Owning Up - Disciplinary Statements

Every law school application contains several, extensive questions about your history -- this includes any troubles you may have had with the law or your undergraduate institution. The reason law schools solicit this information early on in the application process is because to sit for the bar (the test that you take after law school to practice) the ABA will do extensive checks into your background. The ABA places great importance on professionals who are in the legal clear.

It is important to acknowledge past indiscretions in an upfront and honest manner.

Typically, the application will ask if you have ever been charged with a felony or crime -- this excludes minor traffic violations; however, DUI and DWIs are taken very seriously. It may also ask if you are a litigant in an ongoing court procedures, or if you have ever been court martialed. Also, the application will ask if you have ever been placed on any sort of disciplinary probation by your undergraduate institution. Be truthful because law school's will see this in your transcripts, you will be asked to further explain if you indicate a yes to any of these questions.



Usually, minor violations of school policy (noise complaints and drinking violations) are not taken too seriously. In my case, I go to a dry campus and live in on-campus apartments. A few of my friends and I were drinking in a room and got caught by the university police. All the students were of age and no one had any legal charges pressed.

In my applications, I simply added a statement explaining my situation, and detailing how I learned from my mistakes and am currently in good standing with the university. You can upload a document like this to your LSAC profile and add it to every application you send out.

Law schools don't take such small violations too seriously; however, academic probations are of a much more serious nature. Plagiarism, getting caught cheating, or having a low GPA for several semesters can hurt your chances of getting accepted, but it is absolutely necessary to adequately explain your situation.

Always be truthful and upfront with your applications. If you aren't able to sit the bar later on because of character problems, it can save you thousands of dollars in tuition now.

(Image from Greenwhichroundup.com)

Letters of Recommendation - Take 2

Letters of Recommendation are one of the most integral aspects to your law school application; a solid LOR can be the little nudge that is necessary to get you accepted. Picking good recommenders is crucial.

So who are good recommenders?

• Professors. Your past teachers -- collegiate level only -- are the best sources for a good recommendation. They know the in's and out's of your writing, academic performance, performance in the classroom, and work ethic. Professors hold the most weight to an admissions committee. Remember to pick professors you have a good relationship with.
• Club Adviors. If you were involved in a club in undergraduate and held any leadership positions, a letter from your club advisor is a great attribute to your application. Advisors can attest to your motivation outside of the classrom and leadership qualities.
• Employers. These recommenders are good for law school hopefuls still in undergrad and those who have been in the workforce a few years -- it is most helpful to the latter. It shows the committee your ability to either (a) balance a job during your undergraduate studies or (b) your hard work ethic and professional experience. Letters from internships are great.

What about the not-so-good recommenders?

• The Member of Congress you worked for who barely knows you. You may think a LOR from a Member of Congress would dazzle an admissions committee, but unless you worked with the Member closely for an extended period, I suggest not to go this way. The committee isn't interested in reading a very general letter from a Member who can barely remember you, let alone attest to your superb working qualities.
• Famous people you met briefly. It's the same reason as above; you need to pick people who can really speak to who you are as a person. Do not try to impress the committee with a big name. Keep it low key.

Recommenders can be the key to your success or a roadblock. Pick good recommenders and you'll be fine!

Letters of Recommendation - Take 1

Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are similar to transcripts. You do not submit the letters to schools you apply to yourself, but rather, LSAC does that for you.

Just as you would with your transcripts, you will need to log on to the LSAC website and click the tab LSDAS/LOR and click on the link Letters of Recommenation. This section of the website is sub-divided into LOR overview and the actual LORs themselves.

You will need to print off and fill out release forms which you give to your recommenders to submit with the letter of recommendation they submit on your behalf. There are two types of letters: general -- which can be sent out to any school -- and specific -- which is designed for specific schools.

Towards the bottom of the LOR page, there is a chart where you can add in the information about your recommenders. This allows you to track when your letters are received by LSAC and monitor which letters are sent to each school.

Below the Recommender tracker is the Directed Letters for Law Schools tracker. For every law school you apply to make sure to add the school on your tracker, and then send the releant LORs to that school.

(Note: your recommenders send the letters in on your behalf -- you will not see the letter before it is sent to LSAC.)

