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!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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.
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
LSAT Prep
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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.
Good luck!
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.
- Write about why you wish to attend the school
- Explain previous experiences you've had which will lend to a diverse academic community
- Do research and write about the programs or areas of concentration you are interested in at the school
- 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
- Explain any circumstances not addressed in the application process which may lend to extra consideration with your candidacy
- Talk about anything you feel the admissions council ought to know
Good luck!
Monday, March 9, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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.
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.
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