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Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:48 pm
by NYlawhopeful
I have a 3.4 LSAC gpa (messy transcript though - Ws, retakes) and a 178 LSAT score
Given my numbers I would say I can land a top 14 law acceptance (hopefully)
I decided to go to law school late in life. I am ready to apply this Fall, and I turn 32 in October.
Which means when I graduate from law school I will be around 35 years old (or 35.5)
I know you hear many people get
accepted to law school in their early 30s all the time. However, that never seems to be the Top 14 law schools. So will they hold the fact that I am 32, when applying against me?
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:51 pm
by 071816
NYlawhopeful wrote:I have a 3.4 LSAC gpa (messy transcript though - Ws, retakes) and a 178 LSAT score
Given my numbers I would say I can land a top 14 law acceptance (hopefully)
I decided to go to law school late in life. I am ready to apply this Fall, and I turn 32 in October.
Which means when I graduate from law school I will be around 35 years old (or 35.5)
I know you hear many people get accepted to law school in their early 30s all the time. However, that never seems to be the Top 14 law schools. So will they hold the fact that I am 32, when applying against me?
I have no useful information for you, but what are you basing this on?
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:54 pm
by NYlawhopeful
Thanks for the reply. I guess I was basing it on, viewing the Admission class profiles for some of the Top 14 schools. Most say average age is 27, and one or more said only 2 percent of applicants were 29 or older (most were 21-24 when they applied).
So, that made me wonder if age was an issue for T14?
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:57 pm
by FloridaCoastalorbust
Won't matter negatively an ounce and will probably be advantageous if you can spin the experiences you've obtained into a positive way.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 7:59 pm
by rpupkin
FloridaCoastalorbust wrote:Won't matter negatively an ounce and will probably be advantageous if you can spin the experiences you've obtained into a positive way.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:19 pm
by kcdc1
I had a 2.8/179 and applied at age 30. I was accepted to multiple T14 schools and was able to negotiate a scholarship.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:21 pm
by ScottRiqui
rpupkin wrote:FloridaCoastalorbust wrote:Won't matter negatively an ounce and will probably be advantageous if you can spin the experiences you've obtained into a positive way.
This. I was 44 when I started last year, and I was honestly surprised at how much of a complete non-issue it was with the other students, the professors, and when I was looking for a job.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 8:42 pm
by Hutz_and_Goodman
No. I am old as shit and got into several t14s.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:25 pm
by kartelite
NYlawhopeful wrote:However, that never seems to be the Top 14 law schools. So will they hold the fact that I am 32, when applying against me?
Of course not, that's ridiculous, if anything it's probably an asset. You'll have no problem getting to a top 14 with your numbers. I was early 30s when I applied and got into CCN w/ $$, one HYS admit and one waitlist.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:30 pm
by ldlamb
Like others are saying, you should have no problem.
I was mid 30s with a 3.1/169 and got into lower T14s.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:44 pm
by lymenheimer
NYlawhopeful wrote:Thanks for the reply. I guess I was basing it on, viewing the Admission class profiles for some of the Top 14 schools. Most say average age is 27, and one or more said only 2 percent of applicants were 29 or older (most were 21-24 when they applied).
So, that made me wonder if age was an issue for T14?
Since 27 is the "average", that means people fall both above and below that number. Since many individuals go K-JD, this is 21-24 range, there have to be people in the 30-33 range to counter those numbers to get that average. hth
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:48 pm
by Chrstgtr
Apply to NU. Oldest student in my class was 35 at the START of law school and I know several people in their 30s here and even more in their late 20s. NU will also probably be a good fit for you culturally since it is a bit older and splitter friendly.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:09 pm
by seashell.economy
kartelite wrote:NYlawhopeful wrote:However, that never seems to be the Top 14 law schools. So will they hold the fact that I am 32, when applying against me?
Of course not, that's ridiculous, if anything it's probably an asset. You'll have no problem getting to a top 14 with your numbers. I was early 30s when I applied and got into CCN w/ $$, one HYS admit and one waitlist.
