Categories: Advice, Law School Admission Deadlines, Law School Admission Trends, Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, LSAT; Rolling Admissions
Tags: December LSAT, Low LSAT, LSAT Scores, October LSAT score
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LSAT scores came out. Let the panic begin. Right now you’re exhausted, scouring the Internet for anything, ready to grasp the smallest, least credible piece of advice that tells you that your very low LSAT score WILL get you into the school of your dreams.
What is my advice? Sleep on it. Then, when you wake up, read these posts:
Before You Re-take the LSAT
The Post-LSAT Blues (by me, but on USNews.com)
Should You Re-Take the LSAT in December? (by me)
Should You Re-Take the LSAT in December (by MSS blog)
But to answer the easy questions:
1. NO – December is NOT too late to apply for Fall 2012 admission. Why? Because you will still be able to submit apps in early January. Because you’re better off having a higher LSAT score and applying in January than applying now with a lower LSAT score. Because applications are down 10% and this can only help you.
2. NO – You can’t significantly improve your practice exam scores in 5 weeks. If you suck at standardized tests, you’re not going to be able to teach yourself the test. To get a different result, you need to take different actions.
Happy to take questions! And would love your feedback on the new book, The Law School Decision Game:A Playbook for Prospective Lawyers.
Ann
Categories: Advice, Law School Personal Statement, Personal Statement Tips
Tags: law school personal statement, personal statement help
6 Comments »
The following is an excerpt from The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert, page 92:
5 Words & Phrases that Make Me Cringe in Personal Statements:
1. “Personally”- It’s a personal statement. Of course everything you say is your own personal opinion. If it’s not, you’re doing something wrong.
2. “In conclusion….” Blech! Just conclude, don’t announce that you’re concluding.
3. “I believe…” It doesn’t matter what you believe about your ability to succeed in law school or what you believe is important in your application. The fact that you believe it is immaterial. Just state the facts so that the reader independently concludes that he or she believes whatever you’re trying to prove.
4. “Unique…”Very few things in this world are “unique,” especially the use of the word “unique.”
5.”Firsthand experience….” What is a secondhand experience and why would anyone write about it?
Categories: Uncategorized
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I’m going to be posting some excerpts from my new book, The Law School Decision Game: A Playbook for Prospective Lawyers, now available. It just came out last week and is under $12 on Amazon. I look forward to your comments and questions about the book.
I surveyed more than 250 attorneys from across the country to provide you with information that will help you decide (1) whether to go to law school, (2) where to go to law school, (3) what you can expect from a law degree, and (4) how to make yourself employable as a lawyer. Today, I want to share the results of the following question -
What do ATTORNEYS say are the 5 Most Important Factors in Choosing a Law School?
#1: Location near job and internship opportunities. (74% of lawyers listed this among the Top 5)
#2: Bar passage rate (72%)
#3: Supportiveness of faculty and administration (69%)
#4: U.S. News rankings (67%)
#5: Cost of attendance; and area of specialization (tied at 55%)
(see page 206 of The Law School Decision Game for more about this data and other conclusions about choosing a law school).
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: applying to law school, choosing a law school, cost of law school, law school admission books on kindle, law school and the economy, Law School Books, law school debt, law school financial aid, Law School Rankings
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The Law School Decision Game: A Playbook for Prospective Lawyers includes essential advice
from 300+ attorneys for anyone considering law school or beginning a career in law.
Ann Levine, the trusted expert in law school admission, is releasing a new book aimed at those trying to make a decision about law school in these uncertain times. With lower numbers of graduate school applicants being reported in the news and recent graduates sharing their tales of unemployment and crushing debt, people are asking hard questions about whether to pursue their dreams of attending law school. These future lawyers need a good place to get answers and The Law School Decision Game: A Playbook for Prospective Lawyers delivers. Ann Levine surveyed and interviewed more than three hundred lawyers in order to pass on their advice to prospective law students, current law students and new lawyers already planning their careers. Their real life stories make this book the ultimate tool for making the best decision about law school and building a career in law.
Available now on Amazon, BUY TODAY to help make it a best seller!
Categories: Advice, Law School Admission Deadlines, Law School Personal Statement, Law School Resume Tips, Letters of Rec, LSAT, LSAT; Rolling Admissions
20 Comments »
If you just took today’s LSAT, congratulations on being done. For the next 24 hours make no major decisions and avoid reading any forums or talking to anyone who also took today’s test. You have 6 days to decide whether to cancel your LSAT score and there are no bonus points for rushing to cancel today. Take a deep breath and relax. I always talk to a lot of people who panic on LSAT day, only to feel just fine about their performance the next day. That rarely happens in reverse. However, definitely cancel your LSAT score if any of these things happened to you.
When you wake up tomorrow, decide to be productive. Here are 3 easy things to do this week to move your application process forward:
1. Get out your resume and resolve to polish it up. See this US News post I wrote last year and listen to Chapter 6 of the audio version of The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert.
2. Make sure your LORs are in process – being sent to LSAC or already there.
3. Work on your personal statement. Here are some helpful posts about law school personal statement writing and this one about concluding your personal statement.
Lastly, if you end up being disappointed by your score, is it OK to take the December LSAT and apply in early January? YES. Absolutely. It’s ok.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and, as always, I’m happy to answer your questions.
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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,
