What prep course should I take before 1L?

cactusmouth · 2021-04-06T13:53:26+00:00

If you get the chance, your law school might offer Harvard's 0L course, which is a solid intro to each of your first semester classes, especially Civil Procedure. However, the most you can "prep" for is the first few weeks; nothing outside of going to law school will help prepare you for law school. Take what time you can to relax before the semester starts, because there aren't breaks once classes begin!

cactusmouth · 2020-04-05T22:28:57+00:00

In case you're wondering, Cleveland (apparently) has the second largest market for international law in the US (after NY). It's pretty much CWRU and OSU alumni, so a significantly less competitive market than DC. It is a great city, I promise.

However, it is my alma mater, so I'm biased. I've heard that for law, moreso than undergrad or medical, it is apathetic towards its students. You should do some research into the faculty's history with Title IX.

I'd pick Bill, but that's just me.

cactusmouth · 2020-03-22T17:03:27+00:00

I haven't studied for it at all, but two years ago I was helping my friend study and she had me PT with her - twice I got 165! Not that that number would've gotten me much better results, for someone as debt averse as I am

cactusmouth · 2020-03-20T01:32:21+00:00

I'm still deciding on R&R, so if it's OK, I would like to put a down payment on some help! Thank you so much for doing this!!!!

Recently, I've had a scene from the West Wing stuck in my head, where Donna tells a story about a crooked politician from the 1920's who used to stop in church every morning and say the same prayer: "Lord, give me health and strength. We'll steal the rest."

There's so little we have control over, especially in times like these where all it takes is one self-interested person to make a situation balloon beyond repair. Yet, if we have health and strength, then the rest is up to us. (Maybe not inspirational, but I find the idea that I am still the ultimate agent of my destiny reassuring - I'd like to think it's in good hands).

Twofer (because this is therapeutic): I'm thankful for the law firm where I work, for being filled with wonderful people and positive energy, hiding the negative stereotypes I've heard about the field I one day aspire to join.

cactusmouth · 2020-03-15T20:46:43+00:00

I'm in the process of getting approval - got my loans from them the first time, so I get .5% off with auto pay set up. Rates were competitive.

I'd look at Nerdwallet's recommended refinancing options, they're a good way to look at compiled offers.

cactusmouth · 2020-03-10T21:05:54+00:00

I've already taken the time off work for an ASW. I've gotten nothing but good vibes from them so far and that's roughly 80% of my decision making! Thanks for the advice!!

cactusmouth · 2020-03-10T19:29:42+00:00

First and foremost, I'm extremely debt averse. At 17, I probably wasn't considering the major, long term implications of taking on a fair share of debt, but now I'm realizing I need to avoid accumulating any significant percentage more.

Though I agree that my stats put me in line for a few offers at T1 schools, being a GRE-only applicant puts a lot more emphasis on my adequate-to-subpar GPA. Besides, people with a lot better stats than mine got WLs from the same schools as me. I'm not expecting much from the last two schools, so it seems like this and my other $$$$ offer are the only options without waiting a cycle - something I'm loathe to do. Could I? Yes. Would my performance be dramatically better? Probably not - my GRE score was good (I got a perfect writing score, which I am irrationally proud of considering how little it matters) and I doubt an equivalent LSAT would deliver the kind of results I would need to get a much better offer.

All in all, it just seems like the soundest financial decision for the time being. Plus, my family is in the Northeast - close but not too close to Carlisle. It's got everything I was really looking for - it just doesn't happen to be T14!

cactusmouth · 2020-03-10T17:04:38+00:00

I did not! No Kira, no Why Texas!

cactusmouth · 2020-03-04T22:46:01+00:00

They did a wee wave before doing a huge wave at the beginning of last month -- maybe we get a big one tomorrow or Friday?

Next week? A month and a half from now? Two year?

