University of Iowa Class of 2016 Forum

[DportIA]

You are correct--155. I know one of our professors was talking about the shortfall the smaller class sizes means. I think the rankings in March will treat Iowa well, however, for increasing their GPA/LSAT medians with fewer apps across the country. Is this your take?

I'd say Iowa will at least hold steady, if not climb back up a spot or two, based on all things considered. We know that medians went up, and class size went down, which are both positive things in the ranking (generally speaking at least). The thing we don't know is bar passage rate and employment statistics. If those are both improving, we could maybe even be back in the top 25 again.


Nick, do you care to share your experience of finals with the prospects since you just finished your first semester exams?

Prospective students: Finals will still be all but unbearable between Thanksgiving and your last final, but they are much, much better if you are just persistent with your readings, outline, and review from the beginning. If you put in a strong, good faith effort from the beginning, while still giving yourself time to be social and have* (edit) fun throughout the semester (tapering towards the end), you will be OK and probably find yourself in the top half of the class.

[Pineoneer]

Accepted in November, withdrew today. Hope this opens the door for someone else! Good luck to all!

Thanks! Congrats on Harvard that is incredible!

Still waiting to hear something, got a thin envelope from them the other day, scared me a bit but it was just about residency.

[chrisbru]

Yea I did a full numbers analysis 2 years ago for the class of 2013. It is posted under the class of 2014/2015 threads.

Oh ya I remember reading that thread, it was mostly just you and Chrisbru talking... just like last years... and this one

[Pineoneer]

Yea I did a full numbers analysis 2 years ago for the class of 2013. It is posted under the class of 2014/2015 threads.

Oh ya I remember reading that thread, it was mostly just you and Chrisbru talking... just like last years... and this one

Lol <3

[The-Specs]

Admitted yesterday morning via status checker and then I got an e-mail about 6 hours later.

Submitted: 12/05
UR: 12/06
Decision: 12/17

LSAT: 164
GPA: 3.57

[willio]

In via email. Under review on 12/18. Three day turn around! 165/3.6

[basketball law guy]

Congrats to the two of you- nice job. Are you in-state or oos? Any scholly info?

[mip1011]

Letter came in today, decision given one week ago (mailed from Iowa to Chicago). Hand written p.s. from the Assistant Dean of Admissions about my application and personal statement on the bottom of the page is an incredible personal touch! Iowa is making it hard for me to take other schools as seriously as I should.

[uconjak]

In at iowa, not my top choice but my first acceptance

[TheDudeliest]

Application received 12/18; accepted 12/21

LSAT/GPA 169/3.53. Iowa resident. Any idea how I'll do scholarship wise?

[chrisbru]

Application received 12/18; accepted 12/21

LSAT/GPA 169/3.53. Iowa resident. Any idea how I'll do scholarship wise?

I'd be willing to bet it will be a full. Residents with that high of LSAT almost always do. I got mine with a 171/2.94 so... Yeah, I think you'll be good.

Typ3 will give a more detailed analysis of index scores and stuff.

[typ3]

Application received 12/18; accepted 12/21

LSAT/GPA 169/3.53. Iowa resident. Any idea how I'll do scholarship wise?

I'd be willing to bet it will be a full. Residents with that high of LSAT almost always do. I got mine with a 171/2.94 so... Yeah, I think you'll be good.

Typ3 will give a more detailed analysis of index scores and stuff.

Full tuition top 1/3rd stip. My fiance received a full with a lower index score and a lot lower LSAT as an in state. So, you're a lock for one.

[michaelm55]

What are my odds of scholarship? If any, how much (in your opinion).

non-resident

[typ3]

I'm on the fence with you. I would say a partial at first that will be bumped to a full. If your LSAT was 1 point higher it would be a little more cut and dry for determining what you would receive. If what I've heard from admissions are correct about applications this year then you will get a full first offer.

[michaelm55]

That would be great. Thanks for the feedback typ3.

[chrisbru]

What are my odds of scholarship? If any, how much (in your opinion).

non-resident

What's your end-game for law school? Not to steer you away from Iowa (I love it), but our full scholarships have top 1/3 stips, so I think it would be a bad move to take that over a no stip full from IUB. Just my two cents... As someone who came on a full and lost it after year 1.

[michaelm55]

Thank you for letting me know. My end game is as follows: maintain whatever merit scholarship is generously bestowed upon me.

I cannot articulate a specific industry of law I am determined to practice, but IP law (possibly IP litigation) or probate seem like good options. At some point in my career (now I am dreaming) I would like to be at the intersection of scholarship and legislation (think education, economics... etc.)


Bottom line: when I graduate I would be happy with any legal job. I will take what I can get, as most have to in this economy.

What I would love: to run for congress, and have a say in social and economic policy, keeping up to date with the most recent scholarship on such matters.

How hard is top 1/3 at Iowa?

[chrisbru]

Thank you for letting me know. My end game is as follows: maintain whatever merit scholarship is generously bestowed upon me.

I cannot articulate a specific industry of law I am determined to practice, but IP law (possibly IP litigation) or probate seem like good options. At some point in my career (now I am dreaming) I would like to be at the intersection of scholarship and legislation (think education, economics... etc.)


