SMU Dedman applicants c/o 2019 (2015-2016) Forum

[TexasHays]

Yep, scholarship info was just updated onto the tracker for me so you all might want to double check as well.

$24k/year. Worst offer so far from all my top choices and I heard they don't negotiate so looks like UH just became my top choice.

[beckett]

Got the phone call this morning! Any news on scholarships? He didn't mention anything over the phone so I'm assuming the mailed packet?

Friend had their scholarship info appear on their status checker about a week after getting the phone call. I was admitted yesterday afternoon and nothing so far though.

Just got my scholly info. Also 24k. Will probably be withdrawing soon though.

[michelekfla]

Got the phone call this morning! Any news on scholarships? He didn't mention anything over the phone so I'm assuming the mailed packet?

I got call yesterday that I was accepted and the status checker had already said "Congratulations...."
Just checked status checker today (2/4) and it says Dean scholarship 15k per year
Not too bad since I'm a reverse splitter

[PatriotP74]

Got the call earlier today didn't have a voicemail. About 20 minutes ago one magically popped up on my phone lol but officially in by phone call as well as status checker!

[poptart123]

Yep, scholarship info was just updated onto the tracker for me so you all might want to double check as well.

$24k/year. Worst offer so far from all my top choices and I heard they don't negotiate so looks like UH just became my top choice.

I had the exact same thoughts.

[PatriotP74]

Awarded 30k per year, as I understand that's the max without the private scholarships so pretty happy with that.

[GMasters5]

Sent in my application on Monday, now we play the waiting game

[scollop]

Does anybody know what numbers you need to be competitive for the Sumners Scholarship?

[PatriotP74]

Does anybody know what numbers you need to be competitive for the Sumners Scholarship?

My take (which could be wrong) is that the Sumners isn't near as much about numbers as the regular admissions process, I believe it is a much deeper look at the overall candidate.

[ChampionshipPressure]

I'm not certain, but 3.8+ gpa and mid-to-upper 160s LSAT. They are also looking for commitment to bettering the community, so an applicant should be able to demonstrate that commitment. From what I've heard, you've better had some interesting extracurriculars or some sort of job serving the community, because they've rejected applicants with great numbers but didn't have the extracurriculars.

[p1921]

I'm not certain, but 3.8+ gpa and mid-to-upper 160s LSAT. They are also looking for commitment to bettering the community, so an applicant should be able to demonstrate that commitment. From what I've heard, you've better had some interesting extracurriculars or some sort of job serving the community, because they've rejected applicants with great numbers but didn't have the extracurriculars.

GPA doesn't have to be quite that high, but for the most part this is correct. They're really into public service and things like that. Many people who got an interview last spring had some sort of political internship (with a Congressman or similar) either locally or on Capitol Hill or were involved in student government in undergrad. That wasn't a requirement by any means though - I believe there were a few IP-minded people there with interesting service history as well.

[ilikebaseball]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

[cj346]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

How/why did you choose SMU?

[uhwrestler]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

is it hard for SMU grads to get jobs in biglaw??

[ilikebaseball]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

How/why did you choose SMU?

From Dallas. It was between SMU, UT (after I was taken off WL) and UH for me. I was able to make a deal with my grandparents where if I stayed in Dallas, I would be able to get out of law school debt free. So it was a bit of a no brainer. Additionally, I want to work in-house. SMU has one of, if not the best corporate externship program in the nation (just because its located in Dallas, and there are hundreds of companies who like Dallas for the proximity to two airports, cheap cost of living, and just geography in general). Its really worked out well.

UT has a ton of prestige and a great reputation... rightfully so. But I wasn't too impressed with the law school itself when I went to the Admitted Students event. I was able to talk to a few of the students who appeared a bit more ultra-competitive and less lax than everyone is at SMU. I want to excel, but I wanted to have a much more positive and friendly atmosphere than the vibe I got from UT. All things considered, I'm happy with the choice. I've definitely made many lifelong friends here. We laugh about the workload, instead of being visibly stressed out about it. That sort of thing was important to me, but perhaps its not to others.

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

is it hard for SMU grads to get jobs in biglaw??

Disclaimer: I'm not interested in Big Law (although I have the grades). I'm not finishing with any debt, so I'd be fine with a mid-law job where I'm actually able to live my life.

That being said, I've spoken to a bunch of big law recruiters in the area (even though I don't want to work BL, I'm considering an internship this summer with a firm just for the experience). Some say that they don't even look at your application if you aren't top 15%. Others are top 25%. A few are in the top 1/3.

Like 5 or so years ago, anyone in the top 35% had a shot, but I think that's lowered with more competition coming from other schools.

In sum, I think you have a shot if you're around top quarter-ish? Remember, personality is a key as well. These people are going to be spending 2300-2600 billed hours with you every year. You have to be someone they can have a beer with. So, although everyone wants to be in the top 10% for Big Law, I'm sure that personality will compensate for lower. Additionally, not everyone in the top 25% are shooting for biglaw jobs (I'm an example of one of those people). So its hard to say "its hard for SMU grads to get jobs in biglaw." SMU places decently well every year in BL compared to other schools in the area. But I hope the info from before helps.

