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Messages - Old Guy

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1
Oh Canada! / Re: Getting Ready for 1st Year???
« on: July 17, 2006, 09:56:58 AM »
As odd as this is going to sound...I found a great book that has made me feel a little less anxious...The title...LAW SCHOOL FOR DUMMIES!!!!!  I couldn't believe it when I found it at Chapters but when I was leafing through it there were a number of good points so I bought it.  It goes through from start to finish and provides several tips that will really help.  It is more based on the American experience but 1st year is pretty generic and applies to Canada as well.

I was also given a copy of ONE L.  It's a good book to read but it didn't make me feel any better.  It's about a guy going through his first year at Harvard and how he made it through.

Has anybody else done any reading that could be helpful?

2
Oh Canada! / Re: Getting Ready for 1st Year???
« on: June 23, 2006, 05:01:49 PM »
Am I the only one that's anxious???

3
Oh Canada! / Re: Lap top computers?
« on: June 15, 2006, 06:30:24 PM »
Thanks...I went and picked one up.  Now I just have to figure out how to use it!!!!

4
Oh Canada! / Lap top computers?
« on: May 31, 2006, 01:11:44 PM »
This has the possibility of being a dumb question but I attended school when pens and paper were the only things used for notes and the such...Are lap top computers necessary for law school or are they just a nice to have?

If the answer is they are needed then what is the best type to get. 

5
Oh Canada! / Getting Ready for 1st Year???
« on: May 30, 2006, 01:49:16 PM »
I don't know about the rest of you but I'm already getting anxious about 1st year.  The not knowing what to expect on top of returning to school after an extended break has got me a little nervous.  I'm starting this post to find out if anybody else has the same concerns as I do.  I also want to know what you're doing to prepare for school.  I realize it's only May but time will fly by and I don't want to show up the first day of classes and be overwhelmed.  I already know that the pressure to succeed is going to be high on top of the standards that we place upon ourselves.  What is everybody else feeling out there concerning pre-one L.

I'm attending Osgoode so if anybody has any information concerning classes, books, professors, etc..etc..  Any advice would be appreciated except the don't worry about it advice....It's not in my nature.  I don't want this to be a post just about Osgoode though.  Regardless of the school we will be attending it may give us a place to share our concerns and ideas for coping....that's the intent anyway.

6
Oh Canada! / Re: Mature student vs. law school
« on: May 29, 2006, 10:45:20 AM »
I know that the schools in Ontarion all have a mature student category.  The generic mature student process is you must be out of school for 5 years with age stipulations that vary depending on your situation.  For you, it would be 26 with less than 2 years of University.  It's pretty similar at most of the schools I've checked into.  You write the LSAT and then fill out the application through OLSAS. 

You will be required to fill out a personal statement and a special category statement.  Some of the schools require specific questions to be answered.  You are only allowed 2000 words in each of the statements.  It sounds like more than enough space to get your point across but trust me it isn't.  I don't know how many times I wrote them in order to get the information I wanted the admissions committee to be aware of.

Once all that is done you wait....Some of the schools require an interview for mature students such as Osgoode but others don't and take what is presented to them at face value.

My advice is this and take for what it is...I suggest you start taking a few university level courses to show the admission committees that you are serious and can work at a university level. That is not to say college isn't difficult.  It's just different and it is weighted differently compared to university.  If work is a problem then try the University of Waterloo.  They have a great distance ed program with a large number of courses available.  Go and buy an LSAT test book because you will need to have a good mark to be considered.  People try to knock the mature student category because a lesser score is needed for consideration but I tend not to leave anything to chance.  Give yourself a good deal of time for filling out the application and really evaluate why you want to attend law school.  I say this because if you apply to a school that has an interview process then you will be questioned on your motives for attending the school and why you are pursuing a law degree. 

If I hadn't have taken the time and made sure why I'm doing this I believe I never would have been accepted.  I start in 2006 as a mature student.  Hope this helped you out and good luck!

7
Oh Canada! / Re: Extended Time Program VS Full Time Program
« on: May 24, 2006, 09:54:22 PM »
Thanks for your advice.  It's appreciated.  The career change is a possibility but I'm not sure so that just adds to my problem.  I've talked it over with my family and they will support me with whatever I decide.  I'm very lucky that way.  Best of luck in Windsor.  I was accepted to Osgoode and I'm already getting nervous.  It has been a long time since I've been in a formal classroom setting.  About 18 years!!!! It is definitely going to be an interesting experience.  I guess I'm going to find out if you can teach an old dog new tricks.

8
Oh Canada! / Extended Time Program VS Full Time Program
« on: May 13, 2006, 04:59:22 PM »
I am looking for some advice concerning the Extended Time Program versus the Full Time Program.  The reason I am inquiring is because I currently have a full time job but I have recently been accepted to a well respected Law School in Ontario.

My dilemna is this....I'm married, have kids, mortgage, car loans etc.etc.etc.  I want to get my law degree but I don't want to do it at the expense of my family.  Should I pull the band-aid off quick and get it over with or should I pull it off slow....

Any constructive advice would be helpful....

Thanks

9
Oh Canada! / Re: GPA conversion question
« on: May 13, 2006, 04:54:34 PM »
It would be considered a B- so 2.7.  It won't be grandfathered by the old scale.  It will be marked in accordance with the new standards.

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