Special Applicant: Need Advice About Adding Extra Material Forum

[JGStudent]

Hey,

I am an unusual law school applicant. I was a late bloomer. Since ninth grade I was heavily devoted to theatre up until about a two years ago. I even went to the Alabama School of Fine Arts when it was ranked #4 in the nation. I continued my education by majoring in theatre. (But also got a rush major in philosophy and a minor in philosophy and law.)

Bottom line, while other typical applicants were going internships and part-timing in firms I was doing shows and taking master classes. All of my work is in my theatre resume instead of my standard resume. Would it be a good idea, then, to include my theatre resume in my application as well? Otherwise I think it looks like I've just been lazy.

[JamMasterJ]

Hey,

I am an unusual law school applicant. I was a late bloomer. Since ninth grade I was heavily devoted to theatre up until about a two years ago. I even went to the Alabama School of Fine Arts when it was ranked #4 in the nation. I continued my education by majoring in theatre. (But also got a rush major in philosophy and a minor in philosophy and law.)

Bottom line, while other typical applicants were going internships and part-timing in firms I was doing shows and taking master classes. All of my work is in my theatre resume instead of my standard resume. Would it be a good idea, then, to include my theatre resume in my application as well? Otherwise I think it looks like I've just been lazy.

yes.

Most applicants do not do part-time in firms

[bp shinners]

Hey,

I am an unusual law school applicant. I was a late bloomer. Since ninth grade I was heavily devoted to theatre up until about a two years ago. I even went to the Alabama School of Fine Arts when it was ranked #4 in the nation. I continued my education by majoring in theatre. (But also got a rush major in philosophy and a minor in philosophy and law.)

Bottom line, while other typical applicants were going internships and part-timing in firms I was doing shows and taking master classes. All of my work is in my theatre resume instead of my standard resume. Would it be a good idea, then, to include my theatre resume in my application as well? Otherwise I think it looks like I've just been lazy.

As the other poster said, definitely include it. Most people won't have legal internships on their resume, and your acting experience will be more interesting than their lifeguarding experience.

Also, all my law school friends with a theater background had no problem finding jobs, as they tended to be more outgoing, and law firms were interested in the relatively rare skillset they had from their performing days. I know quite a few who landed great jobs despite middling grades.

[Mce252]

I am extremely curious why you added that you were a late bloomer...

[JGStudent]

I am extremely curious why you added that you were a late bloomer...

I hope you realize I meant academically. I was an artistic hippy until a couple of years ago. I burned out at ASFA...bad. Basically, I became tired of rebelling and found that thespians can be just as awful as lawyers. Plus, I found that I actually have an aptitude for working with arguments and logic problems.

[luxxe]

I am extremely curious why you added that you were a late bloomer...

I hope you realize I meant academically. I was an artistic hippy until a couple of years ago. I burned out at ASFA...bad. Basically, I became tired of rebelling and found that thespians can be just as awful as lawyers. Plus, I found that I actually have an aptitude for working with arguments and logic problems.

This is why everyone hates kids that went to ASFA, combined with the fact that they continue to brag about getting into a middle/high school 8+ years later.

A lot of applicants don't have any relevant internship/firm experience, and while you certainly won't be the only applicant with a lot of theatre experience, it probably will make you a more unique applicant.

[BeaverHunter]

I am extremely curious why you added that you were a late bloomer...

I hope you realize I meant academically. I was an artistic hippy until a couple of years ago. I burned out at ASFA...bad. Basically, I became tired of rebelling and found that thespians can be just as awful as lawyers. Plus, I found that I actually have an aptitude for working with arguments and logic problems.

This is why everyone hates kids that went to ASFA, combined with the fact that they continue to brag about getting into a middle/high school 8+ years later.

A lot of applicants don't have any relevant internship/firm experience, and while you certainly won't be the only applicant with a lot of theatre experience, it probably will make you a more unique applicant.

Googling ASFA I find American Sighthound Field Association. What kind of a jerk hates kids who need Sighthounds?

OP, what the hell are you talking about? So you used to be a thespian... not really sure how that makes you special. Fill out your damn application and stop being such a hippy.

[Samara]

I am extremely curious why you added that you were a late bloomer...

I hope you realize I meant academically. I was an artistic hippy until a couple of years ago. I burned out at ASFA...bad. Basically, I became tired of rebelling and found that thespians can be just as awful as lawyers. Plus, I found that I actually have an aptitude for working with arguments and logic problems.

This is why everyone hates kids that went to ASFA, combined with the fact that they continue to brag about getting into a middle/high school 8+ years later.

A lot of applicants don't have any relevant internship/firm experience, and while you certainly won't be the only applicant with a lot of theatre experience, it probably will make you a more unique applicant.

