While Waiting for the October LSAT Scores

Yes, you're counting the minutes and seconds until the scores are released by email on the 24th. (OMG, if you didn't know that and thought there was no reason to be nervous until the 27th then boy did I just change your plans that weekend!).

In the meantime, be productive!
Here are some tips:
Things to do while waiting for your LSAT score and After the LSAT.

Fall 2009? Law School Admission 101

Ok, it's practically August. Many of you are just getting underway preparing for the October 2008 LSAT. Some of you will start prep courses this week.

What else should you be thinking about right now?

1. Getting LORs (Letters of Rec) underway. Who will write them? What should they emphasize about you? Ask these people and give them deadlines 4-6 weeks out. Make sure to see lsdas.org for the cover form and be sure to sign the waiver. Here's more about law school letters of recommendation.

2. Your resume. What can you do to round out your experiences? Lacking work experience? Community Service? Time to get on it. Never do anything as resume filler, but if you have time to dedicate to something you've always wanted to explore, there's no time like the present. However, being a file clerk or runner at a law firm isn't the way to go... what a boring way to spend your summer, and what would this LOR say about you? "He was always on time and wore a tie." Not worth it. Better to do something that shows your true interests and passions. Here are more law school resume tips.

3. Really prepare for the LSAT. Please. Retaking in December should be a last resort; give it 100% this time around. Here's more about LSAT prep options. Here are more reasons not to "just wing it" on the October LSAT.

That's all for this Friday night. I'm happy to entertain suggestions for blog topics - so leave comments. Have a great weekend.

I Have an LSAT Score; Now What?

Here is a link to a post from last year about what to do once getting your June LSAT score. And here is a previous post that may help you decide whether to retake the LSAT or just go ahead and apply early in the rolling admissions process with your current score.

If you're keeping your score, then it's time to talk about selecting schools. Here are some posts that may be useful to you in starting this process:

1. How much of a role should a law school's ranking play in your decision to apply there? See this post about the emphasis on rankings.

2. How many law schools to apply to? See this post for a good rule of thumb on selecting schools.

The adventure begins!

Getting Ready for the Fall 2009 Admission Cycle

The Integrated Learning Blog posted an article I wrote for them about things you can do now to prepare for the Fall 2009 Law School Admission Cycle.

Thinking about Re-taking the LSAT?

Did you just get your LSAT score? Many February LSAT takers are in one of these two situations:

1. Applying for Fall 2008 and now wondering whether to add some schools to the list, or
2. Applying for Fall 2009 and considering re-taking the LSAT in June.

Applying late in the cycle is problematic; many deadlines have passed and others are fairly meaningless because schools may state they continue to accept applications, but the only successful applications are those at or above the 75th percentile numbers. You may want to consider changing courses and following Option #2 and -whether you retake the LSAT in June or not- apply early for Fall 2009.

That buys you the spring and summer to continue to build your experiences and the pieces of your applications, putting you on the ideal time line for law school admissions.

P.S. In the next day or so I'll be continuing the previous discussion forum discussion, so stay tuned.

5 Things Fall 2009 Applicants Can do Right Now

For those of you applying for law school admission for Fall 2009, here is a great timeline for you:

1. LSAT in June 2008 or September 2008. (Prep courses would start 7-8 weeks prior to the test date)

2. Register for LSDAS now and start compiling Letters of Rec. (LSAC has a new website - check it out)

3. Work on your resume, and determine what you can build upon in the next 6 months.

4. Start thinking about your personal statement and/or any optional essays.

5. If you're considering hiring a law school admission consultant, see my previous posts on things to ask a law school admission consultant you're considering hiring. Here's another one about 11 questions to ask a law school admission counselor. Also - there is an accrediting agency called the Association of International Graduate Admission Consultants and its members hold themselves to standards of ethics and quality. Add this to the checklist of things to ask.

