Shows
Status Check with SpiveyLeadership with General David H. PetraeusIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Four-Star General in the United States Army. He is currently a Partner at KKR, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, and Chairman of KKR Middle East. Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served for over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating in command of U.S. Central Command and command of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Following retirement from the military and after Senate confirmation by a vote of 94-0, he served as Director of the CIA during...
2026-02-031h 11Status Check with SpiveyGW Law Dean Dayna Matthew on Law School Admissions, Employment, & the Future of Legal EducationIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean of the George Washington University Law School, where she has led the law school since 2020. Prior to her time at GW, she was a Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law, the University of Colorado Law School, and the University of Kentucky College of Law, and she has served as a Senior Advisor to the Office of Civil Rights of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She is a graduate of Harvard University (AB), the University of Virginia School...
2025-11-1135 minStatus Check with SpiveyElizabeth Vargas, Journalist and News Anchor, on Overcoming Professional Setbacks and Coping with AnxietyIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Elizabeth Vargas, journalist and television news anchor, on her journey to learning how to cope healthily with lifelong anxiety and panic attacks, on overcoming professional setbacks, and on advice for young people facing the stresses of the LSAT, law school admissions, law school, and finding legal employment.Elizabeth Vargas anchors “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” (weeknights, 7 p.m. ET), an hour-long weekday news program that debuted April 3, 2023 on NewsNation. Vargas has traveled the world covering breaking news stories, reporting in-depth investigations, and conducting newsmaker interviews. She previously hosted the hit...
2025-10-1441 min
the underview.the rural recreational roads with the Ozark Foundation (ep 2b, 42)Send us a textIn this episode of the underview, host Mike Rusch sits down with Michael Spivey (President & CEO), Brannon Pack (Senior Director of Operations), and Bobby Finster (Project Lead) from the Ozark Foundation to explore the future of the Arkansas Rural Recreational Roads Initiative (R3).As the cycling community in Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, it also finds itself navigating complex divisions, from the All Bikes Welcome mural debate to the conversations sparked by The Ozark Podcast. Yet within these tensions...
2025-10-071h 08Status Check with SpiveyThe LSAT Cheating Scandal, with the Whistleblower & PowerScore CEO Dave KilloranIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike sits down with the original LSAT cheating scandal whistleblower, who we call "Travis" in this podcast, and Dave Killoran, Founder and CEO of PowerScore. They discuss Travis' investigation process, how he tried to sound the alarm, LSAC's response, why he came to Mike and Dave, and an analysis of what happened and what's next for the future of the test.You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. You can read a full transcript of this episode (with timestamps) here.
2025-09-2235 minStatus Check with SpiveyInterview with a Biglaw Partner: Trey Cox, Gibson Dunn Co-Chair of Global Litigation PracticeIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike Spivey hosts Trey Cox, co-chair of Gibson Dunn's global litigation practice group, on his legal career (4:18, 31:27), law school selection (9:20), hiring philosophies (16:42), and advice for aspiring law students and lawyers.Trey and Mike both recommend the book Brain Rules by John Medina, which you can learn more about here.You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. You can read a full transcript of this episode (with timestamps) here.
2025-09-0941 min
Becoming LawyHerBeyond the Numbers: Crafting a Compelling Law School Application with admissions expert Mike SpiveyIn this episode of the Becoming LawyHer podcast, host Hadiyah dives into the intricacies of numbers in law school admissions with Mike Spivey, Founder and CEO of Spivey Consulting. Discover how to strategically approach your application, from addressing a low GPA or LSAT score to building strong relationships with recommenders. Whether you're applying straight out of undergrad or returning to law after years in another field, this episode offers practical tools and insights to help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence. Tune in to learn how to tell your story authentically and compellingly.Chapters...
2025-08-171h 17Status Check with SpiveyMilitary Applicants: Law School Admissions Strategy & More with Harvard Law Grad Brian HensonIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Spivey J.D. admissions consultants Danielle Early (former Associate Director of Admissions at Harvard Law School and military/veteran admissions specialist) and Mike Burns (former Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at Northwestern Law and Navy veteran) interview Brian Henson, a former consulting client of Danielle's, Navy Intelligence Officer, Service to School mentor, Harvard Law Armed Forces Association president, and recent HLS graduate. They discuss Brian's story of applying to law school from the middle of the ocean on an aircraft carrier and his experiences as a veteran at HLS, plus insights...
