Top Law Schools

Hey everyone

I'm a UG rising junior at a T50 institution (top tier in major, politics-oriented) pretty set on applying to law school. I'm currently at a 3.97 UG GPA, non-URM, with solid internship/extracurricular experience (five UG internships/fellowships, academic research fellowship upcoming, campus leadership) but from reading TLS religiously as of late, I've come to the conclusion that these essentially account for nothing notable as far as softs go.

I'm hoping for HYS/CCN with $$$. I know that puts my desired LSAT score at 173+. My three remaining questions (which might overlap):

1) Recommended LSAT/app timeline? I would like to take time in-between UG and law school, either in a masters program or working, but if there are numbers I could hit that would make K-JD at HYS possible, I would consider it. I understand K-JD there is a disadvantage but given my field of interest I'm unsure that any job would make me a special enough snowflake to stand out regardless, especially at HYS. Or, does the virtue of simply not being K-JD help no matter what job?

2) If I were to take two years before applying, should I take the LSAT during UG and sit on it/give time for retake or wait and take once a year or so into a job/postgrad?

3) Does HYS/CCN care about graduate school as a soft if it isn't Rhodes/Fulbright? I'm interested in a program at the London School of Economics in my undergrad field that I think I'd have a good shot at and would really enjoy. It's one year long. I'm curious if it would make any difference without Rhodes/Fulbright. Also interested in some of the legal Masters programs at U Melbourne w/ an Endeavour Scholarship if I could make that happen.

The gist of my situation is that I have been working for the GPA I need to feel confident about my shot at T6, and I have read enough to have no questions at this point about LSAT prep itself, but the array of timeline and postgrad possibilities has me feeling like a deer in headlights. Thanks for any input anyone might have!

(note: also please tell me if I am breaking any sort of TLS decorum with an extensively hypothetical post)

yoursinkai wrote:Hey everyone

I'm a UG rising junior at a T50 institution (top tier in major, politics-oriented) pretty set on applying to law school. I'm currently at a 3.97 UG GPA, non-URM, with solid internship/extracurricular experience (five UG internships/fellowships, academic research fellowship upcoming, campus leadership) but from reading TLS religiously as of late, I've come to the conclusion that these essentially account for nothing notable as far as softs go.

I'm hoping for HYS/CCN with $$$. I know that puts my desired LSAT score at 173+. My three remaining questions (which might overlap):

1) Recommended LSAT/app timeline? I would like to take time in-between UG and law school, either in a masters program or working, but if there are numbers I could hit that would make K-JD at HYS possible, I would consider it. I understand K-JD there is a disadvantage but given my field of interest I'm unsure that any job would make me a special enough snowflake to stand out regardless, especially at HYS. Or, does the virtue of simply not being K-JD help no matter what job?

2) If I were to take two years before applying, should I take the LSAT during UG and sit on it/give time for retake or wait and take once a year or so into a job/postgrad?

3) Does HYS/CCN care about graduate school as a soft if it isn't Rhodes/Fulbright? I'm interested in a program at the London School of Economics in my undergrad field that I think I'd have a good shot at and would really enjoy. It's one year long. I'm curious if it would make any difference without Rhodes/Fulbright. Also interested in some of the legal Masters programs at U Melbourne w/ an Endeavour Scholarship if I could make that happen.

The gist of my situation is that I have been working for the GPA I need to feel confident about my shot at T6, and I have read enough to have no questions at this point about LSAT prep itself, but the array of timeline and postgrad possibilities has me feeling like a deer in headlights. Thanks for any input anyone might have!

(note: also please tell me if I am breaking any sort of TLS decorum with an extensively hypothetical post)

My basic advice: it's clear you've read a lot of TLS. You know why you're doing, so feel confident in the decisions you make regarding any of this. No real wrong answers.

