618 replies to this topic

[lsjames]

Quote

In all honesty, I don't know. I wasn't planning on applying to any Ontario schools, least of all UofT. I just didn't feel my stats would make me competitive and $260 bucks could be spent on many other things. I received a letter and application package in December from UofT highlighting their aboriginal law programs, student groups and other opportunities for funding. They offered to extend their deadline to January 15, 2010. I decided to apply and risk paying for a $260 dollar rejection letter.

Yeah, Ontario schools are expensive. Stupid OUAC.

[vrx]

lsjames said:

Quote

In all honesty, I don't know. I wasn't planning on applying to any Ontario schools, least of all UofT. I just didn't feel my stats would make me competitive and $260 bucks could be spent on many other things. I received a letter and application package in December from UofT highlighting their aboriginal law programs, student groups and other opportunities for funding. They offered to extend their deadline to January 15, 2010. I decided to apply and risk paying for a $260 dollar rejection letter.

Yeah, Ontario schools are expensive. Stupid OUAC.

I suppose OLSAS is cool for those that want to apply to all or even multiple law schools in Ontario but the benefits are lost on someone only interested in one. I look at it as a $260 hail mary. I don't have a lot of money -very little actually- but I am loath to turn down an opportunity.

[vrx]

A quick update for those applying to Alberta: The admissions committee is meeting on February 22nd to make decisions on Aboriginal applicants; they expect to send out offers to successful applicants a few days later.

Another tidbit of info...

[cranberry]

vrx said:

A quick update for those applying to Alberta: The admissions committee is meeting on February 22nd to make decisions on Aboriginal applicants; they expect to send out offers to successful applicants a few days later.

Another tidbit of info...

Man, I can't take the suspense- I hate it!

U Ottawa is the same thing but Western and Queen's seem to do it rolling. Maybe they don't get the same level of AB applicants.

Regarding OUAC...It cost me $600 to apply to Ontario schools due to OUAC fees...and I only applied to half of the schools here- rip off!

[vrx]

BusinessLaw said:

I only applied to Osgoode. I fit into the automatically admitted section of the Aboriginal category based on my LSAT and CGPA. I haven't heard back officially yet.

I like Osgoode because they are very clear with their Aboriginal admissions. I am also on par with the students who go there in terms of CGPA (around 3.60) as opposed to U of T where the average GPA is 3.85.

In addition, I like it over other Ontario schools because of the proximity to Bay Street, as my ambitions are on to work in Corporate Law!

Does this mean you send them your application and they, by default, send you a letter of acceptance?

[vrx]

cranberry said:

vrx said:

A quick update for those applying to Alberta: The admissions committee is meeting on February 22nd to make decisions on Aboriginal applicants; they expect to send out offers to successful applicants a few days later.

Another tidbit of info...

Man, I can't take the suspense- I hate it!

U Ottawa is the same thing but Western and Queen's seem to do it rolling. Maybe they don't get the same level of AB applicants.

Regarding OUAC...It cost me $600 to apply to Ontario schools due to OUAC fees...and I only applied to half of the schools here- rip off!

Dont worry, you'll get in somewhere. What is your top choice?

[cranberry]

vrx said:

cranberry said:

vrx said:

A quick update for those applying to Alberta: The admissions committee is meeting on February 22nd to make decisions on Aboriginal applicants; they expect to send out offers to successful applicants a few days later.

Another tidbit of info...

Man, I can't take the suspense- I hate it!

U Ottawa is the same thing but Western and Queen's seem to do it rolling. Maybe they don't get the same level of AB applicants.

Regarding OUAC...It cost me $600 to apply to Ontario schools due to OUAC fees...and I only applied to half of the schools here- rip off!

Dont worry, you'll get in somewhere. What is your top choice?

My top choice is Ottawa- not because of the school itself but really just because I love the lifestyle in Ottawa. I don't know that I will get in for sure, my average was 82/3.7 BUT I had a withdraw/fail which I understand form U Ottawa counts as a 40% and thus drops my average from 3.7 down to 3.36 and a 79%.

My stats were fine prior to that but now I don't know how to interpret my chances with the new adjusted cGPA.

Based on Western's stats I am still competitive but Ottawa is very discreet about their admissions info.

[vrx]

More info:

The Saskatchewan College of Law will make decisions on Aboriginal applicants near the end of March.

[vrx]

cranberry said:

My top choice is Ottawa- not because of the school itself but really just because I love the lifestyle in Ottawa. I don't know that I will get in for sure, my average was 82/3.7 BUT I had a withdraw/fail which I understand form U Ottawa counts as a 40% and thus drops my average from 3.7 down to 3.36 and a 79%.

