Top Law Schools

3.86 GPA (English major)
172 LSAT

middle-class white female, but a member of a minority religion (does that count as diversity? haha)
3 solid recommendations
interned for a Congressman for a semester junior year
graduating with University Honors and a published undergraduate thesis


I know Stanford cares a lot about "softs" -- more, it seems, than other top schools. What exactly do they mean by this? Are they looking for students who have published, work experience, or really great recommendations? Or are they interested in applicants who, for example, write books and run marathons? Both/neither?

adeina wrote:3.86 GPA
172 LSAT

middle-class white female
3 solid recommendations
interned for a Congressman for a semester junior year
graduating with University Honors and a published undergraduate thesis


I know Stanford cares a lot about "softs" -- more than other top schools. What exactly do they mean by this? Like, have you published? Do you have work experience? Are your recommendations really great? Or like, have you written a book or run a marathon-type softs? Or both? Or neither?? haha

Work experience is the biggest one. They also like engineers and are big on diversity. You have a good of shot as anyone but Stanford really is hard to predict.

Thanks for the quick response. And yeah, I pretty much hear Stanford is like a black box. You really can't know who they're going to choose or why.

As for work experience, do you think the kind of work experience matters? For example, what if I wanted to work at a therapeutic riding center or do Teach for America for a couple years rather than running straight to Capitol Hill? And do internships not usually count as work experience?

Internships don't count as real WE, though they're better than nothing. Your softs are average. I heard TFA is a good soft, but therapeutic riding sounds more interesting and fun and could also be a good soft.

Are you at Wesleyan (my alma mater)? Because if you are, University Honors is an extremely impressive accomplishment. Last time I checked, only one or two people receive the honor each year. It would seem to me that either Yale or Stanford is a strong possibility for you.

Thanks for the insight about internships/WE.

OK, I edited, too.

I think odds are against you to get into SLS, but I think it'll be worth an application. I'm pretty sure applicants like you have gotten in. Good luck.

soj wrote:OK, I edited, too.

I think odds are against you to get into SLS, but I think it'll be worth an application. I'm pretty sure applicants like you have gotten in. Good luck.

Thanks for the honesty. That's what I'm looking for. Any suggestions on how I could improve my chances?

Haha I don't know, trying to figure that out myself. I think a good PS should help. And interesting WE. WE is supposed to help for Harvard, even though Harvard is otherwise quite numbers-oriented.

Great, thanks for the advice. And best of luck to you!

Best advice I can give: read Dean Deal's blog. Especially her response to the first question of this post. Make sure all your puzzle pieces fit together!

Stig wrote:Best advice I can give: read Dean Deal's blog. Especially her response to the first question of this post. Make sure all your puzzle pieces fit together!

Wow, this is a great resource! I had no idea it existed. Thanks for the link.

adeina wrote: middle-class white female, but a member of a minority religion (does that count as diversity? haha)

Do not mention Scientology/Mormonism/Wicca in your PS.

I had a friend with exactly your numbers who got a Ruby at Chicago ,$$$ at CLS and in virtually everywhere else with $ except SLS where he was waitlisted. Incidently he also was a member of a minority Christian religion. Good luck

vulpixie wrote:

adeina wrote: middle-class white female, but a member of a minority religion (does that count as diversity? haha)

Do not mention Scientology/Mormonism/Wicca in your PS.

That doesn't apply to me, but I can't help but feel that comment is tinged with a regrettable tone. Besides, Stanford seems to be the kind of school that would find those groups of people interesting.

booasa wrote:I had a friend with exactly your numbers who got a Ruby at Chicago ,$$$ at CLS and in virtually everywhere else with $ except SLS where he was waitlisted. Incidently he also was a member of a minority Christian religion. Good luck

I'll take a waitlist... as long as it comes with acceptance eventually! Thanks for your comment.