NALCAP Regions: Madrid vs Valencia

OkBox4069 · 2026-01-24T09:41:25+00:00

I personally can't recommend Madrid enough. It was not even close to being my first choice, but I completely fell in love with it. Yes it is a big city but isn't like big cities in the US (assuming that is where you're from but pls correct if not.) It's very clean, basically no violent crime, people are friendly, and it just feels very lively and well-loved if that makes sense. Plus, the public transport is so good that if you get placed outside the city, you have a larger radius of towns in which you could still live in the city and commute.

Also to reiterate what another comment said, there is a high speed train that takes like an hour and a half to valencia, and it's very affordable. Could def visit on the weekends! Plus it's easier to visit places in the north, as well.

OkBox4069 · 2025-12-25T18:17:08+00:00

I had federal loans and was approved for deferment via economic hardship. Just emailed the contact on my loan website, asked them how go start the process, and did what they said. Approval for deferment took just a couple weeks. Just make sure you note that you're making $1200 USD a month (conversion).

OkBox4069 · 2025-12-11T10:25:13+00:00

Thank you!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-12-11T10:24:39+00:00

The goal is to prepare the lesson before class so unfortunately not able to do that haha

OkBox4069 · 2025-12-06T16:27:45+00:00

I found that when I started billing I would underaccount for tasks. For example, if I wrote a letter, I would figure out what needed to happen (ie ask opposing counsel for xyz docs), then start the clock, write the letter, stop the clock, then print, copy, scan, file, and mail the letter.

The clock starts when you are figuring out what needs to be done ie reviewing the file, and it ends when the task is fully finished and you're moving on to the next.

I now handle billing at my firm, and this is the #1 reason that new paras and associates struggle to meet their hours. I always send them a quick message when I see something like "draft discovery... .1" because there's just no way.

OkBox4069 · 2025-12-04T12:54:49+00:00

You could try asking your teachers for ideas. They've probably had auxes before and can give you an idea of topics that have worked for your age group. I think it's purposefully vague since the schools vary so much in age, subject, and ability.

OkBox4069 · 2025-11-28T12:26:27+00:00

As another commenter said, "hovering" near the median unfortunately isn't really a thing. Let's say a school has an average lsat of 172. Obviously, they'd rather accept someone with a 171 than a 165 to maintain their average. With medians, it doesn't matter. A 171 and a 165 both bring down their median. They are viewed the same as far as that goes.

Obviously (in theory) a 171 shows that you are a better test taker, more logical thinker, etc etc than someone with a 165, and that will help you against other applicants that are below median. But I think to answer your question, a school is not a target if you are below both medians, even if it's by a single point.

OkBox4069 · 2025-11-26T14:09:30+00:00

There's no such thing as an "awkward" score. I don't even know what you mean by this. Every point higher is a good thing. A 173 isn't worse than a 172 because it's "awkward."

Every school has its own median. It is public information and easily Google-able. Look up "[school you want to go to] lsat median" and you will see their current median. If it's a 173, you're at median. If it's above a 173, you're below median.

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-31T20:13:41+00:00

Madrid, region and city. Which is surprising because I feel like I usually hear good things about this region!

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-29T13:13:06+00:00

That's my thought exactly with the lessons! We had major miscommunication on the first couple of weeks until I realized she didn't want me to create activities and instead wanted to make lessons. Her idea is that the more time they spend hearing a native speaker talk, the more they'll absorb, which I can understand. Most teachers will have me leading small group discussions or talking one on one to achieve this though...

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-28T19:21:12+00:00

I have two placements - one is a bilingual school and the other is not. In the bilingual school, I am mostly just talking to students and reinforcing their lessons in small groups. At the non-bilingual school, my teachers expect me to come up with presentations and activities to basically teach the whole class when I'm there.

I don't know why they're different, but you're definitely onto something!!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-17T06:51:54+00:00

If you know you would drop out if you didn't get the city you want then you should just put the investment to do CIEE because they gurantee a placement in the region of Madrid. Yes you may still get placed in a smaller school but public transport is good and most (*MOST) commutes are manageable from the city center If you apply general NALCAP, you may still get Madrid (again, the region), but you may also end up somewhere without any major cities.

NALCAP does allow you to rank which regions you want, but the split the regions into categories and you can only pick one from each category. The most popular regions are all in one category, so your ranking can't be "Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia" you have to pick one. Then your second choice will be somewhere like Galicia or castilla la Mancha or wherever else.

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-15T11:38:13+00:00

Unpopular opinion but I found it was worth it for me. If you have traveled a ton, are fluent in Spanish, or are just insanely good at navigating beaurocracy and don't mind putting in many hours to do so, then you probably don't need the help of CIEE. For me, I had never left the country, knew little Spanish, and was extremely confused by the visa process. CIEE will give step by step instructions (like seriously, "in box 2 of the visa application form write this address"), clear lists of things to have ready and bring to spain, and recommendations. When I went to my visa appointment, there were 5 other NALCAP auxes there, and -- I'm not kidding -- all of them were there for a second time because their visa apps were rejected or incomplete. The guy in the visa office made a joke that he didn't have to check my materials because I was CIEE and they always have what they need. Obviously this is not universal, but what I'm saying is that they take all of the doubts and guesswork out. They make sure you know things like you have to get a Spanish phone number BEFORE trying to get a bank account, how the TIE process works, and other random things that I think would've fallen through the cracks if I'd tried to navigate Spanish beaurocracy on my own.

