u/MovkeyB

Unless you graduated more than 5+ years ago (really, more than 7-8 at this point, since GPA inflation was bad even before covid), why are you complaining about GPA inflation? You think you were the only person at your school who took harsh professors, and every other student at every other school took interpretative dance for 4 years and twirled their way to a 3.9? You also had the profs grade you softly, give you As for work you didn't deserve, and write BS essays for courses with no exam.

Same deal with the LSAT. Why are you complaining about LSAT scores from 2006? You think if you went back to 2006, studied the LSAT only from paper books, had no algorithmic practice, no online tutoring, no forums, you would have gotten the same score? The meta has completely changed and you benefit from the changes in studying, strategy, cheap retesting, and what advice is available and got a higher score thanks to it. You think accommodations are abused? You also benefit from the same looseness of ADHD diagnoses. Go find a telehealth doctor and tell them you run out of time on exams and see what they have to say. I personally don't think extra time helps and I didn't use it because it can be detrimental but if you want to complain then you should do something about it.

Take the issues as they are, see where you benefitted from the current situation, and make the most of your situation. Don't cope and seethe about how every other applicant did something unavailable to you and you're the only person hurt by this, unless you are unk in which case then you can yell at the kids but only a little bit.

Today I was at an info session for hks and I was so upset I have to post.

For context, I'm a law student at a T14 law school. I was interested in HKS because we are a "partner institution" and can supposedly do a "combined degree" with them.

I've attended a number of info sessions at degrees I perceive as cash cows, including those my school (Georgetown) puts on for the various school of revenue generating studies events. The issue is that you'd expect these programs are at least to some form, aiming to sell you on the degree. What they do what the philosophy is why you should choose them. Certainly law schools have wined and dined me at their info sessions. But HKS's attitude is "you are too stupid not to apply, our task here is to help you troglodites figure out what a deadline is and make clear you must pass an English test".

Then on top of that they end the session by just gaslighting us about funding for the rest of the time. I get that funding is competitive, but 1) below 40% got any type of funding, which I thought was insane, 2) of that funding, they refuse to disclose the mix, 3) they also claim they "don't have" information on the number of full rides (which is total bullshit, admissions office obviously has this why are you lying to my face) and 4) they don't have legitimate research positions.

They helpfully end the session by ignoring the rest of the questions, say "I've been speaking for an hour so I'll let you go" (what? Don't pretend you're doing US a favor), and invite everyone else to email them to an inbox that sends a auto-reply telling them they sent an email to the wrong people.

Meanwhile at Georgetown, they're a bit more transparent, but its the same thing - no real research, less than 5% of people get full rides, and those guys are second class citizens. The MPP is now on the optimistically named "Capital Campus", which is where the law school is, but they can't use our pool, or our gym, or our library. Instead they get their own rump building and a bus pass on the campus bus system to commute 30 minutes to use the main facilities.

It's just odd to me because when I talk to the masters at my local state schools, they actually seem interested in the students and 1) have clear methods to get funding, including 100% tuition remission + a stipend, 2) in that funding, sponsor people to travel, publish, and so forth, 3) work with me directly on handling my credit issues so I can graduate in 4 years despite not being at the school. Meanwhile Harvard makes me feel like I am not the target audience bc I'm not some rube from a developing country.

All this to say, in this rant / ask: Is the conclusion to draw that "elite" MPPs are scams, or that I'm just approaching these schools wrong? It feels odd that I get the sense that my state schools that are not particularly notable seem to have vastly more resources and opportunities than supposedly elite schools but that seems to be the case.

Applying this cycle with a high LSAT and a low GPA? If you scored above a 170 and have a sub 3.5 GPA, you will likely find this discord helpful. We have a lot of current and previous cycle applicants who have overcome GPAs as low as 2.1 to get into highly competitive law schools, often with money.

https://discord.gg/F7sAKzssaR

High level summary:

I'm a GULC PT student, starting this fall.

My day job is in the government, in an unrelated role (a city of DC CS-14). My goal after law school is to remain in government, but in a legal role (which will likely pay less, my understanding is my CS grade won't be credited when I become LS).

Should I try to get on IBR and pay down my loans starting from the first semester of law school? What if I'm only 50% sure I'll do gov, and I may end up doing BL instead? What if I plan to quit my job halfway through, and then be a full time student?

Any advice on this situation would be appreciated.

I've seen a lot of posts asking me to withdraw to schools I have put down deposits at but don't plan to attend. To you - why? Do you hate my career? Do you hate scholarships for youth in need? Are you against networking?

I put down deposits at every school I conceivably can because I'm building a network. I love attending events. I love getting emails from alumni who want to "connect". I love sitting in info sessions learning about the dog law scholars.

And you MONSTERS want to take that from me. You want me to be sad and alone, only able to talk to one, maybe two schools' worth of people. Why can't I talk to a dozen?

Besides, these events are a good deal. You realize that many admitted student events are AYCE? The retail cost of a sandwich is maybe $5, so when I eat 10 of them I'm getting $50 back on just one event - events I can no longer attend if I withdraw.

These posts are personal attacks on me. It's irrational, its unfair, and I want them to stop. I will continue to deposit at schools well past orientation, because I am building a network, and I won't let naysayers stop me.