Chances of Getting into Law School Forum

[sheilalawyer]

Hi all! Just thought I would get some of the opinions and expertise on my own situation.

I'm aiming to go to Law School in Fall of 2014, but my situation is a little unique, so I'm looking for advice on where I should be applying and expecting possible admission from.

I am currently 17, will be 17 during application process, will turn 18 before officially starting law school. I graduated high school at 15 with over 27 awards in Mock Trial competitions amongst other extracurriculars. Finished Bachelor's degree a few months ago (at 17). Last year, I worked as a campaign manager on a grassroots congressional campaign. I have also been interning at the same malpractice firm for multiple summers since the age of 14. I currently have a job as a Legal Assistant at a large healthcare company. The only issue is that I received my Bachelor's degree from Western Governors University. It is competency based with all classes being pass/fail. There is no official GPA, but the minimum equivalent is a 3.0. I finished 108 units in 5 months and even went back and received a second degree, so I don't think the GPA can be used as an example of my academic abilities. I spent a few months at our local community college pre-WGU and received all A's except for two FW's in two courses, both of which were a college error as they lost my withdrawal form and did not inform me until the grades came out (I tried to drop the classes because of incompetent professors). That college is beginning to have accredidation issues anyway, so hopefully it won't be counted against me. If I score highly on the LSAT (173+), what are my chances of getting into a top law school despite the GPA issue?

Where should I realistically set my Law School goals? My first choice would be the Accelerated JD program at Northwestern or any of the top 5-6 schools. Is there anything else I can do to increase my chances of acceptance?

Thanks!

[vzapana]

take the lsat first, then come back.

[Gunnar Stahl]

take the lsat first, then come back.

[eav1277]

Flame?

[sheilalawyer]

Not sure what a "flame" is.

[PRgradBYU]

Flame?

Probably not, no.

take the lsat first, then come back.

[Presidentjlh]

I would personally suggest having a job, actually enjoying your young life for a few years until you're 21, then taking the LSAT and applying.

You're only 17. You'd be easily the youngest person at almost any law school I can think of. As intelligent as you undoubtedly are, you'll want to gain the skills that can only come from a few years of life after the typical high school years.

[isuperserial]

Honestly, you'd need to give us at the very least an actual number of what your college says your GPA is. Also, the LSAT is the most important factor, so it's hard for us to tell you where you stand without first getting a score.

Why are you in such a hurry to go to law school?

[bernaldiaz]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

[Davidbentley]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

I'm calling Flame. Anyone who knows enough about law school to know about the AJD would know that Northwestern, of all places, is probably not the correct destination.

[EvilClinton]

Hi all! Just thought I would get some of the opinions and expertise on my own situation.

I'm aiming to go to Law School in Fall of 2014, but my situation is a little unique, so I'm looking for advice on where I should be applying and expecting possible admission from.

I am currently 17, will be 17 during application process, will turn 18 before officially starting law school. I graduated high school at 15 with over 27 awards in Mock Trial competitions amongst other extracurriculars. Finished Bachelor's degree a few months ago (at 17). Last year, I worked as a campaign manager on a grassroots congressional campaign. I have also been interning at the same malpractice firm for multiple summers since the age of 14. I currently have a job as a Legal Assistant at a large healthcare company. The only issue is that I received my Bachelor's degree from Western Governors University. It is competency based with all classes being pass/fail. There is no official GPA, but the minimum equivalent is a 3.0. I finished 108 units in 5 months and even went back and received a second degree, so I don't think the GPA can be used as an example of my academic abilities. I spent a few months at our local community college pre-WGU and received all A's except for two FW's in two courses, both of which were a college error as they lost my withdrawal form and did not inform me until the grades came out (I tried to drop the classes because of incompetent professors). That college is beginning to have accredidation issues anyway, so hopefully it won't be counted against me. If I score highly on the LSAT (173+), what are my chances of getting into a top law school despite the GPA issue?

Where should I realistically set my Law School goals? My first choice would be the Accelerated JD program at Northwestern or any of the top 5-6 schools. Is there anything else I can do to increase my chances of acceptance?

Thanks!

QFP in case you are a flame.

WGU might preclude you from most top schools unless you get a 175+.

[Ramius]

Please go live life a little. You're 17. You've rushed through your life so quickly that as a potential employer I'd be pretty worried you would have trouble transitioning into the adult working world.

Or maybe you're Doogie Houser, JD.

Law school will always be there a few years down the line. Turn 18, go experience some of the other things life has to offer besides school and determine if law school is right for you down the road. There shouldn't be any rush.

[arkgawilson]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

An extra ten years to pay off the debt. [not likely this kid will have debt-scratch that]

[sheilalawyer]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

An extra ten years to pay off the debt. [not likely this kid will have debt-scratch that]

Why wouldn't I have debt?

[sheilalawyer]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

It's not that I am rushing. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and working in both the legal world and jobs outside of it have not changed that in the slightest. I know it's for me. I would rather get my schooling out of my way now, when I have the opportunity, rather than later on when I have more responsibilties and obligations. Plus, we have a large family business that I will probably end up coming back to manage, so getting school done as soon as I can opens that door for me, amongst other things.

Also, while I understand where many of you are coming from regarding the "life experience", I don't think that is the case for me. I may not have as many years of life experience as most law students, but I don't think I'm entirely lacking in that department either. I've worked as a campaign manager/strategist on a Congressional Campaign, currently hold a full-time job in a large healthcare company, have both internship and volunteer experience in many areas, and have been traveling since a young age. It's not like I'm fresh out of high school without a clue as to how the real world works.

