URM 2014-2015 Cycle Thread Forum

[AOT]

Congrats to everyone with acceptances. Ill have all of my stuff sent out to schools by this Friday. I know this topic has been discussed in excess on this site, but do schools view URM applicants from HYPS / Top LACs differently from those who may have attended schools that aren't exalted for their academic rigor ?

Also, we need to liven this thread up a bit. There's not as much camaraderie as there was in past cycles.

"I'm sure this is a stupid question, but...what is the "WE" category on the spreadsheet?"

^^ WE=Work Experience

I'm just not that active because I've pretty much not anything from anyone yet so I'm just lurking. Also tryna decide whether it's too late/worth the money to apply to more schools. I've only sent out 7 applications and dont know whether it'd be worth it to apply to places just for possible $ negotiation

[jemthey17]

Congrats to everyone with acceptances. Ill have all of my stuff sent out to schools by this Friday. I know this topic has been discussed in excess on this site, but do schools view URM applicants from HYPS / Top LACs differently from those who may have attended schools that aren't exalted for their academic rigor ?

Also, we need to liven this thread up a bit. There's not as much camaraderie as there was in past cycles.

"I'm sure this is a stupid question, but...what is the "WE" category on the spreadsheet?"

^^ WE=Work Experience

I'm just not that active because I've pretty much not anything from anyone yet so I'm just lurking. Also tryna decide whether it's too late/worth the money to apply to more schools. I've only sent out 7 applications and dont know whether it'd be worth it to apply to places just for possible $ negotiation

May I ask where you applied? PM if you don't want to share here.

[gamerish]

Post removed...

[LoganCouture]

Congrats to everyone with acceptances. Ill have all of my stuff sent out to schools by this Friday. I know this topic has been discussed in excess on this site, but do schools view URM applicants from HYPS / Top LACs differently from those who may have attended schools that aren't exalted for their academic rigor ?

Also, we need to liven this thread up a bit. There's not as much camaraderie as there was in past cycles.

"I'm sure this is a stupid question, but...what is the "WE" category on the spreadsheet?"

^^ WE=Work Experience

I'm just not that active because I've pretty much not anything from anyone yet so I'm just lurking. Also tryna decide whether it's too late/worth the money to apply to more schools. I've only sent out 7 applications and dont know whether it'd be worth it to apply to places just for possible $ negotiation

PM'd.

[GomJabbar]

Obviously I'm just guessing but I think that UG institution does make a difference. A GPA from one school such as HYPS is obviously going to carry more weight than a GPA from a school like mine that is a regional school with sub-5000 students. But that seems like common sense to me. But what do I know.

I thought hyps were notorious for handing out high grades?

[LoganCouture]

Obviously I'm just guessing but I think that UG institution does make a difference. A GPA from one school such as HYPS is obviously going to carry more weight than a GPA from a school like mine that is a regional school with sub-5000 students. But that seems like common sense to me. But what do I know.

I thought hyps were notorious for handing out high grades?

P is not. But I don't think grade inflation/lack thereof is the reason for the high esteem of HYPS degrees.

[GomJabbar]

Obviously I'm just guessing but I think that UG institution does make a difference. A GPA from one school such as HYPS is obviously going to carry more weight than a GPA from a school like mine that is a regional school with sub-5000 students. But that seems like common sense to me. But what do I know.

I thought hyps were notorious for handing out high grades?

P is not. But I don't think grade inflation/lack thereof is the reason for the high esteem of HYPS degrees.

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

[cc78]

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

Could not disagree more. There is definitely something to be said for being in that environment and still succeeding especially as a URM--it is quite suggestive of how well someone would adjust to being in the hyper-competitive law school environment.

[LoganCouture]

Obviously I'm just guessing but I think that UG institution does make a difference. A GPA from one school such as HYPS is obviously going to carry more weight than a GPA from a school like mine that is a regional school with sub-5000 students. But that seems like common sense to me. But what do I know.

I thought hyps were notorious for handing out high grades?

P is not. But I don't think grade inflation/lack thereof is the reason for the high esteem of HYPS degrees.

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

Don't sweat it. I don't think it's a major advantage at all. If anything, it's a feather on the scale. It's also an uphill battle to get into HYPS and survive in an environment that's...not particularly URM friendly? Idk a nice way to say it but "rich and white."

[GomJabbar]

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

Could not disagree more. There is definitely something to be said for being in that environment and still succeeding especially as a URM--it is quite suggestive of how well someone would adjust to being in the hyper-competitive law school environment.

So......where'd you go for undegrad?

[cc78]

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

Could not disagree more. There is definitely something to be said for being in that environment and still succeeding especially as a URM--it is quite suggestive of how well someone would adjust to being in the hyper-competitive law school environment.

So......where'd you go for undegrad?

Hm...careful boss. Attack my argument not who I am. What does it matter where I went to undergrad?

[GomJabbar]

Yeah, you're correct. But for proles like me, it's already an uphill battle without having to contend with HYS prestige/grade inflation. If it is an advantage, it's a tremendously unfair one.

Could not disagree more. There is definitely something to be said for being in that environment and still succeeding especially as a URM--it is quite suggestive of how well someone would adjust to being in the hyper-competitive law school environment.

So......where'd you go for undegrad?

Hm...careful boss. Attack my argument not who I am. What does it matter where I went to undergrad?

I wasn't attacking, simply attempting to put your argument into context.