Googling ASFA I find American Sighthound Field Association. What kind of a jerk hates kids who need Sighthounds?

OP, what the hell are you talking about? So you used to be a thespian... not really sure how that makes you special. Fill out your damn application and stop being such a hippy.

notsureiftrolling.jpg

[shock259]

Is this a troll? I mean this in the least offensive way possible: you sound like a huge asshat.

Anyway, if this is serious, your GPA/LSAT will make up at least 85% of your application. Your "special" theatre crap may give you a small boost at best, but it probably isn't enough to give you any serious help. Special applicants are people with 20 years of work experience, military vets, and things like that: aka not you. Put your numbers into LSN, apply to those schools, and become miserable like the rest of us.

Hmm. I'm grumpy tonight.

[JGStudent]

Wow, this topic got hateful really fast. And I'm kinda blown back.

1. I only mentioned ASFA twice because I was asked to explain myself. I flunked out of ASFA a Janis Joplin hippy. I don't brag about it. If anything, I think the environment seriously screwed me up and set me back. Plus, I ended up at UAB...not Brown, Columbia, or Harvard.

2. When I said "special" I meant short-bus special not "wow look at me I could have been a movie star but I condescended to go to stuffy ol' law school". I show up on paper as a serious flake.

3. And #3 is just a big fuck you to all of you who posted ass hole comments. I never had a proper mentor and I turned to this forum for truthful help not hate. Good job being the ultimate stereotypes!

PS. When I said good with arguments and logic games that was MODESTY! What I meant to say was a pretty damn good LSAT!

[ThreeRivers]

JGstudent, I apologize for the hateful posts

This website is a WONDERFUL source for information and I'd guess the majority of us had many false misconceptions about LS and LS admissions until we started to visit TLS. For some reasons a lot of posters seem to forget they once had similar questions as yourself.

Now, to answer your question... all that you posted really won't have that much of an impact at all. The "average law school applicant" you described usually doesn't exist

For the most part, law schools are number whores. It is a big deal to be rated highly in US News Law School Rankings. A decent portion of their ranking depends upon their median GPA / median LSAT for students that end up matriculating. For this reason, all that REALLY matters are these two numbers. Your application cycle will probably be rather predictable (with some exceptions).

Extra activities and such are listed as "softs." These generally just come into play as a "tie breaker" for individuals with almost identical stats. There are a small amount of schools that are exceptions (Northwestern LOVES work experience for example).

I just joined a couple history clubs / my work experience is that of being a waiter on weekends / I attend a HORRIBLE undergrad and my cycle is currently matching what it should be for my LSAT / GPA

These two sites will be of great assistance to you:

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Best of luck to you!

[ThreeRivers]

Also, as an example of how important numbers are... look at this chart I just grabbed from a random law school (William and Mary). Pretty much anyone is very similar

You can see how strong the correlation for numbers is

The couple random acceptances or waitlists that are semi-surprising are under represented minorities as well, which law schools love bragging about a diverse class so will accept URM's with lower numbers.

--ImageRemoved--

[JGStudent]

JGstudent, I apologize for the hateful posts

This website is a WONDERFUL source for information and I'd guess the majority of us had many false misconceptions about LS and LS admissions until we started to visit TLS. For some reasons a lot of posters seem to forget they once had similar questions as yourself.

Now, to answer your question... all that you posted really won't have that much of an impact at all. The "average law school applicant" you described usually doesn't exist

For the most part, law schools are number whores. It is a big deal to be rated highly in US News Law School Rankings. A decent portion of their ranking depends upon their median GPA / median LSAT for students that end up matriculating. For this reason, all that REALLY matters are these two numbers. Your application cycle will probably be rather predictable (with some exceptions).

Extra activities and such are listed as "softs." These generally just come into play as a "tie breaker" for individuals with almost identical stats. There are a small amount of schools that are exceptions (Northwestern LOVES work experience for example).

I just joined a couple history clubs / my work experience is that of being a waiter on weekends / I attend a HORRIBLE undergrad and my cycle is currently matching what it should be for my LSAT / GPA

These two sites will be of great assistance to you:

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Best of luck to you!

Thank you and sorry I lost my temper a while ago.

My numbers are pretty solid for the schools I've picked I just wanted to ask everyone's opinion about adding the extra resume to boost my softs.

So don't bother adding the extra resume? Or are you saying add it but don't expect much?

[ThreeRivers]

JGstudent, I apologize for the hateful posts

This website is a WONDERFUL source for information and I'd guess the majority of us had many false misconceptions about LS and LS admissions until we started to visit TLS. For some reasons a lot of posters seem to forget they once had similar questions as yourself.