2025-07-151h 13Status Check with SpiveyDean Z of Michigan Law on Admissions Advice and AI: The Good, the Bad, & the UglyIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike Spivey and Anna Hicks-Jaco have a conversation with Sarah Zearfoss (also known as "Dean Z"), who has long led the admissions office at the University of Michigan Law School as Senior Assistant Dean and who hosts the admissions podcast A2Z with Dean Z. The group discusses using generative AI to write your essays vs. to research admissions advice (including asking ChatGPT a few admissions questions and critiquing its answers), the prospect of law schools using AI to evaluate applications, grade inflation (and how admissions officers saw it...
2025-05-2038 min
The Ethically Immoral PodcastVolume Five: Chapter Ten - Our Conversation with Sharnnell SpiveyIn Volume Five: Chapter Ten, we welcome Poet, Writer, and Author of the new book "Root of the Matter" Sharnnell Spivey.From her Bio:"Sharnnell Spivey was born and raised in Detroit, MI where she first realized her passion for writing. She started at a young age by keeping journals. Sharnnell wrote in her journal about her daily life and feelings that she felt as if she could not express to others. As a preteen, she took an interest in Maya Angelou and her writings. She looked at a woman that was so bold and...
2025-03-231h 41Status Check with SpiveyMid-Cycle Pep Talk & 2024-2025 Update from Mike SpiveyIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike gives a brief update and pep talk for current law school applicants during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.
Mike mentions our podcast with world-renowned psychologist Dr. Guy Winch in this episode—you can listen to the full interview here: Dr. Guy Winch on Handling Rejection (& Waiting) in the Admissions and Job Search Process
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. A full transcript of this episode is here.
2025-01-2108 minStatus Check with SpiveyA Look at the New 509 Law School Data with Kyle McEnteeIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Kyle McEntee, LSAC's Senior Director of Prelaw Engagement and the founder of Law School Transparency, centering around the newly released 2024 ABA 509 disclosures and how applicants should consider the data therein. They discuss interpreting class size changes, the ongoing rise of GPAs and grade inflation, LSAT inflation and how the highest LSAT percentiles have changed over time, the new option for law schools to obtain variances from the ABA to go test-optional (plus an explanation of what variances are and how the variance process works), the removal...
2025-01-0747 minStatus Check with SpiveyPredicting the 2024-25 Law Admissions Cycle with Northwestern Law Admissions Dean Don RebstockIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike Spivey has a conversation with Associate Dean Don Rebstock—who, among multiple other departments, heads both Admissions and Career Services at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law—about the first 2024-2025 law school applicant data that was released last week, what it means for applicants, and why it's not as scary as it looks.
Some of the questions they discuss include, will the numbers go down? How much will they go down? Why are LSAT scores so high? How will this impact competitiveness? How will it impact the pace...
2024-10-2326 minStatus Check with SpiveyMaking Your Law School List: Advice & Resources for Deciding Where to ApplyIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Spivey Consulting President Anna Hicks-Jaco has a conversation with three Spivey Consultants and former law school admissions officers—Sam Kwak (Stanford Law, Northwestern Law, Indiana University Law), Paula Gluzman (UCLA Law, UW Law), and Joe Pollak (Michigan Law)—a group that has collectively spent over 20 years advising law school applicants one-on-one as consultants. In that time, they have assisted hundreds of law school applicants in creating strategic school lists, the topic of today's episode.
How do you estimate your chances of admission to determine reach, target, and "safety" schools? How...
2024-09-2451 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe Differences Between College & Law School, with "How I Lawyer" Host Jonah PerlinIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews How I Lawyer podcast host Jonah Perlin on some of the many differences between college and law school, from cold calls to being graded on a curve to the nature of attending a professional school and more.