Transcripts

Transcripts can be tricky.

When applying to law school, part of the application process is submitting your undergraduate transcript which details the classes you have taken and the grades you have received. The tricky part is that you do not submit them to the law schools yourself; LSAC does.

On the LSAC website, you will find a link detailing all the specifics of submitting transcripts to LSAC. When applying, it is necessary to supply the schools you are applying to with all necessary previous institution's documentation. This means your undergraduate school, any transfer schools, and any graduate institutions.

The transcripts must be submitted directly from the institutions themselves, so go to your enrollment services office on campus and request a transcript to be sent to LSAC. You will need to print off a Transcript Request Form from your online LSAC account and ask the school to add this to the transcript. This helps LSAC to quickly file away your transcript with your LSAC file.

You may also update older transcripts by sending in newer ones -- usually this happens when grades are posted at the end of the semester. It is the same procedure as sending in an initial transcript.

Your home institution will inquire where you would like the transcript to be sent. For domestic transcripts send it to:

Law School Admission Council
662 Penn Street
Box 200-M
Newton, PA 18940

Foreign Transcripts have the same address except that the PO Box number is 8502.

If you have any further questions, consult the LSAC website, or e-mail me.

Resumes: Not Just for Job Hunting Anymore

A resume can be a valuable tool in applying to law schools. It allows you to not only list your previous experiences, but expand and highlight them in a way that makes your candidacy more appealing. As mentioned before, law schools look for well rounded applicants to admit, and those who took an active role in their home institution during undergrad come out on top.

Similar to a resume you would create for a job, your law school resume ought to include work experience (internships, part time jobs, summer jobs, etc.) you had during your college years. It's important to show the committee that you were able to balance the work load in and the out of the classroom. If you didn't have a job during undergrad, have no fear; admission committees aren't necessarily looking for work experience in every applicant. Simply stated, they are just looking to see that you weren't partying it up so much in undergrad that you didn't have time for much else.

Many admissions committees look for volunteer work on a resume too and feel strongly about a law school prospect involving themselves in their community and giving back. In your law school education, you'll have to perform pro bono work, and once you graduate you will be working with the public, so it helps to have a background in this. It doesn't matter where you volunteer -- soup kitchen, animal shelter, assisted living facility -- it just matters that you did.

Listing and elaborating on your extra-curricular activities is also crucial. Make sure to denote whether you held any leadership positions in clubs during your years. Getting involved and being a leader bodes well with law schools.

Also, beef up your resume with any awards you might have won in undergrad or special recognitions. If you published anything you wrote, definitely include that on the resume. There's no such thing as being an over-achiever to an admissions committee, and the more accomplishments you can display on your resume, the more likely a review committee will see your determination and offer you admission.

If you are looking to flush out a resume, you can always add a section near the bottom detailing future plans in law. Keep it simple though; law school resumes ought to be scanned easily and not boughed down with wordy sentences which distract the reader.

As always, feel free to contact me or e-mail me your resume if you need some pointers.

It's Not You... It's Me.

This age old breakup excuse aptly applies to writing a good Personal Statement. Good Personal Statements are all about you; selling yourself to the law school you apply to is key.

Personal Statements are one of the admissions committee's sole chances to consider you as more than a number (LSAT and GPA). It allows the individuals reviewing your application, the ability to see past a rigid application and get a comprehensive view of who you are as a person.

Law schools look for motivated candidates with diverse backgrounds. Unlike other graduate school programs, law schools do not conduct interviews. Your Personal Statement is your one shot to dazzle the committee. So, how do you knock their socks off? Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Write something interesting. A good opener, similar to any type of writing you do, helps to pull in your audience and get them interested. I wrote about my time in DC with Congressman Berry and made sure to incorporate engaging concrete details about our work together.
   


2. Write about yourself. Really sell yourself and write about anything that is unique about you.
   


3. Explain why you want to go to law school. However, be careful not to become too preachy (i.e. "I want to change the world...").
   


4. Keep away from the legal jargon and specific law related issues. Addressing these topics can be dangerous since the people who are reading your essays are lawyers themselves and probably know more than you do.
   


