SMU C/O 2017 (2013-2014 Applicants) Forum

[bound]

How long did it take you guys to receive a status checker/go complete after submitting?

[cannibal ox]

I was sent a status checker and went complete the day after I submitted.

[kalvano]

What are some examples of the smaller firms that go to OCI?

Look back in last years acceptance thread, I believe I posted a screenshot of all the OCI firms from round one and round two. Might be helpful to post it here when you find it.

[TheJanitor6203]

What are some examples of the smaller firms that go to OCI?

Look back in last years acceptance thread, I believe I posted a screenshot of all the OCI firms from round one and round two. Might be helpful to post it here when you find it.

Still looking for that but I did find this for anyone interested:
Actual "Biglaw" Firm Offices in Dallas that Start at 160:

Baker Botts
Vinson Elkins
Fulbright
Weil
Gibson Dunn
Jones Day
Baker & McKenzie
Hunton & Williams
DLA Piper
Fish & Richardson
Haynes & Boone
K&L Gates
Morgan Lewis
Patton Boggs
Locke Lord
Thompson & Knight
Bracewell & Giuliani
Akin Gump
Sidley Austin
Alston & Bird
Bryan Cave
Andrews Kurth

and Even:
Jackson Walker
Gardere
and Winstead.

[TheJanitor6203]

What are some examples of the smaller firms that go to OCI?

Look back in last years acceptance thread, I believe I posted a screenshot of all the OCI firms from round one and round two. Might be helpful to post it here when you find it.

No dice.

[ScottRiqui]

Is there any significant biglaw presence in Fort Worth (or anywhere else in the Metroplex), or is the "Dallas market" literally just Dallas?

[kalvano]

Is there any significant biglaw presence in Fort Worth (or anywhere else in the Metroplex), or is the "Dallas market" literally just Dallas?

There are some firms, but not a ton. I wouldn't plan on getting Fort Worth, but it does happen. At least 5 or 6 come to OCI.

What are some examples of the smaller firms that go to OCI?

Look back in last years acceptance thread, I believe I posted a screenshot of all the OCI firms from round one and round two. Might be helpful to post it here when you find it.

No dice.

Aren't you lucky I almost never delete anything?




OCI Phase I: Big Firms (The Main Event)










OCI Phase II: Medium & Small Firms (The Local Boys & Girls)







I know at least a bit about most of the places.

[TheJanitor6203]

Awesome, thanks.

[TheJanitor6203]

Kalvano,

Of the 5 journals, could you rank them in order of how hard they are to get on? Do employers care which journal you were on? Or is any journal (other than law review) viewed the same? Since there are 5 journals is it pretty easy to get on one, even if it may not be the one you wanted?

[kalvano]

There are 5 journals?

SMU LR is obviously the one you should aim for. International is a beating, and S&T (represent, yo!) is pretty easy.

As far as employers go, it's hard to tell. SMU LR generally means good grades, so it's likely the grades that get you looked at. But some places won't even look at you without Law Review. If you have the grades for SMU LR but aren't on it, that will hurt you.

Basically, being on a journal can't hurt you. If you don't get SMU LR, take the least amount of work possible, which would be S&T.

[TheJanitor6203]

There are 5 journals?

SMU LR is obviously the one you should aim for. International is a beating, and S&T (represent, yo!) is pretty easy.

As far as employers go, it's hard to tell. SMU LR generally means good grades, so it's likely the grades that get you looked at. But some places won't even look at you without Law Review. If you have the grades for SMU LR but aren't on it, that will hurt you.

Basically, being on a journal can't hurt you. If you don't get SMU LR, take the least amount of work possible, which would be S&T.

The other 2 are The Journal of Air Law and Commerce and Law and Business Review of the Americas. I think I remember you telling me once that Air Law and Commerce is a section of LR right? SMU's website kind of makes it sound like Law and Business of the Americas may be a section of International. What kind of grades do you need for LR?

[kalvano]

Oh. JALC is part of SMU LR, yes. Never heard of Business Review.

Top 10% is guaranteed a spot on SMU LR with a good-faith write-on effort (don't write in crayon or turn in something beer stained). No one outside the top half can write on to SMU LR. After top 10%, it's grades and write-on competition that determine your eligibility. Realities ally, you need to be top 20% or so to have a shot at writing on.

[TheJanitor6203]

I got my packet today. $24,000/year with the "good standing" stip. 161/3.3

No hand written note but they personalized it in the actual letter- they're the first school to do that.

[cannibal ox]

Does the scholarship information come in the same packet as everything else, or are there 2 separate mailings?

[LEPWU]

Does the scholarship information come in the same packet as everything else, or are there 2 separate mailings?

Scholarship info. should come with the initial acceptance packet (...although in my case there wasn't any scholarship information in there, which seemed weird to me. I, no joke, called admissions to ask if they had possibly forgotten / left out the scholarship page...which was an incredibly entitled thing to do, I get it...AND THEY HAD ACCIDENTALLY left it out!) My numbers were as good as or better than people who HAD received scholarships already, which is why I had been so disappointed when opening my initial packet, only to find $0.

