University of New Mexico 2011 Forum

[jeffreymabq]

Is anybody in here going to the Accepted Applicant preview on April 4th?

[mexinstdls]

I went decision rendered on 3/22 and still have not received a decision letter from the school. Is this lag normal?

[firemed]

Is anybody in here going to the Accepted Applicant preview on April 4th?

Yes. I will PM you with my name sometime in the next few days. Need to buy a suit for the dinner and reception.

[firemed]

I went decision rendered on 3/22 and still have not received a decision letter from the school. Is this lag normal?

My guess is that it is. Depends on where you are (are you here in NM?). But if you haven't received it by Tuesday afternoon I would be tempted to call and let them know you haven't received your letter yet.

I waited three weeks for a letter from out of state once... called, got a new one sent, and then received the original a few days later.

[nStiver]

Having to wait a long time is normal..i've been waiting for months.

[retiree]

Having to wait a long time is normal..i've been waiting for months.

Baseball may be America's favorite pastime, but I would like to nominate "wait time" as our most despised time. We wait in line at the bank, we wait on hold on the phone incessantly (sometimes up to 30+ minutes and longer), we wait in the doctor's office, we wait for callbacks that never come, we wait weeks for a refund check, we wait in a parking lot of cars on the roads, we wait, we wait, we wait...Since various agencies like to publish the figures for how long people are in their cars for their daily commutes, I would love to see someone write their dissertation on the "science of waiting" and how many hours in our lifetime we spend waiting.

We often have little control over it, and learn accordingly--I have learned not to go to Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon or on payday, since I don't like to wait in a long line. It is the wait time that we don't have any control over (e.g., waiting for a college to make a decision) that gets our goat up. So just hang in there--do a bunch of crunches to let off the steam, or clean out a drawer, whenever you start to think about the waiting. At least make the wait time productive (which I am sure you are--patience, patience, patience).

[nStiver]

At least make the wait time productive...

This is the best advice I have gotten yet in regards to this issue.

[Aldenita]

Why did UNM's ranking fall 12 spots this year?

[nStiver]

Why did UNM's ranking fall 12 spots this year?

I don't know. P.S. Aldenita, did you get accepted?

[Aldenita]

Yes I did. I went and visited last month and liked it. I just really hope they give me $. I spoke to someone today who said that the first round of recepients have to commit to attending by Friday if they want to keep the money. I'm hoping I'm in the next round. She told me that I have competitive numbers, but they prefer NM residents.

[firemed]

Why did UNM's ranking fall 12 spots this year?

Look on US News at the employment numbers Aldenita. 49% after 9 months or so. Brutal. Though I think their numbers are probably more honest than many.

[firemed]

Yes I did. I went and visited last month and liked it. I just really hope they give me $. I spoke to someone today who said that the first round of recepients have to commit to attending by Friday if they want to keep the money. I'm hoping I'm in the next round. She told me that I have competitive numbers, but they prefer NM residents.

Wait... they have to commit to the money, or commit to a deposit??? Crap. I will be giving them $200 tonight I guess, just to be safe.

[Aldenita]

Why did UNM's ranking fall 12 spots this year?

Look on US News at the employment numbers Aldenita. 49% after 9 months or so. Brutal. Though I think their numbers are probably more honest than many.

WOW . Who's going to ASD?

[Aldenita]

Yes I did. I went and visited last month and liked it. I just really hope they give me $. I spoke to someone today who said that the first round of recepients have to commit to attending by Friday if they want to keep the money. I'm hoping I'm in the next round. She told me that I have competitive numbers, but they prefer NM residents.

Wait... they have to commit to the money, or commit to a deposit??? Crap. I will be giving them $200 tonight I guess, just to be safe.

My guess is that you have to give them a deposit. They want to give money to people who they know are actually going to attend. May I ask you how much they gave you?

[firemed]

Yes I did. I went and visited last month and liked it. I just really hope they give me $. I spoke to someone today who said that the first round of recepients have to commit to attending by Friday if they want to keep the money. I'm hoping I'm in the next round. She told me that I have competitive numbers, but they prefer NM residents.

Wait... they have to commit to the money, or commit to a deposit??? Crap. I will be giving them $200 tonight I guess, just to be safe.

My guess is that you have to give them a deposit. They want to give money to people who they know are actually going to attend. May I ask you how much they gave you?

I sent a form that committed to the money. But I better do the deposit just to be safe.

[jeffreymabq]

Yes I did. I went and visited last month and liked it. I just really hope they give me $. I spoke to someone today who said that the first round of recepients have to commit to attending by Friday if they want to keep the money. I'm hoping I'm in the next round. She told me that I have competitive numbers, but they prefer NM residents.

