Impact of Service Programs - TFA, Americorps, Peace Corps Forum

[aperfectmap]

Out of curiosity, what do people think the effect of participating in - and completing - programs such as Teach For America, Americorps, or Peace Corps had on the admissions process?

When I initially applied to TFA, I thought that it could serve as a substantial boost. This may have been a result of TFA's own marketing scheme. However, given some of the recent conversation about TFA on TLS, I'm coming to the conclusion that it might serve as a tie-breaker at best.

So, what do people think?

[MrAnon]

zero impact. all that matters is LSAT and GPA. 3.8, 176 no work experience gets into Harvard. 3.6, 169, TFA does not.

[Mal Reynolds]

zero impact. all that matters is LSAT and GPA. 3.8, 176 no work experience gets into Harvard. 3.6, 169, TFA does not.

I wouldn't go this far. It's good for fee waivers, a strong PS, strong LORs and it's a definite tie-breaker. I would even be willing to say it's maybe good for some scholarship money compared to other applicants with similar stats. But it will not beat an LSAT that's a point or two higher.

[aperfectmap]

zero impact. all that matters is LSAT and GPA. 3.8, 176 no work experience gets into Harvard. 3.6, 169, TFA does not.

I wouldn't go this far. It's good for fee waivers, a strong PS, strong LORs and it's a definite tie-breaker. I would even be willing to say it's maybe good for some scholarship money compared to other applicants with similar stats. But it will not beat an LSAT that's a point or two higher.

The fee waivers were definitely pretty excellent.

[shoeshine]

Yeah the advantages are way overrated. You would be much better off spending that time studying if it meant your lsat score would improve by 4 or more points.

[Flash]

The main advantage is you won't be an annoying K-JDer.