Top Law Schools

I applied to U of H a couple of days ago. They already sent me a status checker. I hope I get in.
Anybody else applied yet?

Seriously? Nobody? The best school in the biggest legal market in the world in the best state in the world and nobody but me is applying???
(hyperbole)

I was going to apply there but then they wouldn't send me a fee waiver. They seem so strapped for money that I think SMU will be cheaper even with private tuition, since they're pretty generous with scholarships.

sarahmargie wrote:I applied to U of H a couple of days ago. They already sent me a status checker. I hope I get in.
Anybody else applied yet?

I'm applying, you should be a shoo-in with that LSAT

Just graduated from UH. If y'all have any questions I'll answer what I can.

Josh the Goat wrote:Just graduated from UH. If y'all have any questions I'll answer what I can.

Josh the Goat wrote:Just graduated from UH. If y'all have any questions I'll answer what I can.

When did you hear about whether or not you were getting in?
Do you know what the curve is?
Is it true that Houston is such a booming legal market?
Was there any representation from the southernmost parts of Texas, like Corpus Christi and down?

sarahmargie wrote: When did you hear about whether or not you were getting in?

I applied after the early admission deadline I think. I found out around mid-March that I was accepted and I found out about scholarships in late April or May.

sarahmargie wrote: Do you know what the curve is?

The curve is usually around 3.2. For smaller classes that can be altered somewhat, but it's not likely. If you visit the campus, and go to the hallway for student services in the basement, they have a green binder across from the secretary desks that include all of the grades from previous semesters. You can see how many A's, B's or C's a professor gave out in a particular class.

sarahmargie wrote: Is it true that Houston is such a booming legal market?

I wouldn't say that any legal market is booming right now. They're all pretty miserable. However, Texas still has economic development, which breeds legal needs. But that doesn't mean the legal market is really that much better given the surplus of attorneys.

sarahmargie wrote: Was there any representation from the southernmost parts of Texas, like Corpus Christi and down?

I think a few people from Corpus Christi or Brownsville. It shouldn't really make a difference on your application so long as you're in-state though.

Does anyone know if there is ever really a situation where applying to the part-time program only is appropriate? Houston makes you decide for one or the other, unlike other schools that let you apply to both. But as last year showed, they of course offered many of the part-time spots to full-time applicants. Many part-time applicants felt slighted and wished they had applied fulltime instead. I applied rather late in the cycle last year to the full-time program with part-time stats and still got waitlisted until the very painful end.

So would applying early to the part-time program fair any better? Or just stick with the full-time since they will offer you a part-timers spot if they like you anyways?

Nobody wrote:I was going to apply there but then they wouldn't send me a fee waiver. They seem so strapped for money that I think SMU will be cheaper even with private tuition, since they're pretty generous with scholarships.

I'm at UH. We are so strapped for money it isn't even funny. The funny thing is, they were awesome and didn't increase tuition dramatically even with the terrible budget costs. But as you guys might know, UH basically got DP-ed by some Texas Grant that ended up giving a boatload of money to a bunch of other shitty Texas schools.

Renu gambled that the 6-7 construction jobs she's got goin on would have locked that money down. I wouldn't be surprised if tuition SKYROCKETED.

And another thing is...I sorta regret going to UH - even though I really do love some of the classes - quality teaching - because Houston is not booming like everyone is making it out to be. It's like a Texas energy bubble going on - fake growth - and I think it's going to blow up in my face by the time I graduate.

Checking in. I know their website says only need based, but has anyone been successful in soliciting a merit based fee waiver?

Sent my App in last week... 163 w/ 3.78 @ Texas A&M. Does anyone have an idea of when notifications start coming out for ED?

Nobody wrote:I was going to apply there but then they wouldn't send me a fee waiver. They seem so strapped for money that I think SMU will be cheaper even with private tuition, since they're pretty generous with scholarships.

I asked them for a fee waiver and they denied me too.
BUT...I decided to apply anyway, and lo and behold, as I pulled out my credit card to pay LSAC to send out my application, it turns out my application fee was waived. Hmm...

Applied 10/24 and my file just went complete.

PinkLemonade wrote:

Nobody wrote:I was going to apply there but then they wouldn't send me a fee waiver. They seem so strapped for money that I think SMU will be cheaper even with private tuition, since they're pretty generous with scholarships.

I asked them for a fee waiver and they denied me too.
BUT...I decided to apply anyway, and lo and behold, as I pulled out my credit card to pay LSAC to send out my application, it turns out my application fee was waived. Hmm...

Applied 10/24 and my file just went complete.

I got really excited, checked, and no such luck looks like I will have to pay.

All of this talk of the Houston legal market not "booming" or having "fake growth" is madness. Everything must be considered in context.

Is the Houston legal market good enough for every UH grad to have a job? Probably not.

BUT the Houston legal market is doing well enough that it allows UH to vastly outperform its spot in the rankings. When I read and hear stories of people at Notre Dame on law review who don't have anything lined up for 2L summer, it puts things in perspective. Of our 2L class, I can think of 30 people off of the top of my head who have biglaw-ish jobs lined up for next summer (and that's just what I've heard through the grape vine). I know of 5 people who weren't on law review who got at least one offer.

If you go to any law school thinking that the bottom part of the class is going to be a cushy place, then you're crazy. But I know that my own top 25% grades were good enough here for multiple callbacks and an offer that I couldn't be happier with. That is not the case for people at higher ranked schools in worse markets.

4.03/160. I applied to U of H yesterday and my file went complete. Also I was emailed a merit waiver yesterday right before I submitted.

zanzbar wrote:4.03/160. I applied to U of H yesterday and my file went complete. Also I was emailed a merit waiver yesterday right before I submitted.

With that GPA, have you considered retaking the LSAT? With a 10 point bump your options would open up a lot more.

Josh the Goat wrote:

zanzbar wrote:4.03/160. I applied to U of H yesterday and my file went complete. Also I was emailed a merit waiver yesterday right before I submitted.

With that GPA, have you considered retaking the LSAT? With a 10 point bump your options would open up a lot more.

I am signed up to retake in December I am expecting more of a 5 point bump since I under performed in October considering my PT average. U of H is not a bad deal for me because I have a free place to live and I wouldn't go into much debt.

zanzbar wrote:4.03/160. I applied to U of H yesterday and my file went complete. Also I was emailed a merit waiver yesterday right before I submitted.

Solicited?

Nope I just a random fee waiver via email. Also I am Texas resident so maybe that had something to do with it.

zanzbar wrote:Nope I just a random fee waiver via email. Also I am Texas resident so maybe that had something to do with it.

Me too, I've been hoping for one. They're my number one choice im just being stingy with my $70

I got a fee waiver from them 10/18 through CRS

I graduated from there 2 years ago (BSEE), and will be applying today or tomorrow.

Will keep this thread posted and hope to hear from you guys.

Sorry to keep dwelling, but I solicited for a waiver before I received my newest LSAT. Would it be unwise to ask again with the new score? The first time I asked I got a link to instructions for need-based waivers.

Threw my name in the hat last night. Here's hoping/praying!

3.68/162 I'm feeling nervous about my chances. UH is up there as one of my top choices. Good luck everyone!