Best Spivey Consulting Group Podcasts (2023)

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Status Check with Spivey

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The New Rankings & The Future of Law School Admissions/Legal Education 28:12

2h ago28:12

28:12

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike gives an insider perspective on the new 2023-2024 U.S. News law school rankings (full +/- list here), the changes in methodology that they made, and how this year's rankings (and the surrounding controversy) may impact law school admissions and legal education moving forward. You can listen and subs…

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Status Check with Spivey

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"Everything" 5:48

1M ago5:48

5:48

In this short episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike talks about the widespread notion that, even beyond whatever specific and concrete challenges we each may be facing, there is an added factor of "everything" (in today's society, in life) that can sometimes feel crushing. Then he gives some advice. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Dr. Guy Winch on Handling Rejection (& Waiting) in Admissions (Re-Release) 39:02

14d ago39:02

39:02

This week, we're re-releasing a 2021 episode of Status Check with Spivey that is more relevant to our listeners than ever—our interview with Dr. Guy Winch. In what has ended up being one of our favorite episodes ever, Dr. Winch discusses his own experiences with rejection in admissions, the research behind these feelings, and specific interventions…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Interview with a Harvard Law Transfer Student 55:28

23d ago55:28

55:28

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Spivey Consulting's Derek Meeker interviews a Harvard Law 2L (and former client) who transferred from the University of Idaho. They talk about his background and story, his non-traditional path to law school, his initial 1L application, his transfer application (and what made it shine), the expectations …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Legal Hiring Tips from an Expert (Part 2) 36:52

1M ago36:52

36:52

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Kate Reder Sheikh, a Partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, one of the top recruiting firms for legal hiring in the nation. Mike and Kate discuss the legal hiring market, how legal hiring may be impacted by the state of the economy in the coming months and years, what you can do to best posi…

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Status Check with Spivey

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How to Get a Job Out of Law School (Part 1) 9:30

1M ago9:30

9:30

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike offers some tips and advice for getting a job out of law school from his time as a Dean of Career Services during the great recession. Part 2 is an interview with Kate Reder Sheikh, a Partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, one of the top recruiting firms for legal hiring in the nation. You can listen a…

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Status Check with Spivey

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On Dream Schools 20:23

2M ago20:23

20:23

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike talks to Spivey Consulting's COO Anna Hicks-Jaco about a question from Reddit—one that we hear many times every year. "How do I stop being so attached to my dream school?" This episode mentions several other interviews, including our episode with Dr. Guy Winch and our episode with Dr. Judson Brewer.…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Why Is This Cycle So Slow—& What You Can Do About It 9:49

3M ago9:49

9:49

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses the factors that have led to this historically slow-moving cycle—and how you can strategically leverage that knowledge to your advantage. Mike references two of our other episodes in this podcast: When Should You Reach Out to an Admissions Office, and How Should You Do It? Dr. Guy Winch on…

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Status Check with Spivey

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When Should You Reach Out to an Admissions Office, and How Should You Do It? 7:09

3M ago7:09

7:09

In this short episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses a question that tends to come up frequently this time of year—“Should I contact x law school's admissions office to ask for an update since I haven't heard back yet?”—then talks generally about when it can be advantageous to reach out to admissions, why, and how you should do it. You…

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Status Check with Spivey

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The Rules of Reddit 10:31

4M ago10:31

10:31

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike talks about how online law school admissions discussion can affect (or not affect) your outcomes. Are adcoms on Reddit? Will they Google you? What sorts of online conduct can turn an admit into a waitlist or deny? Mike gives his thoughts on these questions and more from 15+ years following law schoo…

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Status Check with Spivey

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How to Crush the Second Half of the Law School Admissions Cycle 25:50

4M ago25:50

25:50

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike gives an update on 2022-2023 applicant data and discusses admissions strategies for the second half of the application cycle: waitlists and letters of continued interest, tips for asking for scholarship reconsideration, and handling the waiting/anxiety. (It may surprise you how impactful that last i…

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Status Check with Spivey

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What Triggers Admit Waves? 9:47

4M ago9:47

9:47

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike talks about the different factors that precipitate waves of law school admissions decisions being released, especially late in the cycle/during waitlist season. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts. Yo…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Reducing Stress & Increasing Happiness as a Student & Applicant 50:53

5M ago50:53

50:53

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Jordana Confino, Assistant Dean of Professionalism at Fordham Law School, about ways that law school applicants and students (and in fact, any applicant or student) can healthily cope with and reduce stress and increase overall happiness and well-being. Jordana is a graduate of Yale Unive…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Will Medians Stay As High This Law School Admissions Cycle? 7:39

5M ago7:39

7:39

In this episode, Mike gives his thoughts on whether law schools will be able to maintain their historically high LSAT/GPA medians after the 2022-2023 admissions cycle. Note: You may notice that the numbers we cite sometimes vary slightly from the volume data that LSAC publishes. This is because LSAC reports only an applicant's ultimate high LSAT sc…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Happy Holidays—Plenty of Admits Are Coming in 2023 6:05

5M ago6:05

6:05

In this short episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike offers some optimistic news for law school applicants who may not have yet received any admits. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts.

