Texas 2011-2012 Applicants Forum

[emkay625]

I received a full ride with not-so-stellar numbers (3.77/167/AA Female). Decent softs, but eh...shows they're still giving out something, right?

You're an AA female at one of their medians and above the other (even if only by a little) - you give them diversity AND help improve their medians. The fact that you got a full-ride tells the rest of us nothing - they would give you one even if they were heavily cutting scholarships.

On a separate note: congratulations! I hope you're applying to some higher-ranked schools as well. A full-ride at Texas must be hard to turn down, but you might get full-rides or serious $$$ from some of the t14.

Interesting. I feel like my numbers are awful, probably because I spend too much time on here...

Thanks! I am still hoping for a miracle in the form of an H or S acceptance. Anyone else worried about the portability of a degree from Texas?

I bet you'll get into multiple schools in the top 6.

[1212]

Also how much are scholarship dollars down?

Can't say for sure. But the whole UT system is down 100 million dollars, as is A&M and other big public universities in Texas. I can only imagine that this would have an impact on scholarship dollars. It did on undergraduate admissions.

But I have no direct evidence that it is impacting the law school. So take this with a huge heaping spoon of salt. It's just a guess.

I received a full ride with not-so-stellar numbers (3.77/167/AA Female). Decent softs, but eh...shows they're still giving out something, right?

That's awesome! Congrats!

Thanks! Thoughts on UT tying its graduates to Texas?

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Thanks! Thoughts on UT tying its graduates to Texas?

The general thought is that UT places a significant amount of grads in Texas, but can get you to other major markets (LA, DC, NY, etc.) with extra effort. Several current 3Ls in their admissions office were guessing something like top ~20% ITE to feel safe in making it to NY/DC biglaw. The takeaway is that most UT grads stay in Texas, but it is possible (albeit probably less than a t10) to crack major markets

[advocate1]

Has anyone that applied Nov. 1 not gotten a status checker yet? I haven't and want to know when I should get concerned.

[Oftranch]

Thanks! Thoughts on UT tying its graduates to Texas?

Remember as well that while UT's numbers don't show a lot of grads leaving to go out of state that doesn't necessarily mean its because they can't find job in other big markets, rather they don't want to leave the great state of Texas.

[longhorns89]

Has anyone that applied Nov. 1 not gotten a status checker yet? I haven't and want to know when I should get concerned.

I applied ED on Oct. 31 and the report was generated on Nov. 1. I have not yet received a status checker and, like someone else earlier, the email they sent me mentioned that "the Law School is unable to notify you when we receive your Law School Report." Did people who have status checkers get this same email?

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Thanks! Thoughts on UT tying its graduates to Texas?

Remember as well that while UT's numbers don't show a lot of grads leaving to go out of state that doesn't necessarily mean its because they can't find job in other big markets, rather they don't want to leave the great state of Texas.

True indeed. Dallas/Houston = some of the best buying power for attorneys in the nation: http://www.nalp.org/buying_power_index_class_of_2010. Gotta love that.

[msblaw89]

I applied on the 1st and still don't have a status checker. I also e-mailed admissions about it 3 days ago...and still no response. I'm not super happy with UT right now

[defendthefort]

I applied on the 1st and still don't have a status checker. I also e-mailed admissions about it 3 days ago...and still no response. I'm not super happy with UT right now

Y'all need to chill a bit. They do things a bit different at UT. I didn't receive my status checker until over a week from my app becoming complete. They wait until they have received the paper report from LSAC. You'll get it.

[ctm823]

I received a full ride with not-so-stellar numbers (3.77/167/AA Female). Decent softs, but eh...shows they're still giving out something, right?

You're an AA female at one of their medians and above the other (even if only by a little) - you give them diversity AND help improve their medians. The fact that you got a full-ride tells the rest of us nothing - they would give you one even if they were heavily cutting scholarships.

On a separate note: congratulations! I hope you're applying to some higher-ranked schools as well. A full-ride at Texas must be hard to turn down, but you might get full-rides or serious $$$ from some of the t14.

What does AA mean?

[paul34]

.

[BuckinghamB]

Just withdrew my app! Good luck everyone!

[gavinstevens]

I need advice on a strategic question:

I'm applying oos with a 3.8x/168 and have one LOR as of now. Should I:

i) wait for my second LOR to submit (spoke to him in two weeks ago and got an irritated "I'm going to get to it."), which could mean Thanksgiving, or less likely Christmas for all I know.

OR

ii) submit with one LOR.

weak softs, white guy, etc.

TYIA

[ThreeRivers]

I need advice on a strategic question:

I'm applying oos with a 3.8x/168 and have one LOR as of now. Should I:

i) wait for my second LOR to submit (spoke to him in two weeks ago and got an irritated "I'm going to get to it."), which could mean Thanksgiving, or less likely Christmas for all I know.

OR

ii) submit with one LOR.

weak softs, white guy, etc.

