Texas A&M Law c/o 2017 (2013-2014 applicants) Forum

[the_dude83]

My application went complete on 2/4.. I am still waiting to hear back.. getting nervous.. A&M is my first choice, I have a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA from UT.

how have you managed at your other applications?

[GVG2017]

[Leprechaun]

Good luck to everyone. I'm currently a 1L here in the part time night program and I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm targeting graduation in 2017 so some of y'all might end up being classmates.

If anyone has any questions about my experience so far just feel free to message me and I'll try and respond when I have time. I only visit this forum about once a week though as I stay relatively busy between work and school.

Mike

[lsatepicfail]

I'm planning to apply to TAMU. I went to tour the law school last fall when they had an event. Right now I feel that my numbers will give me a better chance of getting into the part time evening program than the full time so that's the program I'll be applying to.

[<DC>]

still waiting........

[Tuxedo]

From what I know of the Texas market, going straight to TAMU Law this early would be a big risk unless you are PT with a stable job and without much risk of debt after graduation (and even then you may want to be sure that you don't want to practice law in a traditional way). Unless you plan to strike out on your own and cold call all the possible clients you can in Fort Worth, TAMU Law is probably not a worthwhile investment of your time, and the potential debt you could have with the degree is scary.

It would make sense at the very least to wait, retake the LSAT and aim for TTU or UofH law, if not higher. It can be done.

It's probably true that there's enough UT vs A&M war to get TAMU Law catapulted to being a decent law school, but that's a discussion we'll be having at the earliest in 15+ years, not in the next 5.

[the_dude83]

I spoke with the career services director and he said students were having luck with direct contact. He cited a particular student had offers from around 3-5 big law firms and took a very lucrative position through such process. Granted he was probably quoting one specific example and the student was most likely top of class, but the chances are there. Which, is better than most people are stating for A&M

[rodmanhust]

I spoke with the career services director and he said students were having luck with direct contact. He cited a particular student had offers from around 3-5 big law firms and took a very lucrative position through such process. Granted he was probably quoting one specific example and the student was most likely top of class, but the chances are there. Which, is better than most people are stating for A&M

"direct contact" do you mean the student directly contacting employers who graduated UG from A&M?

[rodmanhust]

From what I know of the Texas market, going straight to TAMU Law this early would be a big risk unless you are PT with a stable job and without much risk of debt after graduation (and even then you may want to be sure that you don't want to practice law in a traditional way). Unless you plan to strike out on your own and cold call all the possible clients you can in Fort Worth, TAMU Law is probably not a worthwhile investment of your time, and the potential debt you could have with the degree is scary.

It would make sense at the very least to wait, retake the LSAT and aim for TTU or UofH law, if not higher. It can be done.

It's probably true that there's enough UT vs A&M war to get TAMU Law catapulted to being a decent law school, but that's a discussion we'll be having at the earliest in 15+ years, not in the next 5.

Not sure if TAMU law will ever reach UT level even in 30 years.
but was hopeful that the TAMU network could give SOME help in the next 4-5 years. Feasible or fantasy?

[vineyardchick07]

Withdrew my application. Good luck everyone!

[GVG2017]

I am still waiting also.......I was accepted at St. Mary's but waiting patiently for A&M- my first choice.

[trey3white]

Anyone know where they are going to live yet?

[<DC>]

Anyone know where they are going to live yet?

Being a non-traditional student I have to think about my kids situation and then my commute second. We are looking south of the DFW metroplex. South Arlington and the like. I wish the DFW area had a slug program like Washington DC does.

[GVG2017]

Do y'all think a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA is competitive for A&M?

[<DC>]

Do y'all think a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA is competitive for A&M?

Going off what they have for their ABA 509 report from last year....you should be in the sweet zone. Not the 75% for LSAT....but I think your GPA makes up for it.

It is just a waiting game now.

[GVG2017]

Do y'all think a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA is competitive for A&M?

Going off what they have for their ABA 509 report from last year....you should be in the sweet zone. Not the 75% for LSAT....but I think your GPA makes up for it.

It is just a waiting game now.

Thank you, I am thinking it will be fine too. The only thing that worried me was if they want to right away start accepting students with much higher numbers to start turning their reputation around quicker? I'm not sure, just a concern I had... I know I will do well once in school, I just didn't perform well on the lsat. I only took it once.. Could possibly take it again if needed.

[Leprechaun]

Anyone know where they are going to live yet?

Being a non-traditional student I have to think about my kids situation and then my commute second. We are looking south of the DFW metroplex. South Arlington and the like. I wish the DFW area had a slug program like Washington DC does.

Depending on which program you are in, the commute may or may not be too bad. What I mean is, I am in the night program, and I live about 45 miles away, my commute is really easy, I've only had traffic on two days so far (the very first day of orientation because it was in the AM) and one night this semester because of a fatality accident. Usually, as I am driving into Fort Worth, everyone else is driving out. However, if you go to the day program, I would think it would be just the opposite, as you'd be driving in the same time everyone else was, and driving out the same time too, and traffic during rush hour can be quite intense if you are going the same way as everyone else.

