URM 2010-2011 Application Cycle Forum

[BrightHeartRaccoon]

AA Male
165, 159
3.3ish (not sure how transcript will transfer) I graduated Cum laude, and sigma delta pi which probably means nothing
Speak four languages- Fa real dough

Shooting for CCN on down, probably a stretch in that 4-6 range.
Anybody think I should ED to CCNP? Thanks

[reaisan]

AA Male
165, 159
3.3ish (not sure how transcript will transfer) I graduated Cum laude, and sigma delta pi which probably means nothing
Speak four languages- Fa real dough

Shooting for CCN on down, probably a stretch in that 4-6 range.
Anybody think I should ED to CCNP? Thanks

ED saves many people and gets them in, so do it to it if you're dead set.

And on that note, does anyone know if it will be a complete detriment to my chances by applying after the December LSAT? Are my hopes completely dashed?!

[vanwinkle]

Anybody think I should ED to CCNP? Thanks

Veyron, is that you?

The Penn trolling is getting out of hand.

[Kaitlyn]

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[vanwinkle]

Hey fellow URM peeps!

Just throwing myself into the running and wanted to ask for your advice. I'm an AA female with a 160 LSAT retake (first was five points lower) with HYPS undergrad. I applied about a week ago. This is the list of applications so far:

Harvard
Yale
Stanford
BU
Columbia
Berkeley
NYU
Penn
Chicago
Cornell
Georgetown
UVA
Fordham
BC
UCLA
USC
Notre Dame

Is this an impossible list? I wanted to get my top choices in first before I apply anywhere else, but now I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for failure and I should shoot out some more apps to safer schools stat...

It largely depends on your GPA. If you're in the 3.8-3.9 range you could get into nearly every school on that list. If your GPA was below 3.0 you might need a new list of schools.

[Kaitlyn]

.

[sophia.olive]

Hey fellow URM peeps!

Just throwing myself into the running and wanted to ask for your advice. I'm an AA female with a 160 LSAT retake (first was five points lower) with HYPS undergrad. I applied about a week ago. This is the list of applications so far:

Harvard
Yale
Stanford
BU
Columbia
Berkeley
NYU
Penn
Chicago
Cornell
Georgetown
UVA
Fordham
BC
UCLA
USC
Notre Dame

Is this an impossible list? I wanted to get my top choices in first before I apply anywhere else, but now I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for failure and I should shoot out some more apps to safer schools stat...

It largely depends on your GPA. If you're in the 3.8-3.9 range you could get into nearly every school on that list. If your GPA was below 3.0 you might need a new list of schools.

Thanks for responding! I forgot to add that I had a 3.98 GPA and double majored in English and Philosophy. I'm primarily worried about my LSAT scores though that, if averaged, would be below the 160 mark, which seems like the danger zone for URM candidates.

retake

[reaisan]

retake

You have a really high GPA, which is what those schools tend to favor in URMs. You LSAT score however could shut you out of scholarship money. So, I kind of agree with doing a retake this December. Two to three points more and you are golden!

[sophia.olive]

retake

You have a really high GPA, which is what those schools tend to favor in URMs. You LSAT score however could shut you out of scholarship money. So, I kind of agree with doing a retake this December. Two to three points more and you are golden!

And urm apps are usually decided on later. So it may not hurt as much as others to have that final number coming in later.

[reaisan]

And urm apps are usually decided on later. So it may not hurt as much as others to have that final number coming in later.

Are you serious because if so you just shot a lightening bolt of pure hope into my heart! I have to take the LSAT for the first time in Dec, so I can't ED/EA to anywhere! This gives me hope.

Is this based on when people typically receive their acceptance letters?

[sophia.olive]

And urm apps are usually decided on later. So it may not hurt as much as others to have that final number coming in later.

Are you serious because if so you just shot a lightening bolt of pure hope into my heart! I have to take the LSAT for the first time in Dec, so I can't ED/EA to anywhere! This gives me hope.

Is this based on when people typically receive their acceptance letters?

So i have heard.
But I would always keep the possability of applying agian next year if you are not happy with your acceptance/scholarships.