Links to other resources:
How I Lawyer Podcast with Jonah Perlin
How I Lawyer #134: Mike Spivey - On Law School Rankings, Admissions, and Mental Health (Mike's episode on Jonah's podcast)
Dear 1L: The Book by Amanda Haverstick (book mentioned in the episode)
Dear 1L with Amanda Haverstick (Status Check...
2024-09-1035 min
Lawyers in the Making PodcastE75: Mike Spivey Founder, Partner, and CEO of Spivey Consulting GroupMike is a Vanderbilt University graduate and currently works as the Founder, Partner, and CEO of Spivey Consulting. In this episode, we dive into the winding journey of Mike, a testament to our core belief that there’s no single path to the law—just your unique journey.Mike’s story begins at Vanderbilt University, where we discuss his undergraduate experience and the pivotal moments that shaped his direction in life. His quest for knowledge led him to earn an MBA from the University of Alabama before returning to Vanderbilt to embark on a career in law school...
2024-08-271h 00
the underview.the outdoor community builder with Michael Spivey (ep 33).Send us a textEpisode 33 is a discussion with Michael Spivey, President & CEO of the Ozark Foundation.Our conversation focuses on the state of Northwest Arkansas and how the Ozark Foundation is shaping the outdoor recreation industry. Episode Webpage: https://www.theunderview.com/episodes-full/the-underview-the-outdoor-community-builder-michael-spivey-ozark-foundationAbout the underview:The underview is an exploration of the development of our Communal Theology of Place viewed through the medium of bikes, land, and people to discover c...
2024-07-1657 minStatus Check with SpiveyTier-Ranking Admissions Strategies with UChicago Law School Admissions Dean Ann PerryIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Ann Perry, the University of Chicago Law School's Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, joins Mike Spivey and Anna Hicks-Jaco to tier-rank law school admissions strategies sourced from the folks over on the r/LawSchoolAdmissions subreddit. They talk about a huge range of topics, including personal statements, letters of recommendation, resumes, work experience, retaking the LSAT, attending law school forums, the value of using a consultant, and more.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. You can read a full transcript of this episo...
2024-05-2952 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe New 2024 Law School Rankings ExplainedIn this brief episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses the changes U.S. News made to their methodology this year.
You can view the full list of new law school rankings (with +/-) here. You can listen to Mike's last podcast, "Why Rankings Matter to People (& Why They Should Not)," here.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Google Podcasts.
Please note: When Mike discusses U.S. News rounding up or down at .5 for different "schools," we mean "metrics" and not schools.
2024-04-0915 min
How I Lawyer Podcast with Jonah Perlin#134: Mike Spivey - On Law School Rankings, Admissions, and Mental HealthHello & Welcome Back! In today’s episode I am excited to speak with Mike Spivey who is the Founding Partner and CEO of The Spivey Consulting Group LLC and previously a senior level administrator and admissions dean at Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, and The University of Colorado. Mike is an expert on law school administration and admissions and has been a featured speaker and panelist. In addition to his law school consulting work, he hosts the Status Check with Spivey Podcast. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University from which he holds a BA an...
2024-04-0347 min
Aspen Leading Edge54: A.I. in Admissions with Mike SpiveyMike Spivey, founder of Spivey Consulting, shares his thoughts about how AI and Generative AI will affect Law School Admissions and how universities should embrace and prepare for the change. He also talks about the great work Spivey Consulting is doing for both students and admissions teams.
2024-02-1330 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe Growing Epidemic of Addiction in High Achievers, with Dr. Peter GrinspoonIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Dr. Peter Grinspoon—physician, Harvard Medical School instructor, and author of Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction, in which he writes about his struggles with and recovery from opiate addiction. Mike and Dr. Grinspoon discuss mental health and wellness for high performers, why lawyers have such high rates of addiction and depression, antidotes for the factors that lead to these high rates, the story of Dr. Grinspoon's 2019 debate on medical marijuana at Yale Law School, and more.
Listeners of this podcast are welcome to contact Dr. Grin...
