What Dana Carey Learned @ the Law School Admissions Workshop

Things to do, know, and visit: Before you apply:-Practice with real questions from the LSAT from the past 5 years, timed-Visit LSAT.org and view the test questions from the past 10 years-TAKE AN LSAT PREP COURSE-Only take the LSAT once, if you can, meaning only take it when you are completely prepared While you apply:-Apply as early as possible (they’ll have more time to read and more slots open then on the last day)-Apply for fee waivers-Apply to at least 15 law schools in and out of state in all 3 tiers-Your Index # (measures your competiveness) is calculated by multiplying your LSAT score by your GPA-While other factors are important, law schools primarily focus on LSAT scores and GPA -In your personal statement (PS), answer these three questions: Who are you? What are your goals? How will law school help you to achieve them?-Don’t bother writing addendums unless 100% necessary and don’t repeat anything from the PS in them-In your PS, try to discuss a challenge you had, what you did to overcome it, and the bigger picture of what you want to do and why…make an argument for yourself-Prove you are set on going to and staying in law school-If you discuss a challenge you overcame, be sure to focus on your accomplishments, not your struggles; what you did in spite of your challenges-HAVE STRONG STRUCTURE in your PS. For example: Failure, Changes of Perception, Changes of Action, Success, Discussion. Discussion should be the majority; limit everything else.-Have at least 3 people edit your PS-Eliminate ALL spelling, grammar, and structure errors. -Read Strunk and White’s Elements of Styles for writing tips-Send you PS to the person writing your letter of recommendation (LOR)-Only have LORs from academic sources. Law schools prefer professors over anyone else (no coaches, bosses, etc…) When you hear back from schools:-If you are waitlisted, send a letter, email message, or call the school and say, “Thanks so much, I would just like to express my continued interest in your school, here’s my updated GPA, job, internship, etc…Have a wonderful day.”-Ask for money from your top choice you were accepted to. Tell them if another school gave you money and that you will have to go there if you can’t get any from your number one…Competition may end in financial