I Somehow Managed To Get An Interview..Now What?! Help! Forum

[b.gump81]

I recently found out that I have a face-to-face interview with my number one school in a few weeks. After my initial excitement wore off, I began to worry about what I should say, wear, bring etc. Just to give you a little background: my LSAT is about two points below their 25th but my GPA is about median. Even though I applied binding early decision, I was waitlisted. Since then, I have sent a LOCI and another LOR while also gaining valuable face time with faculty and admissions staff at every event the school hosts. If you have any knowledge on typical interview questions, answers to said questions, what I should wear during my interview (I'm a girl), and anything else you think would help me I would really appreciate it!

[dontknowwhereimgoin]

They will probably ask u "why _x_ law school", so it would be helpful to have a few fun facts unique to that particular school to talk about.

[rorystewart]

Is this a school that normally grants interviews?

[b.gump81]

No I don't believe so. On the Web site it actually says no interviews but I called and they told me I could request one but that it was not guaranteed.

[Sangiovese]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I would bring a small portfolio (not a briefcase) with copies of my application package (probably not needed, but can't hurt to have it available) in case the interviewer wants to reference it.

The nature of the interview can vary so much depending on the style of the interviewer that it is hard to say how to prepare, but be ready for things along the lines of:

So tell me about yourself.
What have you been up to since you applied?
What would you bring to the classroom environment that other applicants don't?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
What is your biggest flaw/weakness?
Why do you want to go to law school?
Why do you want to come to THIS law school?
Do you have any questions for me?

If you can get through questions like those without stammering, talking in circles, and otherwise making yourself look unprepared then you should be in pretty good shape.

And if you start to panic, remember this... if you didn't have a chance, they would not waste time interviewing you. They just need a little something to put you over the hump.

[wired]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I am going to say don't wear any makeup and no perfume since OP is male.

[RVP11]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I am going to say don't wear any makeup and no perfume since OP is male.

Ultimate RC fail?

[wired]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I am going to say don't wear any makeup and no perfume since OP is male.

Ultimate RC fail?

Yup. I should have read the original post. OPs profile says male.

Still,my post FTL.

[patrickd139]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I am going to say don't wear any makeup and no perfume since OP is male.

Ultimate RC fail?

I'm confused.
Profile = male
OP = female

flame?

[Sangiovese]

I'm confused.
Profile = male
OP = female

flame?

Maybe it changed between filling out the profile and posting this thread? Modern medical science is pretty amazing... and who am I to judge?

[b.gump81]

Sorry, I should have specified in my OP; I am a girl, but I don't have my own TLS account so a friend of mine at work let me use his.

Thank you Sangiovese for all your helpful advice. I'm really worried about them asking what I feel I bring to the class that is different from everyone else. I'm a non URM and feel I had 'normal' upbringing. I have had internships in the law field but feel that what I experienced would not be terribly different from many other applicants.

I also found out today that a few people with lower LSAT scores than me were accepted off the waitlist. Admittedly, they did have higher GPA's, but their LSAT scores were significantly lower than mine. I'm not sure what to make of this. One part of me thinks this is somewhat good news because they seem to be taking people with lower LSATs and higher GPAs (my situation), but another part of me thinks I should have been accepted before they were since I applied binding and they applied 2/3 months after me. Opinions?

[Sangiovese]

Sorry, I should have specified in my OP; I am a girl, but I don't have my own TLS account so a friend of mine at work let me use his.

Thank you Sangiovese for all your helpful advice. I'm really worried about them asking what I feel I bring to the class that is different from everyone else. I'm a non URM and feel I had 'normal' upbringing. I have had internships in the law field but feel that what I experienced would not be terribly different from many other applicants.

I also found out today that a few people with lower LSAT scores than me were accepted off the waitlist. Admittedly, they did have higher GPA's, but their LSAT scores were significantly lower than mine. I'm not sure what to make of this. One part of me thinks this is somewhat good news because they seem to be taking people with lower LSATs and higher GPAs (my situation), but another part of me thinks I should have been accepted before they were since I applied binding and they applied 2/3 months after me. Opinions?

They may have had incredible softs... or fit a particular "class balance" need that the adcom was trying to fill. Numbers are the primary consideration... but they are certainly not the only one.

As for what you bring that others don't... if you don't have anything that really distinguishes you from the pack, just take it as an opportunity to briefly talk about your best qualities and how well you play with others

[Richie Tenenbaum]

First off, I would wear a suit to the interview. Light on the makeup and VERY light on perfume if you wear any at all.

I would bring a small portfolio (not a briefcase) with copies of my application package (probably not needed, but can't hurt to have it available) in case the interviewer wants to reference it.

The nature of the interview can vary so much depending on the style of the interviewer that it is hard to say how to prepare, but be ready for things along the lines of:

So tell me about yourself.
What have you been up to since you applied?
What would you bring to the classroom environment that other applicants don't?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
What is your biggest flaw/weakness?
Why do you want to go to law school?
Why do you want to come to THIS law school?
Do you have any questions for me?

If you can get through questions like those without stammering, talking in circles, and otherwise making yourself look unprepared then you should be in pretty good shape.

And if you start to panic, remember this... if you didn't have a chance, they would not waste time interviewing you. They just need a little something to put you over the hump.

Good breakdown.

To add to this: Spend some time coming up with some good questions for the interviewer. Questions that you can answer by going to their website are bad questions. Ask specific questions that hopefully the person interviewing you can offer some insight on.

I think a big component of interviews is simply being comfortable. Be yourself and be confident (not cocky). Do some practice runs with friends asking you questions. Ask them to do some of the above questions and then ask them to include a few that you don't know are coming.

[kyle]

be confident, but don't brag. sell yourself. ask them what they look for in a candidate, and tell them how you can be that person.