5. Do not address low LSAT scores or GPAs. The Personal Statement is not the place for this; you're trying to talk yourself up -- not sell yourself short. If you think something needs to be explained, add an addendum.
   


6. Make sure your grammar is perfect. One typo or misplaced comma can hurt your chances of being admitted. (Note: Prepare yourself for writing several drafts and make sure to have friends and professors look over your writing.)
   


7. Be clear and concise. Keep it simple and your message will go far with the reader. About 2 pages double spaced is the normal size.
   


8. Address specifically why you wish to attend a certain institution. Law school admission committees love to hear why you want to go to their specific school because it gives them insight on you.
   


9. Be passionate. Studying law is tough and having motivation and determination will win over the selection committees quickly.
   


10. Be confident. A confident writer is easy to spot, and your confidence can take you a long way with the committee and in life.
    

Start writing a draft now, and it will pay off later.

For more helpful hints visit this great Personal Statement Advice website.

Feel free to e-mail me your drafts or ideas for feedback as well.








(Image from http://www.une.edu.au/library/images/writing.jpg)

Application Process

As mentioned in previous posts, the application process can be a long and stressful process. In this post, I just want to outline the basics of applying to law school for you, and in future posts, I will go into greater detail about the finer points touched on here.

Getting an early start to researching schools is crucial. Once you've narrowed down the potential law schools to the ones you would be interested in applying to, you should educate yourself about the application requirements for each specific school.

The most basic law school application consists of filling out the institution's application form, writing a personal statement, creating a resume, submitting transcripts and recommendations to LSAC, and sending in all these materials plus any additional disciplinary or addendum statements.

If you are currently a Junior in undergrad who will be graduating May 2010, I suggest working on your resume, personal statement, and getting together all of your materials this summer. This way, you won't struggle with balancing applying to law school and a semester workload this upcoming fall.

Applications must be flawless; even one typo on a personal statement or accidental false statement will cause your candidacy to be cast aside by an admissions committee.

So get to work!

Researching Law Schools

Researching law schools can be a daunting process. My advice is to get as much information about potential schools early on; I started my research my freshman year of undergrad when I attended a law school fair.

Law school fairs are basically the same as college fairs -- each school has a booth with information and a representative trying to sell you the school. Over my undergraduate career, I went to two of these. The first was at 30th Street station in Philadelphia and held by Drexel Law, and the second was in Washington, DC and facilitated by LSAC. The LSAC website posts dates about upcoming law school fairs. Typically they are held in big cities -- DC, Philadelphia, New York, etc.

The LSAC website also lists every ABA (American Bar Association) accredited law school in the US and its territories and has a GPA and LSAT calculator. The calculator, based on previous incoming classes, calculates your percentage of getting accepted, which is very helpful in finding "safe" schools.

Another tool I found to be very useful was the US News & World Report website. It ranks all ABA accredited law schools in a four tier category and places the top tiered schools from 1 to 100. It allowed me to compare the schools I got accepted into and see which were rated best.

It's important to take into account the various concentrations -- sort of like your major in undergrad -- each school offers as well. While it is not necessary to graduate law school with a concentration, research which schools you are considering have the area you want to specialize in and go from there.

Happy hunting!

Updates - Apartment Hunting

This morning I started apartment hunting online. Yikes! Seems to be that all the good places are already leased for the fall semester, which means I had to bust a move today to find decent housing.

Also, I've been bugging my dad about guest blogging about the rewarding/horrifying experiences of a law-school hopeful's father. I'm sure he'll have some interesting insight about the process from a father's POV.

Sorry for the short post, but I'm unbelievably busy with finding an apartment.

Check back soon for my posts about the application process -- it's quite long and often times confusing.

Roarrrrrrr

I am officially a Drexel Dragon! Roar! Do dragons roar or growl? Perhaps they just breathe fire -- either way please insert correct dragon noise here!

I feel so accomplished. The check is in the mail, and now I start hunting for apartments and loans. This should get interesting.

Anyone know any good apartments for lease in University City? Let me know!

(Logo from Drexel Website)

Updates - I had a Revelation.

I was on the phone speaking with my dad 20 minutes ago, and I had an epiphany; I want to go to Drexel for law school. The decision just all of a sudden made perfect sense, and I truly believe Drexel is the best place for me at this point.

