Top Law Schools

Ok, so I am a junior currently and will graduate December 2013 and plan on attending law school Fall 2014. As such, I have 2 summers left before the application process starts and I want some advice on what I can do to improve my softs. I know that LSAT and G.P.A are by far the most important, but I am looking for softs that will at least put me on the same level as other applicants so that I am not docked for my lack of anything extracurricular. Again, I realize that the very strong softs such winning a Pulitzer prize, being an Army war vet, or something exceptional along those lines does not happen quickly, but I am looking for some additional things that will not make my application look completely bare compared to other t14 applicants and that I can do over the next 18 months. Thanks!

I would say get some internships and get involved in a few activities on campus. Other than that not much you can do. My best advice is, depending on where in the T-14 you are waiting for maybe work for a year or two. This could make a big difference at Y, S, or H if you apply.

Ok, thanks! I will probably apply to all three of those schools. By work experience does that mean having a job in general? I currently am an academic tutor and I have worked on a couple research projects which I got paid for. Are those the type of work experiences that they are looking for?

I mean like take a year or two off and work in the real world if possible and I'm saying this as someone who is going straight through from undergrad. From what I've seen, if you have great numbers (think 3.9+, 173+ maybe 174+) you have a pretty good chance at Harvard but Stanford and Yale seem to definitely want really unique people. I know it's easier said than done to just "go and find a job." But there are many options: you could teach for a few years, try to work at a nonprofit if that's your thing, etc.

work for a bit. probably mmore than 1 year will be necessary. so 2 - 3

I have a similar question. I posted in another thread but will repeat my background:
Completing my third year of undergrad at a midwestern college and I play basketball (on scholarship). My basketball season runs September -last week. My other softs would be different volunteer activities (youth camps, nursing homes, elementary school volunteer reader, etc.). Taking LSAT in October so I will have the summer to study and prepare. Current GPA is 3.98. If I am looking to get into a T25 school, assuming I get a decent LSAT score, is this enough for my application? Thanks

basketball law guy wrote:I have a similar question. I posted in another thread but will repeat my background:
Completing my third year of undergrad at a midwestern college and I play basketball (on scholarship). My basketball season runs September -last week. My other softs would be different volunteer activities (youth camps, nursing homes, elementary school volunteer reader, etc.). Taking LSAT in October so I will have the summer to study and prepare. Current GPA is 3.98. If I am looking to get into a T25 school, assuming I get a decent LSAT score, is this enough for my application? Thanks

You have an awesome GPA, just kill the LSAT and score at least in the high 160's and you're golden. Don't worry about your softs.

Mr. Somebody wrote:

basketball law guy wrote:I have a similar question. I posted in another thread but will repeat my background:
Completing my third year of undergrad at a midwestern college and I play basketball (on scholarship). My basketball season runs September -last week. My other softs would be different volunteer activities (youth camps, nursing homes, elementary school volunteer reader, etc.). Taking LSAT in October so I will have the summer to study and prepare. Current GPA is 3.98. If I am looking to get into a T25 school, assuming I get a decent LSAT score, is this enough for my application? Thanks

You have an awesome GPA, just kill the LSAT and score at least in the high 160's and you're golden. Don't worry about your softs.

My G.PA. is right there with basketball law guy though i don't have a basketball scholly. I am shooting for around a 172 on my LSAT. Assuming I am around those numbers and considering I'm a URM i feel like T14 isn't out of the question. That being said don't some softs matter? I know your percentages of getting accepted go way up, but there are still people who get rejected and I wonder why? Feel like I need at least a few average softs to not knock me out of the competition. Thoughts?

jrsbaseball5 wrote:

Mr. Somebody wrote:

basketball law guy wrote:I have a similar question. I posted in another thread but will repeat my background:
Completing my third year of undergrad at a midwestern college and I play basketball (on scholarship). My basketball season runs September -last week. My other softs would be different volunteer activities (youth camps, nursing homes, elementary school volunteer reader, etc.). Taking LSAT in October so I will have the summer to study and prepare. Current GPA is 3.98. If I am looking to get into a T25 school, assuming I get a decent LSAT score, is this enough for my application? Thanks

You have an awesome GPA, just kill the LSAT and score at least in the high 160's and you're golden. Don't worry about your softs.