2024-01-3047 minStatus Check with SpiveyHow to Make Your Resolution Stick, with ‘Master of Change’ Author Brad StulbergIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews best-selling author Brad Stulberg (whose books include Master of Change, The Practice of Groundedness, Peak Performance, and The Passion Paradox) on how to make real and lasting change in your life. Brad and Mike discuss why we resist change, elective vs. forced change, identity, and how to actually make your New Year's Resolution stick.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, and Google Podcasts. You can read a full transcript of this episode on our blog.
2024-01-0228 minStatus Check with SpiveyDopamine & Success with Dr. Daniel LiebermanIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike interviews Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, a psychiatrist and best-selling author of The Molecule of More. Mike and Dr. Lieberman discuss tenacity, goal-setting, and both achieving and finding contentment in success—all as they relate to not just law school admissions (Dr. Lieberman gives some excellent personal statement advice), but a variety of topics, from "doomscrolling" to extinction-level asteroids to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
Dr. Lieberman's new book, Taming the Molecule of More, comes out in 2024.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spi...
2023-12-1527 minStatus Check with SpiveyMike Spivey's Top 5 All-Time Admissions AdviceIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike gives his top 5 pieces of advice from his 20+ years working in law school admissions.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, and Google Podcasts.
You can read a full transcript of this episode here.
2023-10-1716 min
Rex Nelson's Southern Fried PodcastExploring the outdoors in Arkansas with Mike SpiveyMike Spivey, president and CEO of the Ozark Foundation, chats with Rex about the growth in outdoor recreation and activities in various parts of Arkansas as well as the Arkansas Graveler, a six-day cycling event on gravel roads to be held in June 2024.
The future of Mena as an outdoor haven for recreational enthusiasts is discussed as is the Ozark Foundation's second annual Expedition Arkansas ride, which takes place next year.
Visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.
2023-09-2232 minStatus Check with SpiveyWhat to Expect in the 2023-24 Law School Admissions Cycle (+ Q&A) with Mike Spivey & Anna Hicks-JacoIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Spivey Consulting's COO Anna Hicks-Jaco about what to expect during the upcoming cycle, her perspective as both a recent Dean of Admissions and relatively recent applicant, and advice for applicants getting ready to apply.
Mike and Anna mention several resources and past podcasts in this episode:
Fall 2023 Median Tracker Spreadsheet
2023 Law School Application Changes Compiled
Podcast: The Myth of the Early Application “Bump” & Law School Rolling Admissions
Podcast: What the SCOTUS Admissions Decision Means for Law School Applicants
Blog/Data: Predicting the 2023-2024 Law...
2023-08-2940 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe Biggest Non-Negotiable Rule in Law School AdmissionsAs much as we deign to use absolutes, there is at least one principle we can think of that is absolutely non-negotiable in law school admissions. Regardless of your qualifications, breaking this rule can tank any applicant's chances—this episode of Status Check with Spivey discusses that rule.
Mike mentions our blog post predicting the 2023-2024 admissions cycle in this episode—you can read those predictions here. You can find our interview with Terry Real, which Mike also mentioned in this episode, here.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podc...
2023-08-0706 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe Myth of the Early Application “Bump” & Law School Rolling AdmissionsIn this brief episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses what has grown in recent years to be the biggest myth in law school admissions today.
Mike mentions two previous Status Check episodes in this podcast:
Dr. Jud Brewer on the Highly Effective Way to Overcome Anxiety
Dean Z on Underrated/Overrated Law School Admissions Advice + Answering Reddit Questions (Part 1)
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, and Google Podcasts. You can read a full transcript of this episode here.
2023-08-0107 minStatus Check with SpiveyDean Z on the Future of Law School Admissions + Other Admissions Questions (Part 2)In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike continues his conversation with Dean Sarah Zearfoss (also known as "Dean Z"), who in her role as Senior Assistant Dean at the University of Michigan Law School has overseen the admissions office for the past 23 years. Dean Z also hosts the popular law school admissions podcast A2Z with Dean Z.
In this second episode of the series, Mike and Dean Z discuss the future of law school admissions (as it relates to the recent Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions and in terms of other recent legal...