By then end of the week, I'll send off my 300 dollar nonrefundable deposit, and I'll begin searching for housing in Philadelphia.

I am still waiting to see if U of Baltimore will throw me a substantial scholarship; however, at this point, I am Drexel bound.

Go Dragons!

The LSAT - Getting your Scores

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Charles Dickens put it best; the day you get your scores back can be the best time of your life, or it can be the worst. The first time I got mine back, I experienced more of the worst of times scenario. Allow me to elaborate.

142

That was my score, a dismal 142. I was devastated. I couldn't believe that all my hard work and countless practice tests had boiled down to this one number. I started questioning myself. How could everything I had worked for in the past 6 months be meaningless?

For most law schools, the magic number to hit for acceptance is 150. If you break 150, you basically get a golden ticket to law school. (I'm exaggerating of course, but a 150 and a decent GPA usually equal law school. It's basic law school math). For me, without that golden 150, I was out of luck.

So, I cried. I cried all morning. I laid in bed, boyfriend beside me, sobbing like a two year old. I was crushed and spent the next week sulking. By the end of the week, I had decided that my only option was to retake the LSAT. I signed up for the December test and spent that following weekend as far away from my LSAT prep materials as possible. I had to clear my mind.

The reason I did so poorly the first time around was because I had a mini panic attack in the middle of the test. I freaked out. I read the same question 15 times and still couldn't understand what it was saying. I couldn't relax and focus on the task at hand. All I could think about was that this test was the culmination of all my efforts and would dictate whether or not I would get into law school.

Take it from me -- this is not the way to go into the test.

My only solution was to recruit the campus psychologist and learn some relaxation techniques. It truly helped me.

So, if this happens to you -- you freak out, you are sick the day of test, or just not fully prepped -- and you get a bad score, allow yourself to spend that first week feeling bad. If you don't feel bad for awhile, you will never be able to move on. Taking one step back and relaxing, allows you to take two steps forward after the initial week and buckle down for the retake.

(Image from www.chicagometroarearealestate.com)

The LSAT - Writing Section

You will have to forgive me...

In my eagerness to prep you for the night before and day of the test, I forgot to detail the final section of the test to you. A thousand apologies.

The last timed section of the LSAT is the Writing Section. Just like the multiple choice sections, this part is 35 minutes in length. However, unlike the rest of the test, the writing sample does not contribute to your raw score. While not scored, it is still sent out to all schools to which you apply.

The writing sample is pretty self explanatory. You will be given a set of conditions and asked to write a brief and logical argument for one side of the presented conditions.

Admissions Committees look for clarity and conciseness in your writing, grammatical correctness, and cohesiveness in your argument.

To achieve these goals, make sure to brainstorm your ideas on the scratch paper provided before you begin writing. Write clearly and neatly and do not erase any mistakes. Instead, cross out mistakes and rewrite accordingly. Make sure to budget your time, so you will be able to go back and proofread your work.

To prep for this section, you can practice on your own under the 35 time constraint. Any LSAT prep book would have a sample question.

This is the final leg of the test and even though it is not scored, do not let these aspects hinder your performance. Poor writing skills do not help with getting into law school.

The LSAT - Day of the Test

Test day. One of the most intense days of your life. Allow me to walk you through what will happen...

For the February, October, and December test dates, you will be required to show up to the testing center between 8:00 and 8:30am. The June test requires you to be there before 12:30pm. I had my parents drive me to the test the first time, and my good friend drive me the second. I strongly suggest either hitching a ride or knowing percisely how to get to the test center. Easing any source of tension is key.

Remember your Admission Ticket, which can be printed off-line from your LSAC account, and a "...current valid government-issued (not expired) photo ID bearing your signature." Both will be required for entry into the testing center. You will be thumbprinted and asked to copy a certification statement and sign your name before the administration of the test.