Mike

[Canof09]

Let's say I graduated today. How would the name help me in the legal world in terms of job placement is my question.

Granted nothing would change if you graduate today.
But maybe better 4 years later?

I'm not sure at all; just weighing options.

I just don't see how the DFW market, which already recruits pretty heavily from UT and SMU while TWU was there will really change the practice simply because of a name.

With regards to recruitment, I am not hanging my hat on that. TTU serves Dallas, Austin, and Houston respectively and from what I could gather not a great recruitment program in place either. What I am getting at is it is certainly the network you build that will help with job placement. With that said, there is a huge network of aggies in the business world and they take care of their own, more so than any college I have ever seen. Now will that start to blanket the law school as well with working attorneys that went to a&m as undergrads? That is what I would like to see. I do not think UT and a&M should be compared together at this point, UT serves every major metro area in the state and further, due to its ranking and rapport. It is also ranked #1 in the US with the highest income to debt ratio out of law school.

TTU touts a very capable graduate, meaning their school teaches students how to actually do beginning functions of an attorney. If a&m follows suit, it could easily be used to gain summer internships, which job placement could easily come from. The first job offer will be the only hurdle I foresee as an aggie law grad, after that, it is all up to what you do from there.

Lastly, TWU started out as a law school for the working professional. One with flexible schedule to help those that needed another degree to continue on their career path. I think that is why TWU never had a respect from the beginning, if you produce primarily JD advantage students, how do you think your numbers would look? Now that a&m has something to work with and will only continue to improve its status, I see big things. Unfortunately, I need to chose a law school this year!

I am a graduate of A&M undergrad, and I honestly wouldn't expect too much preferential treatment just because you went to A&M Law. Not trying to be a dick, but the honest truth is that I would lobby for an alum of my law school over an alum of my UG when it comes to legal hiring any day of the week. Maybe I'm an outlier, but I don't think so.

Not trying to troll, just thought I would add my perspective regarding the Aggie Network since I'm part of it.

[Tuxedo]

Do y'all think a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA is competitive for A&M?

Going off what they have for their ABA 509 report from last year....you should be in the sweet zone. Not the 75% for LSAT....but I think your GPA makes up for it.

It is just a waiting game now.

Thank you, I am thinking it will be fine too. The only thing that worried me was if they want to right away start accepting students with much higher numbers to start turning their reputation around quicker? I'm not sure, just a concern I had... I know I will do well once in school, I just didn't perform well on the lsat. I only took it once.. Could possibly take it again if needed.

3.7 is a great GPA, but you're going to want to consider a study plan and a retake. The typical TLS response is that you shouldn't waste your GPA on that LSAT score.

If your GPA better represents you than your LSAT you owe it to your diligence in college to retake the test after learning more about it. With a 3.7 and a decent LSAT you're looking at attending the best school in the state instead of a flagging law school that was only recently acquired by a good university system.

[the_dude83]

I spoke with the career services director and he said students were having luck with direct contact. He cited a particular student had offers from around 3-5 big law firms and took a very lucrative position through such process. Granted he was probably quoting one specific example and the student was most likely top of class, but the chances are there. Which, is better than most people are stating for A&M

"direct contact" do you mean the student directly contacting employers who graduated UG from A&M?

yes, they suggest marketing yourself essentially. Companies are not looking at TAMU yet, so you have to go find them. Which personally, you should be doing from day one anyway to be successfully employed by graduation.

[trey3white]

Do y'all think a 150 LSAT and 3.7 GPA is competitive for A&M?

I would think you would be fine. I had a 151 LSAT and 3.4 GPA and was accepted.

[rodmanhust]

Anyone know where they are going to live yet?

Being a non-traditional student I have to think about my kids situation and then my commute second. We are looking south of the DFW metroplex. South Arlington and the like. I wish the DFW area had a slug program like Washington DC does.

Depending on which program you are in, the commute may or may not be too bad. What I mean is, I am in the night program, and I live about 45 miles away, my commute is really easy, I've only had traffic on two days so far (the very first day of orientation because it was in the AM) and one night this semester because of a fatality accident. Usually, as I am driving into Fort Worth, everyone else is driving out. However, if you go to the day program, I would think it would be just the opposite, as you'd be driving in the same time everyone else was, and driving out the same time too, and traffic during rush hour can be quite intense if you are going the same way as everyone else.

Mike

Mike, which direction do you live?
I work in Plano and will go PT. so I'm really scared about the commute to FW in the afternoon.

[<DC>]

Still waiting...........but hey....with all this free time I have now that I am not studying, I get to catch up with my shows (Walking Dead, House of Cards, etc...)

[the_dude83]

Still waiting...........but hey....with all this free time I have now that I am not studying, I get to catch up with my shows (Walking Dead, House of Cards, etc...)

Marathon style, huh...

[<DC>]

Still waiting...........but hey....with all this free time I have now that I am not studying, I get to catch up with my shows (Walking Dead, House of Cards, etc...)

Marathon style, huh...

I think the term is called "binge watching"