2023-07-1143 minStatus Check with SpiveyWhat the SCOTUS Admissions Decision Means for Law School ApplicantsIn this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike discusses the recent Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard Supreme Court decision—which ruled against the legality of race-conscious admissions or "affirmative action"—and what it means for law school applicants, particularly applicants of color. He is joined by two guests, Sydney Montgomery (Executive Director and Founder of Barrier Breakers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to and success in higher education for BIPOC and other marginalized students, and graduate of Harvard Law) and Anna Hicks-Jaco (Spivey Consulting Group's COO and former Interim Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at Syra...
2023-07-0134 minStatus Check with SpiveyDean Z on Underrated/Overrated Law School Admissions Advice + Answering Reddit Questions (Part 1)In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Dean Sarah Zearfoss (also known as "Dean Z"), who, in her role as Senior Assistant Dean at the University of Michigan Law School, has overseen the admissions office for the past 23 years. Dean Z also hosts the popular law school admissions podcast A2Z with Dean Z.
In the interview, Mike and Dean Z discuss whether popular law school admissions advice is "overrated or underrated," including applying early, retaking the LSAT, making choices based on the new rankings, visiting law schools, and typos in...
2023-06-2640 minStatus Check with SpiveyLegal Hiring Tips from an Expert (Part 2)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 position yourself for the employment opportunities you aspire to, and more advice and tips for law students and graduates.
Before becoming a recruiter, Kate was a litigator in San Francisco for almost a decade...
2023-04-0736 minStatus Check with SpiveyOn Dream SchoolsIn 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.
"Life teaches you how to live it, if you live long enough." –Tony Bennett
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podc...
2023-03-1120 minStatus Check with SpiveyWhy Is This Cycle So Slow—& What You Can Do About ItIn 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 Handling Rejection & Waiting
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts.
2023-03-0109 minStatus Check with SpiveyThe Rules of RedditIn 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 school message boards.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts. You can read a full transcript in our blog post for this episode.
2023-02-1010 minStatus Check with SpiveyHow to Crush the Second Half of the Law School Admissions CycleIn 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 item can be to your outcomes!)
Mike recorded this episode before final January 2023 LSAT data was out—you can find the latest update on our Twitter, here. A few other Status Check episodes are mentioned in this podcast as well:
Dr. Guy Winch on...
2023-02-0325 minStatus Check with SpiveyReducing Stress & Increasing Happiness as a Student & ApplicantIn 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 University and Yale Law School, and in her current role at Fordham, she develops and delivers programs designed to promote student wellness, mentorship, and professional identity formation. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Fordham, teaching courses on “Positive Lawyering” and “Peer Mentoring & Leadership.” She was vote...
2023-01-1350 minStatus Check with SpiveyLaw Schools Leaving the U.S. News Rankings: Implications for This Year & The FutureIn 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 longer be participating in the rankings. But what does that actually mean? Why are they doing it, and why now? What impacts might it have on applicants, law students, and legal education as a whole—both this current cycle and down the line...
2022-12-0143 minStatus Check with SpiveyLaw School Admissions AMA with Mike Spivey & Dave Killoran (Part 2)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 schools look at leaves of absence during college, and undergraduate record addenda.
Relevant links from this episode:
2022 LSAT/GPA Medians (spreadsheet)
The Genre of Application Essay Writing (podcast with Derek Meeker, former UPenn Law Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid)
Example Personal...
2022-08-1522 minStatus Check with SpiveyLaw School Admissions AMA with Mike Spivey & Dave Killoran (Part 1)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 cover more of the "soft factors" of a law school application, including personal statements.
Relevant links from this episode:
2022 LSAT/GPA Medians (spreadsheet)
Bad Law School Admissions Advice (podcast)
Dean Z's thoughts on the difference between applying in August vs...
2022-08-1234 min
Status Check with SpiveyThe Genre of Application Essay WritingIn 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 lessons from his graduate-level writing coursework, combined with his extensive experience in admissions decision-making, to offer valuable insights into how you can connect the dots in your law school application within the full context of your experiences, background, and personality.
Mike...
