The Official February 2015 Study Group Forum

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:27 am

Unless I botch the LSAT in June and have to retake in October, I think LORs will be the limiting factor in my application timeline. This is a stupid question, but can you collect several LORs and then choose which ones to send out? Like can you get 2 backup ones before fall and have them waiting in reserve in case one or more of your fall recommenders takes too long?

I ask because I want to apply as soon as possible to maximize scholarship money, but at the same time I want to ask at least one prof that I'm taking this semester, which puts me in the awkward position of either 1) asking before grades are in, 2) asking via email over the summer, or 3) asking in person but not until school starts again in August, which leaves less than a month until schools start accepting apps.

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:29 am

Yes, you can choose which ones you want to send out.

YES, GET YOUR RECS IN EARLY. Mine took ~4 months and made my applications late

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:30 am

RZ5646 wrote:Unless I botch the LSAT in June, I think LORs will be the limiting factor in my application timeline. This is a stupid question, but can you collect several LORs and then choose which ones to send out? Like can you get 2 backup ones before fall and have them waiting in reserve in case one or more of your fall recommenders takes too long?

I ask because I want to apply as soon as possible to maximize scholarship money, but at the same time I want to ask at least one prof that I'm taking this semester, which puts me in the awkward position of either 1) asking before grades are in, 2) asking via email over the summer, or 3) asking in person but not until school starts again in August, which leaves less than a month until schools start accepting apps.

Yes. You can have as many as you want, and you can assign specific one to specific schools. However, you can not READ the LOR's (unless, of course, your recommender is cool enough to send you a copy). LSAC won't let you read it. But, to play it safe, its better to request it as early as possible, give your recommender 6 weeks or so (with friendly reminders in between) and send all necessary info to them (ideally, PS and some helpful tips from Yale's LOR website)

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:31 am

GET YOUR RECS IN EARLY AND DON'T BE ME. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON APPLYING NEXT YEAR,
ASK NOW LURKERS

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:34 am

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:42 am

I should probably look into that then. I don't really get LORs. Like it makes sense in theory, but in practice the quality of the letter you get probably depends much more on the professor's personality and time commitments than anything about your quality as a prospective law student.

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:46 am

RZ5646 wrote:I should probably look into that then. I don't really get LORs. Like it makes sense in theory, but in practice the quality of the letter you get probably depends much more on the professor's personality and time commitments than anything about your quality as a prospective law student.

I think you might be surprised. They get asked to do these all the time so they're all probably pretty standard, but if they can come up with something like "she was one the best students I've ever taught" that means more than a well written letter.

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:47 am

Big Red wrote:
RZ5646 wrote:I should probably look into that then. I don't really get LORs. Like it makes sense in theory, but in practice the quality of the letter you get probably depends much more on the professor's personality and time commitments than anything about your quality as a prospective law student.
I think you might be surprised. They get asked to do these all the time so they're all probably pretty standard, but if they can come up with something like "she was one the best students I've ever taught" that means more than a well written letter.

Ya, on Yale's website they have some phrases that they said "catch eyes" because they read so many LOR's that not too many stand out.

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:51 am

Post removed...

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:54 am

gamerish wrote:We can't read the LORs we're given? Crap...

I hope my professor wrote something good about me. lulz

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:54 am

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:55 am

gamerish wrote:We can't read the LORs we're given? Crap...

well, you can leave a hint like "you may send me a copy too, if you like!" or something like that. Probably word it better though. But no, LSAC does not let you read LOR's.

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:55 am

The issue is I go to a giant, research-oriented school where it seems unlikely that a professor would actually say specific, superlative, eye-catching things not just for me, but for basically any undergrad student ... unless the professor is just someone who writes flattering letters, which is what I meant by it depending on their personality and the way they approach that part of their job. And since you can't read the letter first, it's a gamble.

I think Gamerish said he has the same problem.

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:58 am

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:59 am

RZ5646 wrote:The issue is I go to a giant, research-oriented school where it seems unlikely that a professor would actually say specific, superlative, eye-catching things not just for me, but for basically any undergrad student ... unless the professor is just someone who writes flattering letters, which is what I meant by it depending on their personality and the way they approach that part of their job. And since you can't read the letter first, it's a gamble.

I think Gamerish said he has the same problem.

LOR's hardly mean anything. They are like a neutral thing on the app. Its only detrimental if the prof says something negative about you. If they say something eye-catching, its positive, but other than that, its just something else to look at on the app.

But, with my LOR's, I sent them a link to that Yale page for advice on helpful things to say.

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:01 am

Post removed...

LawsRUs · Post by **LawsRUs** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:02 am

Big Red wrote:GET YOUR RECS IN EARLY AND DON'T BE ME. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON APPLYING NEXT YEAR,
ASK NOW LURKERS

+1

Also, I'm checking in for Feb 2015 LSAT. Time to start studying with zero personal motivation to do so :p)
what is it now, a month left?

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:02 am

RZ5646 · Post by **RZ5646** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:03 am

What resources did you guys use when brainstorming and drafting your personal statements? I guess I should probably hammer out some sort of PS before I go around asking for letters.

nlee10 · Post by **nlee10** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:04 am

LawsRUs wrote: Also, I'm checking in for Feb 2015 LSAT. Time to start studying with zero personal motivation to do so :p)
what is it now, a month left?

23 days.

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:04 am

RZ5646 wrote:What resources did you guys use when brainstorming and drafting your personal statements? I guess I should probably hammer out some sort of PS before I go around asking for letters.

I was asked for it for one rec letter, so yeah I'd have something of a draft in case that comes up. Definitely have a resume ready though

Rigo · Post by **Rigo** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:05 am

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:08 am

Post removed...

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:09 am

Oh and yeah, so my advice would be that unless you have a story to tell for your PS (if you really have to think about it, you probably don't) then you should start with the "why law?" question and work from there. There's obviously different approaches, but honestly if you can't answer why law, then you probably shouldn't be going to law school anyway.

gamerish · Post by **gamerish** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:19 am

Post removed...