. Forum

[lsatcrazy]

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[jdhakert]

You'll get in somewhere..

[LawSchoolChampion]

Ok, so I'm sort of thinking about doing the 4 year JD/MBA thing (interested in financial regulation). I'm not here to talk about the merits/lack thereof of JD/MBA (though feel free to air out your feelings on the subject). Instead, I'm curious about how it works. Here are my stats:

LSAT: 172
GMAT: 760
GPA: 3.9+ from Top-20
ZERO work experience. Small summer internships, nothing more.

I know a lot of b-schools let you apply after 1 or even 2 years of law school; does this somehow make up for work experience? If yes, should this bump UPenn or any other school up for my purposes? Is there any list of schools and their JD/MBA policies in an old thread?

You should be fine.

The LSAT will get you into more schools with that GPA. Call up schools like Penn and ask them about your situation.

[Veyron]

It seems to count for about 1 year of WE. If you go the penn route, I'd go for the 3 year, less w/e required that way.

[bdubs]

I would think Harvard would be open to considering you if you have demonstrated leadership in school. The admissions processes are separate there, but you can reapply after 1L if you don't get in right away (and I've heard the standards are more lax). I think you stand a decent shot at getting HLS with your LSAT/GPA.

Penn may be open to you after 1L year, but I would doubt that Wharton will let you in as a 0L with no work experience. I would say that is riskier than going to HLS and trying to get into HBS.

Northwestern is out, but Columbia might be in play if you're interested (I don't know as much about their admissions standards re:work experience).

[Ronburgandy2468]

"small summer internships?"
I didn't know i-banking was classified as small lol (Given your numbers, it's hard to see otherwise).

[IAFG]

Is there a reason you won't be working before professional school?

[englawyer]

HLS -> HBS before or during 1L is not a walk in the park. Many people I know that applied were rejected..certainly don't assume you will get in after first year.

I think people are too optimistic of OP's chances. it would come down to "leadership" demonstrated during undergrad and OP's interviewing/first-impression/sociability.

[Cavgirl]

Get some solid work experience and then apply. Your numbers are great but lack of WE will hurt you for B schools.

[IAFG]

Get some solid work experience and then apply. Your numbers are great but lack of WE will hurt you for B schools.

^^

A couple years of solid WE could be the difference between a first-rate MBA program and no joint degree at all. If this is what you want, do it right. Not to mention, there is a very good reason top MBA programs want to you get WE first: you'll have a much richer experience in your program if you've been out there working in a corporation.

[Transferthrowaway]

Were you Ivy UG?

[bdubs]

Ok, so I'm sort of thinking about doing the 4 year JD/MBA thing (interested in financial regulation).

OP could go to HLS and still work in financial regulation without getting an MBA. There is no point in delaying law school if an MBA is not a prerequisite for his chosen career path.

HLS -> HBS before or during 1L is not a walk in the park. Many people I know that applied were rejected..certainly don't assume you will get in after first year.

I think people are too optimistic of OP's chances. it would come down to "leadership" demonstrated during undergrad and OP's interviewing/first-impression/sociability.

This is credited, HBS is by no means guaranteed. If an MBA is somehow "necessary" for OP s/he should wait for several (2+) before going to school.

[lsatcrazy]

Thanks for all the responses. I agree that WE before any school would be preferable, but I honestly can't see myself leaving a job after two years to embark on 3/4 years of income-less study. My parents (who are largely paying for my school) are both immigrants, and have the "get fully educated before you work" mentality (they both had to work/bootstrap their way through school). To answer the Ivy question: no, I'm in JHU. So I guess the consensus here is that it will be difficult though possible to get into b-school given my numbers...

Do law schools generally allow one/two years of deferment for work experience? If so, that may placate my parents enough to let me work for a bit before law school...

As a side question, does attending a college with serious grade deflation boost chances at all?

[IAFG]

Thanks for all the responses. I agree that WE before any school would be preferable, but I honestly can't see myself leaving a job after two years to embark on 2/3 years of income-less study. My parents (who are largely paying for my school) are both immigrants, and have the "get fully educated before you work" mentality (they both had to work/bootstrap their way through school). To answer the Ivy question: no, I'm in JHU. So I guess the consensus here is that it will be difficult though possible to get into b-school given my numbers...

Do law schools generally allow one/two years of deferment for work experience? If so, that may placate my parents enough to let work for a bit before law school...

As a side question, does attending a college with serious grade deflation boost chances at all?

Dude, sometimes you have to ignore your parents. If they're immigrants... just explain that WE is what will get you into Harvard. It's true, after all. This is the best favor you could do yourself.

[lsatcrazy]

Ignoring the people who are largely funding my education doesn't seem like TCR...and no, I'm not Asian, so just throwing the word "Harvard" into the equation will not get them to change their long-held, risk-averse beliefs ...

[Cavgirl]

Ignoring the people who are largely funding my education doesn't seem like TCR...and no, I'm not Asian, so just throwing the word "Harvard" into the equation will not get them to change their long-held, risk-averse beliefs ...

I hear you on this but it's not just Harvard. Wharton has the same WE expectation, as do most of the top schools.

[lsatcrazy]

Yeah, that's what I'm hearing...thanks to all responders...time to evaluate options...

[bdubs]

Go to HLS if you don't get the joint admission. It is worth it, you won't sacrifice that much.

ETA: If your parents expect a JD/MBA then they should expect to wait a few years. If not, you need to reset their expectations.

[Cavgirl]

Yeah, that's what I'm hearing...thanks to all responders...time to evaluate options...

Whatever you decide, you've got some great options. Best of luck to you.

[Shaggier1]

(interested in financial regulation)

I don't think I'd do the MBA in this situation. Just focus on securities related courses in law school. If you are really itching for some B-school courses, go to a law school with a great B school program (Penn, SLS, HLS, Chicago, Northwestern, Penn, Berkeley) and you can cross-register.

Once in school, gun for NYC big-law (if you do litigation in NYC you are very likely to do securities litigation) and then try to spend some time at the SEC at some point relatively early in your career.