2022-05-2632 min
Southern Comfort: A SoCon PodcastSeason 2 Episode 17 interview with star Furman MBB guard Mike BothwellSeason 2 Episode 17 interview with star Furman MBB (@FurmanHoops) guard Mike Bothwell (@MikeBothwell_3)
2022-04-2137 minStatus Check with SpiveyPredicting the Rest of This Cycle & Next Cycle with PowerScore's Dave KilloranIn 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, virtual exam, then back to its current four-section format (and what to expect next).
At the end of the episode, Mike and Dave share an announcement: the PowerScore/Spivey Consulting Admissions Bible is coming this fall! Sign up here for updates on the...
2022-04-1938 minStatus Check with SpiveyHow the Russian Invasion of Ukraine May Impact Law School/Legal EmploymentWe 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 invasion, and we fully recognize that relative importance. Still, we wanted to weigh in regarding the areas where we have expertise — law school, admissions, and legal employment — as these are important to many individuals as well.
Mike Spivey's thoughts on the...
2022-02-2407 minStatus Check with SpiveyFebruary 2022 Law School Application Cycle UpdateIn 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 the data Mike references in this episode is slightly different from the numbers that LSAC publishes. This is because LSAC reports only an applicant's ultimate high score, even if they didn't achieve that score until months or even years...
2022-02-0920 minStatus Check with SpiveyStrong Applicant. No Admits. What’s Going On?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 factors that have likely contributed to this, both at the larger-scale level as far as the nature and pace of this 2021-2022 cycle, and more specifically as it pertains to his application and potential points for improvement.
...
2022-02-0520 minStatus Check with SpiveyCycle Volume Update & Conjecture On Where the Cycle Might Be HeadingIn 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 know so far. They also touch on why our numbers are slightly different from LSAC's (and why we believe ours capture a more accurate picture for current applicants), as well as how to interpret differences between applicant numbers and application numbers, plus a...
2021-12-0832 minStatus Check with Spivey"Safety Schools" & Making a Law School Backup PlanIn 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; for others that might be taking a year off to continue their job or gain new work experience. If you take a year off, how will you strengthen your application? Should you plan to matriculate to a safety school but...
2021-11-2424 min
Armstrong & Getty Extra Large InterviewsA Warrior Story: Mike Spivey & A New LifeBack in 2010, Mike Spivey was seven-years deep into his Marine Corps career. While on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, and IED explosion left Mike badly injured. The blast would not only cost him his left arm, but force him to exit from his preferred career many years too soon. While Mike was in the hospital, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station was there to help him begin his transition to civilian life. Mike joined Armstrong & Getty to talk about how WFFS helped him find his new life. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2021-11-1806 minStatus Check with SpiveyWill Law Schools Be Able to Maintain Their Medians This Cycle?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 cycle here.
For a full transcript of this episode, please see our blog post.
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey...
2021-11-1113 min
The Ethically Immoral PodcastVolume Four: Chapter One - Our Conversation with Sharnnell Spivey In the premiere of Volume Four, we welcomed Poet and Author of the book Thou Shall Not, Sharnnell Spivey. Thou Shall Not is a suspenseful thriller that concerns a group of people interconnected by their personal and professional relationships. The attraction that comes from breaking the seven deadly sins and the 10 Commandments affects each person in the novel, whether it is the handsome and successful businessman, Collin, or the drug-addicted street urchin, Carmen. No matter who a person is or how enviable their life might seem, he or she is bound to have some type of struggle, whether God i...
2021-10-251h 33
EdUp Legal2: Conversation with Mike Spivey, Founder & Director of Spivey Consulting GroupWelcome back to America's leading higher education law podcast, EdUp Legal - part of the EdUp Experience Podcast Network! In this episode, your guest is Mike Spivey, Founder & Director of Spivey Consulting Group.
You will learn more about the historic law school admissions cycle of 2020-2021 and predictions for the upcoming cycle, as well as predictions for the future of legal education.
Thank you so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for your EdUp time!
Connect with your host - Patty Roberts
● If you want to get inv...
