two random tips for the application process

Students have raised a few issues about the application process recently that I think are worth sharing with everyone.

1. Remember that the applications process is a major time commitment. When planning your applications, try to reduce other major time commitments during application season. For example, if you are going to be applying during the fall of your senior year, that semester would NOT be a good time to take extra courses, or especially difficult courses, or undertake other major commitments such as jobs or extra-curriculars with long hours. This advice especially applies if you are going to be studying for the LSAT at the beginning of the semester (i.e., if you are taking the late September/early October LSAT).

2. If you are about to graduate and are planning to apply to law school later, how can you obtain faculty recommendations in advance? There are two options.
A. Join LSDAS immediately, get the recommendations now, send them to LSDAS, and pay their annual fees every year until you are ready. Note, though, that this costs money (the annual fee). Also, you should NOT use recommendation letters that are more than two years old. B. The other option: ask your favorite professors to send their letters to the U Mass dossier service, located in the Career Services Office. The letters can be held on file as long as you need them. When it comes time to apply to law schools, send the letters back to your professors, together with the LSDAS form, and request the recommenders to send the letters directly to LSDAS. If you wish, you can also ask your recommenders to touch up or modify their letters from the dossier service, especially if you have accumulated more experience or accomplishments that you would like to be mentioned in your letters.