Univeristy of Toronto - URM question Forum

[mommalee]

165/3.74 AA female -

So I am Canadian, but I have lived in the States for 10+ years and I applied to several American law schools. However, my parents moved back to Canada and U of T sent me an packet waiving fees if I apply and I figured why not. I am wondering if Canadian law schools do any kind of URM admitting or if I would have to retake in order to get admitted.

Also, I am assuming the domestic tuition posted on school sites is for people who actually live in Canada not Canadians living abroad. Since my Mum is up there can I use here residence to claim Canadian residence - I don't pay taxes up there (if that would be relevant). I am also older 24+ if parental residency claims could be afffected by this.

Thanks!

[spleenworship]

I know that Canadian schools generally have URM admissions for Native Americans (Aboriginals) and special admissions for Non-Trads. I do not believe, but I'm not a 100% on this, that they have any other kind of URM. They do, however, look at diversity and your essay should reflect that to increase your chances, which it would, almost certainly.

All the same, I'll say this: you are just below median for UT on GPA and LSAT, and have a decent (but not guaranteed) chance of getting in.

You might want to consider other Canadian schools. Osgoode is very good and with your scores you have a very good chance of getting in there. Queen's is also up there near Toronto and also good from my understanding. Possibly better than Osgoode. Since it doesn't cost much more to go through the Ontario application service to apply to these other schools, and since you have to send it all to them to apply to UT, I would consider those as well. Tuition costs for Canadian citizens is quite reasonable, and their employment stats are still MUCH better than any but T14 schools here in the States.

UVIC, Dalhousie, Alberta, Calgary, and UBC are all good choices as well, IMO, but if you want to stay in Ontario these aren't as good choices.

[mommalee]

Thanks for the advice. I am guessing that with the boost I would get fom being an URM, American schools are going to be better for me (cost/job prospects). Does University of Toronto have better employment stats than University of Texas?

Thanks again!

[DaRascal]

No way! Go to Harvard! Canada's a thing of the past.

[spleenworship]

Thanks for the advice. I am guessing that with the boost I would get fom being an URM, American schools are going to be better for me (cost/job prospects). Does University of Toronto have better employment stats than University of Texas?

Thanks again!

Yes. 98% of U of Toronto students get jobs as lawyers, most of them in biglaw.

Apart from HYSCCN, you cannot do better than UT in the States, IMO. And frankly, even the worst school in Canada has like 80% placement rates in actual JD required jobs. I think Osgoode, for instance, had a 95% placement rate for articling last year.

Consider the fact that for the majority of schools in the States their actual JD required stats are somewhere in the 30-70% range.

If you stay in the States, and don't get me wrong as a URM with those numbers you have a good shot at the T14, you need to go T14 to have equal job prospects with Canadian grads.

Also, assuming you are a Canadian citizen, costs are probably quite comparable. You should get some good scholly offers in the States, but most of those will come with stipulations. Canadian schools, by contrast, offer citizens a cost (in just tuition) of $15K-20K a year... but there is no stipulation if you end up with bad grades. So it's about equal to a half tuition schooly with no stipulations in the States.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm sure you will do well.

ETA: I should have just gone to Dalhousie.... sigh.

[spleenworship]

Also: do you have canadian citizenship? If you do, I do not believe where you lived before makes any difference to the price they charge you for tuition.


ETA: I would call their admissions offices and ask. As you are undoubtedly already aware, they are all very nice up there and will happily answer questions regarding tuition.

[mommalee]

Yea I am a Canadian citizen. I lived some exciting places - London, Woodstock, Regina. I am going to think more seriously about some of the Canadian schools though.

Where did you end up?

[bbsg]

UofT undergrad here who is also applying to UofT Law. Some points:

a) The tuition is based on citizenship. If you never lived in Canada but still have citizenship, you get the domestic rate. Which at UofT is much higher than the rest of the law schools in Canada, I would add, but still cheaper than US schools

b) If you're considering practicing in Canada, you cannot really do better than UofT period. Especially if you're hoping for a biglaw Canadian firm. If you are, UofT might be a better bet than HYS (that is, if you're *certain* you'd want to practice in Canada).

c) UofT just looks at your best three years of undergrad, so your GPA might not be accurate based on their appraisal system (might be higher!)

d) Some (most) Canadian schools just look at best 2 or last 2 years. So look into that. Also, the LSAT is less important here..the GPA is weighted more heavily, but that's compensated for by the fact they only count your best 2 or last 2 years, generally!

e) Your LSAT is *sliiiightly* low for UofT, but not uncompetitive. Your GPA looks fine. I'd say you have pretty decent chances, all in all.