My stats were fine prior to that but now I don't know how to interpret my chances with the new adjusted cGPA.

Based on Western's stats I am still competitive but Ottawa is very discreet about their admissions info.

Sounds like you have an excellent chance at Ottawa under the aboriginal category. I'm hoping for Manitoba but I would be happy to have an acceptance from any school at this point. I wish I could have done even a little better on my LSAT but it was the best I could do with the amount of prep time I had - no excuse, just life.

[cranberry]

vrx said:

cranberry said:

My top choice is Ottawa- not because of the school itself but really just because I love the lifestyle in Ottawa. I don't know that I will get in for sure, my average was 82/3.7 BUT I had a withdraw/fail which I understand form U Ottawa counts as a 40% and thus drops my average from 3.7 down to 3.36 and a 79%.

My stats were fine prior to that but now I don't know how to interpret my chances with the new adjusted cGPA.

Based on Western's stats I am still competitive but Ottawa is very discreet about their admissions info.

Sounds like you have an excellent chance at Ottawa under the aboriginal category. I'm hoping for Manitoba but I would be happy to have an acceptance from any school at this point. I wish I could have done even a little better on my LSAT but it was the best I could do with the amount of prep time I had - no excuse, just life.

I hear you, I had the same problem with the LSAT, not a skills issue more a time issue. Working full time, trying to maintain some sort of a life with my wife while studying. In addition I only had 1 month to study, life simply did not allow me to begin any earlier so I spent every spare moment studying and managed to come out with a 158 which I was VERY happy with.

When I thought my average was 82 I had no concerns about my application BUT now that I know my average is much lower than that I worry about acceptance to a school like U of O that is very much GPA heavy.

Based on what I know about Manitoba and the acceptance threads of past students there you should be a shoe in. That said, I have no idea what the competition is like there with such a large Metis population there. Do you have any sense as to how many applicants they received in the AB category last year?

I really liked Queen's response when I asked them when they review AB applicants. They simply said "as early as possible as we want to get people in that category as much notice as possible." Implying that since we may have to uproot and move across the country for the PLPNS it seems reasonable that we should have at least the same notice as early admits.

[cranberry]

BusinessLaw said:

My Stats/EC/Work Experience:

CGPA - 3.59 (It is actually 3.7 at my University but it gets scaled down)
LSAT - 153 (I was disappointed!)

Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) Honours - Minor in Political Science

Extra-curricular - I represent Aboriginals on my Student Union
Sit on a Board for a Not-for-profit organization
Plenty of school related extra stuff, including travel paid for by school
Beta Gamma Sigma Member (Top 7% of the class)

Work Terms - Commercial Lending
Two at the Auditor General's Office

Hey Businesslaw- do you have any idea as to when Oz makes there decisions? HAve they said when you should expect to hear?

How many AB applicants do they receive every year?

[vrx]

cranberry said:

I hear you, I had the same problem with the LSAT, not a skills issue more a time issue. Working full time, trying to maintain some sort of a life with my wife while studying. In addition I only had 1 month to study, life simply did not allow me to begin any earlier so I spent every spare moment studying and managed to come out with a 158 which I was VERY happy with.

When I thought my average was 82 I had no concerns about my application BUT now that I know my average is much lower than that I worry about acceptance to a school like U of O that is very much GPA heavy.

Based on what I know about Manitoba and the acceptance threads of past students there you should be a shoe in. That said, I have no idea what the competition is like there with such a large Metis population there. Do you have any sense as to how many applicants they received in the AB category last year?

I really liked Queen's response when I asked them when they review AB applicants. They simply said "as early as possible as we want to get people in that category as much notice as possible." Implying that since we may have to uproot and move across the country for the PLPNS it seems reasonable that we should have at least the same notice as early admits.

I studied for the LSAT during breaks at work or on weekends when I had free time. I worked full-time and attended a 60 percent course load at school (equates to a full-time student in Manitoba). If only you could drop everything and take out a student loan to study the LSAT. Haha -not a chance.

If you were a regular applicant applying to Ottawa you might have some cause for concern with your GPA. However, I think your GPA as it is, will be within the "competitive" range for Aboriginal applicants; the weight of the decision seems to be placed more on life experience.

From what I gather, UofM receives between 17-21 AB applicants per year. Of the 19 or so applications, 9 are admitted. For all I know, they may have initially given offers to all or most of them; I'm sure some turn down offers or are unsuccessful in completing the PLSNP.

I think giving a little extra time for PLSNP applicants is fair. Moving three times in the span of 4 months, while taking an intensive property law course requires a little more planning ahead of time. Still, I am grateful for the extra opportunity to prove myself, despite the added cost and burden. The more I think about it, the PLSNP could be a real advantage in first year.

