Yale c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013 cycle) Forum

[lizaregina]

I guess to start, I have no idea why I was accepted. My GPA was below the 25th percentile and my LSAT at median. Although, in my case, I definitely think there was some leniency in considering my GPA because I was doing multiple degrees at one time.

I know everyone talks about it being important, but my app definitely did NOT have a coherent narrative. My PS was about one of my summer jobs and what I learned (can't go into detail without outing myself but feel free to PM me) and my 250 was completely random and unrelated. In my opinion, however, my PS is one of the strongest pieces of non-academic writing I have ever produced and was also rather unusual, which I think definitely did me some favors. I think my letters of rec were strong as well, but I don't know how they factored in.

Overall, I would say that my app wasn't particularly "special" although it did have some unusual elements. In fact, I would say that the things that helped me most were, weirdly, that certain factors weren't held against me, namely my GPA & the fact that I'm a K-JD.

Anyway, feel free to ask me any more questions. Also, if the above seems like an incoherent mess, let me know and I'll try to explain further/in a manner that makes more sense.

Thanks for your response! What you said does make a lot of sense, especially about the PS and the multi-degree. I'm putting off working on apps until after the October LSAT, but I hope you don't mind if I PM you after the LSAT to follow up on these questions.

I don't mind at all! Good luck on the LSAT! I took it in October last year too so I feel your pain!

[abcde12345]

I don't mind at all! Good luck on the LSAT! I took it in October last year too so I feel your pain!

Thanks! It's bad enough studying, let alone the fact that I have 3 papers due the week of.

[honeybadger12]

I guess to start, I have no idea why I was accepted. My GPA was below the 25th percentile and my LSAT at median. Although, in my case, I definitely think there was some leniency in considering my GPA because I was doing multiple degrees at one time.

I know everyone talks about it being important, but my app definitely did NOT have a coherent narrative. My PS was about one of my summer jobs and what I learned (can't go into detail without outing myself but feel free to PM me) and my 250 was completely random and unrelated. In my opinion, however, my PS is one of the strongest pieces of non-academic writing I have ever produced and was also rather unusual, which I think definitely did me some favors. I think my letters of rec were strong as well, but I don't know how they factored in.

Overall, I would say that my app wasn't particularly "special" although it did have some unusual elements. In fact, I would say that the things that helped me most were, weirdly, that certain factors weren't held against me, namely my GPA & the fact that I'm a K-JD.

Anyway, feel free to ask me any more questions. Also, if the above seems like an incoherent mess, let me know and I'll try to explain further/in a manner that makes more sense.

If you have no idea why you were accepted this makes me hopeful. Although I'm not sure I want to be hopeful haha

[lizaregina]

[quote="honeybadger12"]

You should be hopeful honeybadger12! Your GPA/LSAT are both higher than mine and I'm sure you have interesting things to say!

Let me know if you have any questions!

[honeybadger12]

You should be hopeful honeybadger12! Your GPA/LSAT are both higher than mine and I'm sure you have interesting things to say!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll definitely take you up on that offer later on

[Mdenis1]

Checking in! I doubt i'll get in because my numbers are a bit low (168 3.92) especially my LSAT but it's worth the try! Can't wait for Oct 1 to send my application! (hopefully not nov. 1st?)

[Lagunitan]

.

[Lavitz]

Just checking, and sorry if this has been answered somewhere - when is the application going to open? The blog info posted earlier says October 1, but LSAC says November 1. Does it open October 1 and not accept submissions until November 1?

We really aren't sure yet. Either the website or LSAC is wrong and we won't know until October 1st, when the app is either available or it isn't.

ETA: Unless someone wants to call Yale and ask them.

[hopeful16]

It's now October 1st and the app isn't available, so I'm guessing November 1st will be the actual date.

[Mdenis1]

It's now October 1st and the app isn't available, so I'm guessing November 1st will be the actual date.

Argh! Nov 1st is latee

[Lavitz]

It's now October 1st and the app isn't available, so I'm guessing November 1st will be the actual date.

Argh! Nov 1st is latee

Meh, it's fine with me since I've been slacking off and haven't written my (new) 250 yet. It would have been nice to get all the apps out of the way, though.

Updated OP with the new date and a link to Admissions blog post on Diversity Statements in case anyone was thinking of submitting one.

[lawschoolboundfuture]

Why does Yale wait to November to make apps open?

[shntn]

Why does Yale wait to November to make apps open?

It's Yale. They can do whatever they want.

And I'd guess that the quality of the Yale 250's has been on the decline recently so they decided to give us an extra month to come up with something decent.

[honeybadger12]

Why does Yale wait to November to make apps open?

Also I think the deadline is March 1 now and it used to be earlier

[medialoop]

I'm also a Yale 1L (putting off finishing my first law school writing assignment...) and happy to answer questions.

I also am unclear why I got in. I was pretty solidly in the average LSAT/GPA range for those accepted, and at the time I thought my PS was pretty good, but I recently re-read it... and I still think it's kind of interesting, but it wasn't super coherent. My best guess as to why they took me was that they thought I had some interesting ideas and experiences. I'm pretty sure my 2 professors wrote me stellar recommendations, too (and I'd worked very closely with both of them, so they both knew me quite well). I realize that some of that was vague, so feel free to PM me for details.

By looking around/talking to my classmates, advanced degrees and fancy awards/TFA/other honors certainly don't hurt, but I didn't have anything earth-shattering on my resume, so don't freak out if you don't either. I also waited until January to apply (and got in in February), so there's really no rush.

[biiyis]

Here's a link to a recent interview with Asha Rangappa worth reading: http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... a-rangappa

[abcde12345]

Here's a link to a recent interview with Asha Rangappa worth reading: http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... a-rangappa

So should I just delete my TLS account and posts?

Edit: why did I read that... it just reminded me of how badly I want to go to Yale.

[one_by_one]

So... still struggling with my 250. Sort of glad that apps aren't open so I don't have to feel guilty about not having finished it yet.

[vzapana]

FYI all: The application is up on LSAC. Good luck all!

[JedBartlett]

FYI all: The application is up on LSAC. Good luck all!

Good luck to you too!

[elterrible78]

FYI all: The application is up on LSAC. Good luck all!

Application is up, but we still can't submit until November 1, I guess. In any case, mine's ready to go. This is the one that actually makes me feel a little nervous. Good luck, everyone.

[JedBartlett]

FYI all: The application is up on LSAC. Good luck all!

Application is up, but we still can't submit until November 1, I guess. In any case, mine's ready to go. This is the one that actually makes me feel a little nervous. Good luck, everyone.

Wait really? I put down "Send in Yale application" in my schedule for tomorrow. You tried to submit and it wouldn't work?

[elterrible78]

FYI all: The application is up on LSAC. Good luck all!

Application is up, but we still can't submit until November 1, I guess. In any case, mine's ready to go. This is the one that actually makes me feel a little nervous. Good luck, everyone.

Wait really? I put down "Send in Yale application" in my schedule for tomorrow. You tried to submit and it wouldn't work?

Yeah. I tried to submit, and it said "Come back on November 1st."

[Lavitz]

So... still struggling with my 250. Sort of glad that apps aren't open so I don't have to feel guilty about not having finished it yet.

So much for that, lol. I haven't finished mine either. Hopefully having the app open will motivate me to finish it this weekend.

Wait really? I put down "Send in Yale application" in my schedule for tomorrow. You tried to submit and it wouldn't work?

Yeah. I tried to submit, and it said "Come back on November 1st."

Yes. It also says in the app instructions that applications will be accepted between November 1st and March 1st.

[JedBartlett]

DAMMIT.