Waitlist Interview Forum

[gaud123]

I've recently been placed on the waitlist for Southwestern Law School. Students placed on the waitlist have the option of submitting two additional essays as well as coming in for an interview. Neither are mandatory but highly recommended. I've already gotten to work on the essays, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice when it comes to the interview and what I can expect from it? I know law schools don't generally conduct interviews with applicants, but I guess my case is an exception. If anyone can give me any pointers on how to properly prepare, I would greatly appreciate it.

[starry eyed]

if you are in a position where paying sticker to go to Southwestern Law is a good outcome to you, you need to check the BRAKES. You will be paying 300k for like a 50% chance at becoming a lawyer. Retake and re-evaluate.

the waitlist is a blessing in disguise as this could be a potentially life ruining acceptance

[OhBoyOhBortles]

if you are in a position where paying sticker to go to Southwestern Law is a good outcome to you, you need to check the BRAKES. You will be paying 300k for like a 50% chance at becoming a lawyer. Retake and re-evaluate.

the waitlist is a blessing in disguise as this could be a potentially life ruining acceptance

This. OP, you need to consider retaking to better your outcomes next year.

[humph]

While there are certainly many intelligent people on TLS who know what they are talking about, I think sometimes we should just stick to answering the questions the OP asks instead of giving them life advice. Of course I'm no expert, just a thought.

In response to your original question, I would say be prepared to answer why Southwestern, why law, what do you see yourself using the degree for, how can you contribute to the school itself while you are there, etc.

[starry eyed]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

[humph]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

I completely understand your point. However, I'm just a strong believer in letting people make their own decisions. To each his own!

[OhBoyOhBortles]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

I completely understand your point. However, I'm just a strong believer in letting people make their own decisions. To each his own!

No one on TLS makes the decision for them.

OP, you have less than a coin flip's chance at being a lawyer making maybe 50k/yr and probably (assumption made from you coming off the waitlist) a 90% chance of having a debt level above $250,000.

Source: http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/southwestern/

Consider the repercussions of your potential decision to attend this school.

[BasilHallward]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

I completely understand your point. However, I'm just a strong believer in letting people make their own decisions. To each his own!

I am too, but there exists an asymmetric information problem (adverse selection) with OP, it seems. Decisions are best made with complete information (at least as much as possible). OP needs to really take a close look at the employment numbers and understand that 200k+ is a bad idea at MOST law schools. But yeah, as far as the interview goes, just emphasize your potential contribution to said school and why said school fits with your goals. just don't let said school be Southwestern and at that price.

[downbeat14]

Looking at OPs post history, if they are not a troll, suggests going to Southwestern is the least of their problems:

I'm currently enrolled in a part-time California accredited law school that I'm failing. I want to start fresh and apply to another part-time California accredited law school. Will the new law school that I'm applying to know that I dropped out of another law school? Is there a database that they can search to find out? I do not have any student loans. I've paid for everything out of pocket.

OP, if you're not a troll, get out of this law school game before making your life way worse.

[starry eyed]

lol @ new loans equaling a fresh start

[usn26]

Yikes. Just… eek.

[gaud123]

Why are there so many trolls on this forum? All I asked was how I can prepare for an interview. What's everyone's problem? Isn't there anyone to moderate these forums?

[KMart]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

I completely understand your point. However, I'm just a strong believer in letting people make their own decisions. To each his own!

OP can still choose, but we respond to him in this manner because we care. Sometimes it takes a little blunt truth to snap someone back into reality. If OP wants to spend $300k for a 50% chance at being a lawyer, so be it, but I'll be damned if I don't at least lay down the facts and say I would not pursue this path.

[transferror]

If anyone can give me any pointers on how to properly prepare, I would greatly appreciate it.

Have a pulse and a willingness to throw away hundreds of thousands of dollars and three years of your life

[gaud123]

So by everyone's logic: Nobody should go to law school because it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? You guys don't know anything about me or my work ethic.

[KMart]

So by everyone's logic: Nobody should go to law school because it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? You guys don't know anything about me or my work ethic.

Nobody should go to some law schools at a given price. It's variable. Some schools one should go at for a hundred grand. Some schools for free are defensible. Some schools are never defensible. It's really dependent on a lot of factors. In this instance, you probably should not go.

Work ethic is great, I applaud you for it but you will be competing against people smarter than you who, presumably, be working just as hard. I say they're smarter simply because they got accepted and you were WLed; their numbers are better.

Want to prove your work ethic? Retake the LSAT and apply to a better school. This is, of course, assuming you are a 0L and not a 1L like you said:

I'm currently enrolled in a part-time California accredited law school that I'm failing. I want to start fresh and apply to another part-time California accredited law school. Will the new law school that I'm applying to know that I dropped out of another law school? Is there a database that they can search to find out? I do not have any student loans. I've paid for everything out of pocket.

[BigZuck]

So by everyone's logic: Nobody should go to law school because it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? You guys don't know anything about me or my work ethic.

Just based on your post history I think your critical reasoning ability, reading comprehension, and work ethic should be seriously called into question. You won't do well in law school if you lack all those things. Drop out/withdraw your application, regroup, and figure out a better direction to take your life. This really is a recipe for disaster.

But yeah, they'll ask you "Why law" and stuff.

[starry eyed]

i'm thinking that OP is a troll

[KMart]

i'm thinking that OP is a troll

Yeah but OP would be an awful troll. A troll can do better than this.

[jselson]

Literally no one should go to Southwestern.

[starry eyed]

If OP was strategic, he would have changed the name to "Harvard" and gotten the responses he was looking for.

but if this thread is any indication, that word is not in OP's vocabulary

[Traynor Brah]

humph, i think he would be better served if he doesn't even know how to get off the waitlist

would you give a toddler a gun?

I completely understand your point. However, I'm just a strong believer in letting people make their own decisions. To each his own!

that's fucking stupid

[Moneytrees]

Law isn't the type of profession that merely requires a JD for success. I always hear people in my family defending the local TTT's because they are generous with scholarship money. What does it matter if you get a full ride to a TTT? Your chances of ever practicing law are still lower than 50%. Law school can objectively be a bad choice.

[starry eyed]

Law isn't the type of profession that merely requires a JD for success. I always hear people in my family defending the local TTT's because they are generous with scholarship money. What does it matter if you get a full ride to a TTT? Your chances of ever practicing law are still lower than 50%. Law school can objectively be a bad choice.

lol to which they reply, "it's about who ya know"

[bjsesq]

I've recently been placed on the waitlist for Southwestern Law School. Students placed on the waitlist have the option of submitting two additional essays as well as coming in for an interview. Neither are mandatory but highly recommended. I've already gotten to work on the essays, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice when it comes to the interview and what I can expect from it? I know law schools don't generally conduct interviews with applicants, but I guess my case is an exception. If anyone can give me any pointers on how to properly prepare, I would greatly appreciate it.

How dare you besmirch the name of Good Guy Gaud.