Law School - Mature Student

[aidan24]

My sister is 25 and wants to go to law school. She finished a 4 yr BBA undergrad from Schulich at York in Business. She is currently a certified mangement accountant.

Her grades in university were B-/C+.

Does she have a shot at getting into law school as a mature student?

[cheeseshredder]

Grades and LSAT are the main criteria for admission, check on http://lawbuzz.ca/ and http://www.lawstudents.ca/forums/

[Octavius]

My sister is 25 and wants to go to law school. She finished a 4 yr BBA undergrad from Schulich at York in Business. She is currently a certified mangement accountant.

Her grades in university were B-/C+.

Does she have a shot at getting into law school as a mature student?

Generally speaking, for Mature applicants, less emphasis is placed on grades and more is placed on the LSAT and work/life experience.

If she can get a good grade on the LSAT and if she's got some good work experience and volunteer experience, she *may* have a shot at getting in.

That being said, competition for Mature spots in law school is fierce. There's many more spots open under the "Regular" applicant category then there is under the Mature applicant category, but to be honest, it's unlikely she'll get in anywhere as a regular applicant with a B-/C+ average unless she's got a killer LSAT (ie, 170+).

Lawstudents.ca and lawbuzz.ca will provide her with a lot more information in terms of applying to law school as well as her chances.

[pupazzo]

B-/C+ = no chance in hell

[UWO Engineer]

B-/C+ = no chance in hell

Mature students are more removed from their undergraduate grades, and she has the bonus of being a women. It is a definite possibility.

[help_questions]

Mature students are more removed from their undergraduate grades, and she has the bonus of being a women. It is a definite possibility.

well, I am applying this year as a mature student.
I agree that mature students are more removed from their undergrad grades, as I am not getting all A+'s due to my personal commitments....that said, my GPA is much much higher than a B-/C+...

Also, my understanding is most mature students are closer to 30.

OP, you sister should apply as she has nothing to lose. But she should start thinking about what she wants to do if she doesn't get in. Sure she has a shot, but her profile needs to mitigate her GPA.

[VivienM]

My sister is 25 and wants to go to law school. She finished a 4 yr BBA undergrad from Schulich at York in Business. She is currently a certified mangement accountant.

Her grades in university were B-/C+.

Does she have a shot at getting into law school as a mature student?

MATURE STUDENT??

The average age of a first year law student at many schools is 25-26. She's right about average...

If she was 35, you might want to call her a mature student.

[help_questions]

MATURE STUDENT??

The average age of a first year law student at many schools is 25-26. She's right about average...

If she was 35, you might want to call her a mature student.

actually, the technical definition of what makes someone a "mature student" varies for each school.

For example, for the university of Alberta, you MUST be 35 among other things to apply as a mature student
for Queen's, you need to be 26 with 5 year work experience

[VivienM]

actually, the technical definition of what makes someone a "mature student" varies for each school.

For example, for the university of Alberta, you MUST be 35 among other things to apply as a mature student
for Queen's, you need to be 26 with 5 year work experience

I wasn't talking about the 'official' definition... (which, yes, depends on every school)

I was talking about the 'real world' situation on the ground. I'd like to think that a 'mature station' however defined is somebody substantially older/more experienced than the average student...

[goJays]

tell her to study well and hard for the LSAT find a religion lol jk

[help_questions]

Generally speaking, for Mature applicants, less emphasis is placed on grades and more is placed on the LSAT and work/life experience.

If she can get a good grade on the LSAT and if she's got some good work experience and volunteer experience, she *may* have a shot at getting in.

That being said, competition for Mature spots in law school is fierce. There's many more spots open under the "Regular" applicant category then there is under the Mature applicant category, but to be honest, it's unlikely she'll get in anywhere as a regular applicant with a B-/C+ average unless she's got a killer LSAT (ie, 170+).

Lawstudents.ca and lawbuzz.ca will provide her with a lot more information in terms of applying to law school as well as her chances.

any stats on this?

I'd be interested to know ANYTHING more about the mature student categories..

[pimom]

I applied both as a mature student and through regular admittance so I don't know which way I was accepted. I had the grades to get in regular and had been out of school for 5+ years. Most of the mature students I knew were over 35+ and all have very impressive resumes - I mean, really, they varied from union executives to doctorates to university instructors. I don't think B-grades plus five years out is enough to stand out unless there is something else in the package to make the application pop. My UG grades were pretty good and my LSAT was just OK, but I had some awards/interesting life experience/unusual background/very good references from internationally noted profs. I got a very early offer.

[help_questions]

I applied both as a mature student and through regular admittance so I don't know which way I was accepted. I had the grades to get in regular and had been out of school for 5+ years. Most of the mature students I knew were over 35+ and all have very impressive resumes - I mean, really, they varied from union executives to doctorates to university instructors. I don't think B-grades plus five years out is enough to stand out unless there is something else in the package to make the application pop. My UG grades were pretty good and my LSAT was just OK, but I had some awards/interesting life experience/unusual background/very good references from internationally noted profs. I got a very early offer.

thanks for sharing.