Wait... they have to commit to the money, or commit to a deposit??? Crap. I will be giving them $200 tonight I guess, just to be safe.

My guess is that you have to give them a deposit. They want to give money to people who they know are actually going to attend. May I ask you how much they gave you?

I sent a form that committed to the money. But I better do the deposit just to be safe.

Not sure if you know, but you can do it with a credit card online - takes 2 minutes.

[IHaveLawyers]

I am shocked, I pretty much shit my pants when I got a decline letter from them today. My numbers are spot on their medians... wtf? This cycle is pretty bad for me

[jeffreymabq]

Why did UNM's ranking fall 12 spots this year?

Look on US News at the employment numbers Aldenita. 49% after 9 months or so. Brutal. Though I think their numbers are probably more honest than many.

Perhaps due to changes in the employment figures? From USN:

This year, we modified how we compute the employment rates used in the law school rankings. In the past, new J.D.s counted as employed at graduation and at nine months out if they were working full or part time in a legal or non-legal job or pursuing additional graduate education; so did 25 percent of those whose status was "unknown." Now, the rates are figured solely based on the number of grads working full or part time in a legal or non-legal job divided by the total number of J.D. graduates. Also, those who are not seeking employment are now counted in the calculation as part of the total number of graduates; previously, they were excluded.

[retiree]

from USN&WR
This year, we modified how we compute the employment rates used in the law school rankings. In the past, new J.D.s counted as employed at graduation and at nine months out if they were working full or part time in a legal or non-legal job or pursuing additional graduate education; so did 25 percent of those whose status was "unknown." Now, the rates are figured solely based on the number of grads working full or part time in a legal or non-legal job divided by the total number of J.D. graduates. Also, those who are not seeking employment are now counted in the calculation as part of the total number of graduates; previously, they were excluded.[/quote]

How does USN&WR define "non-legal job"? Further, how do they discern non-legal jobs? A new graduate might be working in a job at a company, but not as an attorney. Their legal education might be useful, but it may not be necessary. Then there is the non-legal job where a brand new J.D. is working at a restaurant because he/she is unable to find an attorney's position somewhere. I have read about them in the articles about the glutted lawyer market, and about those who were laid off.

Yes, the number of J.D. graduates should be made known--it stands on its own: X-number of people graduated from XYZ University with a law degree in May 2010. It is a standalone figure. But for whatever reason, if I am reading USN&WR right, if a graduate is NOT looking for a job, then why count them for the other employment purposes? Why count them if they are in school? Of course that will skew the "employed" figures big time. So, I don't really know what the figures represent (and I excelled in graduate statistics!). Even the federal government does not count people who are not looking for a job as part of the unemployment figure, given how they define "unemployment." You can read all its definitions at this link: http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#unemployed

I thought UNM went from #77 to #79. Once again, this points out that anyone going to law school needs to go into it with both eyes open--that the high-paying jobs go to a tiny, tiny, number of graduates--those who are dying for those 80-hour-a-week jobs in high-cost cities! No sense getting worked up over the ratings, scores, or employment stats the school publishes, whatever. The only person who counts is you--whether you get a job as a lawyer or whatever kind of job you would like to be in where you can use your J.D. education.

I have to laugh (not at anyone, just at what does not matter as you get older)--in all the years I have attended cocktail parties (lots of them in Wash DC when I lived there) and other functions--not one person started out asking me where I went to school. Not one. Most of the time that subject never came up. It is your actions, job performance, and professional dealings that will speak louder than any 4.0 GPA, whether the law school you attended was #1 or #100.

[firemed]

I am shocked, I pretty much shit my pants when I got a decline letter from them today. My numbers are spot on their medians... wtf? This cycle is pretty bad for me

Sorry. That sucks.

[Aldenita]

Who's going to be there on Monday? I didn't realize the reception was a formal thing. I'll be driving from Lubbock since I went to ASD at Tech.

[firemed]

Who's going to be there on Monday? I didn't realize the reception was a formal thing. I'll be driving from Lubbock since I went to ASD at Tech.

I will... I don't think the day will be formal. But I am assuming the reception and dinner will.

[jeffreymabq]

Oooh - how formal? I was going to go sportcoat and open collar, but maybe I wear full suit? And, is anyone bringing a guest - I was planning to bring my wife. Anyone else?

[Aldenita]

Oooh - how formal? I was going to go sportcoat and open collar, but maybe I wear full suit? And, is anyone bringing a guest - I was planning to bring my wife. Anyone else?

Yes, I'm bringing a guest. After looking at the schedule, I really doubt that we have to dress up. This is probably the 10th asd I have attended and none of them required us to wear a suit.

[nStiver]

uggg...nothing.