Client Case Study: Xena
Originally considering a career as a forensic psychologist, Xena made the leap to law after getting the chance to intern for a local attorney through a high school internship program. Her one-year internship turned into a six-year job as she continued working for the law firm all the way through her undergraduate studies. She credits this work experience with getting her accepted to NYU, St. Thomas and Rutgers law schools and waitlisted at Stetson University Law School.
Dealing with medical issues, Xena took the LSAT twice, but was disappointed in her scores even after receiving medical accommodations for her second attempt. She knew she would need help getting into the schools she wanted to attend. The Art of Applying® taught her the difference between an academic resume and a job resume, helped her find a different approach to her personal statements and helped her look at the whole application process in a different light.
As a first-generation college graduate with Spanish-speaking parents, Xena was delighted that The Art of Applying® insisted that her mother join her for her Breakthrough Call, despite the language barrier. She recommends that all parents — especially those who don’t speak English — are included in clients’ Breakthrough Calls, because they bring their own life experience and their opinions matter. She even took time in her interview to send a special Spanish-language message to parents who are wondering if The Art of Applying® is right for their child.
Xena’s big plans for her future, include working with immigrant communities (inspired by her own father’s fight to stay in the United States) and the Innocence Project. Her positive attitude and hard work, along with the help of The Art of Applying®, got her to where she is today and we can’t wait to see the change she makes in the world!
Service: Application Accelerator®
Join Date: August 2018 | End Date: May 2019
Applicant Information
Age: 22GPA: 3.4 with honors LSAT: 140 (first attempt), 150 (second attempt)
Acceptances
Rutgers University Law School New York University Law School St. Thomas University Law School Stetson University Law School — Waitlisted Michigan State Law School
Scholarships
Rutgers University Law School: $9,000 per yearMichigan State Law School: $10,000 per yearSt. Thomas University Law School: $23,000 per yearNew York University Law School: $10,000 per year
Notable Quotes
On getting accepted to NYU School of Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law and Rutgers Law School, and waitlisted at Stetson University Law School:
“It feels like a big weight is off my shoulders… It definitely feels a lot better knowing I have choices… Before, I felt like I didn’t have a choice. It feels good to know I have a choice now.”
On getting accepted to three law schools despite her lower LSAT scores:
“What really helped me is pointing out something else other than my score. I am more than my score.”
Why job experience was an important part of her law school applications:
“Working for a lawyer for six-plus years since high school, having that background; I think that’s what really, really helped me.”
Her advice to fellow law school applicants who might be worried about their GPAs or LSAT scores:
“Work on your work experience, because a lot of law schools right now are actually giving more weight to that rather than your GPA or your LSAT score. They really want to know what type of real-world experience are you preparing yourself for?”
How she discovered The Art of Applying® and knew we could help her achieve her dreams:
“I was reading anything and everything I could about law schools… I stumbled upon The Art of Applying® and how you guys could help me as long as I give my 100 percent. You guys will be there to help me, you will be there, and you will support me getting into law school. Not just law school, but more specifically, a law school that I would really want to go to and where I could be happy.”
How The Art of Applying® — especially her consultant — played a pivotal role in her application process:
“I needed someone else’s opinion… Before meeting you guys, I was having a hard time thinking about personal statements… I had made a list [of personal statement ideas] when I started talking with my consultant. She made me think of things I didn’t even think about.”
How she felt about her Breakthrough Call and why it’s important to have parents join these calls:
“I had my Breakthrough Call…with my mom present. She doesn’t speak English. … [My Breakthrough Coach] asked me a lot of questions that I didn’t actually put into perspective at the beginning…. He asked me, ‘Where do you want to go to law school? Are you okay with leaving New Jersey?’ My mom had a lot of questions, and he was very helpful too.”
On people’s misunderstandings on how The Art of Applying® works:
“They think ‘let me just get with this company and they will do everything for me and they will get me into law school.’ … It’s important to understand that you have to help yourself.”
Her advice to clients who don’t want to include their parents on the Breakthrough Call because they don’t speak English:
“It’s important to bring your parents… I think they see things differently than we do because we’re younger… They’ve been through life already… There’s going to be things you’re not going to think about asking… Their opinion matters.”
What surprised her the most about working with The Art of Applying®:
“The relationship I built with my consultant. … It felt like I knew her already. She was wonderful and until this day, she’s very supportive. I feel comfortable letting her know what’s going on with my life.”
On her future career plans after she graduates from law school and why she’s choosing law:
“My main focus would be immigration, and I would also really, really love to work with the Innocence Project and the wrongfully convicted… Going into law for a lot of people, it might be monetary reasons, but for me it’s not like that.”
Her advice to someone who’s in a similar situation, but doubting that they will be accepted into their top school choices:
“Two weeks ago I was in your exact same position. Even with my background and how wonderful my application was… it’s still a scary process… Stay confident. Think positive more than anything.”
On how being a full-time working student can actually be a positive for law and grad school applicants:
“Maybe you felt like you could have done better if you didn’t have to work, but props to you because you had it harder, and you still graduated. That’s something that a lot of universities appreciate and they love to see that. A lot of things got in your way, but you still got it done.”
On her overall positive experience with The Art of Applying®:
“I don’t think I would have been able to do it without you guys.”
