Top Law Schools

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Internship on your apps would be jolly, but as everyone else here will tell you the LSAT is 1,000x more important. Only take it if you're willing to put off taking the LSAT for a year or are positive you can devote sufficient time to studying. I'd personally advise 20 hours/wk for 2-3 months.

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Do both?

And you can always wait a cycle.

Take the internship! TLS does not give employment experience, especially at this level, the credit it deserves. You will have an incredible advantage not only in the application process, but most importantly in post law school job opportunities. Like most other working prospective law students, you can study for the LSAT on the weekends and after work. Take the Dec. test if you need the extra prep time.

sounds like an awesome gig, but think down the road: would you rather have had a good experience in the white house or a good experience in your app. cycle? 10 points on your LSAT is monumental compared with a job. study hard!!

Do you actually think you'll be out of there by 6pm daily? I'm sure a lot of 9-6 people are there after hours a lot, depending on what their job focuses on. If so, do you think you'll be able to study enough if you get out at 6?

For some reason, this reminds me of Charlie from The West Wing. Although I'm sure you're not going to be the personal aid to the POTUS.

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blink wrote:think down the road

You mean down the road like in a year when OP could study hard for the LSAT and have just completed a year working at the white house?

OP, law school isn't going anywhere. Take the internship. Study hard in the evening and on the weekends. Sounds like you were pretty prepared already, which means its more about your mental state than your skills. If you don't do well again, just put it off another year. Also the internship doesn't start for a month anyways, so half of your study time is prior to the internship starting.

the point of going to a top school is to get a good job. getting a good job is a lot easier when you know the right people.

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Take the job. A WH internship will leave you PLENTY of time study.

While congressional internships may be common, White House Internships are not a "dime a dozen" under any circumstances. Keep long term job prospects in mind. In a terrible legal market, the individual with good grades and a White House internship would stand out more to interviewers than the person with good grades who was crazy enough to turn it down. Not to mention the connections you would make that would give you an incredible edge should you decide to work in government after law school. You already mentioned that your LSAT practice tests were in your target range. Study for the next month before the internship starts, and then study on nights and weekends.

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CapHillLove wrote:Thanks guys! This is really helpful.

Yeah, it would definitely be cool job experience, but I wonder how "dime a dozen" these internships are among top ten school apps. Thoughts?

Also, I need to apply early in the cycle and definitely THIS cycle... so the Oct LSAT is set in stone.

It might help to know that my gpa is 3.81 and while I was practice testing in the 170-180 range, my official LSAT was an abysmal 161, which was in part due to the proctor cutting us off 5 minutes early on two sections, but I don't think that helps my case much. I also just froze up. It's done and now I need to score really well.

Given your 3.81, I'd vote for just focusing on the LSAT.. the difference in your cycle between a 3.80 + 160 and 3.80 + 170 is massive... far beyond the effect of almost any soft.

Seeing as your set in applying this cycle, I think you should just take most of your time to prepare and maybe even start on your applications to ensure you have early apps in. If you were thinking about deferring, then the internship might be a good idea, but with ur current plan you don't want to be under that many obligations.

Go with your original instinct, don't take the job for now unless you're thinking about waiting another year.

Geist13 wrote:

blink wrote:think down the road

You mean down the road like in a year when OP could study hard for the LSAT and have just completed a year working at the white house?

OP, law school isn't going anywhere. Take the internship. Study hard in the evening and on the weekends. Sounds like you were pretty prepared already, which means its more about your mental state than your skills. If you don't do well again, just put it off another year. Also the internship doesn't start for a month anyways, so half of your study time is prior to the internship starting.

Yeah, definitely take that internship. Way too cool to pass up and, like this poster said, law school aint goin nowhere.

Sept-Dec Pennsylvania Ave
Dec-June LSAT books and/or course
June 180
Fall 2011 HY$
Fall 2012 mad jobs
Summer 2013 30-40 grand
Fall 2014 NY TO 190

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Take an extra year and do the internship.

CapHillLove wrote:

disco_barred wrote:Sept-Dec Pennsylvania Ave
Dec-June LSAT books and/or course
June 180
Fall 2011 HY$
Fall 2012 mad jobs
Summer 2013 30-40 grand
Fall 2014 NY TO 190

I like the sound of that, but again, this cycle, guys. Sorry!

You may have answered this already, but even if you have, this situation begs asking the question again - WHY?!

Sounds like an amazing experience! While LSAT is number one in LS admissions, appreciate that this is an opportunity you will likely not ever have again.

(If it isn't clear, I vote you take the internship!)

just remember: if you get obama semen on your dress, at least take it to the dry cleaner

I vote for taking the year off and taking the internship. Mainly for the same reasons mentioned above. It's a win-win situation for sure.

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CapHillLove wrote:Thanks guys! This is really helpful.

Yeah, it would definitely be cool job experience, but I wonder how "dime a dozen" these internships are among top ten school apps. Thoughts?

Also, I need to apply early in the cycle and definitely THIS cycle... so the Oct LSAT is set in stone.

It might help to know that my gpa is 3.81 and while I was practice testing in the 170-180 range, my official LSAT was an abysmal 161, which was in part due to the proctor cutting us off 5 minutes early on two sections, but I don't think that helps my case much. I also just froze up. It's done and now I need to score really well.

White house is pretty dime a dozen. Capitol hill is pretty popular - I don't think mine gave me any sort of advantage - except that it was a great experience, allowed me to network, and helped me decide what I might like to do one day.