0LHopeful

In case anyone is ever looking to go a similar route, this is the response I got from some schools. Osgoode: "Thank you for your email. The course accepted once an applicant has completed their program for upgrading purposes would be degree courses from another program (you do not necessarily have to complete this second program) and at minimum a full year (equivalent to a full time academic year) of course work. As the online courses are becoming more recognized, members of the admissions committee do prefer that the applicant attend their classes." Queens: "If they are undergraduate level courses and meet the criteria below, they could be factored into your Best two year GPA. Otherwise, undergraduate courses that weren’t taken at a full load over fall and winter semesters are only factored into your CGPA." Western: "Thank you for your interest in Western Law. Any undergraduate university courses taken will be included in your cGPA. It does not matter if these courses are included in your degree or not. They can be individual courses taken on their own. Kindly note that continuing education courses and college courses are not included. If they are university undergraduate courses they will be considered your most recent and be used to calculate your GPA. Your GPA is calculated by the average of your last two years of full time (or equivalent) university study. I hope this clarifies things for you." Windsor: "Thank you for your interest in the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law. The courses you complete after your undergraduate degree will be averaged into your GPA. However, at the University of Windsor we take a holistic approach for admissions criteria."

I did not lol.

I think the same. I got my point across but my last sentence was cut off lol

I emailed the adcom and they said they are accepting the Jan LSAT

1. Exactly, not the same but similar so I'd advise taking a pause (you can) after doing the practice and thinking about how you did and what you would do different because you can watch yourself back. I started right away and could have probably used a minute or two to calm my nerves 2. You have to do the practice questions! 3. No timer it's like a loading bar? You'll see how much time you have left so just check on that while speaking 4. I don't want to give away any questions but I will say they are very normal questions as in, they only give you minute to respond so they don't ask any question that is too elaborate 5. I would have done the practice questions, waited maybe 10 minutes then did the real questions, I was hyped on nerves so I went right in

Hi all, I just finished the Ryerson Interview and would like to share my experience and/or provide some tips for those who have yet to complete. Firstly, I actually really enjoyed the experience! I think having the ability to introduce yourself to the adcom with a face and a name but most importantly your personality is amazing. I actually think more schools should introduce this element and I would be surprised if we do not see some schools trying this out over the next couple of years. I could see a point where if every school made you do an interview it would add more time to an already taxing process but I would still prefer the chance to meet the adcom and would be okay with another step in the application process. Any predictions on this? Do you think more schools will seek to incorporate video interviews into admissions? Why or Why Not? I know various med schools do some version of either in-person or online interview and it's central to their decision. Now, on to tips! I will not share anything specific about the questions because it truly would not be helpful to you. The entire point of the video interview is to see how you think on your feet and express your ideas, which I'm sure anyone who is applying to law school especially will already be seasoned at. But generally, here are some tips I would recommend for those who still need to take this assessment: 1. Be cognizant of your time! - I was cut off on more than 1 occasion. I am naturally a longwinded person and my boyfriend often rushes me to "Get to the point". Even after doing the practice questions I didn't really appreciate how concise you need to be. I recommend, when you're given the time before recording your answer, do not just think about what you WILL or WANT to say but HOW you're going to do it ie. What 2-3 points MUST I get across 2. Eye contact! - Again, we often move our eyes around in natural conversation but watching one of my practice questions back I realized I was not making enough eye contact. Try to remember to look into your webcam a couple of times during your response 3. Smile! - I realized by the third question I hadn't smiled and I wonder if it will look creepy when they watch it lol. I don't think you need to be peppy per say but now that I'm done I think I could have done a better job of being a little bit more "upbeat"? Maybe not though, maybe they don't care but I get the sense that, in watching your prerecorded answers, a smile or two will do you good. Not sure how helpful this really was but hopefully for those who are nervous/have not done it yet, it will provide some help. Good luck everyone!

Hello, As the title suggests, I'm writing the January LSAT. Working full-time I wanted to give myself the best shot and doing well (although slightly regretting this now). I'm thinking I may be at a disadvantage given my late score submissions (although adcom said they would accept Jan scores). Will they read your PS/references without an LSAT score or are you only reviewed once everything comes in. I'm thinking Jan scores won't be released to almost end of Feb so I may not be referred to adcom until late April/May.

Hi Deadpool, thanks for the honest critique. Sorry, if my "short of getting another undergraduate" sounded like I was against getting one. I've actually looked into this and would be willing to and am prepared to do so. I was saying it more in the "what else can I do, short of that because I've already thought of that one" way. Your advice however, highlights this may be the only option. In terms of moving - I sincerely cannot leave my mom/family and move to another province. I think above I mentioned "(If I even have the stats of Windsor)" so I'm sorry if it came off that way but I in no way think my stats make me a shoe in anywhere quite frankly. Lastly, you make a valid point and one that I am aware of. My dad may have gotten ill but there's likely a student out there whose both parents died or grew in foster care or is a Syrian refugee who still scored 165+ LSAT with a competitive 3.8 cGPA. My life has been rough, but I know there are people who have had it "rougher" and have done better in school. Those people deserve all the praise. I more-so just wanted to highlight my "why" and how my experiences relate to why I want to go to law school. I would not write this in a woe is me way, but rather a "this is why I am applying" type of way. All this to say, thank you! I appreciate your feedback. I'm thinking of doing a second degree through AU I'll ask the schools I'm applying to if that's acceptable.

