Categories: Advice, Application Timeline, Law Careers, Law School Admission Deadlines, Law School Admission Trends, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Law School Rankings, Law School Resume Tips, Low LSAT, LSAT Prep, Uncategorized, Wait lists, waitlist
Tags: applying to law school, insider secrets getting into law school, law school podcast, LSAT Preparation
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I recently did a podcast interview for Insider Secrets : ”Getting Into Law School” - you can listen to it or read the transcript. In it, I discuss how to choose an LSAT prep program, choosing a law school, taking on debt, putting together your applications, resumes, wait lists, low LSAT scores, and about a thousand different things related to law school admission. I’m happy to take questions here and/or entertain your comments and thoughts.
Categories: Uncategorized
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Did your score come back within 3 or 4 points of your consistent practice exam scores? If so, and if you prepared well for the test, keep the score and run with it. And congratulate yourself! The LSAT is behind you. Start looking at schools based on your LSAC GPA and this LSAT score. See if you’re happy with the schools you come up with. (Lots of info on creating a schools list in my book.)
In recent years, a lot of people are tempted to retake the LSAT just because they can. They think, “Well, if I study for three months I can get 2 more points for sure.” But it’s not “for sure.” See this chart by AtlasLSAT about average increases on second tries. Plus, that’s three more anxiety filled months, with more money down the drain on test fees and test prep.
If your score didn’t come back within a few points of your consistent practice exam scores, or if you didn’t take enough practice exams to get consistent, then you should re-take the test in October. A lot of people worry that this will put them behind in the rolling admission process. For those folks I have two remarks: (1) You will still be able to apply in time for Early Decision and Early Notification deadlines at schools (usually Nov. 1 and Nov. 15) and you’ll certainly be able to submit all your applications before Thanksgiving if you get your act together now; and (2) getting a score 3-4 points higher is worth the payoff of waiting just a few weeks to apply. That is absolutely “for sure.”
Here are some previous posts you might find helpful:
You have your June LSAT score. Now What? – this post has a bit of info about how schools view multiple scores.
Thinking of re-taking the LSAT in October? Read this post.
Taking the LSAT for the first time in October and planning to self-study? Here are some resources:
Three Month Study Program from Ace the LSAT Blog
AtlasLSAT Self-Study Options
P.S. For those of you thinking, “What??! Scores are out? I didn’t get mine!!!” please know that I’m posting this in advance because I expect scores to come out by email this afternoon/evening. They are scheduled to come out Monday. I’m being proactive!
Categories: Law School Rankings, Wait lists, waitlist
Tags: choosing a law school, law school waiting list, location versus ranking
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Success Story #1: Law School Waiting List Dreams Do Come True
I get a lot of comments on the blog asking whether a waiting list is a “soft-reject.” My response: only if you do nothing to follow up and campaign for yourself. Today, one of my clients called me with wonderful news – she was admitted off the WL into her dream school (a top 10 law school) with both an LSAT and GPA at the 25th percentile for that school. How does this happen? She didn’t take “no” for an answer. Even though the school said in its WL letter that they didn’t want additional materials and no follow-up was necessary, she followed up. She visited. She wrote persuasive, professional letters. She had additional, relevant letters of rec sent. She convinced the school she was a sure thing. Even though she wasn’t in the priority ranking of the WL, today, on June 15th, she was admitted to her dream school. Lawyers are advocates. Start by being your own advocate. Take action and you’ll never have to wonder “what if?”
Success Story #2: Choosing Your Right School, not U.S. News’ Right School
I have another client, let’s call him “Steve.” Steve applied to law school a year ago (without my help) and wasn’t happy with his results. He really wanted to go to Law School X (a top 25 USNWR law school). He didn’t get it. So about a year ago, we started working together. He ended up getting in to School X (with a scholarship) and also into a Top 15 law school. He has spent two months struggling with his decision. Top 15 school is far away, but sounds fun and prestigious. School X is close to home and a great fit for his career goals and social life. He visited both campuses. He talked to local prospective employers. He learned that they would rather hire someone locally who clerked with them during law school than someone from a more highly ranked law school. As I say in the book, “Don’t be a snob. Think about where you want a job!” Choosing his original dream school, right in his backyard, where he is already hooked into the legal community, is the right decision for Steve (no matter what USNWR might say).
Categories: Application Timeline
Tags: Blog Talk Radio, law school application
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This Thursday, I’ll be hosting a Blog Talk Radio Show about setting up your timeline for the application process. I will help you plan your life for the next 4-5 months. Control the process – don’t let it control you! I’ll tell you how on Thursday at 3 p.m. EST/ Noon PST. (It’ll be a 30 minute program).
Whether you’re a June or October LSAT taker (or re-taker), I will help you schedule your time to attack your resume, addenda, personal statement, optional essays, transcript sending, letters of rec coordinating, etc., in an organized fashion so you can submit applications early enough to take advantage of rolling admissions and/or apply before Early Decision/Early Notification deadlines.
I will have no guests – it’ll just be me this time. So listen live to ask questions! Or, ask them in the comments section here and I’ll include them in the show.
Categories: Application Timeline, LSAT, LSAT; Rolling Admissions
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Way back when, I took the June LSAT.