[PatriotP74]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

While I know that SMU is business law oriented, what are the opportunities for someone who might want to pursue a few classes in constitutional law? As well as federal clerkships?

[BeatriceButler]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

Congrats on your success at SMU, and graduating with no debt. I'd absolutely love to be in that situation.

What are your thoughts on the 1L "Inns of Court" experience? (Could be wrong, but I'm under the impression this is new?)

Also interested in the corporate externship program, and how that works. Do you know if you need top grades to have a shot at landing an in-house council job straight out of SMU? Also read somewhere on SMU's website that students have landed in-house council jobs with the Cowboys. Have you heard of anyone in your class receiving in-house council internships with any of the DFW sports franchises?

[ilikebaseball]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

While I know that SMU is business law oriented, what are the opportunities for someone who might want to pursue a few classes in constitutional law? As well as federal clerkships?

I'm in Con law right now. Turn back (kidding of course)

I don't feel like I could give you the proper info on either of these topics, tbf. I would, but I don't want to be misleading and pretend like I know more than I do.

I believe that I read somewhere that SMU lands about ~15 students per year in fed clerkships? I think its somewhere around that number.

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

Congrats on your success at SMU, and graduating with no debt. I'd absolutely love to be in that situation.

What are your thoughts on the 1L "Inns of Court" experience? (Could be wrong, but I'm under the impression this is new?)

Also interested in the corporate externship program, and how that works. Do you know if you need top grades to have a shot at landing an in-house council job straight out of SMU? Also read somewhere on SMU's website that students have landed in-house council jobs with the Cowboys. Have you heard of anyone in your class receiving in-house council internships with any of the DFW sports franchises?

This deserves a much longer answer than I'm going to give. The Inns of Court program is very helpful, however there are many times where they force us to go to these "mandatory" meetings that really have no reason to be mandatory. Instead of reading for the next day, preparing for class, filling out applications, or other productive things, we are drawn out for an hour for pretty dumb reasons. However, that only applies to about half of the meetings. The other half are very informative. Just depends on how well you use your time I guess.

The GC of the Stars, Mavs, and Rangers went to SMU. Additionally, I believe the GC of FC Dallas/KC Chiefs (same guy) went to SMU. SMU is a FANTASTIC corporate-placing law school. There aren't too many better programs in the country. Your 2L and 3L, they offer corporate externships. You fill out a list of 3 ideal corporations you'd like to work for, and the dean of career services places you in one of them for one semester. Its a fantastic program, and should be sold more to prospective students. I can't sell it enough. Definitely look more into this if you are undecided on law schools. Some students have landed permanent jobs from this program.

[kalvano]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

While I know that SMU is business law oriented, what are the opportunities for someone who might want to pursue a few classes in constitutional law? As well as federal clerkships?

You should get the "business law oriented" stuff out of your head. All law schools offer almost exactly the sam curriculum. That said, SMU has some excellent professors for Constitutional Law - I liked my First Amendment class with Bloom.

If you're in the top 3%-5%, you might have a shot a federal clerkship. Maybe. But its not anything to count on. But you shouldn't use that as a criteria in choosing a school, anyway.

[thisiswater]

1L here. I'm not around much, but I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'll turn on notifications to alert me, so just quote this post if you do.

While I know that SMU is business law oriented, what are the opportunities for someone who might want to pursue a few classes in constitutional law? As well as federal clerkships?

SMU has at least one or two advanced conlaw classes every semester, but I don't think there is an especially broad variety of options. If you just want to take two or three then you will definitely have opportunities.

SMU's fed clerkship program is not great but I think a lot of the reason for that is that there isn't interest. If you want it, they are willing to help you. When you say fed. clerk are you only thinking about COA, if so SMU is not your place. They place very few at that level. They place more in district courts.
The resources are there in terms of mock interviews from the clerkship committee, Linda Hale in OCS will work with you on applications and on reaching out to former clerks. But for whatever reason, there really is not that much interest at SMU for clerkships. I went to a meeting on campus about 2017-2018 clerkships at the beginning of this semester and there were only 10-ish 2Ls there. When that few people are even applying, it's hard to improve placement numbers.

[BVest]

As well as federal clerkships?

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 8#p9027428

[texasrangersjb]

Any other Dallas folks in here? I was 50/50 on SMU and UT, but recently was rejected by UT. Got 24K/yr from SMU. PM me if you want to talk, would love to hear from other fall '16 starters.

Good luck to all.

[OtterLaw]

Checking in here! Submitted and went complete on 2/12. I went to SMU for my master's degree so if anyone has questions about the school in a general sense or Dallas, I know some stuff.

[trmckenz]

Checking in as well. 163/3.16/part-time applicant. Current resident of Dallas, working as a Patent Agent in biglaw. Went complete 1/11 but no word yet.

[Hmw222]

Hey guys!

It's been a week since the Sumners application was due...has anyone heard anything?

Looking at past forums, it seems like people who are offered an interview are usually called or emailed a week after the app deadline, so I'm getting nervous