The ULTIMATE Insider Information on How to STAND OUT and GET ADMITTED!
When trying to beat the tough law school competition, how do you know what will get you fast-tracked to the “yes” pile (or the dreaded “no” pile)? No insider is better suited to set you on the right track than Joyce Putnam Curll, former Dean of Admissions for Harvard Law School. The Best Law Schools’ Admissions Secrets is the ultimate collection of insider advice, direct … More >>
#1 by Margaret A. Carlson on July 1, 2010 - 7:19 pm
Ms. Curll has written an outstanding narrative on the process of admission to law school, and advices on how to choose the one that is right for you. She has chapters on how to prepare for law school while still in college, but also reviews the process for those who are starting out later in life. In one of the early chapters she tackles the question of whether law school is the right choice for you by asking many useful questions connected with the career.
As a former Harvard Dean in Law School admissions, she can write with many details about what the admission effort involves,including suggestions for positive interview results. She suggests some helpful work experiences you may want to explore before making a decision, and also reviews some questions on how to finance law school. Finally, she touches on some of the possibilities a law school graduate might consider after graduation, including clerkships, internships, and summer employment opportunities.
This is an extremely readable and informative book for anyone considering law school. She includes many useful anecdotes and personal stories from her own long career and personal experience.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by odimebrown on July 1, 2010 - 10:16 pm
I really expected Curll’s book to be much more detailed and coming from a former Harvard Admission’s Dean, this is actually a disappointment. The only really good chapter was on the financial aid picture. Other than that, it was too general. That being said, it’s a good starting point for those who have absolutely no idea about how the law school process works. For those looking for more detail, Anna Ivey’s The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions: Straight Advice on Essays, Resumes, Interviews, and More is so much better and filled with nuggets of wisdom. Ivey does a far better job of breaking the whole process down.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Jan Stivers on July 1, 2010 - 11:57 pm
I bought this book for my nephew, a college sophomore who is a bright, wonderful kid, but kind of lost about what to do once he graduates. I think this book will help him preserve his options. Curll’s advice is, of course, directed specifically at those who are considering law school. But the essential ideas deserve a much broader audience. For example, the chapter on letters of recommendation explains how to select the people best suited to write such letters and how to help them write letters that will be effective. The chapter on how to write the personal statement (part of the law school application) can help anyone who must seize a limited opportunity to “market” him or herself. Particularly useful to my nephew -and to most college students, undoubtedly -is the chapter describing how to make the most of the college years. Curll offers a compelling rationale and specific strategies for choosing courses that develop critical thinking, participating in extra-curricular activities that develop leadership and teamwork, and broadening one’s perspective through internships and work experiences.
Curll writes in an accessible, engaging style and uses entertaining vignettes to illustrate her points. While law school applicants are the natural audience for this book, Curll has a great deal to offer all those contemplating graduate study in the professions.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Danielle Starr on July 2, 2010 - 1:18 am
I would highly recommend this book over all others for the following reasons:
- It is meant for all readers, in all stages of their life – still in high school, still in college, recent college grads and accomplished professionals.
- It is well-written and clearly separated into chapters, easy to read and easy to understand.
- The book was not only helpful for me, but also for those writing my recommendations. I photocopied several chapters which I sent to my recommenders along with the form from lsac.org.
- The author has catered to those in all stages of the process – not sure about applying, pretty sure about applying and definitely applying. She helps (with examples) readers figure out if law school is really for them, or if it’s just the easy way out for the time being (but not the right choice in the long run).
With all that said, I would strongly recommend this book. It is not a waste of money and is perfect to help someone thinking about applying or getting their applications ready – I have referred to it so many times, for the LSAT, recommendations, my personal statement, how to choose the right schools etc.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Dylan W. Greenwood on July 2, 2010 - 4:00 am
Easy read – straightforward advice provided. Gave insight of the admission process for law school. I would recommend purchase to anyone considering law school.
Rating: 5 / 5