Northwestern Law C/O 2016 (2012-2013 Applicants) Forum

[letitloose]

from Northwestern's website:

"Northwestern Law is the only law school in the country that strongly encourages all applicants to interview as a part of the admissions process. Interviews provide the Admissions Committee with additional information about your interpersonal and communication skills, maturity, and motivation. Interviews also help us preserve the strong sense of community and cooperative culture for which we are known. Finally, interviews provide you an opportunity to learn more about Northwestern Law."

[rinkrat19]

From an interview with Johann Lee:

TLS: How does Northwestern ensure the interview process is fair? How do they balance it if one interviewer is incredibly easy on the candidate and writes a detailed, glowing report, while a different interviewer grills the candidate mercilessly and then writes a short, negative report?
All of our interviewers are given an interviewer handbook. The write-ups are pretty standardized. We definitely cue the interviewers as to what we’re looking for, with regards to leadership, questions regarding career focus, questions regarding project management experience, things like that.

We do provide a certain amount of standardization for our interviewers, but I think in the end, the interviewers are structuring their interviews very similar to law firm job interviews. There’s still definitely some randomization involved. If an applicant decides to interview on-campus, then all the on-campus interviews are pretty much standardized. All on-campus interviewers are trained exactly the same way.

TLS: How much does the interview count for in an applicant’s package?
It’s one piece of information among a whole cohort of different pieces of information. I would say that the interview tends to act as about a half a step in a process. If, let’s say, a person without the interview would have been placed on hold or on the waitlist, a really strong interview can tip them up higher. And by the same token, if a person let’s say may have been waitlisted without the interview, a really poor interview will push them into the other range.

The interview is definitely worth something — it’s definitely worth it for us to do, because it gives us more information about an applicant. In the end, it’s a portfolio assessment. We’re trying to make the best decision we can with the information in front of us. The interview, we think, breathes some life into the application, beyond just the personal statement, LSAT, GPA, LSAT writing sample, letters of recommendation…

[Rahviveh]

I wouldn't waste time with the interview unless you're extremely borderline, or obviously if you're EDing.

[Kikero]

Is there any consensus as to how much doing an interview helps?

I read on one of these threads a while ago that well over half of the admits last year did the interview. I don't know if that was accurate.

I would think it's more than that. I'm the only person I personally know for sure didn't interview.

I also didn't interview, and I know one other 1L who didn't also, but it seems to be rare. I would definitely recommend interviewing as an applicant if at all possible. You can get in without it, but why risk it? If you can't get to Chicago, go to the closest off site interview available, driving will cost you less than the application fee.

[06102016]

..

[_corsair]

Just submitted my app here... about a month later than all my other apps. I was waiting on a fee waiver and then totally forgot I hadn't applied. Hopefully doesn't hurt my chances too much. Also declined to interview, so we'll see how that works out for me...

Similar for me. I applied a couple of weeks after the rest of my apps, and actually requested an interview but have not heard back yet. It's been over a month, and I live in a metro area! I'll get around to calling them about it after Thanksgiving.

[feralinfant]

Anyone else get the Happy Thanksgiving e-mail and almost hurl the computer out the window after opening it?

[moneyball026]

Northwestern wins the award for the biggest tease of any school this cycle with the Thanksgiving email.

[_corsair]

Seriously. Why are they wasting their time on shit like this?! No fun allowed, NU Admissions Office!

[guinness1547]

Had an email from Northwestern Admissions and my heart skipped a beat. Happy Thanksgiving to you too Northwestern.

[shntn]

Anyone else get the Happy Thanksgiving e-mail and almost hurl the computer out the window after opening it?

[risa]

Seriously... I was hoping they'd give me a little something more to be thankful for!

I bet the admissions office is watching this thread and laughing their asses off at us!

[WhiteyCakes]

What a tease

[rinkrat19]

You guys could have prepared yourselves for the shock by reading last year's thread. And the year before.

[canarykb]

wackest turkey.

[crumpetsandtea]

TBF last year's thread is a bit of a behemoth.

Ah, I remember this feeling all too well though. I think we had like a 5 page discussion on DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

[BigZuck]

TBF last year's thread is a bit of a behemoth.

