SMU c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013 cycle) Forum

[Jredelman15]

My understanding from talking to lawyers in Dallas is that, in general, they are impressed with the PT students for 2 reasons:

1. Working full time and going to law school is very difficult; and
2. Work experience/maturity is looked upon favorably.

I would definitely attend FT if you have the opportunity. PT or FT, law school takes up a ton of your time, so it's nice if you can devote 100% to it.

But, if the PT works better for you, I think the opportunities are out there.

Did they give any insight on what types of employment they want while in the PT program? Is it any type just FT employment?

[StylinNProfilin]

Just sent off my application, ready for the long wait.

Why do you think the apps are down? Has this been a trend over the past few years or just this year?

October LSAT takers were down 16%, lowest June & October takers since 2000-2001.

[kalvano]

My understanding from talking to lawyers in Dallas is that, in general, they are impressed with the PT students for 2 reasons:

1. Working full time and going to law school is very difficult; and
2. Work experience/maturity is looked upon favorably.

I would definitely attend FT if you have the opportunity. PT or FT, law school takes up a ton of your time, so it's nice if you can devote 100% to it.

But, if the PT works better for you, I think the opportunities are out there.

Caveat - if you are 22 and in the PT program and working as a law firm secretary 9 - 3, I think they know you couldn't get into the FT program, and that might hurt you.

[nouseforaname123]

My understanding from talking to lawyers in Dallas is that, in general, they are impressed with the PT students for 2 reasons:

1. Working full time and going to law school is very difficult; and
2. Work experience/maturity is looked upon favorably.

I would definitely attend FT if you have the opportunity. PT or FT, law school takes up a ton of your time, so it's nice if you can devote 100% to it.

But, if the PT works better for you, I think the opportunities are out there.

Having been through OCI, I think it is a little more nuanced than this. For the vast majority of OCI firms, PT vs. FT is meaningless. Of the remaining firms, there are a handful that don't hire PT students and a handful that are very passionate about hiring PT students. For the firms that don't hire PT, it could be an age issue (average PT student is older). A key point to keep in mind about legal hiring is that it is not linear. So many variables go into hiring decisions that I caution anybody from applying any hard and fast rules to legal hiring or assuming that any one variable is always a positive or negative.

[JXander]

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[TheRedBlueBerry]

I was the first applicant to be accepted to SMU. They typically do not release decisions before January, but there were extenuating circumstances in my case.

154; 3.9; URM; male.

Awesome, Congrats!!

[mg7]

I was the first applicant to be accepted to SMU. They typically do not release decisions before January, but there were extenuating circumstances in my case.

154; 3.9; URM; male.

congrats man

[TheJanitor6203]

I was the first applicant to be accepted to SMU. They typically do not release decisions before January, but there were extenuating circumstances in my case.

154; 3.9; URM; male.

Congradulations!

Just curious if you wanted to share that "extenuating circumstance"???

[KingsCup]

I was the first applicant to be accepted to SMU. They typically do not release decisions before January, but there were extenuating circumstances in my case.

154; 3.9; URM; male.

you're a lucky man

[Billy Batts]

My understanding from talking to lawyers in Dallas is that, in general, they are impressed with the PT students for 2 reasons:

1. Working full time and going to law school is very difficult; and
2. Work experience/maturity is looked upon favorably.

I would definitely attend FT if you have the opportunity. PT or FT, law school takes up a ton of your time, so it's nice if you can devote 100% to it.

But, if the PT works better for you, I think the opportunities are out there.

I've never met any night students that actually work during the day. The night program is a good way to back door yourself into better grades, though.

[nmlf16]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

[JXander]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations! Is SMU high on your list or will you wait for scholarship info before making that placement?

[nmlf16]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations! Is SMU high on your list or will you wait for scholarship info before making that placement?

They're not particularly high on my list, but scholarship money could change that. I'm not expecting too much to be offered though.

[KingsCup]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations! Is SMU high on your list or will you wait for scholarship info before making that placement?

They're not particularly high on my list, but scholarship money could change that. I'm not expecting too much to be offered though.

Did you get an email to say to check or did you just randomly check and it said you were in?

[lookingin]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations! Is SMU high on your list or will you wait for scholarship info before making that placement?

They're not particularly high on my list, but scholarship money could change that. I'm not expecting too much to be offered though.

Did you get an email to say to check or did you just randomly check and it said you were in?

Also in today!!! Yay!!

I only checked because I saw several people posting about acceptances, but I didn't get an email or anything like that letting me know.

I went complete 11/2.

[nmlf16]

Accepted via status checker 12/13. My status date changed to today a couple of hours ago and then when I just checked again it said admitted! Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations! Is SMU high on your list or will you wait for scholarship info before making that placement?

They're not particularly high on my list, but scholarship money could change that. I'm not expecting too much to be offered though.

Did you get an email to say to check or did you just randomly check and it said you were in?

I just checked. I haven't gotten any e-mails from them yet. I submitted my app on 11/16, got my status checker and went complete on 11/26. 162/3.92

[JXander]

I just checked. I haven't gotten any e-mails from them yet. I submitted my app on 11/16, got my status checker and went complete on 11/26. 162/3.92

You should get in. Especially if you are a URM.

[DavidAg]

In yesterday as well. 166 and 3.68. Is anyone else having trouble getting into the admitted students website? The password and username that they gave me doesn't seem to be working.

[lookingin]

In yesterday as well. 166 and 3.68. Is anyone else having trouble getting into the admitted students website? The password and username that they gave me doesn't seem to be working.

No I was having the same problem logging in. Several other schools I've been accepted to though don't activate their admitted students sections until January though so maybe SMU just hasn't activated or finished theirs yet either.

I guess someone could always call and ask though?

[DavidAg]

^ Yeah that makes sense. I'm wanting to get on there because of the private scholarships they said that we should look up. Have you applied for any of those?

[lookingin]

^ Yeah that makes sense. I'm wanting to get on there because of the private scholarships they said that we should look up. Have you applied for any of those?

I think they're probably referring to the Sumners and some of the other big ones they list elsewhere on their site. I didn't really think I fit the bill for any of them though... (I.E. One specifies you have to be a resident from a list of certain states, and I'm not from any of them, etc.)

But I'm really hoping I qualify for some sort of merit aid as SMU is pretty pricey!

[JXander]

Admissions just called and said they're sending me scholarship information and the official acceptance packet today.

[kalvano]

Holy shit. SMU did something before January 31st?

Grab the kids and run to the basement, because the Apocalypse is nigh.

[lookingin]

Holy shit. SMU did something before January 31st?

Grab the kids and run to the basement, because the Apocalypse is nigh.

Haha my mind was blown! Reading through the past few year's thread, I never expected to hear anything before January or even February. Pleasantly surprised

I also got that call to congratulate me on admission and to encourage me to apply for scholarships. Hope that means good things!

Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone still waiting!

[JXander]

Holy shit. SMU did something before January 31st?

Grab the kids and run to the basement, because the Apocalypse is nigh.

Yeah...I wasn't lying when I said they called to admit me at the end of November... I guess this truly is unusual.