So, I’ve always been interested in Law. Every since I was younger that’s the field I wanted to be in. Now, as am in high school, I am lucky enough to be in a pre-law program at school, do mock trial, and do moot court. In addition, I do extremely well at competitions. However, how can further develop my spike in Law for college admissions? I want to go to a top ten school, and I want to be as competitive as I can.
Work on your grades and standardized tests, and take a challenging curriculum.
I agree with @“Erin’s Dad” That is the best way for ANY student to optimize chances of getting into selective colleges and getting merit money.
Pre law is not a spike or hook. Plenty of them.
It actually might increase your chance of getting into top law schools if you don’t narrow (too pointy) in your hs curriculum/interests. Top
Law schools look at college GPA a lot! Broaden your learning experience now, law is a lot more than trials/debates. Many specialty laws, such as IP, require you to have strong foundations in science and technology.
And, there is always that possibility of finding new passion/love when you are older.
fyi, it looks as though you and your mom are sharing a CC name, which is not allowed.
Being interested in law is not a ‘spike’ (also I am not a believer that it’s ‘spike or lose’). On another @narline1 post somebody recommended this from MIT:
https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways/
It is true.
It’s not about how many more things can you add, it’s about following your true interests as far as you can. What is it that you like about law? what kind of law? why is it your path? Do you want to be the Judge Judy of your generation? are you interested in righting injustice? do you want to be a public defender or a prosecutor? are you more into commercial law? do you want to practice family law? are you into arbitration? Please do not answer me here! Answer for yourself. Push your thinking and follow it through. Keep following that thread, and see where it takes you- and allow yourself to be surprised. For the next few years your brain is going through a major growth spurt. Don’t get too locked into any one path.
Right now, you have a nice set of law-related ECs. What can you do to extend that into the real world? Where and how can you show leadership?
Finally, by all mean keep your big dreams- but use the summers to start identifying safety and match schools that won’t make you cry if they turn out to be your only choice. Not to put as much time into researching them as you do the shiny names is simply irrational, and often leads to tears in the spring of senior year.
You dont want to be “spikey.” Not for a top 10. You want depth and breadth. Willingness to take on new challenges, have some impact, which is beyond hs clubs or contests. The right stretch.
What are you involved with, outside school, that taken on issues for 'the people," the needy, local causes, etc?
Are you a rising soph? You barely have a record yet, haven’t shared gpa, rigor, and likely have no scores. What makes you see Top 10 in your future, so far? Do you know what they look for?
Yes, I’m taking so far i’ve taken and am going to take all the AP courses that my school offers for each grade level. My weighted GPA is over a 4.0. I mainly have always seen myself going to a top school that will challenge me. In addition, because of the scholarship I have at my high school I also have a requirement to apply to these schools. However, whether or not that requirement was there I would have applied to those schools anyway.
See, you need to know more about what impresses Harvard, what they need to see.
It’s more than taking every AP. In fact, they’re on record saying, this not an AP arms race. And cores matter more than electives- especially when kids load up on the easy APS, to bump up the number or their weighted gpa. That’s not the mindset they want.
(Different, if your hs offers few and you take the most important ones.)
- It's not about weighted gpa. They look at the transcript for the classes and letter grades. Again, these class choices have to make sense. Not a schedule filled with fluff and not lower grades in rigorous courses. If your weighted is 4.0, it means you've got grades lower than "A" in there. They'll see that.
- AP scores can matter. I want to say, they DO (but there's some disgreement about this on CC and I dont want this to tur to a fusss.) But you have to realize these scores are an important data point to tippy tops. The competition will have mostly 5 scores, if not all 5.
- Watch out, about the "have always seen myself going to a top school that will challenge me." That won't cut it with tippy tops. They're savvy. They know there are LOTS of great colleges, even less competitive for an admit, that will challenge you. It doesn't impress. They want to see you know why you match their wants, what they offer, not a generic, "Any top college will do it for me."