Countdown to the December 1, 2007 LSAT

You have 9 days to go before the December 1st LSAT. You have a lot riding on this, especially if this is your first time taking the exam and you're applying for Fall 2008 law school admission.
Some tips on how to handle yourself from now until the LSAT date:

1. Enjoy yourself on Thanksgiving Day. Be with family. Remember what is really important in life. Put things in perspective.

2. On Friday, get back to studying. You have one week left to make a difference.

3. This week, LSAT is your priority. Don't do anything else for your applications (other than sending in transcripts and arranging letters of rec).

4. Get lots of sleep and eat healthy foods.

5. Kick butt on Saturday during the LSAT.

6. On Sunday, grab some coffee, and get to work on your resume, personal statement, diversity statement or other optional essays, and start filling out the LSAC Common Application Form. Keep the process moving forward.

7. Continue this effort for about 2.5 weeks while you wait for your score. Then, solidify your schools list and submit those applications as they are ready.

If you would like help, support, coaching and advice through the law school admission process, please see my website.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Not ready for the December LSAT?

One of my clients raised a good question today - What do I do if I don't feel ready for the December LSAT?

If this is your first time taking the LSAT, and you're planning to apply for Fall 2008 admission, then you need to weigh the pros and cons:

(A) If you don't feel ready to take the LSAT, then your instinct is probably right. You have a few options. You could take it and just see what happens and if it's halfway decent then you can apply. (Not a fantastic strategy and usually it goes worse than you expect and becomes something you have to later explain on your applications; plus, it's a huge ego-deflater).

(B) You could wait and take the February LSAT and apply to schools that offer a January 2009 start date. (This is an interesting option for those of you graduating in December who are preoccupied with everything else going on in your life right now).

Or (C) you can take the LSAT in February for Fall 2009 admission. If it doesn't go as you'd like, you'd still have the option of re-taking it in June. You'll be able to show your grades from your final year of college and submit your law school applications early in the cycle (August/September), thereby taking advantage of rolling admissions. You'd also hear back from a lot of schools pretty quickly.

So, that brings me to the topic of what to do in your year off before law school:
A lot of people go to a law firm, where they are a "paralegal", "legal assistant," or "file clerk." They think they will gain some significant insight into the legal profession this way and get an attorney or two to tell a law school how they brilliantly saved a case for the firm. Yeah, ummm, not going to happen. Really, you're just going to have a boring year typing with long hours. while busy lawyers bark at you. And, you'll be applying to law school while enduring those long hours. And, after all that, you'll have only spent three months at the firm by the time you apply. How outstanding a letter of rec do you think you're going to get?

Better ideas? Yes. Find your passion!!! Find something that will set you apart and help you find a niche. It can be anything from sky-diving instruction to teaching the viola. The key is to explore one of your passions. Plus, it's probably one of the last times in your life where you can spend your day doing something really fun, something you enjoy. And it's also probably the last time you'll be able to get away with only making $25,000/year.

P.S. If I've confused those of you who are relying on schools to accept your February 2008 LSAT score for Fall 2008 admission, let me explain: They may say they accept the February LSAT under their rolling admissions policy, but what they mean to say is: "We'll accept a February LSAT score that is above our 75th percentile, but really by then we'll have given away most of the seats in the class."

Starting early for Fall 2009 Law School Admission

Here is the benefit of being on top of things and applying early -

While most of my clients are only now getting underway in the law school application process (and many more won't be doing so until after the December LSAT), I heard good news this week from three proactive people who worked on their applications during the summer and submitted them in August/September:
One was admitted to American - Washington College of Law
One was admitted to Baltimore (with a 25th percentile LSAT score for that school)
And one of my transfer applicants was admitted to Georgetown.

Congratulations to all 3 of you and I look forward to posting lots more good news in the coming weeks and months.

For those of you planning to apply for Fall 2009 admission, try to get your ducks in a row early. By starting in the next 6-8 months, you are at a big advantage in the process. (Just the relief of knowing you've gotten in somewhere is priceless.)

However, for those of you just starting now for Fall 2008 admission, don't be disheartened. It's not impossible, or even necessarily an uphill battle. It's not over until it's over!