[reaisan]

So i have heard.
But I would always keep the possability of applying agian next year if you are not happy with your acceptance/scholarships.

Hmm, well, I hope we heard right! I don't mind reapplying next year. It'll be a breather with the LSAT out of the way. I hear schools look favorably on those who took a year off, so it can only help. Thanks for the tip though!

[20121109]

retake

Kaitlyn,

Unless you're looking for some serious scholarship money, and I mean serious because you will probably get some good offers anyway, take this advice with caution. Given your HYPS undergrad and URM status, 160/3.98 are solid stats for the schools on your list. If you decide to retake, please don't stress about it. Just to give you a little taste of what I'm talking about, I know someone in my section who is a Yale UG, AA female who got in off the WL with a 160/3.69.

Put together an awesome application, and I think you will have a very, very strong cycle!!

Good luck <3

[Kaitlyn]

.

[EbonyEsq]

A black woman with the name Kaitlyn?

Interesting.

[Knock]

A black woman with the name Kaitlyn?

Interesting.

[EbonyEsq]

Any law firm that has offices outside the country in which it was formed will purport itself as being an "international law" firm. This does not necessarily mean its focus is on international law. Besides, there are many facets of international law and you'll need to get specific on what type of international law you wish to practice. You'd also need to decide on your employer --(you can work for a law firm, government body, an international organization (like the UN) or international courts)-- and your location (US, UK, Europe, Asia, etc).

Generally speaking though, Europe is where its at for international law.

Thanks, sound like the basic three paths to working outside the country. I just wonder how to walk along the routes. Government seems like it would take some additional years of schooling, research or work experience to really stand out. I can't just show up with my JD and be competitive.

Same with NGOs as big as the UN, I feel. But, hopefully I have a shot with some smaller ones with just a JD.

I'm just wondering if I should take some time to volunteer/intern to be a shoe-in for some of the jobs. Thoughts from the crowd?

There is essentially no such thing as an international law job straight out of undergrad. There is basically no such thing as international law at all besides government niches.

Incorrect.

Looks like you need to further explore what possibilites exist for law school graduates outside the US of A.

[EbonyEsq]

A black woman with the name Kaitlyn?

Interesting.

Yes, Knock??

[EbonyEsq]

Any law firm that has offices outside the country in which it was formed will purport itself as being an "international law" firm. This does not necessarily mean its focus is on international law. Besides, there are many facets of international law and you'll need to get specific on what type of international law you wish to practice. You'd also need to decide on your employer --(you can work for a law firm, government body, an international organization (like the UN) or international courts)-- and your location (US, UK, Europe, Asia, etc).

Generally speaking though, Europe is where its at for international law.

Thanks, sound like the basic three paths to working outside the country. I just wonder how to walk along the routes. Government seems like it would take some additional years of schooling, research or work experience to really stand out. I can't just show up with my JD and be competitive.

Same with NGOs as big as the UN, I feel. But, hopefully I have a shot with some smaller ones with just a JD.

I'm just wondering if I should take some time to volunteer/intern to be a shoe-in for some of the jobs. Thoughts from the crowd?

I strongly encourage you to take a look at options in the Caribbean. Many go on to interests that include international trade law, maritime law, international commercial arbitration, etc. Would be helpful if you speak Spanish, French/Creole, or Portuguese.

[Kaitlyn]

.

[EbonyEsq]

A black woman with the name Kaitlyn?

Interesting.

Yes, Knock??

HA! Well, I wouldn't put my real name on here along with all my stats. I chose it for personal reasons.

Mmmhmm. Thought so. I'm Molly, btw.

[kk19131]

Afrostocracy....

[Kaitlyn]

.

[reaisan]

Emory starts reviewing their submissions in January. So, I am assuming even though I take the Dec LSAT, I'll have a fair shot.

Does anyone know of other T20ish schools that start reviewing in January?

Also Ebony, I'll be sending a PM your way regarding Caribbean law.

[Wolverine Den]

Just got a full scholarship to UVA. Needless to say, I am very excited.