You are allowed to bring only specific items into the testing center, and they must be carried in a one gallon, clear, plastic ziplock bag. In the bag you can have your LSAT ticket stub, valid ID, wallet, keys, analog wristwatch, medical or hygiene products, #2 wooden pencils (NO mechanical pencils), highlighter, erasers, pencil sharpener, tissues, beverage, and snack. (Note: they are very particular about this, and there are no electronic devices allowed -- so leave your cell phone in the car!) Also, remember not to wear any hats or hooded sweatshirts to the testing site.

The test site administrators will assign you a seat and keep the time for each section. During the timed sections, you will be allowed to have only certain items on your desk, and the remaining items will be kept under your desk in your plastic bag.

After section III of the multiple choice, you will be allotted a 10-15 minute break to use the bathroom and eat a snack.

These are the basics of the test; however, LSAC has outlined several more particulars for the day. I strongly advise going to the website the day or two before your test and reading over everything. In this scenario, ignorance is NOT bliss.

Get informed, and you'll be fine. Half the stress of taking the test is not knowing what will happen on that day. Educate yourself, and you'll reduce the anxiousness associated with the big day.

Good Luck!

The LSAT - Understanding Your Scores

The LSAT is not a computerized test like other graduate school entrance exams (GRE and GMAT), so it takes about four weeks to get your scores back. Believe you, me, these four weeks will be the longest in your entire life.

If you signed up for the LSAT online through LSAC, you will receive an e-mail at the end of the month in which you took the test. Otherwise, you will get a letter in the mail detailing your scores. I suggest signing up online since most test-takers get their scores quicker via e-mail than snail mail.

As I mentioned previously, your score is based on how many you answer correctly (this is your raw score). Your raw score is then converted on a scale from 120 to 180. 120 is the lowest possible score, and 180 is the highest. This is done through a procedure known as equating, which adjusts for minor differences in diffculty between tests.

When you receive your scores, you will be given your raw scaled score (score band) plus a precentile rank. Schools often look at the score band and percentile rank to determine candidacy and scholarship eligibility.

With your score you'll also receive a copy of your answer sheet and answer key. If you are unhappy with your score, study your mistakes and learn from them. You can always retake the test 2 more times in a 2 year period.

For more particulars about LSAT scores, be sure to check the LSAC website.

A Little Too Late?

Some say that once a law school application deadline has passed, you're just plain out of luck. To them I say, it's never a little too late to submit an application.

Just yesterday, I applied to Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. The school's application deadline was March 13th; however, after doing a little extra research, I was compelled to apply anyway. I felt strongly about the school's program and the fact that it is located in the heart of DC. Having spent the past two summers interning in the capitol, I wanted to return and study there.

I called the admissions office and inquired about whether or not there was any way I could still apply. To my relief, I was informed that the school was still accepting late applications, but that my application would be marked late and considered last. I took the chance and filed out the online application yesterday. I also added an addendum explaining my father's recent job loss and how that affected me with proceeding to apply to the school.

Hopefully, I will hear soon. I have to make the bulk of my decisions before April 1st. Ahhh, the stress of it all is becoming quite unnerving!

The Night Before the Test

The night before the LSAT can be a stressful one. So, what's a law school hopeful to do?

Nothing.

My suggestion for the night before is to relax and enjoy time with friends or family who aren't a source of stress for you. In my case, I went to the gym after my classes (to help me sleep later), rented a movie, and ate comfort food. Just be careful that your favorite food isn't something that can keep you up all night with stomach pains. Avoid the caffeine as well.

The first time I took the LSAT, the night before was hellish for me. My mind was racing, and I couldn't get to sleep. The second time around, I got a relaxation tape and listened to it right before bed. It helped me immensely by relaxing my body and mind. Relaxation is key.

You've been prepping, drilling yourself, and taking practice tests for months. The night -- or few nights before -- allow yourself to be laid back, and I promise it will pay off.

(Image from pro.corbis.com)

LSAT Prep Continued

Below is a helpful link on the LSAC website to help with LSAT prep work. If you have any further questions on preparing yourself for the big test, let me know!

LSAT Prep

The LSAT - Logical Reasoning Questions

The final type of multiple choice section on the LSAT is the Logical Reasoning Questions. This section differs from the other two types, because this section has 25-28 separate questions, which do not correspond to one another in any way.

