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Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:15 pm
by Anonymous User
These may be dumb questions but I would appreciate some insight.
The applications for the schools I want to apply to open April 1st or later. Other thank asking for recs, what else can I do?
Also, regarding recommendations:
The professor I asked would like me to him what I would like him to say. What in the world do I suggest? "X is an amazing, wonderful student and person"?
On another note, this prof also suggested I apply to a particular school because he "has connections there." I did not intend to apply there (for a variety of reasons) but am certainly considering it now. Has anything similar happened to any of you?
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:18 pm
by jphiggo
You can start working on polishing up a personal statement. Be sure to proofread it.
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:22 pm
by Meow Meowsworth
I would just tell him to talk about your success as a law student and the interaction he has had with you. I had college professors ask me this, and it seemed like the question was basically asking "is there anything in particular you want me to highlight in my letter?" If you were only applying to schools in a particular area of the country, or if you had something special on your resume that you wanted him to highlight, then that is where those come in. Otherwise, I think a pretty standard letter of recommendation is fine.
If you're adamantly opposed to attending the school, then don't apply. If it seems like a reasonable choice for you given your goals, then go ahead. The only thing you're losing is the short time it takes to apply and the application fee. I've never had this happen with a professor, but I have heard about similar situations from other law students. I would definitely at the very least investigate it further, and I would probably apply unless I absolutely would not attend.
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:42 pm
by Nebby
Before April 1st you can finish your personal statement and have your UG and LS send in the dean's certificates. It's really, really helpful to have these two things done ASAP.
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:53 pm
by Anonymous User
Thank you all for the sound advice. It is much appreciated.
Meow Meowsworth wrote:I would just tell him to talk about your success as a law student and the interaction he has had with you. I had college professors ask me this, and it seemed like the question was basically asking "is there anything in particular you want me to highlight in my letter?" If you were only applying to schools in a particular area of the country, or if you had something special on your resume that you wanted him to highlight, then that is where those come in. Otherwise, I think a pretty standard letter of recommendation is fine.
If you're adamantly opposed to attending the school, then don't apply. If it seems like a reasonable choice for you given your goals, then go ahead. The only thing you're losing is the short time it takes to apply and the application fee. I've never had this happen with a professor, but I have heard about similar situations from other law students. I would definitely at the very least investigate it further, and I would probably apply unless I absolutely would not attend.
I will definitely apply. The main reason I had not considered was because of my grades but my professor insisted.
CounselorNebby wrote:Before April 1st you can finish your personal statement and have your UG and LS send in the dean's certificates. It's really, really helpful to have these two things done ASAP.
I will definitely look into this asap, but first I have another dumb question: How do I go about this? is it through LSAC's CAS?
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:14 am
by zombie mcavoy
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:50 am
by Nebby
The UG certs go directly to the law school--not to LSAC. REMEMBER, not all LS need them. I know GULC doesn't, CLS and HLS do.
Each school has the certifications online. For instance, below is the dean's certification that you'll need your UG degree granting institution to send in and your 1L LS to send in.
http://web.law.columbia.edu/sites/defau ... raisal.pdf
Re: Applications not yet open/Rec letter questions
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:33 am
by Anonymous User
CounselorNebby wrote:The UG certs go directly to the law school--not to LSAC. REMEMBER, not all LS need them. I know GULC doesn't, CLS and HLS do.
Each school has the certifications online. For instance, below is the dean's certification that you'll need your UG degree granting institution to send in and your 1L LS to send in.
http://web.law.columbia.edu/sites/defau ... raisal.pdf
OP here. It seems the schools that I will apply to don't require certs but just want a LS transcript, undergrad transcript w/degree conferral, and a letter of good standing from LS dean.
GW, in particular, wants a letter of good standing and transcript sent directly from myLS to the admissions office, while another school wants everything through LSAC. Gosh this seems confusing.