Top Law Schools

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i am curious as well

WhiskeyAndCupcakes wrote:TFA/ Peace Corp

Above average, but they're also pretty ubiquitous at top schools.

WhiskeyAndCupcakes wrote:an investment banker

Someone who shouldn't become a lawyer.

HRomanus wrote:

WhiskeyAndCupcakes wrote:TFA/ Peace Corp

Above average, but they're also pretty ubiquitous at top schools.

I thought they were required pre-reqs these days.

I'd say all of those listed are "above average".

"highly unique" would be-

-fought in Iraq, captured by enemy soldiers, convinced them to put down their weapons and become advocates of peaceful demonstrations

-World-class flute player than has played at Carnegie Hall and at Nelson Mendela's funeral

-CEO of a company that brings in 5+ million a year

-Anything that actually makes you one-of-a-kind in at least that year's application pool

My two cents on the topic.

This really doesn't matter, just focus on the LSAT retake

If you know whether your soft is a 8/10 vs 7/10 on the Soft Awesomeness Scale that's not going to change anything. And there's no way the site could "streamline" the definition. Ranking TFA vs Ibanking is pointless. Stuff that sounds legit impressive to you will probably should legit impressive to an ad com. If it's rare AND impressive, then all the sweeter. If it's not that impressive to you and sounds like stuff that tons of people get involved in/do to pad their resume then it'll probably sound that way to an adcom.

LSAT and GPA. That's virtually all of what matters. Get those to be the best they can be. Trying to get into Yale or Stanford and want us to evaluate your chances? We can't, they're too unpredictable. Just apply and see what happens.

Named scholarships - Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall are prob Highly unique.

Masters/PHD's, IB work, stuff you mentioned - above average, though more or less common the higher up the food chain you go in law school.

Regular work experience after graduation from UG, internships - completely average, prob even below average.

Just working at retail stores and the like - below average.

Again, its all relative to which LS you attend.

What I've gathered is to hit that 'highly unique' softs label I think you need something that says "I'm one of a kind, and it's special enough to have an impact on my admissions chances." Above average is saying "see, I'd make a good lawyer, but it doesn't help me rise above my scores." The reason why 'highly unique' is so rare is there are so few instances that will push weight above GPA/LSATs. For instance, I'm finishing a Ph. D. in Chemistry from a top 10 school working for an incredibly successful professor, and I'm on the border between the two; I'm hoping that I'll at least get a push slightly above my scores, which is all I need.

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When in doubt, ask the collective. That's one of the great resources of this forum, feel free to make use of it.

BigZuck wrote:just focus on the LSAT retake

+1

antiworldly wrote:What I've gathered is to hit that 'highly unique' softs label I think you need something that says "I'm one of a kind, and it's special enough to have an impact on my admissions chances." Above average is saying "see, I'd make a good lawyer, but it doesn't help me rise above my scores." The reason why 'highly unique' is so rare is there are so few instances that will push weight above GPA/LSATs. For instance, I'm finishing a Ph. D. in Chemistry from a top 10 school working for an incredibly successful professor, and I'm on the border between the two; I'm hoping that I'll at least get a push slightly above my scores, which is all I need.

Shit antiworldly, just retake.

HRomanus wrote:

antiworldly wrote:What I've gathered is to hit that 'highly unique' softs label I think you need something that says "I'm one of a kind, and it's special enough to have an impact on my admissions chances." Above average is saying "see, I'd make a good lawyer, but it doesn't help me rise above my scores." The reason why 'highly unique' is so rare is there are so few instances that will push weight above GPA/LSATs. For instance, I'm finishing a Ph. D. in Chemistry from a top 10 school working for an incredibly successful professor, and I'm on the border between the two; I'm hoping that I'll at least get a push slightly above my scores, which is all I need.

Shit antiworldly, just retake.

I was thinking about it, but then I got my letter from GULC. That's one of the top programs I'd be interested in (connections with a couple of boutique patent firms in the area) and so I figured I'd wait, no need to retake if it won't help me at all. Plus it'd involve taking time away from graduating on time, which isn't such a fun option.

antiworldly wrote:

HRomanus wrote:

antiworldly wrote:What I've gathered is to hit that 'highly unique' softs label I think you need something that says "I'm one of a kind, and it's special enough to have an impact on my admissions chances." Above average is saying "see, I'd make a good lawyer, but it doesn't help me rise above my scores." The reason why 'highly unique' is so rare is there are so few instances that will push weight above GPA/LSATs. For instance, I'm finishing a Ph. D. in Chemistry from a top 10 school working for an incredibly successful professor, and I'm on the border between the two; I'm hoping that I'll at least get a push slightly above my scores, which is all I need.

Shit antiworldly, just retake.

I was thinking about it, but then I got my letter from GULC. That's one of the top programs I'd be interested in (connections with a couple of boutique patent firms in the area) and so I figured I'd wait, no need to retake if it won't help me at all. Plus it'd involve taking time away from graduating on time, which isn't such a fun option.

Retaking always helps if there's a chance to increase your score. If your profile LSAT is correct, there's almost a 100% certainty you'll increase your score. Why would you be content with that coming out with a PhD in Chemistry? GULC is a horrible option for you. Retake, go to a higher T14, and be really successful in IP (assuming that's your direction).

HRomanus wrote:

antiworldly wrote:

HRomanus wrote:

antiworldly wrote:What I've gathered is to hit that 'highly unique' softs label I think you need something that says "I'm one of a kind, and it's special enough to have an impact on my admissions chances." Above average is saying "see, I'd make a good lawyer, but it doesn't help me rise above my scores." The reason why 'highly unique' is so rare is there are so few instances that will push weight above GPA/LSATs. For instance, I'm finishing a Ph. D. in Chemistry from a top 10 school working for an incredibly successful professor, and I'm on the border between the two; I'm hoping that I'll at least get a push slightly above my scores, which is all I need.

Shit antiworldly, just retake.

I was thinking about it, but then I got my letter from GULC. That's one of the top programs I'd be interested in (connections with a couple of boutique patent firms in the area) and so I figured I'd wait, no need to retake if it won't help me at all. Plus it'd involve taking time away from graduating on time, which isn't such a fun option.

Retaking always helps if there's a chance to increase your score. If your profile LSAT is correct, there's almost a 100% certainty you'll increase your score. Why would you be content with that coming out with a PhD in Chemistry? GULC is a horrible option for you. Retake, go to a higher T14, and be really successful in IP (assuming that's your direction).

It'd be crazy not to do IP. I may retake in December, we'll see. At this point it's hard to get much done besides labwork if I hope to graduate on time, so I'm not sure I'd be able to score much better, but if I manage to squeak in a few days of study over Thanksgiving weekend, I may. My only saving grace for my sanity is that I can have my laptop at my bench and monitor TLS while I watch my reaction run.

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Shit that requires talent vs shit that merely requires effort.

have you considered not going to law school