Top Law Schools

I see a lot of the "what are my chances?" posts, and the responses tend to have a huge range - some strike me as too cautious, some strike me as too optimistic.

So with that subjectivity in mind, I'd like to know - what are examples of awesome softs? Better yet, awesome softs that have been successful at the Top 3?

lolalolalola wrote:Better yet, awesome softs that have been successful at the Top 3?

A 4.0 GPA and a 180 LSAT.

kalvano wrote:

lolalolalola wrote:Better yet, awesome softs that have been successful at the Top 3?

A 4.0 GPA and a 180 LSAT.

TITCR

Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, Fulbright Scholar, etc. are some of the better soft factors. Mileage may vary significantly with the two types. Ultimately though, it's going to come down to LSAT/GPA.

One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

There are so many threads about this...

Basically, the fewer people with a soft, the better that soft is. Sorority? Not a good soft. Rhodes Scholar? Great soft.

eskimo wrote:There are so many threads about this...

Basically, the fewer people with a soft, the better that soft is. Sorority? Not a good soft. Rhodes Scholar? Great soft.

So if I was at a party that holds the record in the Guinness book of world record's for most handlebar mustaches in a room, that would be money? I mean, there were only a few hundred of us, most not going to LS, and it was hosted by the Hulk Hogan.

vanwinkle wrote:One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

Why the hell would he want to give up that job to be a lawyer? He gets paid to go really damn fast and blow shit up. That's the single greatest job on Earth.

kalvano wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

Why the hell would he want to give up that job to be a lawyer? He gets paid to go really damn fast and blow shit up. That's the single greatest job on Earth.

Senior officers don't get as much flight time, maybe. Might've been more keen on being a courtroom brawler than watching all his junior officers have fun.

I would insist judges address me by my call sign.

kalvano wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

Why the hell would he want to give up that job to be a lawyer? He gets paid to go really damn fast and blow shit up. That's the single greatest job on Earth.

I'm sure its great until you realize that your going really damn fast with highly explosive material. You know, dying in a fiery explosion and taking your friends out with you.

eskimo wrote:There are so many threads about this...

Basically, the fewer people with a soft, the better that soft is. Sorority? Not a good soft. Rhodes Scholar? Great soft.

Back to the OT-

Which makes me think that Fulbright is not that great of a soft, considering it seems pretty easy to get.... So what are the non-Rhodes/Marshall etc. type softs, things like internships, WE, etc. that can mitigate a slightly lower than desired number?

Mr. Pablo wrote:I'm sure its great until you realize that your going really damn fast with highly explosive material. You know, dying in a fiery explosion and taking your friends out with you.

Everyone has to go sometime. I'd rather go in a giant fireball at Mach 3 than passed out on the sofa and have a heart attack.

lolalolalola wrote:things like internships, WE, etc. that can mitigate a slightly lower than desired number?

Nothing. Your numbers are your numbers. Softs will set you apart from candidates with numbers like yours, but won't make up for lower numbers.

My softs seemed to have helped me distinguish myself with otherwise middle-of-the-road stats

kalvano wrote:

lolalolalola wrote:things like internships, WE, etc. that can mitigate a slightly lower than desired number?

Nothing. Your numbers are your numbers. Softs will set you apart from candidates with numbers like yours, but won't make up for lower numbers.

Generally true, but not always. My cycle went well for a sub 160 score, I made it into a couple T30s with $$ and was waitlisted at several T20s. All attributable to my soft factors, which were somewhat unique.

More feedback from those who have firsthand/anecdotal experience with these schools in particular, please!

JOThompson wrote:All attributable to my soft factors, which were somewhat unique.

Partially to that GPA too, I would imagine.

lolalolalola wrote:JOThompson and Conman, can you please elaborate? PM me if you'd prefer. Thanks!

Check out my LSN profile that's linked in my TLS profile first. PM me if you have more questions.

At SLS admit weekend, I met a lot of folks with the following:

- Fulbright/Marshall/Truman (only a couple of Rhodes scholars, who were equally impressive)
- combat veterans
- D-I athletes (though mostly in sports like track, swimming, and volleyball)
- interesting work experience, such as the White House or ibanking firms
- PhD work in difficult fields, especially the sciences.

I mean, everyone was interesting and compelling, but those seemed to be the 'softs' that stick out to me in retrospect, i.e. a non-trivial number of folks had them.

Mine felt fairly lackluster in comparison, but I am thrilled to be part of such a solid group of people

ConMan345 wrote:My softs seemed to have helped me distinguish myself with otherwise middle-of-the-road stats

Good sir, a 171 and a 3.91 are not "middle of the road".

kalvano wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

Why the hell would he want to give up that job to be a lawyer? He gets paid to go really damn fast and blow shit up. That's the single greatest job on Earth.

Maybe he got diagnosed with night blindness and grounded, and wanted to become as aggressive and effective in the courtroom as he once was in the skies.

vanwinkle wrote:

kalvano wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:One of my classmates was an F-14 fighter pilot. He landed bomb-loaded jet planes on tiny moving runways in the middle of an ocean for years. Of course, for all I know, he had a 4.0/180 too.

Why the hell would he want to give up that job to be a lawyer? He gets paid to go really damn fast and blow shit up. That's the single greatest job on Earth.

Maybe he got diagnosed with night blindness and grounded, and wanted to become as aggressive and effective in the courtroom as he once was in the skies.

Maybe so.

ConMan345 wrote:

lolalolalola wrote:JOThompson and Conman, can you please elaborate? PM me if you'd prefer. Thanks!

Check out my LSN profile that's linked in my TLS profile first. PM me if you have more questions.

Congrats on those acceptances!

OP, I sent you a PM with details. I do think that certain softs can make an impact on your success and that you can easily take certain steps to highlight the value of your soft factors. Overall though, admissions is about the numbers

thanks for the PMs -

more responses welcome!