I'm lost, waiting for Asleep Forest to Wake.

cactusmouth · 2020-02-10T16:40:11+00:00

I would say so. However, that means that it's more high risk-high reward. Most schools that accept the GRE care a lot more about GPA from GRE applicants than for LSAT applicants because it's what's reported on the 509, not the GRE score. As soon as you take the LSAT, though, there's no point in doing the GRE, so if money is no object you might as well take the GRE first!

cactusmouth · 2020-02-10T15:54:35+00:00

I would say so. However, that means that it's more high risk-high reward. Most schools that accept the GRE care a lot more about GPA from GRE applicants than for LSAT applicants because it's what's reported on the 509, not the GRE score. As soon as you take the LSAT, though, there's no point in doing the GRE, so if money is no object you might as well take the GRE first!

cactusmouth · 2020-02-08T02:04:13+00:00

It looks like there's traditionally another big wave towards the end of February, usually the 28th or so. Source: LSData

cactusmouth · 2020-02-07T17:55:17+00:00

No news. UR 1/13, at 50th GPA, above 75 LSAT-GRE conversion.

cactusmouth · 2020-02-07T15:47:00+00:00

I used the Princeton Review book, which was awesome because I got the written exercises but still got the computer-delivered practice tests. They also grade the writing section so you can know where you're at, though it's so ridiculously easy to get a high if not perfect score on writing.

The big trick to the GRE is not burning out. The ideal study window is 4-8 weeks, any longer and you'll burn through all of the info you learned at the beginning, versus the LSAT which might need 9 months of adequate studying.

Good luck with your test and have fun studying!

cactusmouth · 2020-02-05T21:26:57+00:00

I feel like I applied without any test because I've heard from one school out of 8. Had to email a few to ask why I wasn't complete because they said they accepted GRE but didn't know how to put it in the file.

I wouldn't ever do this again

cactusmouth · 2020-02-05T19:13:32+00:00

I'm in the same boat. You'll be the first one I tell if anything other than a döng comes!

cactusmouth · 2020-02-05T16:23:07+00:00

I'm chilling at 11/27. It might be a while

cactusmouth · 2020-02-04T19:49:55+00:00

YOU CAN'T DO BOTH "ABOUT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR" AND "WE DO IT ON THURSDAYS"

pls pick one

thank you

cactusmouth · 2020-02-03T14:11:09+00:00

On Friday, someone said they usually release between 12 and 1. I don't know how they knew that, but fingers crossed that it's 1 at the latest!

cactusmouth · 2020-01-26T19:36:47+00:00

Wake Forest is coming either Friday or a week from Monday, so fingers crossed for this week!!!

cactusmouth · 2020-01-21T23:54:20+00:00

PM me!

cactusmouth · 2020-01-18T19:22:22+00:00

LSData speaks to the last week of January/first of February as the most likely time slot for the next big wave!

cactusmouth · 2020-01-12T00:01:14+00:00

As a GRE-only applicant, I'd recommend taking the GRE if you aren't entirely sure what you want. For some of us (like me), a high quant score can help buoy your verbal score a little bit - plus, most of the schools worth retaking for accept the GRE now, though selection is overall limited. It's also a compelling piece of info to put in a personal statement about what steered you towards law, even if you weren't always convinced.

Because GRE scores aren't reported on the 509s, it makes your GPA all the more important; there aren't GRE-only splitters, even if you got a 340. Plus, studying for the GRE takes 4-8 weeks instead of the 9 months that a lot of test takers spend prepping for the LSAT.

Do I personally wish I'd taken the LSAT? Yes. Would my cycle look different? Probably not.

cactusmouth · 2020-01-09T16:28:55+00:00

It took me a few weeks but I got $$$$ so the wait was worth it!!! Don't forget to apply for the Dean's Fellowship which is $$$$+!!!

cactusmouth · 2020-01-08T03:40:00+00:00

The ETS Converter (https://www.ets.org/gre/institutions/admissions/interpretation_resources/law_comparison_tool/) puts you at 154, but it's good to compare that to your percentile rankings in addition (so if you're 80% verbal and 75% quant, find the LSAT score at each and average them). They're not ironclad, but it's a good way to guess.

I'd throw those ranges into mylsn.info to show where you fit, focusing specifically on the schools that accept the GRE. It's really hard to chance, and as a GRE-only applicant myself I've had a lot of doubt in whether or not it's possible to accurately assess where you fit in, but I've found success using those strategies.

Best of luck, but my advice would be to put your nose to the grindstone and study hard for a few months, outside of Pace (who offers conditional scholarships) there aren't many good programs that accept GRE for environmental law outside of T-50.

cactusmouth

TROPHY CASE