Admissions Consulting Forum

npn4706 · Post by **npn4706** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:00 am

I'm thinking about getting an admissions consultant but I can't afford the $4,000+ that a lot of them cost. Is PowerScore's admissions consulting good? What are some other worthwhile admissions consultants in the $1,500 price range?

Thank you

ErgoProxy · Post by **ErgoProxy** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:17 am

I don't think an admissions consultant is generally too helpful, but I do have some experience with PowerScore's admissions consulting services. For the most part, a lot of it was pretty obvious stuff--how to write a PS, resume, etc. For the price though, it wasn't too bad a deal.

But anything more than a few hundred bucks seems like a waste. Unless you have absolutely 0 self-awareness, I don't think admissions consulting is going to really make a difference, but might be useful for some basic tips and as a refresher if you haven't written something in ages.

PoopNpants · Post by **PoopNpants** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:25 am

retake

fisheatbananas · Post by **fisheatbananas** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:25 am

You might get the same benefit from reading a few good admissions books. I didn't use them myself when I was applying so I can't say whether they're really helpful, but just an idea. I read Law School Confidential after my application cycle so I skipped the part about applying, but there was a whole first section about the application cycle.

pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 8:00 am

Post removed.

npn4706 · Post by **npn4706** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 3:24 pm

pittsburghpirates wrote:What are your numbers? General TLS sentiment seems to be that admissions consulting is likely not worth it for many candidates but can have some value for splitters and reverse splitters

LSAT:166
GPA: 3.42

pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:14 pm

Post removed.

TheProdigal · Post by **TheProdigal** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:41 pm

npn4706 wrote:
pittsburghpirates wrote:What are your numbers? General TLS sentiment seems to be that admissions consulting is likely not worth it for many candidates but can have some value for splitters and reverse splitters
LSAT:166
GPA: 3.42

Desired schools/WE/Softs/C&F issues?

sox49 · Post by **sox49** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:43 pm

Oh god who costs that much?

iamgeorgebush · Post by **iamgeorgebush** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:17 pm

What were your LSAT practice test scores, and what was your original diagnostic score? The first thing is to assess whether you should retake.

An admissions consultant may be worthwhile if you can find a good one who is also reasonably priced. $4000 seems like too much, but maybe a lower amount would pay for itself in the form of better scholarships, etc. Just realize that doing better on the LSAT will probably get you a lot further. (Not that you can't both retake and hire a consultant.)

I will echo one of the above posters that Spivey (and others on his team---Karen B., Derek M., etc.) seems like a good call if you're going to hire anyone.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:50 pm

Need more information. What & where are your career objectives ? Any post undergraduate work experience ? How many times have you taken the LSAT ? Any character & fitness issues ?

With a 166 LSAT score & a 3.42 LSDAS GPA, the primary reason--assuming no C&F issues--for needing a consultant is targeting the lower half of the T-14 law schools, is my best guess. If you haven't taken the LSAT at least twice, then this question is a bit premature. The real need for an experienced consultant might be if you had a higher LSAT score that made you a splitter for many of the T-14 law schools.

Mack.Hambleton · Post by **Mack.Hambleton** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:21 pm

PoopNpants wrote:retake

basti · Post by **basti** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 5:35 pm

I mean, aren't consultants beneficial to certain populations? For example, let's say someone maxed out their takes, and is a URM. Wouldn't a consulting company like Spivey be able to counsel them? I mean, they have people who have read for Harvard and other T14. In theory, shouldn't they be able to use the knowledge they have from those experiences to counsel an applicant on what to do to get a reader's attention?

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:58 am

Consultants should be beneficial to all applicants, but the real issue is cost justification. Many applicants to law school have difficulty affording application fees so that spending several thousand dollars on a consultant for an admission process overwhelmingly focused on one's numbers might be hard to justify.