(1) The biggest perk of being a non KJD is getting a job, not really applications to law school. Even then, from T6 you shouldn't really worry about it, it's negligible. Being non KJD might help you slightly with law school apps, but not enough to base your timeline off of, unless you're an Olympic athlete or something that would really catch an adcom's eye.

(2) If you think you're in a little more of an academic/test taking mood now than when outside of college, I'd go ahead and take it now. Just make sure you apply/are admitted in time before the score expires (5 years I think?). Taking now will also let you know if you need to retake with plenty of time.

(3) If you'll enjoy it, do it. But don't make the decision based on law school admissions because it won't really matter

yoursinkai wrote:Hey everyone

I'm a UG rising junior at a T50 institution (top tier in major, politics-oriented) pretty set on applying to law school. I'm currently at a 3.97 UG GPA, non-URM, with solid internship/extracurricular experience (five UG internships/fellowships, academic research fellowship upcoming, campus leadership) but from reading TLS religiously as of late, I've come to the conclusion that these essentially account for nothing notable as far as softs go.

I'm hoping for HYS/CCN with $$$. I know that puts my desired LSAT score at 173+. My three remaining questions (which might overlap):

1) Recommended LSAT/app timeline? I would like to take time in-between UG and law school, either in a masters program or working, but if there are numbers I could hit that would make K-JD at HYS possible, I would consider it. I understand K-JD there is a disadvantage but given my field of interest I'm unsure that any job would make me a special enough snowflake to stand out regardless, especially at HYS. Or, does the virtue of simply not being K-JD help no matter what job?

2) If I were to take two years before applying, should I take the LSAT during UG and sit on it/give time for retake or wait and take once a year or so into a job/postgrad?

3) Does HYS/CCN care about graduate school as a soft if it isn't Rhodes/Fulbright? I'm interested in a program at the London School of Economics in my undergrad field that I think I'd have a good shot at and would really enjoy. It's one year long. I'm curious if it would make any difference without Rhodes/Fulbright. Also interested in some of the legal Masters programs at U Melbourne w/ an Endeavour Scholarship if I could make that happen.

The gist of my situation is that I have been working for the GPA I need to feel confident about my shot at T6, and I have read enough to have no questions at this point about LSAT prep itself, but the array of timeline and postgrad possibilities has me feeling like a deer in headlights. Thanks for any input anyone might have!

(note: also please tell me if I am breaking any sort of TLS decorum with an extensively hypothetical post)

1) I'd suggest taking the LSAT sooner rather than later. The summer after undergrad is when I studied for it, and IMO one of the best times to do so. You're still in academia-mode, you're still in the mindset of having to learn a lot, so it won't take you while to de-rust the gears in your head, but you don't have schoolwork to balance at the same time. If you are feeling burnt out at the end of senior year, however, than consider giving it some time.

I think the prestige of your job is overrated on this forum. To clarify, let me state that having a super prestigious job will definitely make you stand out, but it's far from the only kind of job that could strengthen your application. Work experience can provide really good material for your personal statement, if you're able to convey that experience into a strong, convincing argument. The job doesn't have to be prestigious - if it's something that you genuinely wanted to do, and the time you spent doing it had a strong impact on your perspective, then that can show a lot of growth and maturity. But if you're considering getting a job only for the sake of boosting your law school app, and you're rearing to go to LS, then I'd advise you to just go for it. There are plenty of K-JDs who get into top schools, and if you pull a high LSAT score, you could certainly be one of them.

2) It's really up to you. See my answer to #1. The one thing about studying for the test while you have a full-time job - your schedule is a lot more fixed than during college, and it might be challenging to balance work/life/LSAT study. If you work part-time, this isn't really a concern.

3) I think it would, though I'm not an expert on this issue. Law schools are looking for capable students who are committed to law in particular. Getting a master's degree would further demonstrate your capability as a student (though with a 3.97 GPA, you're not really wanting in this regard). If you're genuinely interested in the program and can afford it/get a scholarship/don't think you'll get burned out from all this consecutive schooling, then I think this may be a good idea.