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

It's not that I am rushing. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and working in both the legal world and jobs outside of it have not changed that in the slightest. I know it's for me. I would rather get my schooling out of my way now, when I have the opportunity, rather than later on when I have more responsibilties and obligations. Plus, we have a large family business that I will probably end up coming back to manage, so getting school done as soon as I can opens that door for me, amongst other things.

Also, while I understand where many of you are coming from regarding the "life experience", I don't think that is the case for me. I may not have as many years of life experience as most law students, but I don't think I'm entirely lacking in that department either. I've worked as a campaign manager/strategist on a Congressional Campaign, currently hold a full-time job in a large healthcare company, have both internship and volunteer experience in many areas, and have been traveling since a young age. It's not like I'm fresh out of high school without a clue as to how the real world works.

Flame.

[Gunnar Stahl]

Flame.

[sheilalawyer]

Flame.

What is a flame?

[Davidbentley]

Flame.

What is a flame?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA

[ManoftheHour]

Flame.

What is a flame?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA

+1

[ManoftheHour]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

It's not that I am rushing. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and working in both the legal world and jobs outside of it have not changed that in the slightest. I know it's for me. I would rather get my schooling out of my way now, when I have the opportunity, rather than later on when I have more responsibilties and obligations. Plus, we have a large family business that I will probably end up coming back to manage, so getting school done as soon as I can opens that door for me, amongst other things.

Also, while I understand where many of you are coming from regarding the "life experience", I don't think that is the case for me. I may not have as many years of life experience as most law students, but I don't think I'm entirely lacking in that department either. I've worked as a campaign manager/strategist on a Congressional Campaign, currently hold a full-time job in a large healthcare company, have both internship and volunteer experience in many areas, and have been traveling since a young age. It's not like I'm fresh out of high school without a clue as to how the real world works.

So you essentially like working? I never understood why young people rush into so many things. There was a 14 year old in my undergrad. I don't get why he didn't just stay with his peers. He always seemed so lonely and he was really missing out on the whole college experience. If I were him, I would have just stayed within and grew up with my age group and then go to Harvard or something. High school and college were some of the most awesome years ever. The parties, the girls, the traveling and doing stupid things with your friends. Life is a series of stages. Why so eager to fast fowward?

It's not bad to be ambitious, but there's a healthy balance. I think this kind of "life experience" is underrated.

But I guess life advice is not something you went here for. So this:

Get a 175+ LSAT.

[Rahviveh]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

It's not that I am rushing. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and working in both the legal world and jobs outside of it have not changed that in the slightest. I know it's for me. I would rather get my schooling out of my way now, when I have the opportunity, rather than later on when I have more responsibilties and obligations. Plus, we have a large family business that I will probably end up coming back to manage, so getting school done as soon as I can opens that door for me, amongst other things.

Also, while I understand where many of you are coming from regarding the "life experience", I don't think that is the case for me. I may not have as many years of life experience as most law students, but I don't think I'm entirely lacking in that department either. I've worked as a campaign manager/strategist on a Congressional Campaign, currently hold a full-time job in a large healthcare company, have both internship and volunteer experience in many areas, and have been traveling since a young age. It's not like I'm fresh out of high school without a clue as to how the real world works.

So you essentially like working? I never understood why young people rush into so many things. There was a 14 year old in my undergrad. I don't get why he didn't just stay with his peers. He always seemed so lonely and he was really missing out on the whole college experience. If I were him, I would have just stayed within and grew up with my age group and then go to Harvard or something. High school and college were some of the most awesome years ever. The parties, the girls, the traveling and doing stupid things with your friends. Life is a series of stages. Why so eager to fast fowward?.

A lot of times its not up to the kid - its the parents pushing them to move as fast as possible

[rad lulz]

Dude go try to have sex w some girls or something bro

[ManoftheHour]

LOL @ a 17 year old wanting to do the Accelerated JD. What's the big rush??

It's not that I am rushing. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and working in both the legal world and jobs outside of it have not changed that in the slightest. I know it's for me. I would rather get my schooling out of my way now, when I have the opportunity, rather than later on when I have more responsibilties and obligations. Plus, we have a large family business that I will probably end up coming back to manage, so getting school done as soon as I can opens that door for me, amongst other things.

Also, while I understand where many of you are coming from regarding the "life experience", I don't think that is the case for me. I may not have as many years of life experience as most law students, but I don't think I'm entirely lacking in that department either. I've worked as a campaign manager/strategist on a Congressional Campaign, currently hold a full-time job in a large healthcare company, have both internship and volunteer experience in many areas, and have been traveling since a young age. It's not like I'm fresh out of high school without a clue as to how the real world works.

So you essentially like working? I never understood why young people rush into so many things. There was a 14 year old in my undergrad. I don't get why he didn't just stay with his peers. He always seemed so lonely and he was really missing out on the whole college experience. If I were him, I would have just stayed within and grew up with my age group and then go to Harvard or something. High school and college were some of the most awesome years ever. The parties, the girls, the traveling and doing stupid things with your friends. Life is a series of stages. Why so eager to fast fowward?.

A lot of times its not up to the kid - its the parents pushing them to move as fast as possible

Ah, how'd I miss that? Yes, of course.

[sheilalawyer]

Dude go try to have sex w some girls or something bro

I'm a girl, bro.