Top Law Schools

Hello! I have so enjoyed reading all the comments on this particular forum. I just wanted to ask an opinion...My plan, at the moment, is to apply to basically all T-14 schools...is that reaching? Are there certain ones in there that shouldn't be considered? Also, due to personal reasons I will probably end up waiting until the Fall of 2012 to apply at which point I will be 30. Does being 30 lower my chances of being accepted at these schools? Thank you so much for any advice you can give!

The age of 30 should not lower your chance for admission to any Top 14 law school; however, what you have or have not experienced/accomplished during those extra years may affect your admissions decision.

If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

Don't you think that OP is already likely to be accepted to a few T-14s ?

OP: Was this your first sitting for the LSAT ?

Yeah, I do think she will get accepted to some of the t14, but with a higher score she'd get more $$ and would have a good shot at CCN which I think is less likely to happen now.

OP: You have good chances at Columbia on down. Also, you have a shot at Harvard as well. Take a look at lawschoolnumbers.com for similar cases. Here are some examples:

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/subtle/jd 3.78/162 AA Female
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/SoColdintheD/jd 3.8/160 AA Male
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/HopefulEsquire723/jd 3.33/165 AA Male

Similar numbers that got into Harvard:

http://lawschoolnumbers.com/cnc2114/jd 3.52/165 AA Female
http://lawschoolnumbers.com/LSPrincess/jd 3.64/165 AA Female

Apply to the entire T-14. You'll be surprised.

This was my second sitting for the LSAT...I canceled the first; I knew it hadn't gone the way I wanted it to. I don't have a whole lot of faith that I would score 170+...With my practice exams I was only getting to 167. Sort of a gamble...you know?

I mean, you can retake if you want but you don't have to....if you do, don't stress about it. You're already set.

You have great chances at HYS, especially H, with good money thrown at you throughout the rest of the T14.

Put together an excellent app, and watch the acceptances roll in.

Also, I'm always a little perplexed at how people say they've been reading these forums for some time and yet don't know their chances at certain schools. Oh well, I guess a little positive reinforcement never hurt anybody.

What did you do to study? I feel like if you study as best you can, there's no reason your score could go down. However, if you lack confidence yourself, then it won't matter either way.

You're going to have a decent cycle, though. Good luck!

My first practice exam (cold)...I scored a 151. I then did the Powerscore course (and my own study) and got it to range from between 161-167. So, I basically scored my median on the Oct.11 LSAT. Not necessarily doubting my abilities...I just know the point leap I have already had with intense studying...I'm not sure if I could raise it more than that. Thank you so much for your well wishes!

thelawschoolproject wrote:If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

OP is a shoe-in for the T14

Indifferent wrote:

thelawschoolproject wrote:If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

OP is a shoe-in for the T14

Yup.

VEO29 wrote:Hello! I have so enjoyed reading all the comments on this particular forum. I just wanted to ask an opinion...My plan, at the moment, is to apply to basically all T-14 schools...is that reaching? Are there certain ones in there that shouldn't be considered? Also, due to personal reasons I will probably end up waiting until the Fall of 2012 to apply at which point I will be 30. Does being 30 lower my chances of being accepted at these schools? Thank you so much for any advice you can give!

Just go for it. I'm AA female (3.65/164) with 2 years of work experience. I just got into Duke, and I'm in the process of applying to the majority of T10 schools. Originally, I wasn't going to apply to any of the T14 schools, but after I received fee waivers from Duke, Umich, Upenn, Uchic and NYU, it didn't make sense not to. Now, I'm SO glad I did--and I want to spread the word: if you are AA and have those credentials (and I'm assuming you did great things after college) then apply to as many T14 schools as you can, you're bound to end up getting into one of them. The only thing I would add is make sure you put plenty of time and effort into your application. Market yourself so that your age plays to your advantage. Best of luck

Thank you so much for your advice. Maybe someone could shed a little insight...I've actually spent the years out of undergraduate pursuing a career in music. While in undergraduate I took many political science courses and always had the career of law in the back of my mind. Subsequently, I received a Masters in Music and for the last 4 years I have had a career as an opera singer. How can I best market this as a strength? I am well aware that it can be seen as a weakness; I have no internships or that type of work experience.

VEO29 wrote:Thank you so much for your advice. Maybe someone could shed a little insight...I've actually spent the years out of undergraduate pursuing a career in music. While in undergraduate I took many political science courses and always had the career of law in the back of my mind. Subsequently, I received a Masters in Music and for the last 4 years I have had a career as an opera singer. I have ultimately come to a decision that the career I have isn't stimulating or effecting enough. How can I best market this as a strength? I am well aware that it can be seen as a weakness; I have no internships or that type of work experience.

Actually, that sounds very interesting, and will definitely set you apart from the rest of the applicants. I'm no expert, but if I were you, I would explain exactly what you just posted in your personal statement. Maybe you could talk about certain characteristics and traits that have defined you as a singer, and how those same attributes will contribute to you becoming a great lawyer. Or perhaps you could talk about how singing lacks an intellectual component for you, and how you think pursuing a legal career will satisfy that need. What I would avoid, is sounding noncommittal. You don't want admission officers worrying that you are going to change your mind again if law school ends up being something you didn't expect. But mostly, I think that if you talk about your passion for singing and how that has shaped you and inspired you to pursue law, I can't see anything wrong with that! Hope that has helped!

You are so helpful...thank you so very much.

It is no problem You have what it takes, just use it well!

OP,
Any news with acceptances? Good luck if you are still waiting......

Hi, thank you for asking! I am actually not applying until the fall. However in the meantime I decided to take the advice suggested by thelawschoolproject, Gaia the Cheerleader, Just E, and other helpful souls and I plan on retaking the LSAT in June. TLS is full of LSAT resources, and I am currently becoming familiar with them all. So...much...fun.

So we shall see...Thank you for your well wishes; hopefully it will stay with me in the next cycle!

EttaJ wrote:Hi, thank you for asking! I am actually not applying until the fall. However in the meantime I decided to take the advice suggested by thelawschoolproject, Gaia the Cheerleader, Just E, and other helpful souls and I plan on retaking the LSAT in June. TLS is full of LSAT resources, and I am currently becoming familiar with them all. So...much...fun.

So we shall see...Thank you for your well wishes; hopefully it will stay with me in the next cycle!

Hey me too! See you in the fall... Let me know if you wanna collaborate and study.

You have a solid shot at columbia. I had a slightly higher LSAT score, but a lower GPA.

EttaJ wrote:Hello! I have so enjoyed reading all the comments on this particular forum. I just wanted to ask an opinion...My plan, at the moment, is to apply to basically all T-14 schools...is that reaching? Are there certain ones in there that shouldn't be considered? Also, due to personal reasons I will probably end up waiting until the Fall of 2012 to apply at which point I will be 30. Does being 30 lower my chances of being accepted at these schools? Thank you so much for any advice you can give!

With those stats? Welcome to Harvard.

Indifferent wrote:

thelawschoolproject wrote:If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

OP is a shoe-in for the T14

+1

newyorker88 wrote:

Indifferent wrote:

thelawschoolproject wrote:If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

OP is a shoe-in for the T14

+1

+1

1800calturk wrote:

newyorker88 wrote:

Indifferent wrote:

thelawschoolproject wrote:If you're not going to apply until next fall, why not retake the LSAT? Then you could raise your score and be a shoe-in for the T14?

OP is a shoe-in for the T14

+1

+1

+1
softs and your location might influence a few t14 acceptances. Blanket and you should be able to land at the very least a few in the bottom t14 if you apply early.