My G.PA. is right there with basketball law guy though i don't have a basketball scholly. I am shooting for around a 172 on my LSAT. Assuming I am around those numbers and considering I'm a URM i feel like T14 isn't out of the question. That being said don't some softs matter? I know your percentages of getting accepted go way up, but there are still people who get rejected and I wonder why? Feel like I need at least a few average softs to not knock me out of the competition. Thoughts?

Are you AA? With a 165+ you are probably HYS secure. Either way, just focus on killing the LSAT and you should be golden. Softs won't hurt you but your time is better spent studying for the test.

jrsbaseball5 wrote: My G.PA. is right there.. I am shooting for around a 172 on my LSAT... considering I'm a URM

Get that and enjoy choosing between YHS

Mr. Somebody wrote:

jrsbaseball5 wrote:

Mr. Somebody wrote:

basketball law guy wrote:I have a similar question. I posted in another thread but will repeat my background:
Completing my third year of undergrad at a midwestern college and I play basketball (on scholarship). My basketball season runs September -last week. My other softs would be different volunteer activities (youth camps, nursing homes, elementary school volunteer reader, etc.). Taking LSAT in October so I will have the summer to study and prepare. Current GPA is 3.98. If I am looking to get into a T25 school, assuming I get a decent LSAT score, is this enough for my application? Thanks

You have an awesome GPA, just kill the LSAT and score at least in the high 160's and you're golden. Don't worry about your softs.

My G.PA. is right there with basketball law guy though i don't have a basketball scholly. I am shooting for around a 172 on my LSAT. Assuming I am around those numbers and considering I'm a URM i feel like T14 isn't out of the question. That being said don't some softs matter? I know your percentages of getting accepted go way up, but there are still people who get rejected and I wonder why? Feel like I need at least a few average softs to not knock me out of the competition. Thoughts?

Are you AA? With a 165+ you are probably HYS secure. Either way, just focus on killing the LSAT and you should be golden. Softs won't hurt you but your time is better spent studying for the test.

Thanks everyone for the help, its much appreciated. To answer your question I am Mexican American. I heard that its not as big of a boost as AA, so I'll have to do score a little higher than 165 I would assume.

Scattered volunteer work is good, but I get the feeling that a regular volunteer gig looks better. Shows consistency and commitment, that sort of thing. Doesn't have to be a huge time suck, but a weekly/bi-weekly/monthly gig at a library or museum or something that you keep up for a year+ is a decent little soft.

Get a Fulbright Scholarship

I got VERY good internships last minute and am waitlisted at schools LSP said I stood NO chance at.

jrsbaseball5 wrote:Ok, so I am a junior currently and will graduate December 2013 and plan on attending law school Fall 2014. As such, I have 2 summers left before the application process starts and I want some advice on what I can do to improve my softs. I know that LSAT and G.P.A are by far the most important, but I am looking for softs that will at least put me on the same level as other applicants so that I am not docked for my lack of anything extracurricular. Again, I realize that the very strong softs such winning a Pulitzer prize, being an Army war vet, or something exceptional along those lines does not happen quickly, but I am looking for some additional things that will not make my application look completely bare compared to other t14 applicants and that I can do over the next 18 months. Thanks!

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pret wrote:Get a Fulbright Scholarship

I got VERY good internships last minute and am waitlisted at schools LSP said I stood NO chance at.

+1 to this. I was weak consider at nearly every school I've gotten into on LSP (Penn, UVA, Georgetown) and I'm positive I got in because of my softs.

justicefishy wrote:

pret wrote:Get a Fulbright Scholarship

I got VERY good internships last minute and am waitlisted at schools LSP said I stood NO chance at.

+1 to this. I was weak consider at nearly every school I've gotten into on LSP (Penn, UVA, Georgetown) and I'm positive I got in because of my softs.

LSP is just generally not reliable for splitters so I don't think you can make any conclusions about your softs. Your LSAT is good enough for those schools so if they want to protect that median and sacrifice a little GPA then they'd be willing to take you.

Not sure summer gigs will put you ahead. Consider working for 2-4 years to be able to credibly claim that you have WE.

Redamon1 wrote:Not sure summer gigs will put you ahead. Consider working for 2-4 years to be able to credibly claim that you have WE.

How big is work experience to schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford? Is there a preference for experience rather than straight numbers?