For this you will be required to read a short passage and then answer one question about it which tests your ability to reason logically and think critically. Examples include brief paragraphs about a certain subject or two sides of the an argument. Often, you will be asked to identify the type of reasoning involved in the submitted passage or its flaw.

To study for this section, it's best to use a general tutorial book to drill yourself on the various types of questions that could appear and time yourself. Unlike the other two sections, it will not hinder you by skipping questions you are unsure about. (NOTE: Remember to always answer or even guess on any section, because the LSAT does NOT take points off for wrong answers!)

Another helpful tool would be a logic class to help with identifying types of fallacies. Most colleges offer a general education Logic class. I definitely recommend taking one.

It's important to work on your timing with this section, because it is easy to get caught up in a few questions and lose track of time.

So You Got Waitlisted... What Now?

Some choose to sit back, wait, and hope they are eventually admitted. However, receiving that acceptance letter can take months, and some students do not find out they have been admitted until mid August -- just a few weeks before the semester starts. Being accepted so late can be problematic for your housing and financial situations.

My advice -- the same I will be taking here shortly with Penn State -- is to write a letter to the admissions office explicitly stating why you wish to attend that school. The admissions committee searches for individuals who express a genuine interest in attending their institution, and if you are able to convey why you wish to attend their school, they will be more apt to pick your application from others on the waitlist.

Below is a list of some topics you could address in the letter.

1. Write about why you wish to attend the school
2. Explain previous experiences you've had which will lend to a diverse academic community
3. Do research and write about the programs or areas of concentration you are interested in at the school
4. Research the school's extra curricular activities (published journals, moot court, pro bono work, etc) and express why you would like to get involved in these activities
5. Explain any circumstances not addressed in the application process which may lend to extra consideration with your candidacy
6. Talk about anything you feel the admissions council ought to know
   

Write the letter, and make yourself stand out. It's all about going the extra mile.

Good luck!

UPDATES - So what is Waitlisted?

Hello all! I have updates to share with you...

First, I finally heard back from Penn State and Rutgers. Sadly, I got rejected from Rutgers law school in Newark; however, I was waitlisted for Penn State. Both of these schools were reaches for me, so I'm happy that I got waitlisted at Penn State.

"Waitlisted" means that you aren't rejected from the school you have applied to, but you aren't accepted either. In my case, I will be put on an unrated list of other waitlisted applicants. I have the option of choosing to stay on the waitlist, and then I just wait to hear back. At this point, I think I will be opting to stay on the wait list to see what comes of it, but I will need to make a decision soon as most of my deadlines are April 1st.

Check back. I'll be making a decision soon enough.

The LSAT - Analytical Questions

The second section of multiple choice questions on the LSAT is the elusive analytical question (logic games). To me, this line of questioning was the most difficult on the test, but luckily for you, it's the easiest to prepare for and boost your score with.

This type of multiple choice question actually consists of several questions in groupings. The test taker is presented with a set of statements, conditions, or rules that describe relationships between people, places, or other objects. After being presented with the rules, you are responsible for answering 6-7 questions that relate back to the rules. You will need to draw conclusions and deductions to answer the questions. Typically there are four sub-sections within the overall Analytical section.

An example would be if a bakery makes four types of cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, oatmeal raisin, and sugar) and the baker only makes 1 batch on Monday, 3 batches on Tuesday, the 4th batch on Thursday, if and only if the batch on Monday is repeated on Wednesday and Friday. Clearly not the most fun or easy to understand; however, there are ways to prep yourself.

Get a study book, or do what I did -- I got a specific tutorial book dedicated to breaking down the logic games and showing you precisely how to solve them. The book I used was 100 Logic Games. I drilled myself on these games everyday and made myself do 4 a day. I didn't time myself, because I was more concerned with learning how to master the games rather than speeding through.

Once you learn how to solve the different types of logic games, when test day comes, you'll be able to bang out answers quickly and fly through the section confidently.

The LSAT - Reading Comprehension Questions

As mentioned in the last post, The LSAT consists of multiple choice sections. The first I wanted to discuss is the Reading Comprehension section.

