- Take a step back and think about things. Rejection can be a gift (not a feel-good one, for sure, but still a gift) because you have the opportunity to be very sure this is something you really want. If you were headed to law school because you weren’t sure what to do next or you were simply following the money, look for other opportunities for which you may be more prepared.
- Consider your LSAT score. How was it? Although 150 is 50th percentile for the LSAT, it is not a score that will get you into great law schools. If your LSAT was low, consider paying for a hard hitting course and then taking the LSAT again. The LSAT is offered 4 times a year (June, October, December, and February). Pick a test session and register so you have a time-specific goal and get studying.
- Consider the schools to which you sent applications. Everyone wants to attend law school at a T14 school but that isn’t very realistic. That’s why there are dozens of other perfectly good schools for you to consider. But this is also where everything gets a little tricky. You need to analyze the cost of attending a school that is not your first choice, the risk of attending a school with a lower Hire Rate or Bar Pass Rate, and your desire to be in law school right now when deciding to apply to a different set of schools.
- If you only applied to reach schools, there is still time to zip out a few more applications. Head to the US News & School Report website. If you haven’t paid the $29.95 to look at all of their acceptance data, do so now. (It will be money well spent.) Take a close look at the ranges for both GPA and LSAT scores and find the range where your LSAT and grades fit. Apply to 3-4 schools that fit perfectly within your ranges. Also apply to 1 school that is just a few points above where you are. The deadline for most schools can be found on their websites and may be as early as February 14th or as late as March. Get this second set of applications in as early as possible for best consideration.
- If you have your heart set on one of the schools that already declined you, take a second bite at the apple by applying to the same school but to their part-time (4 year) program. It will take you an extra year to finish but will be well worth it if your dream school accepts your new application.
- Maybe that application wasn’t a very strong contender. You can shore up the LSAT with some concerted effort however, a low GPA can’t really be escaped. What can you do? Set aside your law school aspirations and find a law-related job. Work for a couple of years and then reapply using your stellar job performance and success to shore up your lackluster grades. This strategy has worked for many people who now call themselves attorneys.
Decisions on law school applications are trickling in and every week you find a new rejection waiting for you. Unless you're heavy into rejection, this is terrible news! You want to study the law and this is simply not happening the way you imagined. Is there anything you can do to stop the bleeding? The short answer is; perhaps. You might need to reconsider how you're looking at the law schools. Given the economy and the high unemployment rate reported by law firms, you may want to abandon your dream and look elsewhere. Regardless of where you are with all of this, the following ideas might help you get where you want to be a bit more efficiently:
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