake adcomm. ;] (My decision was rendered under a month of my app going to complete, iirc, if it's any comfort.)

[Gov2408]

Hey vpintz-

What do you think my chances are of being accepted to Drake?

My LSAC GPA is 3.92 (3.94), and my LSAT is 153. I am from Iowa and have great softs, as well as internships at Legal Aid, Attorney General's Office, and a U.S. Senator's Office.

Thanks!

[vpintz]

Hey vpintz-

What do you think my chances are of being accepted to Drake?

My LSAC GPA is 3.92 (3.94), and my LSAT is 153. I am from Iowa and have great softs, as well as internships at Legal Aid, Attorney General's Office, and a U.S. Senator's Office.

Thanks!

Ah, man...obviously, I can't give you a for-sure palm reading, but--my stats are 154/3.7, so...if I got accepted, you probably would be, too, especially since you have a lot of connections to the state, or at least more than me (I lived in Iowa until I was 9, most of my family is in Des Moines, my dad went to Drake, my mom worked there for a bit, but where you're still an Iowa resident, I would imagine that would give you a bit of a boost.). I would say definitely apply, and don't be surprised if you get accepted!

That having been said--I strongly urge you to retake the LSAT. You have an AMAZING GPA, and I would hate to see such an awesome GPA go to waste with a low LSAT score. Of course I know that you have your own reasons for retaking or not retaking, and of course you can chose not to retake, but that's just my advice. In any case, definitely apply and (hopefully/probably) enjoy Drake! ;]

/novel of a response, sorry :c

[northerniowan]

I was also surprised at the end of last week when I received my packet in the mail. I wasn't expecting to hear until January.

[shredderrrrrr]

I was also surprised at the end of last week when I received my packet in the mail. I wasn't expecting to hear until January.

You got one too?! Congrats! Do you go to UNI?

[vpintz]

I was also surprised at the end of last week when I received my packet in the mail. I wasn't expecting to hear until January.

Haha, that's what happened to me, too! Congrats on your acceptance. :]

[Opie]

Hmm.. Wondering if I will get one soon... I think the admissions office has certain criteria where they can accept certain candidates before the full committee meets. They have two full-time admissions officers (one has a JD from Drake), so that's enough to make a decision.

Hawklaw3 confirmed today that it WAS the Opperman scholarship he received and that it came via email (not sure if this is because he is in France right now or not).

ETA: would everyone please update/verify their LSN?

[shredderrrrrr]

Opie: Did you turn in the general scholarship form? I remember asking you guys in the Iowa forum if you needed to turn in anything besides the application itself and everyone said no. However, I just received a packet of information from Drake encouraging me to apply for the Opperman Schoalrship. I emailed Andrew English and asked if anything else was necessary and he said I needed to turn in the general scholarship form. Here is a link to it if you haven't turned it in yet. http://www.law.drake.edu/admissions/doc ... ipInfo.pdf.

[Opie]

Opie: Did you turn in the general scholarship form? I remember asking you guys in the Iowa forum if you needed to turn in anything besides the application itself and everyone said no. However, I just received a packet of information from Drake encouraging me to apply for the Opperman Schoalrship. I emailed Andrew English and asked if anything else was necessary and he said I needed to turn in the general scholarship form. Here is a link to it if you haven't turned it in yet. http://www.law.drake.edu/admissions/doc ... ipInfo.pdf.

WOW! Thanks for the reminder! I had forgotten completely!

Andrew is really helpful. He's the one with a JD from Drake.

[neeko]

You guys are scaring me, are you sure something else needs to be turned in? I asked Andrew about this a few weeks ago and here is what he wrote me back.

You will only need to submit a separate application for the Opperman Scholarship if you are the daughter of a West Publishing Company or West Group employee or the daughter of an Article III federal judge. If you fall into one of these categories you will need to fill out the scholarship form linked at the top of http://www.law.drake.edu/admissions/?pageID=opperman. If you do not fall into one of these categories, you will be considered for the scholarship automatically based on your application for admission.

[Opie]

You guys are scaring me, are you sure something else needs to be turned in? I asked Andrew about this a few weeks ago and here is what he wrote me back.

You will only need to submit a separate application for the Opperman Scholarship if you are the daughter of a West Publishing Company or West Group employee or the daughter of an Article III federal judge. If you fall into one of these categories you will need to fill out the scholarship form linked at the top of http://www.law.drake.edu/admissions/?pageID=opperman. If you do not fall into one of these categories, you will be considered for the scholarship automatically based on your application for admission.

Hmm... That could be true. Well, I'm assuming it is because he would know. There's the Forrest/Hayes scholarship though on the form too. You should apply for one of those.

[neeko]

Ohh thank you! I read that quickly and thought they were both only for Iowa HS and College people.

[shredderrrrrr]

Yeah I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want to make sure everyone gets a fair shot at $! I'm not sure if you have to, but I would just to be safe. In the letter they sent me about the Opperman Scholarship, it reads, "To be considered for this prestigious award, you need only to submit your application for admission, along with the general scholarship information sheet, to Drake Law School."

[neeko]

They make it confusing. Does anyone know the numbers of the people who usually accept it? I cant find them anywhere. I have a ridiculous GPA but an okay LSAT, I wonder if they can use the LSAT to offset the GPA a bit.

[northerniowan]

You got one too?! Congrats! Do you go to UNI?

You bet I go to UNI! And congrats to everyone else who got in.

[shredderrrrrr]

They make it confusing. Does anyone know the numbers of the people who usually accept it? I cant find them anywhere. I have a ridiculous GPA but an okay LSAT, I wonder if they can use the LSAT to offset the GPA a bit.

I have wondered the same thing! I could only find some information from LSN. Based on those who listed the amounts of money they were given, here is what I found:

2010-2011:
167 3.95 Offered, denied

2009-2010:
166 3.75 Offered, denied
164 3.8 Offered, denied (I believe)

2008-2009:
170 3.52 Offered, denied

2007-2008:
161 3.87 Offered, ?

I can't find any numbers of people who actually accepted it! I would assume they are lower than these numbers, but I have no clue.

[Opie]

I'm not sure of the numbers of people who accepted it either, but I'd love to know.

I do know that there are a couple of Opperman Scholars working as associates at Nyemaster Goode. Wouldn't that be nice? $90k to start in Des Moines!

[neeko]

I really hope since all those people denied it that the actual numbers are much lower. I wish they posted it on their page somewhere.

[Opie]

I just went through LSN and there aren't any high award people on any year that accepted. Grr..

[Opie]

Here's a question for you folks: I got the received email from Chris Miller on the 14th and haven't heard anything since. Does Drake use a status checker? I would think that they would have my completed app by now.