Bottom line: when I graduate I would be happy with any legal job. I will take what I can get, as most have to in this economy.

What I would love: to run for congress, and have a say in social and economic policy, keeping up to date with the most recent scholarship on such matters.

How hard is top 1/3 at Iowa?

Maintaining a scholarship is IMPOSSIBLE to predict, that's exactly my point. How hard is being top third? Well, that depends entirely on how good your class is at law school exams and figuring out their professors. Top third is always in the same GPA range... But that's because it's curved. It's not an equation, it's not predictable, and it's impossible to explain it until you go through exams and realize that you have absolutely no idea how you did on an exam when you walk out, regardless of how hard you study. That may seem dramatic, but I can't stress enough that you cannot rely on keeping your scholarship.

In retrospect, I would have taken a no-stip full ride to any comparable school over Iowa with stips. I love Iowa, and in no way regret being here (and also didn't have any no-stip options in the first tier of law schools, so this is hypothetical)... But your end-game choices aren't going to be any better going to Iowa than IUB, and at least at IUB you're guaranteed to be at a $60k debt max (cost of living) rather than that plus a risk of $50k+ in tuition if you lose your scholly.

[uconjak]

just got my score from Dec lsat....not as good as i wanted got a 167.....3.85 gpa. Iowa resident. chances of a scholly? and amount

[chrisbru]

just got my score from Dec lsat....not as good as i wanted got a 167.....3.85 gpa. Iowa resident. chances of a scholly? and amount

Lol don't be disappointed, you'll get a full. If I had any money to bet, I'd bet money on it. Typ3 will probably do the numbers for you, but I don't see any world that those numbers and being a resident don't get you an automatic full.

That being said... You can definitely go somewhere better. Probably with money. Don't write off the T14. Stanford plus UC Berkley on down is a good shot for you, and you could throw apps at NYU, Columbia, and U Chi as reaches. Iowa, Minnesota, WUSTL and the like should all be safety schools for you.

[uconjak]

just got my score from Dec lsat....not as good as i wanted got a 167.....3.85 gpa. Iowa resident. chances of a scholly? and amount

Lol don't be disappointed, you'll get a full. If I had any money to bet, I'd bet money on it. Typ3 will probably do the numbers for you, but I don't see any world that those numbers and being a resident don't get you an automatic full.

That being said... You can definitely go somewhere better. Probably with money. Don't write off the T14. Stanford plus UC Berkley on down is a good shot for you, and you could throw apps at NYU, Columbia, and U Chi as reaches. Iowa, Minnesota, WUSTL and the like should all be safety schools for you.

Thanks, a little bummed. I had a YLS grad who i worked with write a Great SPecific LOR to Yale, columbia, stanford plus a generic for me...He told me to go ahead and roll the dice.....i just got a notification on some interviews for GTown and Nwestern....I will probably apply to all T-14's....since he went out on a limb for me, I should at least pony up the bucks for the application....I really want an east coast school or USC/Stanford....DOn't like Berkley...I am just to the right of Rush Limbaugh for them.....of course they might always want a token conservative....

[chrisbru]

Thanks, a little bummed. I had a YLS grad who i worked with write a Great SPecific LOR to Yale, columbia, stanford plus a generic for me...He told me to go ahead and roll the dice.....i just got a notification on some interviews for GTown and Nwestern....I will probably apply to all T-14's....since he went out on a limb for me, I should at least pony up the bucks for the application....I really want an east coast school or USC/Stanford....DOn't like Berkley...I am just to the right of Rush Limbaugh for them.....of course they might always want a token conservative....

I'll be brief here (since it's the Iowa thread) so PM me if you'd like to chat more... But DEFINITELY apply to Stanford if you haven't already. That's your best shot at getting something above Berkely. Also NYU and GULC are significant chances for you. Don't get discouraged yet, it's early in the season... You may have to ride some waitlists, but you should get something good.

That being said, Iowa is awesome. A full ride here is pretty neat.

[Xs20]

Just got a full ride + 2L/3L paid research assistantship via email. $104,150 over three years, with top 37.5% stip to keep the full scholly, and top 50% to keep half of it.

For any current students ITT, does the RA continue during the summer as well? Meaning that if I took the RA to qualify for in-state tuition for 2L and 3L, I would be required to work there during my summers rather than try to get a job elsewhere through OCI?

[chrisbru]

Just got a full ride + 2L/3L paid research assistantship via email. $104,150 over three years, with top 37.5% stip to keep the full scholly, and top 50% to keep half of it.

For any current students ITT, does the RA continue during the summer as well? Meaning that if I took the RA to qualify for in-state tuition for 2L and 3L, I would be required to work there during my summers rather than try to get a job elsewhere through OCI?

Top 50% for half scholarship? That's new. I wonder if that's the thing this year.

RAships are NOT guaranteed, but pretty much anyone who wants one (or needs one, in your case) can get one. RA's are only needed during the school year for instate tuition/scholarship requirements, but some professors allow you to do summer work if you would like. Summer work isn't full-time though, and some people did them along side other jobs.

But, no, summers are not required for RAing.

Edit: especially weird since they don't do top half rankings currently... Just 12.5% and 37.5% cutoffs.

[Xs20]

Cool, thanks for the help, chrisbru.