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Status Check with Spivey

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Law Schools Leaving the U.S. News Rankings: Implications for This Year & The Future 43:16

6M ago43:16

43:16

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Justin Kane, Spivey Consulting's Director of Business Intelligence and resident rankings expert, about recent developments in the U.S. News & World Report Law School Rankings. If you haven't already heard, a number of law schools have recently announced that they will no long…

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Status Check with Spivey

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What It's Like Applying to Law School, Part 2 (Interviews) 36:53

7M ago36:53

36:53

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Spivey Consulting COO Anna Hicks-Jaco checks in with "Lucy," u/Accomplished-Body785 on Reddit, an applicant currently in the middle of her law school application process. We are interviewing Lucy at several points throughout her cycle to check in about how things have been going, what she's been up to in…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Catastrophizing in Admissions (& Why It's Going to Be Okay) 6:21

8M ago6:21

6:21

In this short episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike talks about applicants' (deeply understandable) tendency to catastrophize in law school admissions. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts. You can read a full transcript of this episode h…

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Status Check with Spivey

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What It's Like Applying to Law School, Part 1 57:46

8M ago57:46

57:46

In this first episode of an upcoming multi-part series of Status Check with Spivey, Anna Hicks-Jaco (Spivey Consulting's COO) speaks with an applicant from the r/lawschooladmissions Reddit, "Lucy," as she prepares to submit her applications. We will be interviewing Lucy at a number of points throughout her cycle to check in about how things have be…

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Status Check with Spivey

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UVA Law Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer Dives Deep into Law School Admissions 40:56

8M ago40:56

40:56

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Natalie Blazer, who currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Chief Admissions Officer at the University of Virginia School of Law. Dean Blazer talks about her path to law school and admissions, the differences and similarities between the admissions operations at the vari…

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Status Check with Spivey

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The One Biggest Piece of Advice for New Lawyers from Bill Eddy, JD/Therapist 21:27

9M ago21:27

21:27

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Bill Eddy, an award-winning mediator, attorney, author, and therapist who developed "high conflict personality theory" and is an expert in dealing with high conflict people in the practice of law. Bill is the Co-Founder and CIO of the High Conflict Institute and faculty at Pepperdine Caru…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Law School Admissions AMA with Mike Spivey & Dave Killoran (Part 2) 22:26

10M ago22:26

22:26

You can find Part 1 of this episode here. In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike and Dave answer more questions from the Law School Admissions Reddit! Part 2 discusses personal statements topics, reapplying, letters of recommendation, the relative importance of "softs" generally, Why X essays, work experience vs. going "K-JD," how law sc…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Law School Admissions AMA with Mike Spivey & Dave Killoran (Part 1) 34:41

10M ago34:41

34:41

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike and Dave answer questions from the Law School Admissions Reddit. This will be a series of two episodes, with Part 2 coming out next week! Part 1 covers predictions for the upcoming 2022-2023 law school admissions cycle, discussion about the LSAT and GPAs, application timing, and more. Part 2 will co…

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Status Check with Spivey

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The Genre of Application Essay Writing 32:23

1y ago32:23

32:23

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike speaks with long-time Spivey consultant and former Penn Law Admissions Dean Derek Meeker about tackling the genre of law school applications. Crafting a well-written essay is just one part of the equation — necessary but not sufficient for a strong application — and in this interview, Derek takes le…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Mishka Shubaly, Best-Selling Author, on Creative Writing 28:12

1y ago28:12

28:12

Content Warning: This interview includes content related to suicide and the guest's experience with a school shooting. In this episode, Mike interviews best-selling author and storyteller Mishka Shubaly about personal creative writing. Mishka holds an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University and teaches writing at the Yale Writer's Conference. You c…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Top 5 Mistakes New Law Students Make 42:26

1y ago42:26

42:26

In this episode, Mike interviews law school strategy coach Angela Vorpahl about some of the most common mistakes that 1Ls make and how to set yourself up to get great grades. Prior to starting her own firm to assist law students, Angela graduated from law school in the top 1% of her class, clerked for a federal judge, worked in biglaw, and practice…

