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What the fuck...

They care about work experience.

Yeah but my letters are already in and this is a new development

This seems ridiculous cause how would a professor fill this out?

I didn't think they were mandatory? Maybe I didn't read the app carefully enough.

testmachine45 wrote:This seems ridiculous cause how would a professor fill this out?

its NU, professors dont fill them out iykwim

Not only are they mandatory, they are in lieu of the letter of rec.

Yeah I don't understand this:

Optional Career Progress Evaluation Form

Letters of recommendation are not required as part of the admissions process. If you choose to include recommendation information you must have your recommender complete our Career Progress Evaluation Form (in lieu of a letter of recommendation). The CPE Form should be completed by someone who can evaluate your professional work-related performance (current or former supervisor, clients or coworker). The CPE Form is available through LSAC as a downloaded supplemental form. It is also available as an electronic form on the Northwestern Law Admissions website.

But then it says they require 1 LOR under "Credentials"

So not mandatory. Probably to substantiate that you actually work.

But it says if you choose to include recommendation info (a LOR?) then that person must complete the CPE (in lieu of a LOR?)

You know, let's be honest, I was probably burning $100 applying to NU anyway, maybe this will save me the money.

No, its required. I JUST CALLED THE OFFICE. They won't look at your rec without it.

Obviously. It's mandatory for LORs but LORs aren't mandatory therefore it is not mandatory for your application.

Their website lists it as Optional.

However, the facebook blog:

Letter(s) of Recommendation - As of the 2011 admissions cycle, we are NOT requiring letters of recommendation for our JD Programs. However, if you would like to submit one, it is required to be on our Career Progress Evaluation Form (CPE). We prefer that this form be submitted via LSAC and not sent directly to our office.


Lastly, I called the office and they said they may not look at recommendations without it. They also said you should be able to send it through LSAC. But I called LSAC and they said this would be impossible, there is no way for them to process it. Which means, I have to have my recommenders fill out this form after they just spent months doing my recommendations, including my professors.

From their twitter (http://twitter.com/nulawadmissions): 

Northwestern wrote:Are there a lot of questions out there about the CPE & LOR issues? Would a new post -- a kind of FAQ -- be helpful to anyone? Let us know!

Well that's one less school I have to apply to

I just read the school requirements part of the application on LSAC, the evaluation seems mandatory. It is a huge pain. It's awkward, I've sent my LORs, I'm embarrassed to return to my previous employer asking for yet more (non-billable) hours of his time. Thank God he doesn't bill me.

They don't require any sort of third-party recommendation, BUT if you do, you must submit a CPE form with the letter of rec. It seems that you could do the LOR online and then mail the form in or do both together via snail mail.

thesybarite wrote: It is a huge pain. It's awkward, I've sent my LORs, I'm embarrassed to return to my previous employer asking for yet more (non-billable) hours of his time. Thank God he doesn't bill me.

This SO MUCH. I wonder if any other schools are going to throw these surprises at us in the next few weeks.

Wait, I am so confused. Are we allowed to send in a recommendation letter, along with the form? Or is it explicitly in lieu of?

Also, even if the instructions specifically talk about work...

The CPE Form should be completed by someone who can evaluate your professional work-related performance (current or former supervisor, clients or coworker).

... if I want to submit a letter from my professor, do I have to ask him to fill out the form?

testmachine45 wrote:No, its required. I JUST CALLED THE OFFICE. They won't look at your rec without it.

When I called, the fact that neither are required was emphasized. I still have asked my two employer LOR writers to submit it (and they agreed... not sure if they've done so yet), but he made sure I knew neither were necessary.

ETA: He also stated it was in place of the LOR, not in addition to.

At this point I have almost no interest in applying to NU, and would forgo it if not for my fee waiver...

Anyone else just gonna skip sending LOR's?

Hmm... I just followed up with one of my former bosses who filled out the CPE, and she said it was weird that after she hit "submit" online, it brought her back to the Northwestern homepage, no "Thank you" page or confirmation email. Is this normal?

I'll call the office tomorrow, but I just thought I'd check here.

Arbiter213 wrote:At this point I have almost no interest in applying to NU, and would forgo it if not for my fee waiver...

Anyone else just gonna skip sending LOR's?

I'm not sending any. But I'm also gonna get straight up rejected.

Arbiter213 wrote:At this point I have almost no interest in applying to NU, and would forgo it if not for my fee waiver...

Anyone else just gonna skip sending LOR's?

If I do apply (haven't decided yet although I do have a fee waiver) I'm not going to send anything either.

kazu wrote:

Arbiter213 wrote:At this point I have almost no interest in applying to NU, and would forgo it if not for my fee waiver...

Anyone else just gonna skip sending LOR's?

If I do apply (haven't decided yet although I do have a fee waiver) I'm not going to send anything either.

I've actually changed my mind, and am just ignoring the CPE's and sending 4 letters. Worst case they're mad I didn't read directions/ didn't follow them. More likely they ignore my letters. Best case they don't care.