[TheJanitor6203]

Does the scholarship information come in the same packet as everything else, or are there 2 separate mailings?

Same packet. It includes:
-Acceptance letter
-Scholarship letter
-Booklet
-2 different FAQ sheets
-Window sticker

[EpyonBlood]

Greetings TLS. I'm a new poster but have been visiting TLS for a long time. I'm seeking advice:

I applied for Early Decision with 157/3.5. I know my numbers are a bit below but I have been told that I have a great Personal/Diversity Statement as well as other powerful softs (from extremely credible people).

I have yet to hear back from SMU. My question is based on anyone's experience, what does my situation look like? Is anyone else or know of anyone else in the past who has been in my boat?

I welcome and appreciate all advice.

Thanks.

[TheJanitor6203]

Greetings TLS. I'm a new poster but have been visiting TLS for a long time. I'm seeking advice:

I applied for Early Decision with 157/3.5. I know my numbers are a bit below but I have been told that I have a great Personal/Diversity Statement as well as other powerful softs (from extremely credible people).

I have yet to hear back from SMU. My question is based on anyone's experience, what does my situation look like? Is anyone else or know of anyone else in the past who has been in my boat?

I welcome and appreciate all advice.

Thanks.

Are you URM?

[kalvano]

Greetings TLS. I'm a new poster but have been visiting TLS for a long time. I'm seeking advice:

I applied for Early Decision with 157/3.5. I know my numbers are a bit below but I have been told that I have a great Personal/Diversity Statement as well as other powerful softs (from extremely credible people).

I have yet to hear back from SMU. My question is based on anyone's experience, what does my situation look like? Is anyone else or know of anyone else in the past who has been in my boat?

I welcome and appreciate all advice.

Thanks.

Your LSAT is much lower than they like. Softs don't mean much. Sorry.

[BVest]

Oh. JALC is part of SMU LR, yes. Never heard of Business Review.

Top 10% is guaranteed a spot on SMU LR with a good-faith write-on effort (don't write in crayon or turn in something beer stained). No one outside the top half can write on to SMU LR. After top 10%, it's grades and write-on competition that determine your eligibility. Realities ally, you need to be top 20% or so to have a shot at writing on.

Like JALC is under LRA, LBRA is under ILRA. So as Kalvano mentioned above, there are 3 journal opportunities: LR, International, and S&T.

BTW for you applicants, write-on at SMU is a three-part assignment and "good faith" requires that you make the GF effort on all three sections. Allegedly any section can sink you. The sections are writing, editing, and bluebooking. I'm not sure how many other schools do this but I haven't heard of them; really this makes the most sense because it tests your actual contribution to journals. And since you won't know your rank for about a month after the write-on competition, you can't really count on grading-on.

[BVest]

Greetings TLS. I'm a new poster but have been visiting TLS for a long time. I'm seeking advice:

I applied for Early Decision with 157/3.5. I know my numbers are a bit below but I have been told that I have a great Personal/Diversity Statement as well as other powerful softs (from extremely credible people).

I have yet to hear back from SMU. My question is based on anyone's experience, what does my situation look like? Is anyone else or know of anyone else in the past who has been in my boat?

I welcome and appreciate all advice.

Thanks.

I know people who got in with lower LSATs (and the threshold for admission into the fall 1L peer tutoring program is around 152 -- as in those who score under 153 can get into the program, so obviously there must be some who qualify that way) but generally they had strong UG GPAs. Obviously, to make their US News numbers they need either an LSAT or a GPA out of you. Otherwise you have to bring something very special to the table.

Take a look at past years:

http://smu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213
http://smu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1112

[TheJanitor6203]

So do you do one write-on for all three and list the journals in the order you want them or how does it work?

[kalvano]

So do you do one write-on for all three and list the journals in the order you want them or how does it work?

Yes. LR gets first pick, and then the other two have their choices. The calls usually start from LR on Saturday morning and everything is wrapped up by the following Wednesday.

It takes about 4-6 weeks to grade the write-on.

[TheJanitor6203]

So do you do one write-on for all three and list the journals in the order you want them or how does it work?

Yes. LR gets first pick, and then the other two have their choices. The calls usually start from LR on Saturday morning and everything is wrapped up by the following Wednesday.

It takes about 4-6 weeks to grade the write-on.

Do you know how many people try vs how many spots are available?

[kalvano]

So do you do one write-on for all three and list the journals in the order you want them or how does it work?

Yes. LR gets first pick, and then the other two have their choices. The calls usually start from LR on Saturday morning and everything is wrapped up by the following Wednesday.

It takes about 4-6 weeks to grade the write-on.

Do you know how many people try vs how many spots are available?

Not really, but there are not enough spots to go around. A number of people don't make it on to any journal.