Student Government and Softs? Forum

[Kimikho]

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[ph14]

After snooping around here for quite some time I've come to the conclusion that none of you participate in student government. I do.
Is being President of the student body of one of the largest universities in the country a good soft? What about being President of the Residence Hall Association? I feel like the answer should be "yes," but I haven't come across anyone else saying that so I figured I'd ask.

I am just a sophomore but I figured it is better to ask now then to look back later and realize I screwed up. Most people's GPAs dip when they take these positions (some pretty seriously), and I'm starting to get images in my head of writing an addendum along the lines of "sorry for the 3.2, was too busy leading 50,000 students to awesomeness."

P.S. As a sophomore, I am neither of those positions listed. I am currently running for President of the Res Hall Association though.

Definitely not worth the GPA drop. If you are dead set on law school, I'd only do it if you are certain you won't take a GPA hit. 3.3 with no Presidency is going to outperform a 3.2 with the Presidency in their law school app cycle.

[gaud]

Those are great softs to have, but keep in mind that they won't overcome poor numbers.

Keep your GPA high and destroy the LSAT.

[cinephile]

After snooping around here for quite some time I've come to the conclusion that none of you participate in student government. I do.
Is being President of the student body of one of the largest universities in the country a good soft? What about being President of the Residence Hall Association? I feel like the answer should be "yes," but I haven't come across anyone else saying that so I figured I'd ask.

I am just a sophomore but I figured it is better to ask now then to look back later and realize I screwed up. Most people's GPAs dip when they take these positions (some pretty seriously), and I'm starting to get images in my head of writing an addendum along the lines of "sorry for the 3.2, was too busy leading 50,000 students to awesomeness."

P.S. As a sophomore, I am neither of those positions listed. I am currently running for President of the Res Hall Association though.

Compared to someone else coming in straight out of undergrad, sure. But a lot of people have had meaningful work experience, graduate degrees, fellowships, and so forth, so in comparison, no these softs are less impressive. You shouldn't worry about soft factors for getting into law school, because it won't matter. You should worry about soft factors that might make you more likely to get a job out of law school.

[Kimikho]

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[stargazin]

Is being President of the student body of one of the largest universities in the country a good soft?

???

[lovejopd]

What about Student Judicial Board~?

[Napt]

It's a decent soft but nothing impressive. 1 point better on your LSAT or .01 better on your GPA would help you out more than being Pres of the student body.

[flightcontrol]

It's a decent soft but nothing impressive. 1 point better on your LSAT or .01 better on your GPA would help you out more than being Pres of the student body.

This is not necessarily true. A friend was heavily involved in student government at HY and got a rec letter from the university president. She subsequently got into the university's law school with a very low GPA. If you want to go to law school at your university, or can get otherwise earn the respect of someone in a position to call in a favor, it may be worth doing even if you take a GPA hit.

[ph14]

It's a decent soft but nothing impressive. 1 point better on your LSAT or .01 better on your GPA would help you out more than being Pres of the student body.

This is not necessarily true. A friend was heavily involved in student government at HY and got a rec letter from the university president. She subsequently got into the university's law school with a very low GPA. If you want to go to law school at your university, or can get otherwise earn the respect of someone in a position to call in a favor, it may be worth doing even if you take a GPA hit.

Definitely the exception and not the rule. Don't try and copy this, the odds are against you.

That is a way different situation as well, seeing at the UG and law school are the same...and the UG is H or Y lol. Odds are the OP is not talking about HYSP for schools he is trying to become president of.

[flightcontrol]

It's a decent soft but nothing impressive. 1 point better on your LSAT or .01 better on your GPA would help you out more than being Pres of the student body.

This is not necessarily true. A friend was heavily involved in student government at HY and got a rec letter from the university president. She subsequently got into the university's law school with a very low GPA. If you want to go to law school at your university, or can get otherwise earn the respect of someone in a position to call in a favor, it may be worth doing even if you take a GPA hit.

Definitely the exception and not the rule. Don't try and copy this, the odds are against you.

That is a way different situation as well, seeing at the UG and law school are the same...and the UG is H or Y lol. Odds are the OP is not talking about HYSP for schools he is trying to become president of.

Totally agree. Just wanted to point out that the kind of relationships you build in student government can play a role outside of the GPA/LSAT box, though you are absolutely right that a significant boost is unlikely.

[apollo2015]

Also, one can cultivate that type of relationship with influential administrators/faculty without needing to undertake a GPA-crushing activity.

[094320]

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