Top Law Schools

I've lurked for a while so I know that I have a solid shot at anything other than HYS... I'm just curious about how my semester study abroad in Shanghai and conversational Mandarin will impact admissions and HYS.

About me -

White male....

I'm an Econ/Philosophy double major from a good flagship state university.... I have a solid upward trend with my grades... the only semester I got anything below a 3.7 was first semester freshman year with a 3.0, so I guess that helps. Remove that first semester and I have a 3.8.

I'm in the honors program at my school and am in the process of completing an undergraduate thesis, so that goes above and beyond the usual undergraduate coursework I guess.

Last spring I lived in Shanghai for four months to study and practice my Mandarin which I have been studying for the past 4 semesters.

That's basically it... I was the president of my fraternity but from what I've read that's a relatively minor soft that won't be taken much into account next to LSAT/GPA...

I'm not worried about Columbia and up, but what about HYS? Does study abroad experience, particularly mine, help with admissions? Will my knowledge of a critical language impact my admissions chances?

No.

You're out at Y and S. you have a better than coin flip shot at H.

lawschoolnumbers.com

deputydog wrote:No.

You're out at Y and S. you have a better than coin flip shot at H.

I can deal with that

Hit up the doc review agencies while in school. Enjoy $50 or more an hour plus OT.

deputydog wrote:No.

You're out at Y and S. you have a better than coin flip shot at H.

This.

I think speaking Mandarin (are you fluent?) will help you in terms of recruitment. However, when it comes to law school admissions, I don;t think it will make a big difference - or I will be at such a great advantage being a native speaker. haha

I applied last year with a 3.6, 178. Also white, from a top public university, studied abroad in Beijing and Shanghai. I wrote about learning Mandarin for my PS, but beyond that I don't think it contributed to my applications much. Pretty predictable cycle based on my numbers, out at HYS, in at CCN.

More like out at Y and S. Some chance at H, but don't count on it. In at CCN and down.