SMU 2011 Forum

[Thirteen]

but I know a few people that have things "in the works."

Like what, an quick start on the soon-to-be-mandatory early bar prep courses?

Haha, no crap. Nah, just people that plan to work at a hometown firm, nothing major.

[Albatross]

SMU app complete as of today.

[CSCS Trainer]

Complete as of 11/9 as well

[jplayer]

Hi everyone.

I've applied EA with a 167 LSAT and 2.5 gpa from 10 years ago. I also have some pretty interesting work experience.

I am scheduled for a retake in Dec, but am worried about the delay. Should I tell them to make a decision based on what I have, or wait until my score comes in early Jan?

My pt avg was 172, so I think I will probably improve by a few points.

[Thirteen]

Hi everyone.

I've applied EA with a 167 LSAT and 2.5 gpa from 10 years ago. I also have some pretty interesting work experience.

I am scheduled for a retake in Dec, but am worried about the delay. Should I tell them to make a decision based on what I have, or wait until my score comes in early Jan?

My pt avg was 172, so I think I will probably improve by a few points.

If you are confident that you can raise your score, it might be worth it to have them evaluate your application based on your December score. SMU rarely negotiates scholarship offers, and the few extra points could earn you thousands of dollars per year. Last year, I submitted my application on 12/23, and didn't go complete until 1/23. I retook in February, but called and told the admissions office to consider my score on the books (which was a good thing; my score fell 5 points). I was admitted in either the first or second group sent out by the admissions office (late Feb). If you are complete by early January, you should be fine.

[jplayer]

Thanks Thirteen.

That is what I was thinking as well. If I get in with some extra money, I will use some to buy you a drink.

Cheers!

[Thirteen]

Thanks Thirteen.

That is what I was thinking as well. If I get in with some extra money, I will use some to buy you a drink.

Cheers!

No problem. Good luck!

[TJISMYHERO]

I got that with a 3.2/164.

Did you do the optional essay?

[swiftwings88]

Complete as of 10/28
3.53 GPA and 165 lsat, I really really want to hear back from SMU

[texasforever]

Fellow 1L here.. if you are not 163/164+ (does not include URM) you will not be hearing from SMU until April at the earliest. Admissions is painfully slow here. Had a friend (at Houston now) with 3.6 162 and was held for further review on 1/31 after applying EA, eventually WL'd third week of April. I was accepted April 30, well past the deposit deadlines for most other schools (ended up wasting about $800 on other deposits), 157 3.98 white male..

My one piece of advice for everyone applying that is still in undergrad is to seriously enjoy it and soak it up.. we are three weeks out from finals and people are starting to legitimately go insane... imagine the hardest you've ever worked on something in your life, multiply it by 5 classes (around 1500 pages of reading collectively so far) and a ridiculous workload for legal writing, followed by very time consuming open memo, and add to the fact that of all the 2L's who did OCI in August, 8 people out of 194 got offers for biglaw.. the market is so bad that it is taking top 4% to get anywhere near a 100+ firm.. I'm paying sticker, definitely not regretting my choice to come here, but slowly coming to the realization that the 'be in the top third and you will be competitive for big law' days may be over until 2015-2016.. good luck everyone

this survey about sums it up..http://abovethelaw.com/2010/05/party-la ... -rankings/ 99th least fun law school isn't an understatement.. the only thing you have to look forward to is friday night and going out with your classmates to get hammered because your 80 hour week has been complete hell.. if you don't drink, you probably will after you start here.. on the plus side there are a lot of ex sorostitutes (read gdi's: attractive women) here and the atmosphere is pretty fratty, it's not uber competitive and the people and professors are nice, class is entertaining, and boulevarding on gameday is awesome..

[maqkitty214]

Do you think they'll release decisions any earlier this year since the ED deadline was 12/15 last year, and it's 11/15 this year?

[Marionberry]

Do you think they'll release decisions any earlier this year since the ED deadline was 12/15 last year, and it's 11/15 this year?

How would any of us know? Maybe call the admissions office.

[kalvano]

I got that with a 3.2/164.

Did you do the optional essay?

