Am I smart enough for Law School? Forum

[Philo38]

From the "Law Professor Answering Questions" thread:

To add a little to what I said previously: law school is not "hard" in the sense that calculus is hard. The difficulty is in the volume. I guess one could analogize law school to med school and a course in anatomy. There's nothing difficult about knowing the name of a bone or something. It's just that when we add a couple of hundred more bones, then add other parts of the anatomy, suddenly the student has a problem on her hands.

The best students are comfortable with the ambiguity of words (why we like Philosophy and English majors). They are super-well-organized and thorough in paying attention to details. And they have stamina to take on a long course of study.

[AdmiralNelson]

Your numbers seem to indicate adequate intelligence. Your self doubt indicates some degree of humility, which is good. Hubris is detestable, and in egregious surplus on TLS. I think you'll be fine.

[Bodega]

I am worried that I am not intelligent enough for Law School.

That's just stinkin' thinkin!

I am worried that, if accepted to a top law school, I will inevitably fall below the median GPA due to this disparity.

Trace it, face it, and erase it.

I certainly don't have any remarkable mathematics or writing abilities.

...and that's...okay.

I will face poor grades and poor opportunities.

It's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the entire world.

[Philo38]

Your numbers seem to indicate adequate intelligence. Your self doubt indicates some degree of humility, which is good. Hubris is detestable, and in egregious surplus on TLS. I think you'll be fine.

Say that again to my face!

[Xptboy]

Your numbers are a 3.8 and 175, You are definitely smart enough to attend a TLS. It's often harder for UGs at state schools to get such a high GPA because many of the ivies have grade inflation and have smaller classes so classes aren't curved. Your 175 LSAT is a standardized test for everyone which is a testament to you being equally smart to anyone else who got a 175. Your potential as a lawyer is just as good as any other law school you choose to attend.

Also you are humble and ask questions about whether this is right for you, so I believe that you won't suddenly slack off in law school and I also believe that these are some qualities which show that you will succeed in law school and later as a lawyer. You might feel like you did nothing to earn the numbers you did, but I'm sure that you worked harder than almost anybody who earned a 3.0 and 160.

And here's some optimism for you, if you make it into a T6 law school (which you should), nobody really flunks out and even the people in the bottom half of the class get amazing starting salaries and jobs by society's standards.

[Columbia Law]

Your numbers are a 3.8 and 175, You are definitely smart enough to attend a TLS. It's often harder for UGs at state schools to get such a high GPA because many of the ivies have grade inflation and have smaller classes so classes aren't curved. Your 175 LSAT is a standardized test for everyone which is a testament to you being equally smart to anyone else who got a 175. Your potential as a lawyer is just as good as any other law school you choose to attend.

Also you are humble and ask questions about whether this is right for you, so I believe that you won't suddenly slack off in law school and I also believe that these are some qualities which show that you will succeed in law school and later as a lawyer. You might feel like you did nothing to earn the numbers you did, but I'm sure that you worked harder than almost anybody who earned a 3.0 and 160.

And here's some optimism for you, if you make it into a T6 law school (which you should), nobody really flunks out and [strike]even the people in the bottom half of the class get amazing starting salaries and jobs by society's standards.[/strike] people at the bottom of the class have trouble finding jobs in this economy. I am just a 0L who has no experience finding a law job

FIFY

[Xptboy]

FIFY

Actually, anyone graduating from a T14, even in the bottom half of the class can expect to make at least $60,000 if they look for the job, and though 60,000 may seem like nothing to some of you, it is still better than the average salary of an American (note I said SOCIETY'S STANDARDS), in addition, considering that that is just the starting salary, you can expect to make more money in the future. So I stay by my opinion.

[09042014]

FIFY

Actually, anyone graduating from a T14, even in the bottom half of the class can expect to make at least $60,000 if they look for the job, and though 60,000 may seem like nothing to some of you, it is still better than the average salary of an American (note I said SOCIETY'S STANDARDS), in addition, considering that that is just the starting salary, you can expect to make more money in the future. So I stay by my opinion.

anti-corsair trolling

[TCScrutinizer]

Hello all. I am a Junior undergraduate, applying for law schools in the fall pending some difficult choices. I did well on the LSAT, getting a 175. I also have a strong GPA: 3.8 (edit: the 8 ) turned into a smiley!).

Despite these positive factors, I am worried that I am not intelligent enough for Law School. Looking at class breakdowns, 30-40% of HYS and a sizable portion of CCN are from Ivy League schools or top liberal arts colleges. I attend a large state school and am double majoring in two liberal arts (English and economics).

As part of a research job I have read a wide variety of assignments and essays from students from Ivy League schools, and I can honestly say they are at a much higher level than my work, or the work of my peers. Perhaps this is due to the teachers, perhaps the competition to excel, or perhaps the students are simply more intelligent. Whatever the reason, I am worried that, if accepted to a top law school, I will inevitably fall below the median GPA due to this disparity.

Although I have done well in my courses, so have many of my friends and peers. Even when taking demanding courses, the class curve often ensures that I get a solid grade on exams, even if I don't know the material that well.

I don't read voraciously in my spare time. I don't discuss Foucauldian theory with my roommates. I certainly don't have any remarkable mathematics or writing abilities. I'm just a good student who does well on tests like the LSAT.

Do others have this experience of attending a top law school from a mediocre University? How difficult is the transition? Are you performing above or below your expectations?

The last thing I want to do is pay a lot of money to find out I am outclassed and outmatched, only allowed in due to deceptively high stats and admissions policies which remove the difference between universities, and that I will face poor grades and poor opportunities.

Thanks for your help!

SALUTATIONS _________,

AFFIRMATION, AFFIRMATION, POSITIVE REGARD.

POSITIVE REGARD.

SINCERELY,

TCS

P.S. : AFFIRMATION.

[ArthurEdens]

OP, if you aren't trolling, then it sounds like you just had an epiphany. You chose an easy line of study. Stop wringing your hands and get over it.