If LSAT prep courses and law school admission consultants (or, of course, the Internet) had existed back in 1995, I hope someone would’ve told me a few things. Among them:
1. Since I’d only studied for one month, on my own, and was not a naturally brilliant standardized test taker, I should’ve waited until the October test administration. Especially since I’m also a morning person. I should have learned more about the option of canceling my LSAT score. If this is you, and you are taking the LSAT with the advantage of all of the resources I lacked, then consider canceling your LSAT and registering (today!) for the October test. If any of these terrible things happened to you and you did not see my blog post on Friday in time to decide not to take the test, please cancel your June LSAT score. Click here for other reasons to cancel your LSAT score.
2. If you are keeping your LSAT score, use this time wisely. LSAT scores are usually released by email on the third Friday after the test, so perhaps on June 25th. During the next 3 weeks you can be very productive. Here are some of my suggestions:
TODAY: Do nothing. Eat chocolate. See a guilty pleasure movie. Go out with friends. Do all of the things I told you on Friday NOT to do this weekend. Do them tonight. So what if it’s Monday? Go OUT. Stay away from discussion boards. Please. I beg you. It does you no good to know how total strangers would’ve dissected the dinosaur game. Seriously. Trust me on this. I know you won’t listen to me on this, but I promise you’ll regret trolling the forums today.
In the next three weeks, you can spend time on your resume, start putting together ideas for a personal statement, and ask people for letters of rec. You can register for LSDAS if you haven’t already and start getting your transcripts sent there by EVERY college you’ve attended. This would be extremely productive, and you’d be ten steps ahead of everybody else if you followed through with this plan.
3. In Law School Expert blatant self promotion, here are two other tools that you may find helpful during this time:
The Law School Admission Game: Play Like An Expert - My bestselling law school guide is available on Amazon.com and on my website.
Law School Bootcamp – a series of 10 webinars with me on topics including: setting up an application timeline, crafting a fantastic law school resume, brainstorming and drafting your personal statement, Letters of Recommendation, Tips and Tricks on Applications, and so much more. I’ve already done three webinars (and if you sign up for the series you can watch the recorded webinars) but I’m actually going to REPEAT the first three again due to the demand for them. You can sign up for one or all ten, or any combination that works for you – it’s made to work for your needs. The dates are set (but subject to change) and you can see the calendar here. If you can’t make a particular webinar, you can always watch it anytime after it’s given. If you can watch it live, you get to ask me questions throughout the webinar related to that day’s topic. All you need is a computer and a phone (or headset) to listen in. Please feel free to leave any questions in the comment section of this blog post. You can sign up here, and spaces will fill up because I’m limiting enrollment to 25 for each webinar.
Never Miss a Law School Expert Update or Tip! Subscribe to the blog by filling in your email address on the right side of the page, and join/follow/like these pages on Facebook:
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I also tweet @annlevine
Hope everyone is feeling great about today’s test, but I know most of you are feeling exhausted, upset, anxious, and nervous. These feelings are all completely normal. Just remember you don’t have to decide today whether to cancel your LSAT score. Sleep on it and hang in there!
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Last minute LSAT tips, LSAT
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The LSAT is Monday. You probably already know this.
You’re probably getting pretty nervous, and planning your last minute cram-sessions.
STOP right now.
THINK.
If ANYTHING crazy is going on in your life right now, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
I guarantee you that a month from now I’ll be fielding dozens of calls and emails from people who are disappointed with their performance on the June LSAT and who will blame the following:
1. Lack of preparation. If you have not studied for 2-3 months and taken more than 3 full length, timed practice exams, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
2. Death in the family or death of your best friend. If anyone in your family or close circle of friends has been injured, traumatized or killed in the last 2 weeks, do NOT take the LSAT on Monday.
3. Illness. You have the flu? Do not take the LSAT on Monday! No one wants to read an addendum mentioning vomit, diarrhea or both.
4. Side effects. Started a new medication? Does it make you drowsy or have the potential to make you drowsy or physically ill? Started a new medication to treat ADD? Don’t take the LSAT on Monday.
I don’t mean to make light of serious problems, but stop and think. Four times a year, whenever the LSAT is given, I hear from people who seek my help writing addenda to explain an LSAT score. These four reasons are among those that come up most often. You can avoid the heartache and stigma of a very low LSAT score that fails to measure your abilities on the test by simply making the adult decision – despite fever, grief, exhaustion, and anxiety – to postpone taking the test until October. Yes, you’ll have a ‘no-show’ but I swear it’s not a big deal. And if you want the experience of sitting through the test, take it and cancel it as you leave the test center. But go in with a clear head and make a good decision. Is this a good time for YOU to take the LSAT?
For those of you who ARE prepared, healthy, and whose life is (thankfully) in a state of relative normalcy, then DO take the LSAT. And spend this weekend getting TONS of sleep, reading the newspaper or other interesting/thought provoking things, maybe dabble in a logic game or two, stay away from other people taking the LSAT, and refrain from talking to anyone about the LSAT. Take care of yourself. Get yourself into a frame of mind that gets you to a place where Monday morning, over a great breakfast with lots of protein, you are saying “Alright! Let’s prove what I can do on this thing!”
Good luck to all June LSAT takers. Oh! And come back to the Blog on Monday to learn how to spend your time while waiting for your LSAT score. My 10-webinar series (“Law School Bootcamp“) begins from scratch in under two weeks. I’m even going to repeat the first 3 webinars that have already taken place since demand for them has been so high. More info on that on Monday! Good luck!
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Ann K. Levine, Esq., former director of law school admissions for two ABA approved law schools, is a law school admission consultant and owner of Law School Expert,