Why Some Law Schools Average Multiple LSAT Scores

My alma mater, the University of Miami School of Law, is one of those schools that is still considering the average of multiple LSAT scores. My former college newspaper (which, I confess I used to call "The Slurricane" rather than "The Hurricane" as editor of its rival, the yearbook) published this today about why Dean Michael Goodnight (and they don't come any more knowledgeable or professional about law school admissions by the way) says the average score is more important to them.

Oh - and the funniest question I've been asked today is this:
"Is it true that you have a better shot at a long-shot school if you apply at the end of the admission cycle? I've hear that you have a better shot of getting into the 'maybe' pile this way."

Ok, my response was (literally): "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Why would a law school want a procrastinator who shows poor judgment about his chances of getting into their school? Why would they take a late applicant over someone they've already waitlisted who applied nice and early, thereby showing serious interest in the school? Why would a law school make room for someone at the end of the application cycle unless they bring something to the class they wouldn't otherwise have represented there?....

Ok... I'm off to the UCSB law fair.

Things to do Before Submitting Applications

You think you're done and you just want this to be over with, so you quickly press "Submit" on a law school application. Then, "Uh oh!" or "Oh @*$%!"

Here are some tips for avoiding that awful moment:

1. Ask yourself, "Why am I submitting this application right this minute?" If it's late at night, you're exhausted, or feeling hurried then don't submit it. You're not on a deadline. Wait one day and review it after sleep and a fresh cup of coffee.

2. Print it out. Ask someone to check it over. Did you transpose your address? Check off the right boxes?

3. Are you attaching the correct version of the essay(s)?

4. Did you check the school's website for details about submitting applications? Do they have additional information about the law school personal statement topics and/or requirements there? Is there an option for a diversity statement? Are you following all of the directions properly? Will you application be complete without a Dean's Certificate? Check every detail.

5. If you're not sure, don't guess. Call the school admisssions office and ask. If you do something wrong, they may consider your application incomplete and fail to review it.

Practicing law is all about the details. (See recent headlines about the recent Irell & Manella malpractice suit if you don't believe me). Get the details right. It pays off.

Things to Do Right Now for Law School Applications

Here are the big questions today:

Q: Can I submit applications even though LSAC hasn't received/processed my letters of rec yet?
A: YES

Q. Should I put my name and LSAC Account number on each attachment to my application?
A. YES

Q. Should I check each school's web site for the application requirements instead of relying on the LSDAS on line application?
A. YES

I hope this is helpful to those of you up late tonight working on your applications. Just never press "submit" at midnight. Seriously. That's how mistakes are made.

And since it's now approaching midnight on the West Coast, I'll say goodnight. To my So Cal clients and friends - stay safe. I hope the fires are not affecting you.

4 Things to do While Waiting for your LSAT score

Here are some things you can do while waiting for your LSAT score:
1. Work on your personal statement.
2. Fine-tune your resume.
3. Make sure letters of rec are being sent to LSDAS.
4. Send your transcripts to LSDAS.

After the LSAT; What's Next?

Don't wait for your LSAT score; there are things you can do in the 2+ weeks that you're waiting for your score. Here are some of them:
1. Request letters of recommendation.
2. Have your transcripts sent to LSAC.
3. Finalize your resume, taking out things appropriate when seeking employment and adding in things that law schools want to know about.
4. Draft your personal statement and get it to the point that it's ready to be adapted to each school's request once you know your LSAT score and finalize your schools list.
5. Participate in one of my free 1-hour webinars entitled, "I've taken the LSAT; Now What?" The next two available dates are Monday, October 1st (8pm EST/5pm PST) and Saturday, October 6th (Noon EST/9a.m. PST). Each webinar is limited to the first 15 participants. To sign up, e-mail me at alevine@lawschoolexpert.net
6. Hire a Law School Admission Consultant to help you get going with all of these tasks while you wait for your score, and who can counsel you about your strategy in choosing schools once you have your score. Here is more information about Things to Consider When Hiring a Law School Admission Consultant.

