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Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:33 am
by californiabeauar
I worked part-time throughout college while remaining full-time but took a minimal course load. I want to make explicit that I wasn't a college slacker that took minimal classes to get 'A's' but I was required to make time for work in order to support myself. Is there a simple box/space I check on the application or should I attach an addendum to my transcript?
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:35 am
by Knock
californiabeauar wrote:I worked part-time throughout college while remaining full-time but took a minimal course load. I want to make explicit that I wasn't a college slacker that took minimal classes to get 'A's' but I was required to make time for work in order to support myself. Is there a simple box/space I check on the application or should I attach an addendum to my transcript?
There is usually space to list work experience and on some applications, number of hours worked per week. You could submit an addendum, but it's unnecessary. Schools won't care at all that you took a minimal course load, especially since you remained a full-time student the whole time.
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:37 am
by californiabeauar
thanks for the reply!
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:39 am
by blsingindisguise
californiabeauar wrote:I worked part-time throughout college while remaining full-time but took a minimal course load. I want to make explicit that I wasn't a college slacker that took minimal classes to get 'A's' but I was required to make time for work in order to support myself. Is there a simple box/space I check on the application or should I attach an addendum to my transcript?
Tip for both apps and life: the less you explain away, the better, i.e. don't be defensive about things that you aren't being pressed on. A really low gpa might be something to preemptively explain, but a light course load is not.
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:02 am
by Corwin
From my understanding a minimal course load is not something you need to explain away as long as you were fulltime. That said, it definitely is useful to communicate that you worked all through college.
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:53 am
by Dany
Corwin wrote:That said, it definitely is useful to communicate that you worked all through college.
Just to clarify, there is a place to do this on application forms, OP. There's no need to write an addendum.
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:24 pm
by jdMission
This is a great question. Although there may be an opportunity to check a box to explain that you worked through college, it might make sense to write an addendum. You do not want to apologize for your minimal course load, but you may want to take the opportunity to talk about balancing work and college and the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This way you are leaving the admissions committee with a positive message about your determined character. Good luck to you!
Sunitha Ramaiah
Wichita Community College '91
Barry Law '95
Co-Founder jdMission
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:38 pm
by bgdddymtty
jdMission wrote:This is a great question. Although there may be an opportunity to check a box to explain that you worked through college, it might make sense to write an addendum. You do not want to apologize for your minimal course load, but you may want to take the opportunity to talk about balancing work and college and the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This way you are leaving the admissions committee with a positive message about your determined character. Good luck to you!
Sunitha Ramaiah
Princeton University '91
Columbia University '95
Co-Founder jdMission

Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:51 pm
by wojo96
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/pretentious signature
/pretentious signature
/pretentious signature
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:58 pm
by kwais
jdMission wrote:This is a great question. Although there may be an opportunity to check a box to explain that you worked through college, it might make sense to write an addendum. You do not want to apologize for your minimal course load, but you may want to take the opportunity to talk about balancing work and college and the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This way you are leaving the admissions committee with a positive message about your determined character. Good luck to you!
Sunitha Ramaiah
Princeton University '91
Columbia University '95
Co-Founder jdMission
OMG! I will buy whatever you are selling! Look at those credentials!
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 2:05 pm
by shoeshine
jdMission wrote:This is a great question. Although there may be an opportunity to check a box to explain that you worked through college, it might make sense to write an addendum. You do not want to apologize for your minimal course load, but you may want to take the opportunity to talk about balancing work and college and the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This way you are leaving the admissions committee with a positive message about your determined character. Good luck to you!
Sunitha Ramaiah
Princeton University '91
Columbia University '95
Co-Founder jdMission
My signature is better.
Alexander Huffington-Rockefeller-Vanderbilt
University of Phoenix '01
Princeton Law '05
Co-Founder of Prestige World Wide
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 2:08 pm
by Ginj
jdMission wrote:This is a great question. Although there may be an opportunity to check a box to explain that you worked through college, it might make sense to write an addendum. You do not want to apologize for your minimal course load, but you may want to take the opportunity to talk about balancing work and college and the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This way you are leaving the admissions committee with a positive message about your determined character. Good luck to you!
Sunitha Ramaiah
Princeton University '91
Columbia University '95
Co-Founder jdMission

Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:57 pm
by californiabeauar
to write an addendum or not? tis the question.
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:59 pm
by Dany
californiabeauar wrote:to write an addendum or not? tis the question.
No. It's not the question. The answer is just "no."
Re: Law School Application Question
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:09 pm
by kalvano
They are going to look at your LSAC GPA and that's about it. They don't really care how you get there unless you are applying to HYS.