Gypsy
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 40,225
Sarah,
I wanted to respond before, and I''m sorry I didn''t.
But here are my thoughts on the law school subject.
I was NOT a hard worker in college. I went to a great school, but I''ve a) always been a great test taker b) a decent brown noser and c) interested (and therefore actually exerted myself) in english and history (major and minor). So I did well in college. And I did extemely well on the LSAT. So my situation was diferent than yours is.
But from my own experiences, and my friends, here is my advice.\
Kaplan was GREAT for the LSAT. Take it as far in advance. Take the LSAT once, wait… take it again if you need to. Taking it twice is NOT a problem. If you aren''t happy the first time, its OKAY to take it twice. The earlier you start, the more time you have to study and absorb the Kaplan information. Time helps with that exam.
Don''t worry about pre-law courses. First year is all about de-programing and re-programing you anyway. Lawschools like diversity. Seriously, an engineer has a better chance of getting in than a pre-law major, all other things being equal (several of my friends now work with as alumni with admissions at lawschools).
DO get practical experience such as being an intern (public interest organizations are always looking for free labor), ask a LOT of questions while you are there, and talk to as many lawyers about their actual lawschool experiences as you can.
Do involve yourself in somethings that are social minded but not law related: volunteering at an animal shelter, fostering animals, volunteer in a political thing, a hospital. Relate the experiences from things OUTSIDE of school to your interest in law in your admission letter or in your interview. Lawshools want diversity of intersted and well rounded students.
DO take a law school prep course before you first year which teaches you 1) legal writing-- particularly things like IRAC and CIRAC (formats for legal essays, if they are still used) 2) how to take notes and organize them 3) some fundementals of the core first year subjects.
DO, realize that most lawschool grades are based 100% on ONE TEST. Usually an essay test. Some other things may factor in, but primarily its just ONE test that determines your grade. So if you aren''t a good test taker, be careful. I had a girl in my classes who got VIOLENTLY ill 10 minutes before an exam (would ALWAYS throw up right before from stess). She had to be hospitalized a couple of times, and reschedule her exams. BUT, the flip side is… as they are comprehesive essay exams IF you work hard during the semester EVERY DAY and keep your notes in good order and are constantly reviewing them YOU WILL SUCEED. My roomate my first year was a VERY VERY hard worker. Terrible test taker. She worked intensely hard her first year, did well enough to transfer to Yale, where she was rejected from initially because of her LSAT.
When in your first year ASK EVERY QUESTION THAT YOU CAN, either in class, or in office hours. No matter who makes you feel like you are an idiot, or who makes snide comments. Again my roomate. People used to ask me if she had a learning disability because she asked SO MANY FREAKING questions in class. They thought it was that or she was an attention monger. It was neither… and boy did they have egg on their faces when she went to Yale.
Start RIGHT NOW getting mentally prepared. Take yoga, or something that helps you deal with stress. There is some crazy statistic out there that says something like 70% of law students get clinically depressed in law school.
Do what you can to get the best grade you can. It''s ALL about grades in lawschool. Brown-nose, haunt professors office hours, whatever.
And honey, take care of yourself.
Another piece of advice is the EXACT opposite of the advice I was given. I was told to go to the BEST lawschool (ranking wise) that I could. Now, the name of my lawschool has opened doors for me, I would be lying if I denied that. But honestly, go to the place where a) you have the least loans and b) you will be able to excel at the best in LIFE and in grades. I moved 2000 miles away from home, was suddently a little fish in a big pond, and seriously started to spiral. I KNOW that if I had gone to one of the other schools that accepted me, I would been healthier, happier, and ultimately more immediately successful. So don''t stress if you don''t get into Yale, or whatever. Look at the places you are applying to, look at the places you are accepted to, then make a TOTAL PACKAGE determination.
Also, there is a book… 1000 things to do with a law degree. Go to the bookstore and read the at least first couple of chapters. Some ridiculous number of attorneys drop out of practice after their first four years. It''s stressful. Research alternatives NOW, especially before you incurr a ton of debt in school… you may never need a plan B. But if you do, at least you''ll have prepared yourself, and you''ll know what you need to do to get there, be financially stable, and be professionally satisfied.
Again, these are just my thoughts and my experiences. But I thought I''d offer them anyway. Take care honey. And BEST OF LUCK.