2021-09-0334 minStatus Check with SpiveyInterview with Four-Time Olympian & Student Loan Expert Lauryn WilliamsIn this episode of the Status Check with Spivey, Mike has the opportunity to have a conversation with Lauryn Williams, four-time Olympic athlete and financial advisor with a specialty in student loans. In addition to discussing Lauryn's life and experiences as an Olympian, they also talk about the differences between taking out student loans for undergrad vs. for law school, income-driven repayment plans, public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), how to save for retirement while paying off your student loans (and the perhaps surprising tax benefits of doing so), and more.
As an Olympic sprinter...
2021-08-0740 minStatus Check with SpiveyLaw School Admissions Q&A with Mike SpiveyIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting COO Anna Hicks asks Mike some admissions questions from Reddit, covering large-scale changes to law school admissions due to the pandemic, reapplication strategies, how law schools look at "KJDs," whether or not you should explain why you want to go to law school in your personal statement, how to write Why X statements when you can't visit a law school and don't know anyone who attended, and more.
You can listen and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts.
We mentioned a number of...
2021-07-2342 minStatus Check with SpiveyRecapping the 2020-2021 Law School Admissions Cycle & Predicting the Upcoming CycleIn this podcast, Mike Spivey is joined by PowerScore founder and CEO Dave Killoran and Spivey Consulting Business Intelligence Director Justin Kane — a wonky law school admissions/LSAT crew if there has ever been one! — to discuss takeaways from this previous 2020-2021 admissions cycle and to make predictions for the upcoming 2021-2022 cycle.
You can listen and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts — just search for "Status Check with Spivey."
spiveyconsulting.com | spiveyblog.com | myrankbyspivey.com
2021-07-1758 minStatus Check with SpiveyHow to Excel Academically in Law School with Harvard 3L Amanda BelloIn this podcast, Mike and Spivey Consulting COO Anna Hicks have a discussion with a current law student, Amanda Bello, who ended her 1L year at Cornell Law in the top 10% of her class, transferred to Harvard Law, earned exceptionally strong grades at Harvard, and is now going into her second summer with the big law firm Gibson Dunn (check out our interview with Gibson Dunn partner Jeff Chapman here https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/interview-with-jeff-chapman/).
Also referenced in this podcast are three interviews we have done with renowned psychologists and wellness advocates:
...
2021-06-1855 minStatus Check with SpiveyInterview with Dr. Kristin Neff on How Self-Compassion Can Help You Achieve Your GoalsIn this podcast, Mike Spivey has the opportunity to interview Dr. Kristin Neff, a leading researcher and advocate in the field of self-compassion, creator of the self-compassion scales, and author of two books, "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself," and her upcoming book, "Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive," which will be released on June 15, 2021.
Mike and Dr. Neff discuss the power of self-compassion for motivation and achievement, and the research showing that, in a testing scenario, a boost to self-compassion proves...
2021-06-0827 minStatus Check with SpiveyInterview with Dr. Gabor Maté, Author of "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts"In this podcast, Mike Spivey speaks with Dr. Gabor Maté, one of the world’s leading experts on physical and mental health and author of four best-selling books including "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts" and "When the Body Says No." Dr. Maté shares his thoughts and advice on self-doubt, stress, anxiety, and addiction, and offers the following insight for prospective law students (among others):
"You're going to look at all your confident classmates, and you're going to go in there with all manner of self-doubt. You're making the big mistake of comparing their outside with your inside...
2021-05-1740 minStatus Check with SpiveyCycle Recap: No Rejections in the Hardest Admissions Cycle EverIn this episode of the Status Check podcast, Mike interviews Reddit user lightningmcboops (who for the purposes of this podcast we're calling "Megan") from the law school admissions subreddit. Megan applied with a 3.9x GPA and a 172 LSAT and received zero rejections despite applying in the most difficult law school admissions cycle we've ever seen, including straight admits from the majority of the T14, including Stanford. Mike and Megan walk through her application process and each of her application components, then discuss some takeaways and advice for future applicants.
You can listen and subscribe...
2021-04-2836 minStatus Check with SpiveyInsider Considerations for Law School Scholarship NegotiationIn this podcast, Mike Spivey explains how the scholarship negotiation process works from the law school's perspective and gives some advice and tips for how to strategically approach increasing your merit aid offers.