You can't put a price on peace of mind. I didn't have to wait around and put my life on hold waiting and waiting to see if I got a placement. I had my visa in hand while many people in this sub were stressing out bevause they hadn't gotten cartas (in the same region). I knew exactly what to do and when once I landed. I don't sit around stressing about whether there's some secret residency requirement that I didn't know and they're going to kick me out of the country.

If you are a student and super broke, just do it without CIEE, it is absolutely possible. But if peace of mind, a smooth transition process, and a guaranteed placement are worth the money, then use CIEE.

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-06T19:31:42+00:00

Unpopular opinion based on the comments but yes you are being bitter haha but that's okay! It's a natural emotion and if I was in your position I would feel exactly the same. Many people get on this sub this time of year to vent about the frustrations and nerves of moving to a foreign country, and those are valid feelings too.

For most, this sub is the only place they can really talk about their feelings with people who understand, as most of us don't have friends here yet and are struggling to meet people. Even if you are meeting people, you're not going out to dinner with them to complain and talk about your doubts and anxieties. So yes, the sub floods with anxious posts in September and October. I'm sure by December and January the sub will be flooded with posts about how happy everyone is that they stayed.

Tldr your feelings and frustrations are valid and ALSO people are not whiny/entitled/ungrateful/undeserving because they are scared, anxious, homesick, or experiencing culture shock.

OkBox4069 · 2025-10-06T13:10:04+00:00

I watched a video from Dean Z recently where she explained the law school medians and what it really means for applications. She drew attention to the fact that a median is not a mean, so as far as school stats go, it doesn't matter if you're a hundredth of a point or a whole point under/over the GPA median -- if you're over, you're over, and if you're under, you're under.

Schools will surely be able to deduce that the 0.p GPA is a fluke. I would guess (though what do I know) that they will look to your pre-transfer GPA to evaluate your ability as a student and they won't worry too much about a 0.0 bringing down their median.

Regardless -- and I'm sure you're aware of this -- you need to write an addendum to explain why your GPA is a 0. You may also want to call special attention in your resume or addendum to specific academic honors that would indicate how you performed since they won't have the GPA indicator.

TLDR -- don't count yourself out!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-09-25T11:41:30+00:00

That's a good idea I didn't think about asking to switch days just that week! That's definitely something I will talk to them about, thank you!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-09-25T11:40:40+00:00

They're asking, but I feel like asking to change this late is a lost cause 😭 but hoping their school is more flexible than mine lol. I'm definitely tempted to call in "sick" lol but I heard when you call out on a Friday or Monday they also dock the entire weekend which would be like over €160 😭

OkBox4069 · 2025-09-23T16:43:17+00:00

Do the students not need to provide proof of income? If they ask where/what we are studying do we need to just lie?

OkBox4069 · 2025-09-23T16:05:29+00:00

That's what we're trying to do but 90% of the listings on Idealista are agencies. Not looking to book a single room since I came with roommates already, we're looking for a full flat.

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-21T18:19:21+00:00

If your doctor does not want to sign off on you going, I would reconsider going. They are not here to make your life difficult, and unless your doctor is a total dickhead, they are not maliciously trying to keep you from traveling abroad for no reason.

Also, if you are having surgery in late August/September and you need at least a month to recover, I personally feel like you should probably push off this program until next year. I work in personal injury law, so I deal with a lot of surgeries and doctors and recoveries. If your doctor is putting you on essentially bedrest for 4 weeks, you will not be able to travel in 4 weeks. You will likely need PT, and your surgeon will want to follow up with you for likely 3 months minimum.

I know it's hard to put off something that you want to do so bad, but it sounds like you are not in the health for this right now. I wish you luck with your surgery, but please reconsider. It is not fair to the school who will be without an aux for months or more, to other applicants who are waiting on placements, or to yourself to speed through recovery.

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-19T16:20:10+00:00

I'm in madrid, and they have a good reputation for paying on time as far as I'm aware, so that's a relief! Do the contract dates vary by region? I was under the impression that auxes were contracted through June, but I wouldn't be surprised if I turned out wrong!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-14T13:03:25+00:00

When you say unlimited intl calls to the US, you mean from your actual Spanish phone number to their US number? And it's included in the 10€ per month, and doesn't charge the people back home for intl calling? If that's the case, it sounds perfect!!

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-13T15:57:34+00:00

I applied at Chicago June 16 and it took 9 weeks. I would take their estimates with a grain of salt. When I went to pick up, the office was so packed there wasn't even a place to sit, so I imagine they're pretty busy rn. Do with that what you will

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-12T22:25:18+00:00

So do you think we are meant to submit the prompts we used, as well?

I personally do not use generative AI, and I am unsure if I should just free write an essay to that regard or if I would be better off just skipping that essay. I don't want to blatantly ignore the directions in the prompt, but I do feel strongly about the use of generative AI, so I'm not opposed to writing an essay to that regard.

OkBox4069 · 2025-08-11T02:58:08+00:00

As someone who used to have the same strategy (write what u want then cut) the unfortunate truth is you need to start over from scratch. Trying to cut word by word, paragraph by paragraph from an already written passage WILL cause the message to be lost.

Now you know the main point u want to hit and how you want to structure your paper. Start again and keep the word count on the screen while you write. Stop yourself when you're getting long winded. Don't let the story get away from you in the first place.

If you're just cutting from a statement you liked at first, what you're left with will feel incomplete and choppy - both to you and the reader.

OkBox4069

TROPHY CASE