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Status Check with Spivey

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On Rejection in Admissions 4:33

1y ago4:33

4:33

This is a brief podcast on being denied from law school. For more on rejection, listen to our podcast with Dr. Guy Winch, renowned psychologist, author, and speaker. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts. spiveyconsulting.com | spiveyblog.com | myrankb…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Predicting the Rest of This Cycle & Next Cycle with PowerScore's Dave Killoran 38:27

1y ago38:27

38:27

In this episode, Mike gets together with PowerScore CEO and LSAT expert Dave Killoran to discuss the closing months of this current 2021-2022 cycle, early indicators and predictions for next cycle 2022-2023, and the development of the LSAT over time as it has shifted from a five-section, in-person, pencil-and-paper exam, to a three-section, at-home…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Thoughts on the 2023 (2022) USNWR Law School Rankings 10:38

1y ago10:38

10:38

In this episode, Mike discusses the recently released 2023 edition (2022 release) U.S. News & World Report law school rankings. You can view the full rankings (including +/- from last year) here. As always, we want to disclaim that it is our strong opinion that rankings should not be a major factor in where you decide to attend law school. You can …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Dr. Jud Brewer on the Highly Effective Way to Overcome Anxiety 32:35

1y ago32:35

32:35

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Judson Brewer about proven, concrete strategies to manage anxiety, including how to apply them for LSAT-related test anxiety and the stress of waiting for admissions results. Dr. Jud Brewer is a New York Times best-selling author, neuroscientist, addiction psychiatrist, and thought leader in the field of habit cha…

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Status Check with Spivey

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No Admits to Six Admits (Law School Applicant Diaries #3) 28:34

1y ago28:34

28:34

In this episode, Mike speaks again with "Barb," an applicant this 2021-2022 cycle with a ~177 LSAT, a ~3.3 GPA, and ten years of work experience. The last time we spoke with Barb, which was in December, she had submitted most of her applications but hadn't yet heard back from any schools, and her anxiety was mounting. She now has six admits (in add…

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Status Check with Spivey

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How the Russian Invasion of Ukraine May Impact Law School/Legal Employment 7:54

1+ y ago7:54

7:54

We have been asked multiple times in the last 24 hours about how the recent Russian invasion into Ukraine may impact law school, admissions, and legal employment, so we wanted to post this brief, unedited podcast addressing those questions. We want to disclaim that this is analysis discusses far from the most important and impactful effects of the …

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Status Check with Spivey

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February 2022 Law School Application Cycle Update 20:36

1+ y ago20:36

20:36

In this episode, Mike gives an update on the data for the 2021-2022 cycle as of early February. He discusses what to expect for median increases/decreases after this cycle, what's going to happen this waitlist season, what to expect for transfer admissions this year, and some early preliminary predictions for next cycle. Note: You may notice that t…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Strong Applicant. No Admits. What’s Going On? 20:57

1+ y ago20:57

20:57

In this episode, Mike speaks with an applicant from Reddit who we'll call "Ryan Reynolds" (you know, just for fun). Ryan has a 178 LSAT and a 3.8 undergraduate GPA, and while he blanketed the top 20 law schools, he has received only waitlists and denials so far this cycle (as of February) despite having applied early on. Mike and Ryan discuss the f…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Catching Up With a Stanford 1L 38:54

1+ y ago38:54

38:54

In this episode, Mike and one of our Spivey consultants Karen Buttenbaum (former Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School) catch up with u/lightningmcboops (who we call "Megan"), one of r/lawschoolsadmissions' regular posters from last cycle, who went through the most difficult cycle we have ever seen without receiving a single rejection. After…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Diary of a Law School Applicant's Cycle: Episode 2 (The Waiting) 26:34

1+ y ago26:34

26:34

In this episode, we continue our interview series with "Barb," a current applicant. Barb is a splitter with a 176 LSAT and a 3.1 GPA, and she's also a non-traditional applicant with 10+ years of full-time work experience after college. In this interview, she and Mike discuss the many emotions and anxieties that come up after you hit that "submit" b…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Cycle Volume Update & Conjecture On Where the Cycle Might Be Heading 32:52

1+ y ago32:52

32:52

In this episode, Mike has a conversation with Spivey Consulting's Business Intelligence Director Justin Kane (current 2L and data genius) about where this current admissions cycle (2021-2022) stands so far in terms of applicant volume, what that means, what we predict for the rest of the cycle, and some actionable admissions advice based on what we…

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Status Check with Spivey

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"Safety Schools" & Making a Law School Backup Plan 24:40

1+ y ago24:40

24:40

In this episode, Mike and our consultant Danielle Early (former Associate Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School) talk about safety schools and back-up plans. How do you choose the right range of schools where your worst-case scenario is an outcome you can live with? For some that might be a law school where they're well above both medians; f…