Quite obviously, this section is designed to measure your ability to read and understand difficult texts and passages, similar to that you will encounter in your law school education. Often the texts are about 110-130 lines long and contain complex themes and concepts. It is not necessary to have any legal background to read the passages, as many are not law related what-so-ever. In fact, when I took my LSAT last December, I remember reading about the micro-biology of cloning – Ugh.

The section is comprised of four reading selections followed by five to eight questions that test reading and reasoning abilities. Roughly half of the passages will be a single text, while the rest of the passages include two separate, but in some way related, passages. These methods test both reading comprehension in a singular form and in a comparative way.

The best way to study for this section is to practice the timed tests, which can be found online or in any LSAT prep book. Practicing reading under the strict 35 minute time limit will allow you to read quickly and efficiently and give yourself enough time to answer the subsequent questions.

Other techniques include underlining and high-lighting important themes, ideas, or passages. In my studying, I would high-light what I thought was the main idea of the passage and underline any other relevant information supplied. Also, I would mark the beginning of sentences. This helps with finding where sentences begin and end, which helps when returning back to the passage to search for answers.

Lastly, unlike the other multiple choice sections in the test, skipping questions is ill advised. Do not skip over to other reading sub-sections without answering all questions associated with a reading selection. If you skip around a lot, you will lose your familiarity with a story and be unable to answer quickly.

The LSAT

The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized test administered four times a year to all law school hopefuls. Test centers are located all over the U.S. and are typically given at college campuses on Saturday mornings; however, there is the option to take the test on a Sunday if you are a Saturday Sabbath religious observer.

The test usually takes about half a day to complete and consists of six 35 minute sections. Five of the sections are multiple choice, and the sixth is a writing section. It is important to note, however, that only four of the five multiple choice sections actually contribute to the individual’s final score. The test throws in an extra section known as an experimental to not only agitate the test taker, but try out new test sections. I will discuss the multiple choice sections and writing section, along with ways to study for each, in future posts.

You can register for the LSAT online through your LSAC account, through the mail, or via telephone. I suggest going through your LSAC account, since it is the easiest method and allows you to quickly choose your test center and download your LSAT ticket.

According to the LSAT website, the LSAT measures, “…skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.”

To what extent this is true, I haven’t the slightest; however, as a potential law student it is what has to be taken and tackled to make your way to law school.

Getting Started Take II - Getting Involved in Undergrad

So you’ve signed up online with LSAC , and you’re probably asking yourself what to do next? If you are in the beginnings of your undergraduate years, the answer is pretty simple: get involved.

Law schools love, aside from the 4.0 GPA and 175 LSAT scoring students, individuals who are involved in their university and community. They want law students who have a desire to be active and enjoy giving back. As a lawyer, you will be constantly working with community members, so any volunteer work you can do during your undergrad will add brownie points to your application. Along with extra-curricular activities and leadership positions on campus, any sort of resume booster can help give you the edge you need to come out on top of a student with comparable GPA and LSAT scores.

In the past few years, I have been vice president of my school’s Pre-Law Society, president of the European Studies Club, and member of Polyglots and the student newspaper. Whether I learned valuable negotiation tools at the European Union Simulations or worked on my writing skills with the bi-weekly student newspaper issues, all of these have helped to prepare me for law school in some way or another.

So get involved and stay involved.

Updates!

I have some exciting news to share with you all, and I have some not-so-exciting news. First, the not-so-exciting, my father recently lost his job at the international financial company ING. With the current, tough economic times, this has created a small roadblock on my road to law school; mostly, this adds the stress of finding substantial financial aid to allow me to not be too buried in debt after graduation. I’ve been on the hunt for scholarships, grants, and loans.

Which leads me to some other not-so-exciting news; after contacting the Admissions Director at Drexel Law, she has informed me the school will be unable to offer me any scholarships. This was quite a blow. It makes my decision process increasingly more difficult. I’m left wondering: do I suck it up, pay the thirty-two grand and go to a school I strongly believe in, or do I go to a less established school and accept the scholarships they are offering? It is becoming slightly problematic for me to make any decisions. But enough with the unexciting news, let us move to something more uplifting!