[cranberry]

vrx said:

cranberry said:

I hear you, I had the same problem with the LSAT, not a skills issue more a time issue. Working full time, trying to maintain some sort of a life with my wife while studying. In addition I only had 1 month to study, life simply did not allow me to begin any earlier so I spent every spare moment studying and managed to come out with a 158 which I was VERY happy with.

When I thought my average was 82 I had no concerns about my application BUT now that I know my average is much lower than that I worry about acceptance to a school like U of O that is very much GPA heavy.

Based on what I know about Manitoba and the acceptance threads of past students there you should be a shoe in. That said, I have no idea what the competition is like there with such a large Metis population there. Do you have any sense as to how many applicants they received in the AB category last year?

I really liked Queen's response when I asked them when they review AB applicants. They simply said "as early as possible as we want to get people in that category as much notice as possible." Implying that since we may have to uproot and move across the country for the PLSNP it seems reasonable that we should have at least the same notice as early admits.

I studied for the LSAT during breaks at work or on weekends when I had free time. I worked full-time and attended a 60 percent course load at school (equates to a full-time student in Manitoba). If only you could drop everything and take out a student loan to study the LSAT. Haha -not a chance.

If you were a regular applicant applying to Ottawa you might have some cause for concern with your GPA. However, I think your GPA as it is, will be within the "competitive" range for Aboriginal applicants; the weight of the decision seems to be placed more on life experience.

From what I gather, UofM receives between 17-21 AB applicants per year. Of the 19 or so applications, 9 are admitted. For all I know, they may have initially given offers to all or most of them; I'm sure some turn down offers or are unsuccessful in completing the PLSNP.

I think giving a little extra time for PLSNP applicants is fair. Moving three times in the span of 4 months, while taking an intensive property law course requires a little more planning ahead of time. Still, I am grateful for the extra opportunity to prove myself, despite the added cost and burden. The more I think about it, the PLSNP could be a real advantage in first year.

I like your style VRX- I have been focusing only on the cost and disruption to my life that PLSNP will cause. You're right though, having a year long course out of your schedule in first year is a huge advantage to study but also to work in the legal clinic, volunteer etc etc and pad the resume, something not all students will be able to do.

As an update, just heard form Queen's and they are looking at my application as we speak...holy crap! I could hear any day now. It will be nice to know I am going for sure, and to be able to make plans to go to law school etc. even though I won't hear from Ottawa for at least a month now. Having a definite yes in your back pocket has to ease some stress.

[vrx]

cranberry said:

I like your style VRX- I have been focusing only on the cost and disruption to my life that PLSNP will cause. You're right though, having a year long course out of your schedule in first year is a huge advantage to study but also to work in the legal clinic, volunteer etc etc and pad the resume, something not all students will be able to do.

As an update, just heard form Queen's and they are looking at my application as we speak...holy crap! I could hear any day now. It will be nice to know I am going for sure, and to be able to make plans to go to law school etc. even though I won't hear from Ottawa for at least a month now. Having a definite yes in your back pocket has to ease some stress.

That is exciting! Personally, I would choose Queens over Ottawa, probably because I actually spent time in Kingston with the military. I really like that city and their campus. Queens, as a "back pocket" school would definitely help ease some stress. I sincerely hope you are accepted.

[cranberry]

vrx said:

cranberry said:

I like your style VRX- I have been focusing only on the cost and disruption to my life that PLSNP will cause. You're right though, having a year long course out of your schedule in first year is a huge advantage to study but also to work in the legal clinic, volunteer etc etc and pad the resume, something not all students will be able to do.

As an update, just heard form Queen's and they are looking at my application as we speak...holy crap! I could hear any day now. It will be nice to know I am going for sure, and to be able to make plans to go to law school etc. even though I won't hear from Ottawa for at least a month now. Having a definite yes in your back pocket has to ease some stress.

That is exciting! Personally, I would choose Queens over Ottawa, probably because I actually spent time in Kingston with the military. I really like that city and their campus. Queens, as a "back pocket" school would definitely help ease some stress. I sincerely hope you are accepted.

I have only been to Kingston for a business meeting once and then a second time to drive around to see if my wife and I would accept a job offer (for her). Queen's seems to have a better rating as a law school and it also has awesome employment figures but I love it here in Ottawa. I am Metis from the Ottawa valley so living on the Ottawa river also has cultural importance, but once done Law School I can certainly move to Ottawa for work.

Queens also has a Business Law clinic which is something that interests me while Ottawa has no such thing. Queens also has a legal clinic, but without an emphasis on AB people and issues, something that Ottawa has, and the other part of the law that interests me.

It's a tough one. On the one had I would hate to be in a prison town...BUT it would certainly guarantee plenty of work for a lawyer! As soon as I know I will be sure to post it.

