Top Law Schools

Some people might volunteer or try to paralegal, but me? If I don't get in by the end of the month, I'm going to withdraw from my waitlists, buy a brand new computer, play SC2, and wait until next year.

Anybody else in the position of not getting in? What're you gonna do to console yourself in the meantime?

99% sure at this point that I'm reapplying next cycle. I'm going to spend my days at Starbucks studying and enjoying my favorite drink, a Skinny Vanilla Latte. I'll probably try to get a job, maybe or maybe not. I want to do some volunteer work and make sure all of my application essays are perfect. I want to travel, get a few tattoos, read all the books I haven't had the time to read before, visit friends in far away places, and just breathe.

Unless Harvard calls or something that dramatic in the next few weeks, I will have to seriously consider reapplying. I have a couple of things that I want to finalize before I can commit to waiting a year. I am already accepted into the MS program at my university and have a research project/thesis topic picked out for me by the department. I have been offered an assistantship as well so tuition will be free. I have an interview for a much better fellowship (stipend is much higher) next week which would be hard to turn down. Have a couple of teaching positions that I am waiting on. I'd rather not get a day job because it will be hard to fit a full time job and graduate classes, teaching would be much better.

I do like what hellokitty suggested. I want to take a couple of trips, get a few more tattoos (I have a really cool design idea going). And do better next cycle.

I'm guessing you guys taking the year off to spend in Starbucks are just coming out of school? I don't know how not holding a full-time job will look on your apps. Also, I fully support taking the time off, but how long can you stay on your parents' health insurance? I'm also thinking about reapplying next cycle, but can't stop working lest I get stricken with some avian/swine/newanimal flu or get hit by a bus.
But what's a year of scrapping by if it means getting into a top ls?

I took a year off after applying last cycle (when I would've been straight through UG). Probably the best decision of my academic career. Going through an employment search in summer/early fall of 2009, in the teeth of the recession, was incredibly humbling and really tested my resilience and made me re-evaluate a lot of things. Tons of personal growth from that experience. Working a year out of undergrad has gotten me used to performing well consistently on someone else's time, not just when I feel like it or want to (which is what I did in undergrad, even though I worked part time). I've had the opportunity to establish myself financially a little bit (though not enough to make any tangible difference for law school), which has been very fulfilling and useful. If you're coming straight through UG I think there's a massive benefit in taking a year or two to work and get some "real world" experience. I'm definitely extremely excited to get back in a classroom setting, whereas before I was a bit uneasy about plowing through 3 more years of school without a break.

I will say that in my year off I retook my LSAT and substantially changed my law school trajectory. However, I would have been fine had I not improved at all and gone to one of the schools I was originally considering.

ctjourno1 wrote:I'm guessing you guys taking the year off to spend in Starbucks are just coming out of school? I don't know how not holding a full-time job will look on your apps. Also, I fully support taking the time off, but how long can you stay on your parents' health insurance? I'm also thinking about reapplying next cycle, but can't stop working lest I get stricken with some avian/swine/newanimal flu or get hit by a bus.
But what's a year of scrapping by if it means getting into a top ls?

I'm going to look for a job, but more than likely it won't be anything that's gonna look too awesome on a law school app, even if I find one. I can stay on my parent's health insurance I'm pretty sure until I'm 26. I'll graduate in May. Hopefully, I can at least volunteer somewhere teaching English. We will see.

I will mention that at this point I'm 2 years after graduating, so it's not like I'm deciding to take a year between undergrad and law school.

I agree with the guy saying that your best bet is full-time employment. I feel like my resume was already lack-luster, and working part time would be the kiss of death.

I am also thinking hard about re-applying in October. I am getting subpar responses: a product of a 163/3.8, early-/mid-January applications, and a big boom in nationwide applications.
I have imagined what I might do. I am a 37-year-old non-trad, who has come back to college and graduates in June. But all experience I have (outside of strong writing and people skills) is as a waiter, plus a year of college journalism.
My age made me want to get into law school NOW, but I also know I could absolutely put myself to good work with the extra time off. Working, a LOT of reading, travel if at all possible.

The distinction is between what to do in the 14 months off, and what to do in the 3 months from the time I (hypothetically) pull out of this cycle and the time I would re-apply in October 2011. So, there is only so much WE I can achieve to wow adcomms. I have been doing a lot of extra volunteer/student group activity in this, my final semester, and I hope to be a waiter/intern starting this August —IF I decide to re-apply.

My point is: to the extent that I get better results in a newer cycle, it will be from an October 2010 LSAT re-take. After I get my applications in EARLY this time, I would have almost a year to fill my life up with a lot of shit.

tommytahoe wrote:I am also thinking hard about re-applying in October. I am getting subpar responses: a product of a 163/3.8, early-/mid-January applications, and a big boom in nationwide applications.
I have imagined what I might do. I am a 37-year-old non-trad, who has come back to college and graduates in June. But all experience I have (outside of strong writing and people skills) is as a waiter, plus a year of college journalism.
My age made me want to get into law school NOW, but I also know I could absolutely put myself to good work with the extra time off. Working, a LOT of reading, travel if at all possible.

The distinction is between what to do in the 14 months off, and what to do in the 3 months from the time I (hypothetically) pull out of this cycle and the time I would re-apply in October 2011. So, there is only so much WE I can achieve to wow adcomms. I have been doing a lot of extra volunteer/student group activity in this, my final semester, and I hope to be a waiter/intern starting this August —IF I decide to re-apply.

My point is: to the extent that I get better results in a newer cycle, it will be from an October 2010 LSAT re-take. After I get my applications in EARLY this time, I would have almost a year to fill my life up with a lot of shit.

Our age we can't change. Our LSAT we can. If you spend 3 month doing nothing but preparing for the test, you should be able to raise your score. I think that would have the highest reward ratio out of all the things you could do. I think if you are going to commit 3 years at our age, you make it count or don't do it. Settling for a law school you don't want to go to and getting in debt for it is the last thing to consider.

r6_philly wrote:

tommytahoe wrote:I am also thinking hard about re-applying in October. I am getting subpar responses: a product of a 163/3.8, early-/mid-January applications, and a big boom in nationwide applications.
I have imagined what I might do. I am a 37-year-old non-trad, who has come back to college and graduates in June. But all experience I have (outside of strong writing and people skills) is as a waiter, plus a year of college journalism.
My age made me want to get into law school NOW, but I also know I could absolutely put myself to good work with the extra time off. Working, a LOT of reading, travel if at all possible.

The distinction is between what to do in the 14 months off, and what to do in the 3 months from the time I (hypothetically) pull out of this cycle and the time I would re-apply in October 2010. So, there is only so much WE I can achieve to wow adcomms. I have been doing a lot of extra volunteer/student group activity in this, my final semester, and I hope to be a waiter/intern starting this August —IF I decide to re-apply.

My point is: to the extent that I get better results in a newer cycle, it will be from an October 2010 LSAT re-take. After I get my applications in EARLY this time, I would have almost a year to fill my life up with a lot of shit.

Our age we can't change. Our LSAT we can. If you spend 3 month doing nothing but preparing for the test, you should be able to raise your score. I think that would have the highest reward ratio out of all the things you could do. I think if you are going to commit 3 years at our age, you make it count or don't do it. Settling for a law school you don't want to go to and getting in debt for it is the last thing to consider.

Good points. If —IF— I decide to re-apply, that is exactly what I had in mind. I will see how this crazy cycle turns out.