admission chances: straight out of college VS year off Forum

[lawschoolplease1]

Hi everyone,

I apologize in advance if this topic has been reviewed before but I couldn't find it in the newer posts, so here goes!

I am currently an undergrad. at a top institution and I want to go to a top law school. My advisor keeps telling me that my chances of going to a top law school are better if I take some time off. I'm looking at #s and it is true that law schools admit fewer people still in undergrad than those who have graduated BUT i'm also guessing that more people apply after they have graduated.
What is the general opinion on this?

[Samara]

You should get some work experience before going to law school. It will help you figure out if law school is really the right choice, will better prepare you for law school, and, least importantly, boost your chances of admission a little bit. Everyone I know who took time off to work first is very happy they did so.

[vanwinkle]

You should get some work experience before going to law school. It will help you figure out if law school is really the right choice, will better prepare you for law school, and, least importantly, boost your chances of admission a little bit. Everyone I know who took time off to work first is very happy they did so.

All of this is credited.

[cahwc12]

I took time off by going to graduate school and then living abroad for two years. I very highly recommend applying for some kind of study-abroad grant (fulbright, etc) or applying to teach english overseas. It was a phenomenal experience and something I will never have the opportunity to do again unless a) my work takes me abroad, or b) I retire.

[bp shinners]

You should get some work experience before going to law school. It will help you figure out if law school is really the right choice, will better prepare you for law school, and, least importantly, boost your chances of admission a little bit. Everyone I know who took time off to work first is very happy they did so.

All of this is credited.

PLUS it'll help during OCI - firms are sick of hiring people who have never worked a full work day plus.

[lawschoolplease1]

i really appreciate everyone's concerns (really i do), but i'm 100% sure i want to go.
My question is about admission chances rather than if i should go right away or not....

[captain planet 1]

Why not apply, see what happens, and take it from there? You can always not go if you are unhappy with your choices, or defer if you decide you want to do something else in between.

[one_by_one]

You can use your senior year to bring your GPA up a little more and you might be able to get stronger recs if you ask for them at the end of the year v. asking for them now. Also, some law schools (Northwestern obviously, but also Harvard in the most recent cycle) like to see applicants with WE

[Yukos]

You can use your senior year to bring your GPA up a little more and you might be able to get stronger recs if you ask for them at the end of the year v. asking for them now. Also, some law schools (Northwestern obviously, but also Harvard in the most recent cycle) like to see applicants with WE

Berkeley's class is a little tilted towards people with some work experience. I'd say it's a net benefit at pretty much every T14, though the importance of it varies between them. It seems to really help at OCI so that may be one reason more and more law schools are stressing it.

[CanadianWolf]

Need more info. about your background in order to offer a tailored opinion. Nevertheless, assuming that your background consists of K-JD, then work experience should help. Regardless, apply this cycle to see what your law school options are.