Good luck on the LSAT this weekend!

Taking the September LSAT?

Put away everything else and just study for the LSAT. You don't want to have to retake this test in December if you don't have to because there is a huge advantage to completing your applications as early as possible. You have 6 weeks. Now is the time to put away thoughts about your personal statement and schools and everything - preparing properly for the LSAT is the best thing you can do for your law school applications right now. Then, while waiting for your score you can do the personal statement, resume, addenda, etc.
Stay motivated! Don't think about a back-up test in December. Put everything you can into the next six weeks. And for those of you getting frustrated with your practice test scores, remember you still have 6 more weeks to improve. It's not too late to call a tutor and put more time in.
What is my #1 tip for LSAT prep?
Review every answer, even if you got it right. After all, you might've gotten it right by accident!
Good luck and hunker down!

Take advantage of Rolling Admissions

Your future is ahead of you, and now is the time to grab it. Over the next few weeks, law schools will begin releasing their Fall 2008 applications. Most law schools start accepting applications September 1, and almost every law school operates on a "rolling admissions" system.
What does this mean? Law schools give away seats throughout the year. There are more seats available at the beginning of the cycle when law schools aren't sure they'll be able to fill their class, and there are fewer seats available once the law school has already reviewed thousands of applications. Makes sense, right?
Even if a school says they accept applications through June, it doesn't mean it's a good idea to apply in the spring. They keep their options open to let in that person with the 175 LSAT and 3.9 GPA and stellar record; it's not for the mid-range or reach applicants.
That being said, do you need to apply on the first possible day? No. Should you? No. And here's why:
1. Law school admission officers are off recruiting people to apply to their law school; they aren't spending their time in September reviewing very many files.
2. The office is still getting up to speed on its processes; data clerks are learning, changes are being implemented, LSDAS is trying new things. Let them work out the kinks a bit instead of experimenting on your file.
3. I'd rather see you take a few extra weeks, make sure you're submitting a quality product rather than a rushed one, and get the application submitted in October.
I consider any application submitted by the first week of November to be sufficiently early to take advantage of rolling admissions.
And any application submitted after the first of January is begging to be a wait list candidate....

Law School Admission Timeline - December LSAT

Someone e-mailed me a question yesterday that might be helpful to many of you considering applying for Fall 2008 law school admission.

"If I were to try to take the December 1st LSAT, would my chances of acceptance be lowered due to a late application?"

The answer is that while a June or September/October score is ideal because of the opportunity to re-take the exam if needed and to have applications complete at schools earlier (a benefit because of rolling admissions policies), almost every law school will accept the December exam.

If you aren't going to be able to study in the next 2 months, then December is the next best option. Just really prep for it - February is too late for a "do-over" for this application season. (Even schools that say they accept a February LSAT have already given away their seats for the class and they are only holding out for February scores in the event they get an applicant in their 75th percentile range).

And, please don't wait for your score to come back in January to start getting your applications together. This is a recipe for having to re-apply the following year. Get started on everything now - transcripts, letters of rec, resume, essays, and submit some apps before you get your score. Just save room in the application budget for additions once you know your score.

[law school admission]

I have my June LSAT score - What now?

Now that you have your June LSAT score, the application process begins. I'll add some postings this week and next about a timeline and the next steps to take.

Decision #1: Are you retaking the LSAT?

As of June 2006, law schools count the highest of multiple LSAT scores because of a new ABA policy. Therefore, the only downsides to retaking it are: (1) time spent studying; (2) cost; (3) delay in getting your applications reviewed; and (4) the possibility that you might have to explain to a law school why your score decreased the second time.

99% of law school applicants are disappointed with their score on their first LSAT. The question is, how disappointed are you? I listen to my clients and determine from speaking to them whether the circumstances surrounding their score make it likely they would improve on a second attempt. There is no hard and fast rule that applies to everyone so I'd be doing you a great disservice by posting a supposed answer here. Just don't wait until the December exam.