Top Law Schools

groundkontrol wrote:Submitted my Columbia and Penn acceptances to SEO last week. Still haven't been invited for an interview. (Submitted my app back in December).

Check your spam folders daily. That's where mine was...

ranovr32 wrote:I think everyone makes a way to big a deal about the schools people go to, obviously CLS and Harvard are going to have strong showings. I think less minorities go to stanford, chicago, and yale/ and or self select out. Also what if some people just interview better? I don't think the SEO people go oh man he goes to Penn and we like that better then Yale (penn has had more then yale the last couple of years in the program) It just so happened that penn had a bunch of ringers that year. Obviously I believe there is a preference for CLS and Harvard, possibly NYU because of the ties with all the NY firms, aside from that I think its a crap shoot.

not really. I got the distinct feeling of this when I told them the schools that I was considring attending. That was the first thing they asked me.

ranovr32 wrote:
I don't know anything that beats this program. Realistically you could coast through law school if you kill your internship. I mean of course do decent but if you get asked to return for 1L summer then your pretty much set.

so true, in my interview they said almost all interns end up getting hired by one of the partner firms. also the firms compare notes on performance after the internship is over so its basically like interviewing at each one and getting paid to do it.

avacado111 wrote:

ranovr32 wrote:I think everyone makes a way to big a deal about the schools people go to, obviously CLS and Harvard are going to have strong showings. I think less minorities go to stanford, chicago, and yale/ and or self select out. Also what if some people just interview better? I don't think the SEO people go oh man he goes to Penn and we like that better then Yale (penn has had more then yale the last couple of years in the program) It just so happened that penn had a bunch of ringers that year. Obviously I believe there is a preference for CLS and Harvard, possibly NYU because of the ties with all the NY firms, aside from that I think its a crap shoot.

not really. I got the distinct feeling of this when I told them the schools that I was considring attending. That was the first thing they asked me.

Concur. I think they actually do care a whole lot (my comment was I wonder/hope that we know enough to know their preferences accurately). For instance, if they were really even handed about the school (if, say, the policy was "Any T14 will do"), then why wouldn't Yale have better (or relatively comparable) showings than Columbia? Any applicant that could get into Yale almost certainly has credentials which would satisfy SEO in terms of GPA/LSAT. I think that the firms indicate to SEO strong preferences for schools, which is the source of Columbia's power, since it's so locked in with BigLaw. I think that all of the schools that get good showings have a good connection in particular to the NYC and DC markets. I might buy in to my suspicion even more if we see Texas represented this year with their adding of the Houston program.

'course these are all ramblings of someone no more informed than anyone else so...take them with a barrel of salt (you can dissolve in water for easier consumption)

avacado111 wrote:

ranovr32 wrote:I think everyone makes a way to big a deal about the schools people go to, obviously CLS and Harvard are going to have strong showings. I think less minorities go to stanford, chicago, and yale/ and or self select out. Also what if some people just interview better? I don't think the SEO people go oh man he goes to Penn and we like that better then Yale (penn has had more then yale the last couple of years in the program) It just so happened that penn had a bunch of ringers that year. Obviously I believe there is a preference for CLS and Harvard, possibly NYU because of the ties with all the NY firms, aside from that I think its a crap shoot.

not really. I got the distinct feeling of this when I told them the schools that I was considring attending. That was the first thing they asked me.

I told them I was most likely attending Chicago and they were pretty impressed, but maybe thats because 20 seconds later I told them I was on hold at Harvard. Either way I got the distinct feeling as long as you were going to the top 6 schools it didn't matter quite as much.

TheSharklord wrote:

avacado111 wrote:

ranovr32 wrote:I think everyone makes a way to big a deal about the schools people go to, obviously CLS and Harvard are going to have strong showings. I think less minorities go to stanford, chicago, and yale/ and or self select out. Also what if some people just interview better? I don't think the SEO people go oh man he goes to Penn and we like that better then Yale (penn has had more then yale the last couple of years in the program) It just so happened that penn had a bunch of ringers that year. Obviously I believe there is a preference for CLS and Harvard, possibly NYU because of the ties with all the NY firms, aside from that I think its a crap shoot.

not really. I got the distinct feeling of this when I told them the schools that I was considring attending. That was the first thing they asked me.

Concur. I think they actually do care a whole lot (my comment was I wonder/hope that we know enough to know their preferences accurately). For instance, if they were really even handed about the school (if, say, the policy was "Any T14 will do"), then why wouldn't Yale have better (or relatively comparable) showings than Columbia? Any applicant that could get into Yale almost certainly has credentials which would satisfy SEO in terms of GPA/LSAT. I think that the firms indicate to SEO strong preferences for schools, which is the source of Columbia's power, since it's so locked in with BigLaw. I think that all of the schools that get good showings have a good connection in particular to the NYC and DC markets. I might buy in to my suspicion even more if we see Texas represented this year with their adding of the Houston program.

