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Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:38 pm
by zozin
I want to thank each and every one of you who applied to LS after you lost your jobs. GPA 25th & 75th percentiles are up across the T14, and while the difference isn't much, it's still there. I'm glad that people that graduated UG years ago made this and upcoming cycles worse for recent graduates. Give yourself a pat on the back.
/s
GPA: 3.56/3.865 has become 3.6/3.875
LSAT: 167.14/172 has become 167.43/172.07
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:40 pm
by remotelyfeasible
LOL, because this years' grads "deserve" those spots at good law schools, despite their inferior numbers?
I don't understand this.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:48 pm
by zozin
remotelyfeasible wrote:LOL, because this years' grads "deserve" those spots at good law schools, despite their inferior numbers?
I don't understand this.
What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:14 pm
by remotelyfeasible
zozin wrote:What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
Okay. So numbers are slightly higher for all law schools this year.
You're just looking to blame unemployed people for the fact you got into a marginally worse school? That is weak. A 2010 grad has no more right to get into any given school than an unemployed earlier grad.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:17 pm
by OrcinusOrcas
It may be true that those who lost their jobs contributed to the rise in applicants, but you can't blame them for...what, applying to law school? Are you seriously blaming a group of people who got laid off for trying to do something with their lives and careers? If you're going to blame anyone, blame the assholes who caused this shitstorm economy and caused all the job loss in the first place. I get the feeling getting fired or downsized and returning to school after already establishing a career is not exactly a cake walk (I'm a recent grad, I wouldn't know). We have no more claim to spots in law school than those who lost their jobs.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:19 pm
by zozin
remotelyfeasible wrote:zozin wrote:What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
Okay. So numbers are slightly higher for all law schools this year.
You're just looking to blame unemployed people for the fact you got into a marginally worse school? That is weak. A 2010 grad has no more right to get into any given school than an unemployed earlier grad.
I haven't applied yet, planning on doing it in the fall. Having to compete with additional people who hold an edge over 2010 grads is weak.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:21 pm
by remotelyfeasible
zozin wrote:I haven't applied yet, planning on doing it in the fall. Having to compete with additional people who hold an edge over 2010 grads is weak.
A fractional increase in admissions standards isn't going to be the difference between a successful legal career and a life of abject poverty.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:22 pm
by Bert
zozin wrote:remotelyfeasible wrote:LOL, because this years' grads "deserve" those spots at good law schools, despite their inferior numbers?
I don't understand this.
What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
I am an older student, employed at the present time, and have been at all times since graduating college [whenever that was], and I am going back to school. Are you insinuating that since I didn't go to law school fresh out of undergrduate that I should not have applied to law school as I should have shut the door on pursuing a legal career years ago so as to make it easier for you to get into a highly competitive field?
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:24 pm
by Bert
zozin wrote:remotelyfeasible wrote:zozin wrote:What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
Okay. So numbers are slightly higher for all law schools this year.
You're just looking to blame unemployed people for the fact you got into a marginally worse school? That is weak. A 2010 grad has no more right to get into any given school than an unemployed earlier grad.
I haven't applied yet, planning on doing it in the fall. Having to compete with additional people who hold an edge over 2010 grads is weak.
Why is it "weak?"
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:25 pm
by rundoxierun
remotelyfeasible wrote:zozin wrote:I haven't applied yet, planning on doing it in the fall. Having to compete with additional people who hold an edge over 2010 grads is weak.
A fractional increase in admissions standards isn't going to be the difference between a successful legal career and a life of abject poverty.
But It might be different between choosing between Harvard and Stanford versus choosing between UMich and UVA. The new numbers definitely make me regret my 3.6ish gpa more and more.. next cycle will be a disaster for people with <3.8.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:26 pm
by eldizknee
.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:28 pm
by zozin
Bert wrote:zozin wrote:remotelyfeasible wrote:LOL, because this years' grads "deserve" those spots at good law schools, despite their inferior numbers?
I don't understand this.
