Has your student been happy with pre-law advising and other pre-law experiences?

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind GPA is considered in the context of the undergrad(yes 3.7 from a top school is often more impressive than 3.9 from a T50-100 ish school, more impressive than 4.0 in some cases).
A+ = 4.3 when law school admissions recalculate.
The LSAT is the equalizer. The 3.7-3.8 at the ivy/elite almost always has a higher LSAT (probably 167-170) than the 3.9 or even 4.0 at the average public depending on grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People always say it's about GPA and lsat but I don't think think that's fully the case. There are too many people with very high scores on both. Law schools also want to see engagement-- extracurriculars, summer work experiences and, increasingly, interesting jobs in the gap between college and law school. Unlike a decade or two ago, it's really, really common for students to work a couple of years before law school. Some is to make money to pay tuition, but a lot of it is to demonstrate to the school that you're likely to be successful upon graduation.

Ehh. My smart but lazy nephew breezed through college, and then spent 5 years laying around his parents' house. Truly, has done nothing. No jobs. No volunteer work. His only activity is a kickball beer league. He got a great LSAT score and was accepted to every law school he applied to and will start this fall. Convinced me that nothing but grades/scores matter.

[Anonymous]

Pre-law is not a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People always say it's about GPA and lsat but I don't think think that's fully the case. There are too many people with very high scores on both. Law schools also want to see engagement-- extracurriculars, summer work experiences and, increasingly, interesting jobs in the gap between college and law school. Unlike a decade or two ago, it's really, really common for students to work a couple of years before law school. Some is to make money to pay tuition, but a lot of it is to demonstrate to the school that you're likely to be successful upon graduation.

Ehh. My smart but lazy nephew breezed through college, and then spent 5 years laying around his parents' house. Truly, has done nothing. No jobs. No volunteer work. His only activity is a kickball beer league. He got a great LSAT score and was accepted to every law school he applied to and will start this fall. Convinced me that nothing but grades/scores matter.

Yep. GPA and LSAT are 95% of it. Law Schools are not holistic except when it comes to work experience. That matters.

[Anonymous]

Unlike medical school which might require prerequisites, law school does not. A college degree in any field, an LSAT score, and probably an essay are it. My law school class included a prior magician. I would not consider whether there is pre-law advising in making a decision on which college to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How common is a full ride to an Ivy law school? I have heard that with a certain gpa and lsat that it is a possibility. Is this true?

Common? About as common as flying monkeys. As with undergraduate the Ivies focus on need based aid, not merit. They also consider parent income/assets for applicants below certain age limits, i.e. for HLS unless over 29.

Besides HY, every law school gives merit aid. I got merit offers at about half the T14s, including several ivies. Many ivies have full rides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How common is a full ride to an Ivy law school? I have heard that with a certain gpa and lsat that it is a possibility. Is this true?

Common? About as common as flying monkeys. As with undergraduate the Ivies focus on need based aid, not merit. They also consider parent income/assets for applicants below certain age limits, i.e. for HLS unless over 29.

2% of Cornell has a full tuition scholarship. 26% have half to full tuition scholarships.

2 Columbia students have scholarships exceeding full tuition. 5% have full tuition scholarships. 13% have half to full tuition.

1% of Penn students have scholarships exceeding full tuition. 13% have full tuition scholarships. 21% have half to full tuition.

This is easy to look up, people.

[Anonymous]

Pre- law is BS. All about the GPA and LSAT score. I do think that it helps to show demonstrated interest in law through work experience or internships. Write a good essay. I met with my college assigned law school advisor once for 15 minutes. Waste of time. Went to an Ivy law school and was admitted to many excellent schools. Courses like logic seemed helpful for the LSAT. Take lots of practice LSATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-law is a total waste of time!

-law prof

Yes but it’s a good source of friends with similar interests. My kid is really enjoying Moot Court and the Pre Law Society group at his UC. He’s very interested in constitutional issues, due process and public defending so it’s a nice way to pursue his interest and find others friends with a similar interest. Maybe it’s different for people interested in corporate tax law or big law firms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How common is a full ride to an Ivy law school? I have heard that with a certain gpa and lsat that it is a possibility. Is this true?

Common? About as common as flying monkeys. As with undergraduate the Ivies focus on need based aid, not merit. They also consider parent income/assets for applicants below certain age limits, i.e. for HLS unless over 29.

When 40% of Harvard law students are on GRANTS as most of their need-based aid it is not as dire as you make it. Another chunk have all-loan aid because they are not as needy.
The rest of the ivies are similar.

No, 38% are on financial aid because they have demonstrated sufficient need. The rest of Harvard Law’s students pay full freight, which is $126,650. If you want an off campus apt, you are looking realistically, in Cambridge, at $146,500 a year x 3 years. There is no merit at Harvard because it doesn’t need to offer it to fill its class.

Yes, GPA and LSAT are paramount. Harvard’s 75th percentile is a perfect 4.0 and have a 176 or better. There are online interviews if you get that far.

80% of Harvard’s Law students take off at least one year. 17% of that 80% take off more than four. 20% have advanced degrees.

There really is no such thing as pre-law. Your kid should major in something they enjoy, which teaches critical reading and lots of writing. Good luck. It’s a long road.

FWIW my kid applied to seven law schools and received merit (full tuition) only at Scalia Law. No merit aid or financial aid anywhere else. So plan ahead. It’s a seller’s market; I don’t see that changing in the near future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes but it’s a good source of friends with similar interests. My kid is really enjoying Moot Court and the Pre Law Society group at his UC. He’s very interested in constitutional issues, due process and public defending so it’s a nice way to pursue his interest and find others friends with a similar interest. Maybe it’s different for people interested in corporate tax law or big law firms.

I could be mistaken, but I think the criticism was directed at “pre-law” as a formal academic program, not a student organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its all about GPA and LSAT score. Any major works but traditionally philosophy, history, poli sci, english are all good majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How common is a full ride to an Ivy law school? I have heard that with a certain gpa and lsat that it is a possibility. Is this true?

Do a few years in the military & the GI Bill will pay for 3 yrs of law school & give you some money per month to live on.

[Anonymous]

Those who say it's all about LSAT and GPA are incorrect.

There are so many people with these high indicators these days as it's relatively easy to get a high GPA now and the LSAT has been dumbed down so it helps to go to a highly ranked college, have leadership experiences and have worked at least a year before applying.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is considering going to law school and participates in various pre-law activities and organizations and has conferred with the pre-law advisor. The will have "distinguished" legal alumni that come in to speak to those interested in a legal career but it seems like they focus only on litigators and corporate law. They wish there was more diversity when it comes to these speakers.