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Question
#8:
Do
I need to go visit a law school I'm interested in?
Absolutely.
You wouldn't consider a car purchase, an apartment rental,
house purchase, marriage or other significant decision without
careful evaluation. The same applies to law school. Show up,
walk around, and talk to students. Begin to get a feel for
how happy they are, and whether they would choose to attend
if they had the decision to make all over again. Then visit
the Admissions Office. Tell them of your interest. Be polite
and respectful. Take the official tour. Arrange to sit in
a number of classes.
Ask
and get answers to your questions, including the following
tough ones that law schools aren't eager to discuss. Remember,
be polite and friendly.
a.
Tell me the type of student your law school is seeking from
the current marketplace of students.
b.
At what point in terms of GPA and LSAT is a graduate of
my school likely to be offered admission to your law school?
c.
What is the grading philosophy of your law school, particularly
during the first year? A "B" mean? "C"
mean? Something else?
d.
How do students earn an invitation to your law school's
most respected law review?
e.
What is the drop-out rate at your law school during the
first year? Second and third years?
f.
Are financial aid awards "front-loaded" for 1L's?
In other words, are 2Ls and 3Ls likely to receive less in
financial aid? And is financial aid increased each year
for inflation and higher costs generally?
g.
What is your law school's bar exam passage rate record?
h.
Does your law school offer purely merit-based scholarships?
If so, how many? For what percentage of total costs? At
what GPA/LSAT level are they offered?
i.
What percentage of the most recent graduating class is employed
currently in law-related positions?
j.
What are the most prestigious clerkships offered to your
recent graduates?
k.
Which schools does your law school regard as its direct
competitors?
l.
What is the geographic distribution pattern of your law
school's alumni?
m.
What is the loan default rate of graduates from your law
school?
Answers
to these questions will greatly assist you in making the decision
of whether to invest your time, money and reputation with
a particular law school.
Question
#9
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