TYIA

Idk much, but 1 LOR looks kind of bad imo.... then again waiting until December probably hurts as well. Anyway you can ask someone else and if they can do it in a week?

[ThreeRivers]

< 167 / 3.44 non-urm , out of state...

TX was my big reach school, anyone think less LSAT takers / less applicants might give me more of a shot (wishful thinking I know)

[paul34]

.

[gavinstevens]

I need advice on a strategic question:

I'm applying oos with a 3.8x/168 and have one LOR as of now. Should I:

i) wait for my second LOR to submit (spoke to him in two weeks ago and got an irritated "I'm going to get to it."), which could mean Thanksgiving, or less likely Christmas for all I know.

OR

ii) submit with one LOR.

weak softs, white guy, etc.

TYIA

Idk much, but 1 LOR looks kind of bad imo.... then again waiting until December probably hurts as well. Anyway you can ask someone else and if they can do it in a week?

I spoke to him on Halloween and, despite what I told him about my cycle, he insisted that it "just needs to be done sometime in November." I don't want to push him, he's a nice guy.

I ask because UT actually doesn't even require LORs.

EDIT: If I submit now and make it clear to hold it until my second LOR goes complete, does that help any?

[gavinstevens]

< 167 / 3.44 non-urm , out of state...

TX was my big reach school, anyone think less LSAT takers / less applicants might give me more of a shot (wishful thinking I know)

I think we can assume the medians won't go up this year.

[outsidethescope]

I applied on the 1st and still don't have a status checker. I also e-mailed admissions about it 3 days ago...and still no response. I'm not super happy with UT right now

I mailed my app in on November 1st, and haven't yet gotten confirmation that the app is complete. I think (more like hope) it just takes them awhile.

[gaud]

I applied on the 1st and still don't have a status checker. I also e-mailed admissions about it 3 days ago...and still no response. I'm not super happy with UT right now

I mailed my app in on November 1st, and haven't yet gotten confirmation that the app is complete. I think (more like hope) it just takes them awhile.

I sent my app on 10/30 and my app went complete just a couple days ago... so they do just take a while

[BuckinghamB]

Idk much, but 1 LOR looks kind of bad imo....

FWIW, I only submitted 1 LOR and got into a semi-reach school. Granted, it's a different school than UT and may have a different opinion on the importance of letters, but I can't imagine having 1 LOR as opposed to 2 or more would be detrimental to your app. Given that UT doesn't even require one letter, it seems plausible that they don't put THAT much weight on them...I dunno, I could be wrong though.

[longhorns89]

I submitted with only 1 LOR for pretty much the same reason, plus I really wanted to ED. Last night I actually sat in on a presentation by the director of the admissions committee (I go to UT undergrad) and asked a few questions, including how he felt about using only 1 LOR since UT doesn't require any. I got a very vague response though. He said something like "We recommend you submit at least one LOR," but his tone hinted that maybe they want more. On the upside, he explicitly said that in his mind there is no difference between an academic and work related letter since he values organization skills and a work related letter might reflect that better than an academic (although I think we still need at least one academic but having a second letter from a supervisor is the same to him as another academic I guess). Also he mentioned in his presentation that it's very easy to get letters from professors and the pre-law advisor who was there immediately corrected him by explaining that it seems to her like students have trouble getting more than one. So maybe the adcomms don't always realize what can go wrong with getting letters in. In the end, though, I still think that if you are above both medians and don't write a terrible PS then it won't be a problem just to have one.

[the_phoenix612]

If I'm at 177/3.65, is there a chance I'll get YP'd?

[gavinstevens]

I submitted with only 1 LOR for pretty much the same reason, plus I really wanted to ED. Last night I actually sat in on a presentation by the director of the admissions committee (I go to UT undergrad) and asked a few questions, including how he felt about using only 1 LOR since UT doesn't require any. I got a very vague response though. He said something like "We recommend you submit at least one LOR," but his tone hinted that maybe they want more. On the upside, he explicitly said that in his mind there is no difference between an academic and work related letter since he values organization skills and a work related letter might reflect that better than an academic (although I think we still need at least one academic but having a second letter from a supervisor is the same to him as another academic I guess). Also he mentioned in his presentation that it's very easy to get letters from professors and the pre-law advisor who was there immediately corrected him by explaining that it seems to her like students have trouble getting more than one. So maybe the adcomms don't always realize what can go wrong with getting letters in. In the end, though, I still think that if you are above both medians and don't write a terrible PS then it won't be a problem just to have one.

I really appreciate the advice. I've been held up on my other apps because of my mysterious professor, and just want to get at least one app in to a school I'd love to be at by Thanksgiving.

Really though, I am relieved to have read this.

EDIT: submitted tonight.

[gavinstevens]

If I'm at 177/3.65, is there a chance I'll get YP'd?

Doesn't look like it, if last year's numbers are any guide: http://texas.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1011/