Top Law Schools

Bsoo wrote:Sorry- am I mad for not automatically going to a t14 or t20 over L&C or the other way around? I know 100% I want to do environmental law- and this isn't a hypothetical question---

Personally, location and finances are my primary concern, so if L&C is a better fit for those, then it can't be a bad decision. Plus, if LSAT scores really ARE an indicator of success in law school, you may be able to look forward to being near the top of the class, which is very important.

That being said, especially with regard to specific programs for different areas of law -- I just talked to a professor at George Mason about their special regulatory law track, and he blatantly encouraged me to go to the best school that I could get into and that these specialties aren't that important. He reiterated the philosophy that all that mattered was the prestige of the school and your grades/class ranking.

Yeah, he definitely did not work with the admissions office! He was pretty much encouraging me NOT to go there!

I don't know... I'm trying to find some happy medium between the two ways of thinking...

Gah! I finally got my acceptance packet today. I never went to Decision, it always said Complete and changed to 2/8/09..

No money (they have "run out") so I'm not sure what I wanna do... the map of Portland was funny, because I live/grew up here. lol.

kalydscopeeyes wrote:Gah! I finally got my acceptance packet today. I never went to Decision, it always said Complete and changed to 2/8/09..

No money (they have "run out") so I'm not sure what I wanna do... the map of Portland was funny, because I live/grew up here. lol.

My status checker did this too (2/8) so I hope I'm in. Although the no money thing definitely is a bummer.

My status checker updated with "complete" on 2/12... I was interested in Lewis and Clark, but without money it sounds pretty lame. We'll see...

Call from an L&C 2L today. It was a nice touch. I asked him about the market in Portland and competition from surrounding schools (especially from UW) and it sounded like there wasn't too much of that. Most of the competition supposedly comes from UO. Also he said that employers this year seem a little wary to offer any position, and many students are still looking for summer positions. He was, however, very positive about the area and prospects, so he didn't seem gloomy about the job market at all. For the most part he was helpful and he didn't seem like he was trying to make me think that L&C was Harvard West, which I appreciate. Hope someone finds this interesting or helpful.

Bsoo wrote:Sorry- am I mad for not automatically going to a t14 or t20 over L&C or the other way around? I know 100% I want to do environmental law- and this isn't a hypothetical question---

While I was kidding (I think you should pick the school you want), law is a prestige business whether we like it or not. Coming from a T14/T20 school gives you that. Coming from mid-to-lower T2 with a certificate doesn't (except in the case where it's the strongest school in the area). L&C, because of its focus on envirolaw, may have some connections in the field, but a degree from a top school speaks for itself. Regardless of who you want to work for, they'll be more impressed with a degree from a top school.

Having said that, there are plenty of other factors. Money is one-- a big one. If L&C is offering you significant aid, that means you'll have much less debt which can be a good thing. Location is another. If you really like Portland (enough to be happy working there if you're not in the top of your class), that's a good reason to consider L&C. As for the career stats, call their career services folks and ask them to answer the question. If they do, you'll know where you stand and if they don't,,,you may also know where you stand.

I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

IpunchedCharlieRose wrote:I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

Me too.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it.

lbeezy wrote:

IpunchedCharlieRose wrote:I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

Me too.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it.

be happy it's not a rejection?

IpunchedCharlieRose wrote:I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

what does that mean? hold/deferred?

joobacca wrote:

IpunchedCharlieRose wrote:I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

what does that mean? hold/deferred?

Deferred, I believe. I got the same.

beepermad wrote:

joobacca wrote:

IpunchedCharlieRose wrote:I received the "still active - no decision" email this afternoon.

what does that mean? hold/deferred?

Deferred, I believe. I got the same.

I think it's a hold. That's what I'm going to tell people at least.

Dear Beezy,

The admissions committee has completed its review of your application, but has not yet made a decision. Your file is still “active” and we will continue to keep it under consideration. In late April or early May, we will have a clearer idea of how many seats are still available, if any. If we have additional space in the class, we will do a second review of your file and we may extend an offer of admission to you at that time. If you are not admitted after a second review, your file may be denied or added to a waitlist. Either way, we will be in touch with you.

We need no additional information from you and will notify you if there is any change in the status of your application. We realize that this process can seem lengthy, and we appreciate your patience!

Sincerely,

Shannon L. Davis
Assistant Dean of Admissions

Yeah. I thought this was one of my safeties.

I also got one of those active, but no decision yet emails. They said they reviewd my app, but haven't accepted or denied me. They said they will do a 2nd review of my file in April or May if there are spots left. I guess this is kind of like a waitlist.

I have someone that wants to send a 3rd LOR to L&C for me. I wonder if that is okay for the "2nd review" if it ever happens?

This is all better than a rejetion, considering my LSAT was not great. My heart is still a little broken, though, because animal law is my passion. I just really hoped L&C would look beyond the LSAT and pay closer attention to my excellent softs and GPA.

Why don't they just say we're waitlisted then, instead of saying we may be added to a waitlist later?

I got the same, anyone think it's because we applied late, or did some of you apply earlier?

Mitch

i just submitted (today) a late-to-the-game app to L&C... for those of you who got the "still active, no decision" email... would you mind sharing your #'s? just curious... thanks...

166/2.62

applied late december, just got in w/ 164/3.74

Mitchske wrote:I got the same, anyone think it's because we applied late, or did some of you apply earlier?

Mitch

I didn't apply until like a month ago.

I still haven't received anything yet... for those of you who received that "active" email, did you guys only pick FT as your choice? Or did you pick a second choice as well?

I applied on 1/22 and only for FT

Applied 1/5, FT, unimpressive numbers...

But killer softs! And I'm a redhead, which, in my opinion, should earn me URM status...

beepermad wrote:Applied 1/5, FT, unimpressive numbers...

But killer softs! And I'm a redhead, which, in my opinion, should earn me URM status...

Maybe one of the adcoms is also a redhead. In my experience redheads tend to be very suspicious of one another...

EscapeIdaho wrote:

beepermad wrote:Applied 1/5, FT, unimpressive numbers...

But killer softs! And I'm a redhead, which, in my opinion, should earn me URM status...

Maybe one of the adcoms is also a redhead. In my experience redheads tend to be very suspicious of one another...

with good reason. they know very well how untrustworthy and unreliable they are.

joobacca wrote:

EscapeIdaho wrote:

beepermad wrote:Applied 1/5, FT, unimpressive numbers...

But killer softs! And I'm a redhead, which, in my opinion, should earn me URM status...

Maybe one of the adcoms is also a redhead. In my experience redheads tend to be very suspicious of one another...

with good reason. they know very well how untrustworthy and unreliable they are.

We prefer "devious yet impressive."