Summary: There are always the questions of what-if when applying to school but with the help and advice from recent law school graduates, you can feel confident that you have done your best on your applications.
There is no magic formula that prospective law students can use to get into law school. Every student provides different LSAT scores, grades, essays, and more. Some students keep applying to the same school in order to get a better financial aid package. Four law school graduates give advice to those considering a law degree.
Belmont University, Class of 2015 – Candace Carter: She chose a school that fit her criteria of being in her home state of Tennessee, giving a scholarship, and being a new school. Carter was offered a half scholarship to the new school in Tennessee. She knew she wanted a new school that wasn’t stuck in their ways and was still adapting to what worked for the school and students. She encourages future students to apply to the smaller programs because they can often be more generous with their financial aid since they are small and have fewer expenses. She believes the strongest part of her application was her personal statement.
Harvard Law School, Class of 2015 – Alex Civetta: He focused on the LSAT and personal statement. He studied for over two months and took 15 practice tests before taking the test. His personal statement took a month to write. He encourages students to choose their words carefully in the application essays.
Maurice Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, Class of 2015 – Landon C. Dais: He admits he was lucky in getting a full ride scholarship. With it being his second attempt at applying for law school, Dais was given a partial scholarship. To make-up the difference, he also applied for a fellowship with a multimedia application instead of a boring typed essay. He used Prezi, an online tool that is like a “PowerPoint on steroids.” The final project was snapshots of his resume, video clips of his community service, and a personal statement from him as to why he chose the school. He encourages students to be aggressive and go above and beyond.
Marquette University, Class of 2014 – Makda Fessahaye: She received some financial aid in the form of scholarships but she knows she could have done more. She wishes she had applied earlier. She had to use her paychecks to pay for her application so the timing wasn’t ideal for when she finally could afford to apply. When you apply earlier, there are better chances of getting scholarships. She encourages saving as much money before law school to help with the costs of school and living.
Photo: seattleu.edu