Thank you, I get that impression as well (of Queens) given their accepted discussions I've looked through. I am reaching out to admissions to double check however. To be honest, Windsor is my preferred school. The mixture of social-justice focus, lower tuition, lower cost of living and close(ish) proximity to my family in Toronto make it ideal. With my stats UofT isn't even an option but, I have a friend there now and the tuition is so expensive that is has become a point of anxiety. I am really cautious about taking out too much $$ that would then steer me toward big law. (If I even have the stats of Windsor). Is it generally advisable to write in your PS that you are keen on that school in particular?

I know I'm the last person on earth who should be rejecting any viable option, but, I don't know if I could leave my mom alone and move to another province. In Ontario, do you think I would have chances... anywhere?

Thanks lookingaround, studying now with a November write date set. I'll add to this or maybe start a new thread when I have my score in hand. Hoping for 165+ and my cold write was 152 but, to your point I guess I'm trying to gauge what to do if no LSAT will make up for my GPA. If there are any other options. But again, thank you taking the time to reply.

Hi everyone, Another 0L hopeful looking for some advice. I graduated in 2018 and currently work at a legal tech company in Toronto (think Kira Systems, Clio etc.) When I began undergrad I was in Political Science and stayed in that program for first and second year. My GPA at that time was 3.5. I took a lot of courses in Women Studies, Political Science and Law and in those courses I got an 80% or greater in all of them. I LOVED those courses, I loved writing, research and the classroom discussions/debates that would follow. At that time, law school was a thought of mine but being risk adverse and wanting to ensure myself a job I switched to Computer Science. My grades took a nose dive because hated the courses and could not motivate myself to study (I know not a valid excuse it was my choice). Around that same time my dad got diagnosed with Schizophrenia which impacted my own mental health (worrying about my mom & sending money back home to help back up the difference in bills). *none of this is documented, but even before this, I've worked since I was 13 and giving money/supporting my family is "normal" to this day* Post-grad, I worked in another startup but found my way back to the legal filed through a legal tech startup and I'm starting to realize that being a lawyer is what I want to do. Specifically, employment and/or labour law or plaintiff side class actions. I got my first job at Subway at 13 (new store opening, manager forgot to check my birth certificate) but since then I've had a job every school year (high school, university etc.) and two every summer. One summer during the floods of 2013 I worked with a friend cleaning out peoples basements with zero protective equipment for money to go to university. We'd come home coughing and sick from the debris and pulling a part moldy drywall. My parents both work in unionized environments and I've seen them both laid off many times throughout my life. I've realized I have a passion for ensuring that those who are just trying to feed their families and create good lives for themselves are protected and advocated for. My mom is a union rep now and at the recent labour day parade I realized how much I felt "called" to this work through my own experiences in precarious situations and my families. If you asked me 4 years ago, what law firm I wanted to work at I would have told you Tory's LLP for no other reason than I knew they are a big firm that pays a lot. However, now, I have gotten clear on what my own values are: I want to work with people who remind me of myself and my family (everyday people), I want to be at service to those in need, I want to be able to clearly explain what I do and I do not want to work on behalf of a corporation. Today I would tell you Cavalluzzo, Goldblatt, Koskie Minsky are some of my most admired firms. I know that's a ton of backstory but I just wanted to add some context to awful GPA and why I want to go to law school. I know a 3.5 GPA is also pretty bad for my first 2 years, but I think it shows I did/do have the ability to do well in university. I just followed the advice of society "liberal arts grads don't get jobs" and coming from a poorer family with no safety net I decided I must "secure" myself employment first and foremost. My plan is to kill the LSAT but realistically speaking, I don't know if I will be one of those 170+ type of people. Additionally, I'm involved in the $15 & Fairness organization and the Migrant Workers Collective. Throughout university I was a Senator, VP of a couple clubs, mentor for low-income girls through Big Brothers Big Sisters, worked all four years, programming director for low-income kids camp. At my current job I am client-facing helping lawyers at big firms integrate our software into their workflows. Short of getting another undergrad, is there anything else I can do? My sights right now are set on Windsor Single JD - really interested in their Migrant Farm Workers Clinic - my grandparents came to Canada through that program and Queens (because it's a B2 school and they have an extensive labour/employment focus). I cannot apply to Windsor-dual, the cost of that program is prohibitive, similarly no interest (not like I would get in) for Osgoode or UofT. Thank you to anyway who took the time to read this and offer their feedback and/or advice. I appreciate any and all comments and will not take offense to even some of the "harsher" ones.