It's application season! And we're getting a lot of questions about choosing schools, letters of recommendation, optional essays, and more. With that in mind, now is a perfect time to share our popular law school application guide "Creating A Killer Law School Application." This guide is a collaborative effort with some of the top law school admissions consultants in the country. These include: Admissions Dean, Law School Expert, Anna Ivey … [Read more...]
Should I Choose a Part-Time Law School Program?
Ah, to attend part-time law school or not to attend part-time. That is the question. For many students, the decision is a no-brainer. Attending a full-time program is the only way to go. But what happens when you don't have the time or need/want to continue working full-time while you attend law school? That's when part-time programs start looking very attractive.Many students, however, are reticent about even considering a part-time … [Read more...]
6 Weeks Until the LSAT: What You Need to Know
If you're here, you have about six weeks until your next official LSAT administration. You're in the home stretch! Don't panic! I'm not here to freak you out. In fact, I'm here to help. Below you'll find a list of resources, links, and general suggestions, all designed to help you make the most of your final month-plus, and finish--or, dare I say it, even start--strong! First things first, you'll want to make sure you're registered for your … [Read more...]
Should You Add a Conclusion to Your Law School Personal Statement?
Often times our admissions consultants help students trim the fat off of personal statements. We understand! You have a lot you want to say to a school and minimal space to include everything. It's a tough job, especially when every achievement you include seems impossible to take out. When it's almost ready to submit, a lot of students ask whether or not it should have a conclusion. Here are a few reasons of why you probably don't need … [Read more...]
Does the LSAT Test Law?
According to LSAC, the Logical Reasoning portion of the LSAT is designed to "evaluate the ability to analyze, critically evaluate, and complete arguments as they occur in ordinary language. These arguments mirror legal reasoning in the types of arguments presented and in their complexity, though few of the arguments actually have law as a subject matter."I frequently echo this final disclaimer at the start of my classes. The LSAT is not a … [Read more...]
Should I Write the Optional Essay?
I recently got an email from a student. This student was applying to law school, and wanted to know if writing the optional essay listed on the application was necessary, and if leaving it out would be detrimental. This isn't the first time I've gotten this question, so I want to share my thoughts on it.Is writing the optional essay on your law school application something you must do?The question is one that I know students lose plenty of … [Read more...]
My LSAT Score Just Dropped… Now What?
If you have an LSAT test administration coming up, a drop in your practice test scores can be demoralizing. Was all this work for nothing? What if it happens again?The fact is, it didn't: it happened on a practice test. It may not seem that way, but it's one of the best things that can happen to you while prepping for the test. While getting an awesome score on your practice test can give you an important confidence boost, it has little … [Read more...]
The Secret Behind a Stellar Letter of Recommendation
You're working on your law school applications, do you know where your recommenders are? If you don't, you should. We see it every year, the poor LOR gets forgotten until the last minute, never getting the attention it deserves. Applicants seem to consider it a painful and relatively useless part of the application. So, why worry about it until the absolute last possible moment? So sad, and so very mistaken! Letters of recommendation, although … [Read more...]
Should You Work Backwards in Logical Reasoning?
Students often ask if working backwards in Logical Reasoning might be the way to go. After all, the reasoning goes, the hardest questions are typically towards the end of the section. So, if you tackle them early on, you will have more time to get them right without rushing. As you progress through the section, you will have less and less time left, but the questions will (presumably) get easier, so you have a higher chance of getting them … [Read more...]
Controlling Test Day Anxiety, NASA Style
A number of years ago I listened to the National Public Radio (NPR) podcast Fresh Air. They had a fascinating interview with a Canadian astronaut, Col. Chris Hadfield, who was promoting the release of his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Col. Hadfield is an interesting guy. From his Facebook description, he was "the first Canadian to walk in space and the first Canadian to command the international space station." Col. Hadfield's … [Read more...]
How Does the Law School Application Process Work?
Unlike applying to college, which is a pretty straightforward process (at least in retrospect), applying to law school can feel a little labyrinthine. Transcripts, Law School Reports, letters of recommendation, the Credential Assembly service, addenda...after a while, it can all start getting jumbled up.Right around this time of year, I start getting so many "I'm confused. Help!" emails that I find myself there was a quick and easy guide to … [Read more...]
Should You Cancel a Potentially Lower LSAT Score?
There's a common situation that pops up for test-takers after taking their second or third LSAT. After the exam, feelings of doubt creep in. "Should I cancel my score? It might be lower than a previous attempt! That would look bad on my application! What should I do?" It's a question that pops up a lot on our LSAT Forum and it's definitely worth addressing. Both Dave Killoran and Jon Denning have weighed in the debate countless times, so here's a … [Read more...]
Should I Take the LSAT “Cold?”
All too often we hear about students that took the LSAT “cold,” meaning without studying. It’s not uncommon for some students to believe they don’t have to study, especially if they’ve proven they can test well. Another common reason students do this is to get a feel for a “real” LSAT without preparing. In both cases, the LSAT often delivers a harsh reality. You need to study for this exam to really do well. Of course, there are exceptions, … [Read more...]
Were You Waitlisted? Here’s What You Should Do
Most students would almost rather see a rejection letter than a waitlist letter. While the rejection letter may hurt more, at least you have closure. With a waitlist letter you have, well. Not closure and a whole lot of waiting. So, what do you do if you get a waitlist letter from a law school? First, let's begin by understanding what being waitlisted means. The Meaning of Being Waitlisted The vast majority of waitlisted applicants have good … [Read more...]