.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:05 am
by A. Nony Mouse
seashell.economy wrote:kartelite wrote:NYlawhopeful wrote:However, that never seems to be the Top 14 law schools. So will they hold the fact that I am 32, when applying against me?
Of course not, that's ridiculous, if anything it's probably an asset. You'll have no problem getting to a top 14 with your numbers. I was early 30s when I applied and got into CCN w/ $$, one HYS admit and one waitlist.
I think it's an asset if you've spent your 20's working in a stable and/or impressive career. If you're 30 and applying to law school after working as a barista/waitress/thai food delivery person/un-paid intern working only for concert tickets and free beer/ sub-par local photographer I bet that age doesn't equal an asset. (This is what I am personally afraid of come admissions time, and later, OCI)
Law schools aren't going to care about your age, just your numbers (except YS and maybe H, which are more holistic - and while solving world peace in your 20s looks great, I'm sure, you can spin any kinds of experiences). And I know people who spent years as ski bums who are now in biglaw, so I wouldn't worry that your experience has to be stable/impressive. If you've had a serious career pre-law school, you have to explain why on earth you left it to join one of the most hated professions on earth. I don't think it really matters how you spent your time as long as you can engage interviewers when discussing it.
(Unless you were in prison. That's going to be a problem.)
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:09 am
by Antrim
A. Nony Mouse wrote:
(Unless you were in prison. That's going to be a problem.)
Not if you apply to Tulane.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:14 am
by rpupkin
Antrim wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:
(Unless you were in prison. That's going to be a problem.)
Not if you apply to Tulane.
Or UW. Prison Time + UW Law = D.C. Circuit Clerkship:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/us/ta ... .html?_r=0
(Seriously, this is a great story)
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:21 am
by A. Nony Mouse
Ha, true. Although neither of them appear to have been admitted to a bar (yet)? (Though I bet Hopwood will. Doesn't look like the other guy is going to practice.)
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:26 am
by jphiggo
FloridaCoastalorbust wrote:Won't matter negatively an ounce and will probably be advantageous if you can spin the experiences you've obtained into a positive way.
Agreed. I don't see how it would hurt you for admissions. You will also likely find it advantageous not just for admissions, but also when interviewing for jobs.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:28 pm
by Blue Rock Law
Absolutely not an issue. I know many 30+ aged students, and they all did very well at OCI. Most had significant WE, which employers valued. By showing a work history, I believe employers view them as less of a flight risk after a couple years--opposed to k-JD, although this is dependent on the firm as well.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:39 pm
by Hutz_and_Goodman
I was accepted to several T14s around your age. When I visited Duke there was a 2L who was late 40s and a bunch of people in their 30s. Your age will not adversely affect T14 admissions.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:52 am
by californiasushi
For those of you who applied 7+ years after undergrad, did you have problems getting a LOR from a professor who remembered you? Or did you mostly use LORs from employers?
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:33 pm
by ScottRiqui
californiasushi wrote:For those of you who applied 7+ years after undergrad, did you have problems getting a LOR from a professor who remembered you? Or did you mostly use LORs from employers?
I was almost 20 years out of undergrad when I applied, so I didn't even bother. I used one from my master's thesis advisor (only about four years had elapsed since getting my master's, and she and I had kept in touch), and one from my military supervisor.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 10:37 am
by njkga
I am starting in the fall (class of 2019) and I am 37. Age is a non-factor when it comes to applications.
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:47 pm
by Mikey
Your age really won't matter at all. Just embrace your great LSAT score and apply to schools!
Re: Is age a factor for T-14 law schools
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 12:53 pm
by cbbinnyc
californiasushi wrote:For those of you who applied 7+ years after undergrad, did you have problems getting a LOR from a professor who remembered you? Or did you mostly use LORs from employers?
Like ScotRiqui, I did a masters program so I got a recommendation from a professor in that program and a professional recommendations. Schools are very unlikely to care that you use 2 professional LORs if you are 7+ years out of school and didn't already get an advanced degree.