I have received my acceptance package from Widener University. Luckily, I was accepted to both their campuses (Harrisburg and Delaware). Now comes the very, very exciting news. If I accept the offer from the Harrisburg campus, I am eligible for the Dickson Scholarship. The scholarship itself is offered to Pennsylvania state school alumni, who scored within the top 50% of both the LSAT and their graduating class. The only flaw in the equation is that the scholarship is only offered at the Harrisburg campus, which is the slightly less prestigious between the too.

What to do, what to do.

So here I sit, waiting, contemplating, and analyzing. I am still waiting to hear from Rutgers and Penn State and whether or not Baltimore will offer me any scholarship money. Mostly, what I have gathered from my research so far is that most scholarships are awarded at the time of acceptance, and a few grants are given out after the FAFSA is filled out. I am still trying to decipher the messy world of financial aid and promise to deliver a future post detailing it fully.

Keep checking.

Getting Started

A few years back, during my freshmen year of undergrad, I found myself a little puzzled. The same question whirled through my head day in and day out; how exactly am I supposed to go about getting into law school? I took me a few years to figure out the answer, but luckily my trials and tribulations have yielded an explanation, that I am more than happy to share with you now. Sign up with LSAC (Law School Admission Council) online and utilize this tool to its fullest potential.

LSAC.org’s homepage includes every point of interest a law school hopeful would need to begin their own journey. It has everything from prepping for, applying to, choosing, and financing law school to registering for the LSATs. The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is comparable to the SAT which you most likely took during high school. In the future, I will go more into detail about what the LSAT actually entails and how to properly study for it.

To register for LSAC you will have to create a username and password, and the site will require you to answer a few questions about your undergraduate history, such as gpa and major. Once registered, you will be able to utilize the LSAC’s page to aid you with any questions you may have.

Most importantly, the council will send out periodic e-mails informing you about upcoming law school fairs and allow you the opportunity to sign up for these fairs and attend those that are closest to you. The unique aspect of LSAC sponsoring law school fairs is that the site’s creators actually supply law schools with your gpa and LSAT score and help to facilitate an admission. This has been a tremendous help with my situation as it informed a state school in Florida of my credentials, which in turn gave me pre-qualification for admission and a scholarship.

The website also allows you to submit applications and LORs (Letters of Recommendation) which eases the application process overall. Also it permits you to electronically store your important documents such as resumes, personal statements, and any other relevant documents you may wish to attach to your applications and makes applying quicker.

This is just the beginning though, and I will go into much greater detail about all that has been briefly mentioned above in future posts. In the meantime, navigate your way over to LSAC’s webpage and register.

It’s the first major step to securing your seat into a future law school class!

The Waiting Game

At this point in my journey, I've been playing the waiting game. And trust me, this is not a game one enjoys playing. Having submitted all of my applications back at the end of Decemeber, I now sit and wait for decisions to be made on my file.

Currently, I have heard back from three schools I applied to. Nova Southeastern in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; University of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland; and Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have all accepted me as full time day students for the upcoming Fall semester.

I am still waiting on decisions from Widener University, Penn State, and Rutgers. The waiting is probably the most torturous part of this whole experience.

Methodically, twice a day, I check my online status accounts at Widener's website, hoping for a change in status. The only advice I can give to those of you currently in my situation is to be patient. It sucks, but it's the only way to get through it. Keep yourself busy with regular school work or extra activities. I try to keep myself occupied by hitting the gym once a day. The exercise is a great way to get my mind off of wondering which admissions counselor is peering over my file and analyzing my last four years.

Keep positive. I know I am sure trying to. Fingers crossed.

The Beginning

I have started this blog as part of my Senior Seminar Project, so please bare with me if this is a little rough. I am a blog virgin. Considered yourselves warned. I wanted to write about the the sometimes long and tiring process of getting into law school. As a Senior at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA, I am nearing the end of my journey in the pre-law phase and becoming a full blown law student.

I have gone through a tumultuous 3 and half years in my undergraduate studies. This upcoming May, I will be graduating with a dual degree in Political Science and English. I felt that sharing my experiences would help other law school hopefuls. In the next few weeks, I will be sharing my insight, past experiences, and current law school journey to all of my readers.

Please feel free to post questions about anything I mention here. I would be more than happy to help with answering them or researching answers for you.

I look forward to sharing with you and am excited to hear your feedback.