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Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:56 am
by dbc001
After reading a lot of threads I have been trying to figure out a list of top 25 schools that take a more human approach to the application than just playing the numbers game. But it's scattered. If you know of one, put it down here. I know Berkeley does . . .

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:58 am
by MC Southstar
dbc001 wrote:After reading a lot of threads I have been trying to figure out a list of top 25 schools that take a more human approach to the application than just playing the numbers game. But it's scattered. If you know of one, put it down here. I know Berkeley does . . .
Lies. Berkeley just humps GPas.

I heard The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law is pretty holistic.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:00 pm
by PoorOrpheus
shadowfrost000 wrote:Lies. Berkeley just humps GPas.
+1 8)

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:02 pm
by lawhawk
iowa perhaps?

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:05 pm
by Anastasia Dee Dualla
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Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:06 pm
by Cardboardbox
shadowfrost000 wrote:
dbc001 wrote:After reading a lot of threads I have been trying to figure out a list of top 25 schools that take a more human approach to the application than just playing the numbers game. But it's scattered. If you know of one, put it down here. I know Berkeley does . . .
Lies. Berkeley just humps GPas.

I heard The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law is pretty holistic.
Well in that case I'm hoping they're humping my GPA all the way to the bank...er or...adcomm office? or...you get the idea -_-

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:26 pm
by wired
I do think that Berkeley does holistic admissions. Their GPA adoration is reflective of them collecting a wide range of intelligent, hard working people who have unique experiences. Like it or not, intelligence and ability to succeed in law school is a VERY big part of law school. I think Berkeley takes that into account, but doesn't let numbers deter their school from admitting a very diverse body of students.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:51 pm
by illbakeyouacake
interesting thread. can anyone say more about UVA in this regard?

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:59 pm
by Unitas
Yale... Problem is the people that add up to the best all apply there and such a small class size equals very few admits.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:00 pm
by ViP
wired wrote:I do think that Berkeley does holistic admissions. Their GPA adoration is reflective of them collecting a wide range of intelligent, hard working people who have unique experiences. Like it or not, intelligence and ability to succeed in law school is a VERY big part of law school. I think Berkeley takes that into account, but doesn't let numbers deter their school from admitting a very diverse body of students.
+1

Having a great GPA hardly guarantees admission. Berkeley really is picky with applicants, and yes, they appreciate strong GPAs more than many of their counterparts.

That being said, Berkeley's "holistic" approach is extremely narrow in the sense that only a select few applicants meet such specific standards.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:02 pm
by sperry
Duke!


Oh wait, Duke accepted me about 2 days after going complete despite the fact that I sent in the wrong copy of my resume, which was half filled out, and had little parenthetical notes in it like (remember to add activities here), and (get former boss's telephone #).

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:52 pm
by wired
sharthree wrote:Cornell and UVA.
I am a little dubious on UVA being holistic. When you have a right angle on LSN that traces itself around a 170 LSAT until people start breaking a 3.85 GPA, it tends to demonstrate some serious number working.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:07 pm
by rayiner
wired wrote:
sharthree wrote:Cornell and UVA.
I am a little dubious on UVA being holistic. When you have a right angle on LSN that traces itself around a 170 LSAT until people start breaking a 3.85 GPA, it tends to demonstrate some serious number working.
LOL @ UVA: http://uva.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/0910/

This early in the cycle, they're accepting anybody with a 170+ or a 3.85+. I mean people around 160 and around 3.0...

I mean splitter friendliness is definitely TCR though. :lol:

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:11 pm
by Jumbo
Michigan and Yale

That's pretty much it.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:11 pm
by Dialogue
sperry wrote:Duke!


Oh wait, Duke accepted me about 2 days after going complete despite the fact that I sent in the wrong copy of my resume, which was half filled out, and had little parenthetical notes in it like (remember to add activities here), and (get former boss's telephone #).
This is hilarious!

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:14 pm
by kurama20
Trust me UVA is very holistic. The thing is though that you are going to have to have some strong softs working in your favor--I don't just mean you worked in your SGA. If you have a truly strong resume and a decent set of credentials you have a shot.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:16 pm
by starstruck393
kurama20 wrote:Trust me UVA is very holistic. The thing is though that you are going to have to have some strong softs working in your favor--I don't just mean you worked in your SGA. If you have a truly strong resume and a decent set of credentials you have a shot.
If by holistic you mean have good #'s and are a VA resident, then definitely...

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:33 pm
by wired
kurama20 wrote:Trust me UVA is very holistic. The thing is though that you are going to have to have some strong softs working in your favor--I don't just mean you worked in your SGA. If you have a truly strong resume and a decent set of credentials you have a shot.
Yeah, I have a hard time believing that there is no one with a 169 and a 3.7 that doesn't have "a decent set of credentials." Index wise, that individual is higher than some the of combinations that UVA is accepting, but UVA is not accepting.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:56 pm
by wired
At UVA, 1 LSAT point = .7 GPA increase.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1748649/uva-right-angle.jpg

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:58 pm
by Hattori Hanzo
wired wrote:
kurama20 wrote:Trust me UVA is very holistic. The thing is though that you are going to have to have some strong softs working in your favor--I don't just mean you worked in your SGA. If you have a truly strong resume and a decent set of credentials you have a shot.
Yeah, I have a hard time believing that there is no one with a 169 and a 3.7 that doesn't have "a decent set of credentials." Index wise, that individual is higher than some the of combinations that UVA is accepting, but UVA is not accepting.
I have higher stats and pretty much no credentials.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:59 pm
by Jumbo
wired wrote:At UVA, 1 LSAT point = .7 GPA increase.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1748649/uva-right-angle.jpg
I feel bad for people with a 169. Holistic much?

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:01 pm
by wired
I scored a 169. I changed one of my answers from a right one to a wrong one. That was the difference between me and UVA.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:27 pm
by Anastasia Dee Dualla
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Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:33 pm
by rondemarino
OP: There's one easy way to figure this out.

Go to LSN and look at the 2008-2009. See how many admits you can find who had numbers below BOTH of a schools medians (LSAT/GPA). A school that admits a lot of candidates who do nothing but drag down the incoming class profile is a school that probably employs a holistic approach every one in a while.

LOL@ UVA and holistic in the same sentence.

Re: Top 25 Schools with a holistic approach

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:34 pm
by rondemarino
sharthree wrote:
rayiner wrote:
wired wrote:
sharthree wrote:Cornell and UVA.
I am a little dubious on UVA being holistic. When you have a right angle on LSN that traces itself around a 170 LSAT until people start breaking a 3.85 GPA, it tends to demonstrate some serious number working.
LOL @ UVA: http://uva.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/0910/

This early in the cycle, they're accepting anybody with a 170+ or a 3.85+. I mean people around 160 and around 3.0...

I mean splitter friendliness is definitely TCR though. :lol:
I know that they begin the application by reading the Personal statement first and then moving on to numbers. I find that holistic. Oh and I have verrrry crappy numbers and they admitted me.
... and you're not a URM?