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Updating Law School Applications

By on March 22, 2012 in Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions

If you have been placed on a law school waiting list or still have not heard back from some of your schools, now is the time to update your applications with any new information.  The easiest way to do this is by emailing the admission office of each school and you can also follow up with a hard copy in the mail if you choose.  Keep your updates brief, factual, and to the point.

Be selective in the information you send to the law school – only include information that was asked on the original application.  Always update contact information – especially if you are leaving a college address at the end of the semester.… Read full post

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How to Avoid Law School Rankings Tunnel Vision

By on March 12, 2012 in Law School & Legal Life, Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions

Are you that guy?  You know, the guy who says, “I’m going to go to this law school which is ranked at #37 because this other school that I got into is ranked lower, at #56.”  Worse yet, are you that gal who says. “I can’t go to this school ranked at #12 – not when I can go to this other school ranked at #8.  After all, this other program is in the top ten!”

If either of these people sounds like you, it’s important that you take a step back and recognize that basing the decision to attend a school solely, and oftentimes, even primarily on its rankings – including the US News rankings – can be hazardous to your educational and career well-being.  There are many ways in which focusing too heavily on the rankings can come back to haunt you.… Read full post

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Law School – Apply Now or Wait Until the Fall?

By on February 23, 2012 in Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

Now that the February LSAT is over and you have had a chance to catch your breathe, you may be trying to decide whether you should apply now or wait until the fall.  The true reality is that you are probably better off waiting until the fall but only you can make the decision of what is best for you.  My goal is to give you as much information as I can to make an informed decision.

You may have your heart set on starting law school in the fall to a point where you are willing to give up on a dream school.  If this is the case then applying now makes more sense.  Get ready to dedicate some serious time to your applications though because some school deadlines have already passed and many are quickly approaching.… Read full post

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February: Perfect for Groundhogs, Leaping & LSAT Prep?

By on February 21, 2012 in Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

February is a funny month: it’s the shortest, yet it’s stuffed with holidays.  From Groundhog’s Day on February 2 to this Leap Year’s addition of a bonus February 29th, this little month is big into celebrating. February is also a perfect time to consider preparing for the June LSAT: students who plan their prep now are sure to feel stronger walking into the test four months from now.

Just like our fuzzy friend Punxsutawney Phil, in February, cold weather haters may be thinking winter will last forever (or at least another six weeks- come to think of it, has Phil ever not seen his shadow?) But instead of dreading every snowflake, prospective attorneys might recognize the long road to spring as a chance to achieve maximum effect with minimal stress.… Read full post

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Don’t Delay: Finding Time to Prep for Your LSAT Now!

By on February 14, 2012 in Law School Admissions, Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

If you’re reading this, you probably know that LSAT prep is a must.  I mean, it’s only the rest of your life that’s impacted by the law school you’ll attend and how much it will cost you to go there.  And it’s well established that your LSAT score is a huge factor in law school admissions decisions.

I’ve known many folks who were serious about their LSAT score neglect or postpone their prep even after setting aside time and money for it.  Something always manages to come up.  For those still in college, midterms are looming ahead or a ten page course paper is due, and they just need to take a few weeks off from LSAT studying in order to get past this.  Or maybe Spring Break was intended for LSAT studying, but a beachside vacation sounds more appealing and will supposedly provide a necessary refresher for them to come back more devoted to their studying than ever.  For those in the workforce, their boss has given them an important deadline, and if they can just get this project done, then they’ll have time to devote to studying for the LSAT.… Read full post

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Top Ten LSAT Etiquette Rules

By on February 6, 2012 in Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

Over the past four years I’ve taught hundreds of LSAT test-takers and heard countless stories of the trials of Test Day.  On my own path to becoming an attorney, I had to take the LSAT.  Granted when most of you walk into the exam you’ll be doing so for the first time, but as someone who has been the metaphoric fly on the wall for numerous administrations, please, I implore you, adhere to the following rules of Test Day etiquette.  If all test-takers did so, the whole experience would be immeasurably more pleasant:

Bring lots of pencils.  Why?  Because it is thoroughly annoying to sit next to someone who is incessantly sharpening their pencil.  I know the rules say that you can bring a pencil sharpener, and, by all means, bring it.  Just don’t use it until the breaks between sections.  Better yet, sharpen and pack enough pencils in your one gallon ziplock bag, that you can make it through all five 35 minute sections and a writing sample without sharpening anything.… Read full post

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Want to know your odds of admission to Harvard?

By on January 25, 2012 in Law School Admissions, LSAT Test Prep

For those of you that hate math, law school’s the place for you.  Not only is there no math on the LSAT, thanks to the LSAC, the guesswork of the perceived formulaic admissions process is gone too.  168/3.4, 162/3.8, 173/2.9, 154/3.3, 159/3.1, 164/4.0, 177/3.8 – where does it get you?  Now you can find out.

Thanks to all you who joined us for last night’s season premiere of “The 180 – Live”.  As you heard, there’s no magic formula for how to earn those merit-based scholarships. Simply:

And we heard you, too!  Many of you were asking how to locate the LSAC’s UGPA/LSAT search tool we discussed on the show.  Simple.  Click here.  In the upper left hand corner, type in your undergraduate GPA and expectant (or actual) LSAT score, and away you go.  It’ll help you tremendously in determining to which schools your competitive, and directionally, for which schools you’ll be most eligible for merit-based financial aid.… Read full post

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Law School Selection: Extracurricular Activities

By on November 24, 2011 in Law School Admissions

This is a continuing series of blogs from our team of Admissions Consultants here at Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions, showcasing various considerations on finding the right law school for you. Click here for more information on Admissions Consulting from Kaplan.

When the topic of extracurricular activities is mentioned in association with law school applications, most people assume they are being asked about college activities or organizations they are active in during their career. While this is a worthy topic and needs to be highlighted in your applications, you also need to consider the matter of extracurricular activities when deciding which schools to apply to and which offer to ultimately accept.… Read full post

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Law School Selection: Location, Location, Location! Why Geography Matters

By on November 17, 2011 in Law School Admissions

“Location, location, location!” That’s what many realtors will tell you when you’re trying to determine which of several prospective homes will provide the most re-sale value over time. Simply put, a particular home in one location may end up being a lot more valuable to you than the same type of home in another area.

What did you say? You’re not purchasing a home right now? All right, I understand that the housing market isn’t doing so well. What’s that? You’re not applying for your realtor’s license either? Okay, okay, I get it already – you’re applying to law school. But, that doesn’t necessarily undercut my main point.… Read full post

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Law School Selection: Financial Aid & Scholarships

By on November 10, 2011 in Law School Admissions

Paying for law school—do you want the good news or bad news first? OK, here’s the good news—there’s plenty of money out there. The bad news—you’ll probably have to pay it all back. For you econ majors that’s called a “loan.” The fact is, getting a law degree is an expensive proposition. Not med-school costly, but your J.D. degree can easily top $50 thousand and for many top-tier law schools that figure can soar up to $150 thousand. So, where will this money come from?

1. You will self-finance. God bless, read no further. By paying all this by yourself (or through your amazingly generous parents) you’ve been given a freedom to pursue any post grad law and not have to focus on the few very competitive but breathtakingly well paying entry level jobs.… Read full post

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