What optional essay? I probably submitted whatever I submitted to other schools for optional essays.

[kalvano]

My one piece of advice for everyone applying that is still in undergrad is to seriously enjoy it and soak it up.. we are three weeks out from finals and people are starting to legitimately go insane... imagine the hardest you've ever worked on something in your life, multiply it by 5 classes (around 1500 pages of reading collectively so far) and a ridiculous workload for legal writing, followed by very time consuming open memo,

If you've been out in the world and held a real job, it won't seem all that bad. Just throwing it out there.

[kalvano]

Do you think they'll release decisions any earlier this year since the ED deadline was 12/15 last year, and it's 11/15 this year?

Probably not. They have always been slow.

[asuusa]

I got my app into SMU by 10/31- what do you think my chances are for scholarship money? I did all the optional essays as well. 167/3.36/URM (Mexican)? I don't currently live in Texas, although that's where I grew up, and as I don't have a prayer at UT I'm kind of hoping for 50% scholarship at SMU to get back to Texas. Any thoughts?

[ads222]

I got my app into SMU by 10/31- what do you think my chances are for scholarship money? I did all the optional essays as well. 167/3.36/URM (Mexican)? I don't currently live in Texas, although that's where I grew up, and as I don't have a prayer at UT I'm kind of hoping for 50% scholarship at SMU to get back to Texas. Any thoughts?

Not answering your question at ALL here but definitely don't be so pessimistic about UT. I applied there in October with a 167/3.7, OOS -- and a less coveted URM status (regular old Hispanic, not MA) -- and got in with substantial money. Seriously, you have a great shot. As for SMU, I applied there too and have heard nothing in the past few weeks, but I think with a cogent diversity statement, you have a good chance at money.

[asuusa]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I put in an app at UT by Nov. 1, but my SMU was really tailored. I think the reason you may have been so successful is that your GPA isn't total crap.

But you really brightened my day, and for that, I thank you!

[kalvano]

You have a great shot at substantial money at SMU, and a good shot at UT.

[HBK]

My one piece of advice for everyone applying that is still in undergrad is to seriously enjoy it and soak it up.. we are three weeks out from finals and people are starting to legitimately go insane... imagine the hardest you've ever worked on something in your life, multiply it by 5 classes (around 1500 pages of reading collectively so far) and a ridiculous workload for legal writing, followed by very time consuming open memo,

If you've been out in the world and held a real job, it won't seem all that bad. Just throwing it out there.

I had a full-on career prior to SMU law. Even at our busiest, I never worked as hard as I do here.

[12thman2011]

Has anybody heard back from SMU yet?

[ebo]

Has anybody heard back from SMU yet?

No, I don't believe we're supposed to hear anything until the end of Jan.

[kalvano]

My one piece of advice for everyone applying that is still in undergrad is to seriously enjoy it and soak it up.. we are three weeks out from finals and people are starting to legitimately go insane... imagine the hardest you've ever worked on something in your life, multiply it by 5 classes (around 1500 pages of reading collectively so far) and a ridiculous workload for legal writing, followed by very time consuming open memo,

If you've been out in the world and held a real job, it won't seem all that bad. Just throwing it out there.

I had a full-on career prior to SMU law. Even at our busiest, I never worked as hard as I do here.

Really? I did too, and this seems much easier to me.

[ebo]

My one piece of advice for everyone applying that is still in undergrad is to seriously enjoy it and soak it up.. we are three weeks out from finals and people are starting to legitimately go insane... imagine the hardest you've ever worked on something in your life, multiply it by 5 classes (around 1500 pages of reading collectively so far) and a ridiculous workload for legal writing, followed by very time consuming open memo,

If you've been out in the world and held a real job, it won't seem all that bad. Just throwing it out there.

I had a full-on career prior to SMU law. Even at our busiest, I never worked as hard as I do here.

Really? I did too, and this seems much easier to me.

How much work are you all putting in outside of class each week?

[Thirteen]

How much work are you all putting in outside of class each week?

I probably put in ~ 40 hours outside of class each week. The workload is a lot, but it's manageable. I usually go out Friday nights and take Saturdays off to watch football, so I try not to b.s. during the week.