When Students Reject Law Schools (Ep. 501)
When Students Reject Law Schools (Ep. 501)
Ben and Nathan focus on shifting the power dynamic in law school admissions. From controlling scholarship negotiations to spotting misleading admissions practices, they offer practical advice for staying in control and making informed decisions. Sometimes, that means rejecting law schools that aren’t making the cut when it comes to scholarship offers.
0:35 – How Often Do Students Reject Schools
If you’re not turning down offers, you didn’t apply to enough schools. Applying broadly puts applicants in the driver’s seat and creates leverage for better offers. Nathan and Ben explain how schools are under pressure to fill their class and how savvy students can use that to negotiate their scholarship offers. They also caution against binding early decision programs, 3+3 tracks, and anything else that limits a student's ability to apply broadly.
14:23 – Is the Scholarship Estimator Broken
Two students express concern over their scholarship prospects. The updated 2024 ABA reports in the estimator appear less optimistic than earlier estimates. Nathan and Ben explain how changes to reporting standards might allow law schools to deflate reported scholarship numbers and obscure actual financial outcomes. They emphasize the importance of focusing on getting the best score possible on the LSAT, applying broadly, and not panicking.
33:22 – Eliminating Wrong Answers as a Strategy
There are two ways to get a question right: identifying the correct answer or eliminating the wrong ones. While the latter can work, it’s not the most efficient method. Ben and Nathan caution students against eliminating an answer choice because they don’t understand it. The preferred strategy is understanding why the right answer is correct, which often saves time and improves accuracy.
36:53 – Personal Statement Gong Show
Nathan and Ben continue their “gong show” series, reading listener-submitted personal statements. The guys read until they find something that derails the statement and then immediately stop. The current record stands at five lines. This week, James submits his essay in an attempt to beat the record.
44:27 – What’s the Deal with Southwestern Law School
Southwestern still uses conditional scholarships that Nathan and Ben classify as “scammerships.” Nearly 50% of students had their scholarships eliminated while in school. While the top students may thrive, the majority face poor employment outcomes and low bar passage rates. They advise listeners not to attend Southwestern at full or even half price. Anyone facing a scholarship cut should be prepared to drop out. They also discuss Southwestern’s part-time, online, and accelerated JD programs. These options might be more convenient, but they usually cost just as much as the regular three-year JD.
1:03:09 – Word of the Week
Many economists argue that tariffs create market distortions that can harm domestic consumers over time.