What is there to misunderstand? Current grads have the same numbers as they've always had in years prior. What raises the percentiles are more people applying, specifically those unable to find a job, thus making schools far more selective.
I am an older student, employed at the present time, and have been at all times since graduating college [whenever that was], and I am going back to school. Are you insinuating that since I didn't go to law school fresh out of undergrduate that I should not have applied to law school as I should have shut the door on pursuing a legal career years ago so as to make it easier for you to get into a highly competitive field?
No, because people with your situation make up a smaller of actual applicants, and most likely didn't contribute to this year's rise in #s.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:33 pm
by climbintolaw
Life experience and maturity are valuable. Law Schools have a larger pool of applicants from which to choose. It's the same for all of us. Deal with it.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:35 pm
by zozin
climbintolaw wrote:Life experience and maturity are valuable. Law Schools have a larger pool of applicants from which to choose. It's the same for all of us. Deal with it.
I'm well within my right to bitch and moan about it. Deal with it.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:42 pm
by waitingforanswers
zozin wrote:climbintolaw wrote:Life experience and maturity are valuable. Law Schools have a larger pool of applicants from which to choose. It's the same for all of us. Deal with it.
I'm well within my right to bitch and moan about it. Deal with it.
And eveyone else is well within their right to call you out for being ridiculous.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:45 pm
by Bert
So, your argument then is that unemployed people shouldn't seek to obtain further education which may or may not help them to become functioning members of society again, because it makes it harder for you to obtain the same education.
I haven't checked all of the numbers, but I would assume that across the board applications are up (i.e. applications from current undergraduate students, unemployed people, employed people, graduate students getting even more education, etc.). The increase in applications from each of these groups are making it harder for you, not just unemployed people returning to school. Yes, the unemployeds may be contributing to the problem, but so are the people who have just completed there undergraduate education.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:48 pm
by MDPSteve
zozin wrote:climbintolaw wrote:Life experience and maturity are valuable. Law Schools have a larger pool of applicants from which to choose. It's the same for all of us. Deal with it.
I'm well within my right to bitch and moan about it. Deal with it.
Maybe you should put off law school for a few years, gain some experience, then try when admission standards ease up... hey, if you're lucky you might even get laid off to help with your PS.

Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:52 pm
by zozin
Bert wrote:So, your argument then is that unemployed people shouldn't seek to obtain further education which may or may not help them to become functioning members of society again, because it makes it harder for you to obtain the same education.
I haven't checked all of the numbers, but I would assume that across the board applications are up (i.e. applications from current undergraduate students, unemployed people, employed people, graduate students getting even more education, etc.). The increase in applications from each of these groups are making it harder for you, not just unemployed people returning to school. Yes, the unemployeds may be contributing to the problem, but so are the people who have just completed there undergraduate education.
I'm not saying what people should or shouldn't do. I'm looking at the numbers, and they've increased, most likely because of the unemployed going back to school, or also due to the reasons you enumerated.
I'm pissed that it's happening now. While our numbers might have gotten us into T14 years prior, it isn't the case anymore. Furthermore, not only are these people flooding applications, they also hold an edge due to work experience.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:59 pm
by askhos
The problem seems to be that the proportion of people who graduated college years ago that are applying now has risen compared to the proportions of the past, and that's what the OP is upset about. I can sympathize with her to a point for that.
Then again, since the increases in GPA and LSAT scores are not that much, I'm not sure how huge of a change it has made being admitted somewhere. It probably affects the those at the fringe than those near the median.
Re: Unemployed Appreciation Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:15 pm
by zozin
askhos wrote:The problem seems to be that the proportion of people who graduated college years ago that are applying now has risen compared to the proportions of the past, and that's what the OP is upset about. I can sympathize with her to a point for that.
Then again, since the increases in GPA and LSAT scores are not that much, I'm not sure how huge of a change it has made being admitted somewhere. It probably affects the those at the fringe than those near the median.
It affects splitters, and that's all I care about.