[Atmosphere]

My UG is majorly rich & white, but I do think that killin' it at an oldschool WASP stronghold like Princeton as a URM is indicative of some serious skills. Skills that weren't necessary to thrive at my own university. My sibling attends one of those four, and boy is the (no pun intended) atmosphere different

[cc78]

I wasn't attacking, simply attempting to put your argument into context.

Alrighty...but I do think that a school like YHSCCN thinks that they want URM candidates who can most easily adapt to their environment and perform. The "impostor syndrome"(the general feeling that we don't belong or that we cheated the system to get there) is real among us URM's in these super-elite institutions and it is possible that adcomms give a little nudge to the URM candidates who have already been through that.

[cc78]

My UG is majorly rich & white, but I do think that killin' it at an oldschool WASP stronghold like Princeton as a URM is indicative of some serious skills. Skills that weren't necessary to thrive at my own university. My sibling attends one of those four, and boy is the (no pun intended) atmosphere different

If your bro is at P and thriving, that's a serious achievement--there's no grade inflation there and they have a very rigorous and challenging undergrad program, not to mention all the other things that go with Old Nassau.

[Tr3]

Personally, I don't have a problem if applicants get a boost for going to certain undergrads. Conceptually, it's similar to why everyone (most people?) on TLS want T14 so bad. T14 often leads to better employment options than would lower ranked schools, so for me, it makes sense that top undergrads help students get into top law schools.

FWIW I didn't go to HYPS but I did attend a top undergrad and my Chi interviewer seemed to like that fact and related my undergrad's environment to that of the law school's in terms of the student body's over-achieving-ness. I also received targeted recruitment materials from T14 schools because of my undergrad, so I do think they like getting applicants from specific undergrads--and I don't think it's limited to HYPS.

[gold33]

Well done, folks!

Also...that awkward moment where you FINALLY finish polishing your two and a half-page PS, and then realize Harvard had a two-page limit.

[Atmosphere]

Well done, folks!

Also...that awkward moment where you FINALLY finish polishing your two and a half-page PS, and then realize Harvard had a two-page limit.

Congrats on knockin out the PS, I'm sure you'll be able to whittle it down to Havahd's liking

Finishing up my essays were actually the most frustrating aspect of the application process for me

[Atmosphere]

I think we should add an age poll to the OP soon, I can't shake the feeling that I'm gonna be a young one haha

[90convoy]

I think we should add an age poll to the OP soon, I can't shake the feeling that I'm gonna be a young one haha

how old are you

[03282016]

[wsag826]

Thanks for sating our curiosity. Congratulations again on UChicago and congrats on being rich

Not rich. Graduating debt-free from undergrad, but that's about it. Expecting to pay the $160k or whatever average cost, do whatever I end up interested in (probably biglaw), and not stress about money any more than it is pragmatic to do so.

I don't know whether I'll be a gunner in LS but I wreck curves in UG and do other academic stuff for "funsies" - I lead 3 (school-sponsored) clubs on campus and do a whole lot else. I like studying, I like learning, and I like the law.

Congrats on Chicago! And not to be a debbie downer, but sticker at Chicago (assuming you didn't get any aid which EDers often get left out of) is about $260k, not including interest...

I am cautiously optimistic that I will get need aid if nothing else.

Congrats on UChicago and I definitely stand by you on doing your research and deciding based on what's right for you. It's so important to love the place where you want to go. It's what allows you to thrive academically and enjoy every minute of your experience. And whatever debt you incur, you can pay off very well with a UChicago degree. Bravo!!!

Personally, I don't have a problem if applicants get a boost for going to certain undergrads. Conceptually, it's similar to why everyone (most people?) on TLS want T14 so bad. T14 often leads to better employment options than would lower ranked schools, so for me, it makes sense that top undergrads help students get into top law schools.

FWIW I didn't go to HYPS but I did attend a top undergrad and my Chi interviewer seemed to like that fact and related my undergrad's environment to that of the law school's in terms of the student body's over-achieving-ness. I also received targeted recruitment materials from T14 schools because of my undergrad, so I do think they like getting applicants from specific undergrads--and I don't think it's limited to HYPS.

I agree 100%, Tr3. To those who think it's unfair, I think you might be overestimating its impact in the admissions process. Admissions officers have been clear that the law school application review process is holistic. It considers a number of factors and no one factor is sufficient to determine whether you're admitted, denied, or waitlisted. So while going to a 'prestigious' UG school might be considered one factor in the process, it'll never be the end-all-be-all or the deciding factor. I think the amazing representation of different undergraduate institutions at T14 law schools is highly indicative of this.

[Atmosphere]

Haha good! Convoy I'm 21 and a half

[90convoy]

21 over here too

[Skool]

Alrighty...but I do think that a school like YHSCCN thinks that they want URM candidates who can most easily adapt to their environment and perform. The "impostor syndrome"(the general feeling that we don't belong or that we cheated the system to get there) is real among us URM's in these super-elite institutions and it is possible that adcomms give a little nudge to the URM candidates who have already been through that.

Elite schools want people who look prestigious and who they can make look even more prestigious. They are nothing more than prestige factories. The public requires prestige as a way of discriminating between good lawyers and bad lawyers because the masses are asses.

If you come from an elite undergrad, you are ipso facto more prestigious and have potentially more prestige carrying capacity than someone who went to Big State U. That makes you more desirable to clients/law firms/government agencies/john q public/ and law schools. It hardly needs to be said that there's a relationship between prestige and economic value for these groups.

To me, that's the essence of it.