Now, to answer your question... all that you posted really won't have that much of an impact at all. The "average law school applicant" you described usually doesn't exist

For the most part, law schools are number whores. It is a big deal to be rated highly in US News Law School Rankings. A decent portion of their ranking depends upon their median GPA / median LSAT for students that end up matriculating. For this reason, all that REALLY matters are these two numbers. Your application cycle will probably be rather predictable (with some exceptions).

Extra activities and such are listed as "softs." These generally just come into play as a "tie breaker" for individuals with almost identical stats. There are a small amount of schools that are exceptions (Northwestern LOVES work experience for example).

I just joined a couple history clubs / my work experience is that of being a waiter on weekends / I attend a HORRIBLE undergrad and my cycle is currently matching what it should be for my LSAT / GPA

These two sites will be of great assistance to you:

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Best of luck to you!

Thank you and sorry I lost my temper a while ago.

My numbers are pretty solid for the schools I've picked I just wanted to ask everyone's opinion about adding the extra resume to boost my softs.

So don't bother adding the extra resume? Or are you saying add it but don't expect much?

No problem
I wouldn't have 2 different resumes if that is what you're asking, I'd combine the 2. If you did a ton of stuff with theatre, there is no reason to hide from your passion / interest / experience. I'd include it in with your other stuff and I'd say it is a positive "soft". There aren't many people that actually worked years in a law firm before law school so it looks better to law schools that you've done something (Rather than having a blank resume that looks like you just sat at home your entire life doing nothing).

Softs (besides if you're a URM) usually doesn't have that much of an impact, but it can help you on schools that you're borderline on.

[JGStudent]

JGstudent, I apologize for the hateful posts

This website is a WONDERFUL source for information and I'd guess the majority of us had many false misconceptions about LS and LS admissions until we started to visit TLS. For some reasons a lot of posters seem to forget they once had similar questions as yourself.

Now, to answer your question... all that you posted really won't have that much of an impact at all. The "average law school applicant" you described usually doesn't exist

For the most part, law schools are number whores. It is a big deal to be rated highly in US News Law School Rankings. A decent portion of their ranking depends upon their median GPA / median LSAT for students that end up matriculating. For this reason, all that REALLY matters are these two numbers. Your application cycle will probably be rather predictable (with some exceptions).

Extra activities and such are listed as "softs." These generally just come into play as a "tie breaker" for individuals with almost identical stats. There are a small amount of schools that are exceptions (Northwestern LOVES work experience for example).

I just joined a couple history clubs / my work experience is that of being a waiter on weekends / I attend a HORRIBLE undergrad and my cycle is currently matching what it should be for my LSAT / GPA

These two sites will be of great assistance to you:

http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com
http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com

Best of luck to you!

Thank you and sorry I lost my temper a while ago.

My numbers are pretty solid for the schools I've picked I just wanted to ask everyone's opinion about adding the extra resume to boost my softs.

So don't bother adding the extra resume? Or are you saying add it but don't expect much?

No problem
I wouldn't have 2 different resumes if that is what you're asking, I'd combine the 2. If you did a ton of stuff with theatre, there is no reason to hide from your passion / interest / experience. I'd include it in with your other stuff and I'd say it is a positive "soft". There aren't many people that actually worked years in a law firm before law school so it looks better to law schools that you've done something (Rather than having a blank resume that looks like you just sat at home your entire life doing nothing).

Softs (besides if you're a URM) usually doesn't have that much of an impact, but it can help you on schools that you're borderline on.

That's the route I was originally leaning toward so thanks. You're great. Since my work experience is kinda lame (grocery stores and such) I'll just cut down on it and fill up my university and personal sections.

[MichNole19]

I would just like to add to the advice you received from Three Rivers, feel out the schools. Some of the schools I applied to wanted everything short and to the point while others wanted as much information as I could possibly provide them. For the schools that want to know everything, feel free to go more in-depth with some of your accomplishments on your resume and for the rest short and sweet. Let them know you haven’t been lazy on the couch all day but no need to go into detail.

[Mce252]

Schools don't accept special applicants. You're screwed.

[shock259]

Apologies for coming off like an ass in my previous post.

[JamMasterJ]

Schools don't accept special applicants. You're screwed.

uncalled for

[vanwinkle]

Schools don't accept special applicants. You're screwed.

This isn't helpful and should stop now.

[Mce252]

Ha...sarcasm?

[vanwinkle]

Ha...sarcasm?

I wasn't suggesting that you should explain your unhelpful remarks, only that you stop making them. If I have to make that any clearer, I'll be making it much clearer.

[Mce252]

Feel free to boot me. I could use less distractions anyway.