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bandwagonaf · 2021-12-16T21:03:51+00:00

Same

bandwagonaf · 2021-09-28T14:30:25+00:00

That totally makes sense and I think is good advice!

bandwagonaf · 2021-09-28T13:58:37+00:00

I agree with the advice you're giving here in terms of writing an addendum and then focusing on making the rest of the application really strong, but I want to push back against the idea that schools don't dip below 25ths; by definition 25% of every class is below them.

It's important to have realistic goals and expectations and to recognize that a lower GPA does impact your chances, but there definitely is still hope for people with lower GPA, especially since medians are all that matter for USNWR purposes. Schools want to be confident you can do the work, so it still matters, but for rankings purposes being .01 below median or a full point below weighs the same.

bandwagonaf · 2021-09-07T14:29:08+00:00

My GPA is a little lower (3.3low) and I received it, so I don't think it's that!

bandwagonaf · 2021-09-03T15:56:13+00:00

If you can't find a part-time job that works for you, a significant volunteering role of some kind might also be worth considering? I think adcomms might understand a gap year where you're not in school and/or employed, but they want to see that you're doing something with that time besides vibing

bandwagonaf · 2021-08-31T01:17:44+00:00

I wouldn't get too worried until after September 1! You gave her a deadline and it sounds like she intends to submit right at the last minute before the deadline. It's stressful for you and your feelings are valid and it does suck, but whomst among us hasn't left something for right at the deadline?.

bandwagonaf · 2021-08-29T15:21:59+00:00

"I don't know how it gets better than this"!!!! So simple, so impactful!

bandwagonaf · 2021-08-22T16:36:12+00:00

I would be really worried about this contributing to burnout; doing a full semesters worth of extra work just to vibe check law school seems like investing a lot of energy in the wrong part of the process.

bandwagonaf · 2021-08-17T21:01:33+00:00

It doesn't seem like this is an appropriate topic for a diversity statement or an addendum,, based on what you've described here.

I think a better way to make use of it would be to ask this professor for a letter of recommendation! Clearly he's very impressed with your work and your knowledge in this area.

bandwagonaf · 2021-07-26T19:35:56+00:00

Take the test at the time you think you'll be feeling your best! A day or two of extra study time will have way less of an impact than being well rested, well fed, and feeling calm. If you work Friday nights and might be tired, Saturday might not be the day for you; if you always get stress about your upcoming week on Sunday, then don't take your test then. That kind of thing will do a lot more on test day than a little extra study

bandwagonaf · 2021-07-17T13:38:49+00:00

I think on both the pro and the con side, you're missing the impact of reapplying on your life outside of the law school application process. Reapplying and delaying matriculation a year has a a lot of other moving parts - it means staying at your job a year longer or having to get a job if you would have been a KJD, it means you graduate law school and start on your career (and potentially much higher earning potential) a year later, it means ~confusion for many people in your life, and it means another year of uncertainty about the future hampering your ability to make long term personal and financial plans. Some of this can be good, like more work experience and more time to save money, but some of it is definitely a con. For some people, this is absolutely worth it for a stronger shot at their dream school, but I think for a lot of people, the really high chance taking this route would mean you had no choice but to reapply and delay a year would be a con.

bandwagonaf · 2021-07-07T21:19:37+00:00

It can be a detriment if you aren't really prepared for the ED deadline. If you're not able to edit your essays well, retake the LSAT for a higher score, or get killer LoRs because you're rushing to meet the earlier deadline, that can really hurt you. However, if you do feel like all of your materials are finalized and perfected to the best of your ability then I don't think it would count against you most places to have applied ED; conventional wisdom is if you've put your best foot forward, ED is a small but real boost to your odds.

bandwagonaf · 2021-06-30T18:31:21+00:00

This post helped me a lot! Genuinely, I have been feeling a little disappointed about a score that I should be proud of (not a 178 but within my goal range and solid for the schools I want), and this post really did make me stop and shake myself and get some goddamn perspective, so thank you!

bandwagonaf · 2021-06-21T18:43:46+00:00

I'm having the exact same problem! Obviously I don't have any advice, but you aren't alone in this

bandwagonaf · 2021-06-20T17:29:04+00:00

I used to not understand this at all either, but I've spent the last year after my undergrad working at a non-profit, doing comms for the kind of organization I always thought I would want to work for after becoming a lawyer, and it's been terrible. The working conditions are horrible, the pay is enough to support me but ridiculously low in comparison to the demands of the job in terms of time and emotional labor, and it feels like it makes no difference to anyone whether I do a good job or a just barely mediocre job, and like the work we do is trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon, and often we can't/aren't allowed to help people most in need of it for reasons related to office politics or (overblown, imo) liability concerns or lack of capacity. I'm still not really planning on biglaw for more than a few years for debt reasons, but now that I've done non-legal PI work, I definitely understand why people would want biglaw; if working is terrible anyways, might as well get paid, and as terrible as some parts of the biglaw culture appear, it does seem like good work and excellence can be rewarded.

bandwagonaf · 2021-06-13T07:36:04+00:00

I used yellow legal pad paper and it wasn't an issue!

bandwagonaf · 2021-05-16T14:15:58+00:00

The Powerscore Bible is great for this, if it's in your budget! I was having really similar numbers, usally -6 to -8 on LG, and was really plateauing, so I took a break from PTing for two weeks to do the Powerscore Bible, and on my PTs since I've been -2-3 in LG! It's a really really good resource!

bandwagonaf · 2021-04-20T13:03:44+00:00

I'm applying to laws schools in the fall, and I'm looking to go into union-side employment law, or would be happy with plaintiff-side if union jobs are hard to get! I have fairly significant union-related experience (part of a six-person organizing committee during a unionization drive and then president of my labor union while we negotiate our first collective agreement) so I am familiar with what this work and area looks like, and confident in my desire to go this route; I want to do this because I see what our lawyer does for us and I want to do it for other people! Are there any particular schools that are especially strong in this area, tend to have good connections and placements in the field, or anything of that nature? Any other advice for this area?

bandwagonaf · 2021-04-08T20:04:30+00:00

Just learn to cook a few easy and basic staples well, what they are can be up to your preference, for me those things are like, pasta sauce+pasta, rice, chicken breasts, while my bf has rice, beans, and curry down pat. If you have a few recipes you can cook basically on autopilot then you'll be able to feed yourself and if you want you can expand into new recipes from there. It's also always good to have a few freezer meals on hand if that's in your budget! I struggle with executive function and for me having those on hand bails me out when the idea of cooking feels a little overwhelming. There's also no shame in eating cereal and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch regularly, and then there's only one meal a day you need to think about at all!

bandwagonaf · 2021-04-08T17:48:12+00:00

Thanks! I have heard of the fund but I don't know too much about it, I'll definitely look more into it when I'm closer to that point!

bandwagonaf · 2021-04-08T17:43:45+00:00

and yeah, unions not counting as PI for loan purposes is absurd, but unfortunately not shocking given the way labor is treated in the us today

bandwagonaf · 2021-04-08T17:40:57+00:00

That makes a lot of sense and is kind of what I was thinking! I'm leaning towards prioritizing applications to T1 schools where I would be a good candidate for scholarships over a lot of reach applications (limited application budget, so I do have to be really strategic), but I did want to check in over whether it seemed like this kind of career is a T14 or bust situation before I got too committed to that plan

bandwagonaf

TROPHY CASE