How Much Does Work/Life Experience Actually Help?

[medialaw111516]

Hello,

I'm wondering how much schools actually value work/life experience and take that into consideration for admissions. I've been out of undergrad for three years, out of grad school for almost two and have worked as a journalist for a well known media group and now as a media relations director. I'm wondering how much weight schools like Northwestern, NYU, Fordham, Columbia and Notre Dame, put on life experience, or if they would still place as much weight on gpa and LSAT scores as they do for a graduating senior.


Thank you!

[Robert Carroll]

medialaw,

Experience like that is a "soft" consideration and will definitely be less important than LSAT and GPA. It can make a difference, but only at the margins. If your LSAT and GPA are in the ballpark, if a bit low, good softs can help you stand out. If your LSAT and GPA are well below a school's standards, soft considerations are unlikely to make much difference.

It's important to highlight all your good qualities in your personal statement and/or addenda, so by all means, point out the excellent and interesting work and life experience you have. It can make a difference. Even so, LSAT and GPA are the most important factors.

Robert Carroll

[medialaw111516]

Thanks Robert!