[vrx]

It looks like UofT takes a similar stance on Aboriginal applicants (ie. Queens); they will be reviewing my file within the next few weeks. It's funny how some of the schools I applied to, Manitoba for example, were submitted in September but will not actually make a decision until March; yet, I submitted my application to OLSAS on January 15th and they are planning to have a decision (rejection letter) within a few weeks. The next few months are going to be a interesting. Come on Manitoba! haha.

[vrx]

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=22893&p=181464&hilit=aboriginal+saskatchewan#p181464

Thought I would post this in here too. Someone accepted into USask with a 2.9 GPA and a 149 LSAT.

[324615]

This board has certainly come a long way, seems like just yesterday it was only one post big.

[cranberry]

Hey Guys,

I just got an invitation by e-mail to apply to their law program. I applied to only 3 schools, but chose to have my application made public via LSAC.

I don't know if it is just a generic e-mail, but they have invited me to apply nevertheless!

No word from any other schools yet.

[vrx]

Which school?

[cranberry]

324615 said:

This board has certainly come a long way, seems like just yesterday it was only one post big.

Agreed, I love it.

[324615]

I am assuming you received this e-mail from UVIC. It is a mass e-mail of sorts. However, I think it is a good indication that they likely have not received many applications from Indigenous applicants. This is pure conjecture on my part, but it is how I see it.

[cranberry]

324615 said:

I am assuming you received this e-mail from UVIC. It is a mass e-mail of sorts. However, I think it is a good indication that they likely have not received many applications from Indigenous applicants. This is pure conjecture on my part, but it is how I see it.

Ah man, UVIC is the one, cannot believe I left that out...sorry!

Did everyone else get this e-mail? If it is a mass e-mail I likely won't apply. It looks like it might have been. UVIC is a bit far from home for me, but the school looks good. If it was a mass e-mail, they may simply be trying to attract more applicants and if it works will only increase the competition for spots. I think I will just wait it out until I hear from Ontario schools.

[324615]

Well, I would also be willing to speculate that although it is a mass e-mail, it a mass e-mail directed to Aboriginal applicants, which is a fairly small pool. Based on that assumption I would also think that of those who received the e-mail only a small percentage of people who were not already planning on applying there would now do so. It does cost 70$ (I believe ) to apply, and I did find their online application to be a bit of a pain in the ass, so do what you will.

[vrx]

Yes, I got an email from UVic today too. I won't be applying as the deadline is Feb 1st. This is not enough time for me to put an application together. Besides that, I've spent so much money already. However, UVic is an excellent school from what I hear. How many Aboriginal applicants you figure they get per year? 50, at most?

Did any of you get invites from UofT to apply?

[cranberry]

vrx said:

Yes, I got an email from UVic today too. I won't be applying as the deadline is Feb 1st. This is not enough time for me to put an application together. Besides that, I've spent so much money already. However, UVic is an excellent school from what I hear. How many Aboriginal applicants you figure they get per year? 50, at most?

Did any of you get invites from UofT to apply?

UVIC is a really good school, but pretty far. I have been to Victoria and BC a few times and love it there...but it still doesn't feel like home. That said law school is law school, and UVIC on the resume sure would look good.

Since I don't really have enough time to consider it prior to the Feb 1 deadline I think I will pass. Agreed, so far I have spent about $1000 for law school applications through OLSAS and books for lsat and then the LSAT. To spend $70 on a school I won't even go to seems silly.

It looks like 324615 is right- based on this small pool of AB applicants the e-mail did not sway us to apply to a school we would not otherwise have applied to.

[cranberry]

vrx said:

Yes, I got an email from UVic today too. I won't be applying as the deadline is Feb 1st. This is not enough time for me to put an application together. Besides that, I've spent so much money already. However, UVic is an excellent school from what I hear. How many Aboriginal applicants you figure they get per year? 50, at most?

Did any of you get invites from UofT to apply?

Nothing from UofT here, anyone else?

[ee825]

Good luck to you all. I am not Aboriginal myself but was a member of the Native Students Association at my school and participated heavily in their events, as one of my best friends is Aboriginal, I am a huge proponent for Aboriginal rights and awareness and I loved the teachings and culture I was exposed to.

Just wanted to drop by and say "hey" and good luck.

[Pamplemousse]

ee825 said:

I am a huge proponent for Aboriginal rights and awareness

+1

Good luck.

[vrx]

I want to make this the 'go to' thread for aboriginal applicants. We just need to make sure to report back on the outcomes of our applications, good or bad; it sucks not knowing where you stand in terms of chances.

Thanks for the encouragement, French Grapefruit and ee825. Good luck to you guys too.