Ah, I remember this feeling all too well though. I think we had like a 5 page discussion on DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

Ok, so, since you are here now, DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

[crumpetsandtea]

TBF last year's thread is a bit of a behemoth.

Ah, I remember this feeling all too well though. I think we had like a 5 page discussion on DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

Ok, so, since you are here now, DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

It means nothing, except maybe that their email database isn't updated. Don't worry!!

[rinkrat19]

TBF last year's thread is a bit of a behemoth.

Ah, I remember this feeling all too well though. I think we had like a 5 page discussion on DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

Ok, so, since you are here now, DOES THE EMAIL MEAN ANYTHING HOW COME NOT EVERYONE GOT IT?!??!?!

It means nothing. If someone didn't get it, it's probably a technical glitch/spam problem.

[helix23]

What a tease

[alwayssunnyinfl]

I have a setting on my phone so that any emails from the law schools I've applied to vibrates differently than normal. It was tortue not being able to check my phone at work, and then I just found out the buzzing was a weird ecard from NU and an email from Cornell that started with "We are delighted to inform you that" … GHGGHGUGNGUGNUGNGUGHUNGUGNUGHNUG! "your application is complete and will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. You will receive a decision of either admit, reserve, or deny by mid to late December."

[franklyscarlet]

I have a setting on my phone so that any emails from the law schools I've applied to vibrates differently than normal. It was tortue not being able to check my phone at work, and then I just found out the buzzing was a weird ecard from NU and an email from Cornell that started with "We are delighted to inform you that" … GHGGHGUGNGUGNUGNGUGHUNGUGNUGHNUG! "your application is complete and will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. You will receive a decision of either admit, reserve, or deny by mid to late December."

:-/ gird yourselves, kiddos. I think there are christmas emails too (i can't remember if it's from NU, but I remember at least one).

[alwayssunnyinfl]

I have a setting on my phone so that any emails from the law schools I've applied to vibrates differently than normal. It was tortue not being able to check my phone at work, and then I just found out the buzzing was a weird ecard from NU and an email from Cornell that started with "We are delighted to inform you that" … GHGGHGUGNGUGNUGNGUGHUNGUGNUGHNUG! "your application is complete and will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. You will receive a decision of either admit, reserve, or deny by mid to late December."

:-/ gird yourselves, kiddos. I think there are christmas emails too (i can't remember if it's from NU, but I remember at least one).

Once I get ONE acceptance, I think I'll be able to let up a little bit. It was kind of cute and gave me a warm and fuzzy until I realized how terrible this memory will be if I get rejected. LOL

[shntn]

I have a setting on my phone so that any emails from the law schools I've applied to vibrates differently than normal. It was tortue not being able to check my phone at work, and then I just found out the buzzing was a weird ecard from NU and an email from Cornell that started with "We are delighted to inform you that" … GHGGHGUGNGUGNUGNGUGHUNGUGNUGHNUG! "your application is complete and will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. You will receive a decision of either admit, reserve, or deny by mid to late December."

:-/ gird yourselves, kiddos. I think there are christmas emails too (i can't remember if it's from NU, but I remember at least one).

[danitt]

I have a setting on my phone so that any emails from the law schools I've applied to vibrates differently than normal. It was tortue not being able to check my phone at work, and then I just found out the buzzing was a weird ecard from NU and an email from Cornell that started with "We are delighted to inform you that" … GHGGHGUGNGUGNUGNGUGHUNGUGNUGHNUG! "your application is complete and will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. You will receive a decision of either admit, reserve, or deny by mid to late December."

:-/ gird yourselves, kiddos. I think there are christmas emails too (i can't remember if it's from NU, but I remember at least one).

Once I get ONE acceptance, I think I'll be able to let up a little bit. It was kind of cute and gave me a warm and fuzzy until I realized how terrible this memory will be if I get rejected. LOL

The one really does make the difference. I was so tense about every single email that I probably blocked so many addresses in the past few weeks so mostly law school mail came in. I would get so irrationally angry when I saw like random school ads because I'd just initially glimpse "law" and my heart would stop for a second. Once I got that first T14 acceptance out of way, I instantly relaxed because it felt like, well at least if no one else accepts me I have one option.

But still the fucking gooble, gooble email?!? Unnecessary!