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Status Check with Spivey

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What Makes for a Successful Law School Interview? 41:25

1+ y ago41:25

41:25

In this episode, Mike has a conversation with our consultant Karen Buttenbaum (former Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School) about how to prepare for law school admissions interviews, best practices, common pitfalls, and other advice for the interviewing process. You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spo…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Will Law Schools Be Able to Maintain Their Medians This Cycle? 13:59

1+ y ago13:59

13:59

In this episode, Mike predicts whether law schools will be able to maintain their high medians from last year, and how we expect that to play out across the course of the cycle. He also discusses how this will impact splitters and reverse splitters. You can find the spreadsheet Mike mentions in this podcast with schools' medians from the 2020-2021 …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Diary of a Law School Applicant's Cycle: Episode 1 (Pre-Submission) 30:05

1+ y ago30:05

30:05

In this episode, Mike interviews a current applicant (who we'll call "Barb") about her application process so far. Barb is a splitter with a 176 LSAT and a 3.1 GPA, and she's also a non-traditional applicant with 10+ years of full-time work experience after college. In this interview, we talk through her motivations for going to law school, her sch…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Dr. Anna Lembke, Author of Dopamine Nation & Featured on The Social Dilemma 23:17

1+ y ago23:17

23:17

Dr. Anna Lembke is a Stanford University psychiatrist, author of the New York Times best-seller Dopamine Nation, and a featured expert on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. In this episode, Dr. Lembke discusses the effects of dopamine on our motivation and overall happiness, talks about the degree to which society today sets us up for depr…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Justin Ishbia: Last WL Admit to Successful Major Donor 38:10

1+ y ago38:10

38:10

In 2001, Justin Ishbia was the last person Vanderbilt Law admitted off of their waitlist. He had been practice testing in the 170s and aiming for a top three law school, but when he ended up with a mid-150s LSAT score instead, he had to adjust his expectations. After visiting, Vanderbilt became his top choice, and he ended up being admitted off the…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Diversity & Adversity in Law School Admissions, with Sydney Montgomery 1:01:34

1+ y ago1:01:34

1:01:34

In this episode, Mike has a conversation with our consultant Derek Meeker (former Dean of Admissions at Penn Law) and Sydney Montgomery (founder of S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting) about the role of diversity and adversity in law school admissions. Derek's YouTube video on how to choose a personal statement topic was mentioned in this podcast; …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Should You Do a Law School Admissions Interview? 8:39

1+ y ago8:39

8:39

In this podcast, Mike discusses the factors to consider when you receive an invitation to interview for a law school you've applied to. For a full transcript of this episode, please see our blog post: blog.spiveyconsulting.com/podcast-should-you-do-a-law-school-admissions-interview You can listen and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spot…

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Status Check with Spivey

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The Challenge of Self-Doubt, with Terry Real 35:06

1+ y ago35:06

35:06

In this episode, world-renowned author, speaker, teacher, and therapist Terry Real — who has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and many more — discusses the emotional health hazards of grad school and law school and how to stay human during these stressful and highly evaluative periods of life. Law school can feel a lot …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Interview with Penn Law Admissions Dean Renee Post 58:17

1+ y ago58:17

58:17

In this episode, Spivey Consulting's Derek Meeker — a former Penn Law Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid — interviews Renee Post, Penn Law's current and long-standing Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid. Derek and Dean Post walk through the components of the law school application, including the personal statement, resume, …

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Status Check with Spivey

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Bad Law School Admissions Advice & More with UMich Law's Dean Z 39:52

1+ y ago39:52

39:52

In this episode, Mike has a conversation with Dean Sarah Zearfoss (also known as "Dean Z") about a number of admissions topics, including the prevalence of bad admissions advice and how to identify and avoid it. You can find Dean Z and much more admissions advice on her podcast, A2Z. You can listen and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Sp…

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Status Check with Spivey

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The Past & Future of Legal Education, with Reuters Legal Reporter Karen Sloan 27:14

2y ago27:14

27:14

In this episode, Mike speaks with long-time legal education reporter Karen Sloan about her experiences and stories and the future of the legal field. You can listen and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts. You can read a full transcript of this podcast here. spiveyconsulting.com | spiveyblog…

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Status Check with Spivey

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Interview with UChicago Law Admissions Dean Ann Perry 30:27

2y ago30:27

30:27

In this podcast episode, Mike interviews the long-time Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at University of Chicago Law School, Ann Perry. Mike and Ann discuss admissions across multiple dimensions, including how admissions has changed over the past 20 years, typos in applications, when you should submit your applications (and what coun…

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