'course these are all ramblings of someone no more informed than anyone else so...take them with a barrel of salt (you can dissolve in water for easier consumption)

I mean top 6, and there really aren't that many AA applicants that matriculate to Yale that apply. The large majority (this is anecdotal because I am getting it from TLS posts and LSN) are Asian, and I know SEO takes all minorities but I've been told by several sources that in general the program isn't really going to go all out on recruiting a Yale matriculate for the simple fact that they aren't the right type of URM. I don't count Berkeley in that 6 either (for SEO recruiting reasons), I would include Penn and kick out Cal. If strong regional firm ties to NY were the case Cornell, Duke, and Michigan would have much stronger showings.

I'm interviewing later this week and was wondering if anyone knows how they determine which firm one goes to after getting accepted. Do we have a choice? Or is it random?

They match you based off of their perception of what firm you would fit in. I would also assume firms have gpa cut offs and school requirements that they would like adhered too. You can try to request a firm, they said it has been done before, but the final placement will rest in their hands. The law firms actually find out not to long before you do.

Did you fax your acceptance letters or email them? What is the fax number? Many thanks.

I am kicking myself for applying so late...

bluedolphins wrote:Did you fax your acceptance letters or email them? What is the fax number? Many thanks.

I am kicking myself for applying so late...

Actually, I have just found the fax number. Did you all fax a cover sheet? What do I need to include on it?

bluedolphins wrote:
Actually, I have just found the fax number. Did you all fax a cover sheet? What do I need to include on it?

If you've received the invite for the interview, I believe the "Document Cover Sheet" is found within the invite to interview e-mail. It should be a 3-page pdf. The last 2 pages are for the LOR, but the first should be used as a cover sheet for any mailings/faxes. If you don't have it, the main info they want is:

Name
First Choice Program Area
Current School (your UG)
ApplyYourself PIN (the 9 digit code you need to sign in to your app)
e-mail

And then just write what you are including (transcripts, LOR, admission letter, seat deposit, etc.)

Good luck!

anmo wrote:

bluedolphins wrote:
Actually, I have just found the fax number. Did you all fax a cover sheet? What do I need to include on it?

If you've received the invite for the interview, I believe the "Document Cover Sheet" is found within the invite to interview e-mail. It should be a 3-page pdf. The last 2 pages are for the LOR, but the first should be used as a cover sheet for any mailings/faxes. If you don't have it, the main info they want is:

Name
First Choice Program Area
Current School (your UG)
ApplyYourself PIN (the 9 digit code you need to sign in to your app)
e-mail

And then just write what you are including (transcripts, LOR, admission letter, seat deposit, etc.)

Good luck!

No, I haven't received the invite for interview yet. I am hoping faxing the acceptance letters might help me to get an interview since I applied so late...

bluedolphins wrote:

anmo wrote:

bluedolphins wrote:
Actually, I have just found the fax number. Did you all fax a cover sheet? What do I need to include on it?

If you've received the invite for the interview, I believe the "Document Cover Sheet" is found within the invite to interview e-mail. It should be a 3-page pdf. The last 2 pages are for the LOR, but the first should be used as a cover sheet for any mailings/faxes. If you don't have it, the main info they want is:

Name
First Choice Program Area
Current School (your UG)
ApplyYourself PIN (the 9 digit code you need to sign in to your app)
e-mail

And then just write what you are including (transcripts, LOR, admission letter, seat deposit, etc.)

Good luck!

No, I haven't received the invite for interview yet. I am hoping faxing the acceptance letters might help me to get an interview since I applied so late...

This is the PDF with the cover letter and LOR sheets if you want it. (LinkRemoved) Good luck!

BlankC wrote: This is the PDF with the cover letter and LOR sheets if you want it. (LinkRemoved) Good luck!

Thanks so much!

Had my interview recently, and would be happy to answer questions or just debrief via PM.

What kind of questions should you ask them during the interview?

...

When do you need to make your seat deposit by?

Is it too late to be granted an interview?

newyorker88 wrote:When do you need to make your seat deposit by?

I'm guessing, based on the past SEO cycle and law school admission cycles, that most acceptances start going out towards early/mid-april which is when most seat deposits are made. (This is when most admissions have been give out and also financial or merit aid offers from the top schools). Once May rolls around it seems like some SEO acceptances are still given out, then it gets harder towards end of May.

Nom Sawyer wrote:

newyorker88 wrote:When do you need to make your seat deposit by?

I'm guessing, based on the past SEO cycle and law school admission cycles, that most acceptances start going out towards early/mid-april which is when most seat deposits are made. (This is when most admissions have been give out and also financial or merit aid offers from the top schools). Once May rolls around it seems like some SEO acceptances are still given out, then it gets harder towards end of May.

oh ok thanks a bunch

groundkontrol wrote:Is it too late to be granted an interview?

The majority of the interview slots are filled but there are still a few open. So I guess it's still possible to get an interview although the chances have lessened dramatically.

hey havent heard back from SEO yet...does this mean I'm not getting an interview?

yung wrote:hey havent heard back from SEO yet...does this mean I'm not getting an interview?

+ 1

Peeps who haven't heard back, try faxing an acceptance letter from somewhere?

Can't hurt to make them pull your profile out and see it again.