You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, and RadioPublic — just search for "Status Check with Spivey."
spiveyconsulting.com | spiveyblog.com | myrankbyspivey.com
2021-04-1413 min
Status Check with SpiveyPreliminary Waitlist Movement PerspectivesIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses perspectives and considerations as we head into the 2021 law school waitlist season.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/F_hbOg8wnDA and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2021-03-2505 min
Status Check with SpiveyInterview with a Biglaw Partner: Jeff Chapman, Gibson Dunn Co-Chair of Global M&AIn this podcast, Mike interviews Jeff Chapman: Partner, Co-Chair of Global Mergers and Acquisitions, and Executive Committee Member at Gibson Dunn. You can read Jeff's bio here: https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/chapman-jeffrey-a/
Mike and Jeff met when Mike was a law school Dean of Career Services, and they became good friends — in this interview, Jeff shares his story, some thoughts and advice about law school, and a bit of biglaw hiring advice.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/gst2Qt3bKDc or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2021-03-1731 min
Status Check with SpiveyCurrent Cycle Update, Waitlist Considerations, and Next Cycle Predictions with Dave KilloranIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group's Mike Spivey and PowerScore founder Dave Killoran discuss the state of the current 2020-2021 law school admissions cycle, things to consider for applicants who may be on waitlists, and predictions about next cycle (2021-2022).
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/hGDsIfKmjDQ or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2021-03-0251 min
Status Check with SpiveyWhy Some Law School Applicants Underperform Their NumbersIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses factors that lead to some applicants "underperforming" their numbers.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/uC_pC-T2OsI or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
Introduction
- 0:46 - Will more people underperform this cycle? (2020-2021)
- 1:41 - Defining "Underperform"
Factors that can lead to underperforming your numbers
- 4:44 - Character & Fitness Issues (but maybe not in the way you think)
- 6:44 - Yield Protection
- 8:17 - Overcommunicating
- 10:40 - Sloppiness
Answering Questions from Reddit
- 13:05 - "Is it the essay or lack of an ad...
2021-02-0426 min
Status Check with SpiveyLOCIs & Law School Fit When You Can't Visit + International Applicant Considerations This CycleIn this podcast, Mike Spivey answers more questions from Reddit. First up, he discusses differences international JD applicants might see in their admissions processes with the special considerations of this application cycle. Then, he talks about how to figure out whether a law school is the right fit for you when you can't visit in person — and, for those who haven't been admitted yet, how to write a strong letter of continued interest (LOCI) without visiting.
- International JD admissions considerations this cycle: 0:52
- Getting to know a school's culture when you can't visit: 4:32
- How to write a LOCI wh...
2021-01-2615 min
Status Check with SpiveyInterviews with Law School Applicants About the Admissions ProcessIn this podcast, Mike Spivey interviews groups of current law school applicants about their experiences with the admissions process — what has surprised them, how they've handled the stress, what they expect for the future, and what advice they would give to someone at the beginning of the process. The participants are all volunteers from r/LawSchoolAdmissions, and only one happened to be a client of Spivey Consulting.
Here's a link to the blog post Mike mentioned in the podcast, The Malevolent Puppeteer: https://www.spiveyblog.com/posts/puppeteer
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/sv...
2021-01-161h 13
Status Check with SpiveyCommonly Misunderstood—But Important—Parts of the Law School Application ProcessIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses some of the most commonly held misconceptions about the law school admissions process, and how understanding them can help you get admitted.
- 0:30 – admissions is inherently comparative
- 4:21 – admissions officers want to get to know you
- 7:12 – how do law schools make money?
- 11:03 – being a savvy applicant (regarding advice from law school admissions offices)
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/HQxl4ZxQCzY or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2021-01-0513 min
Status Check with SpiveyHoliday Law School Admissions AMA with Mike SpiveyIn this podcast, Mike Spivey takes questions from Reddit!
You can listen to this podcast here, or on YouTube https://youtu.be/jmCCcK8AVTM or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2020-12-2228 min
Status Check with SpiveyLaw School "Yield Protection" — What It Is & Steps to Take to Prevent ItIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses the phenomenon in law school admissions known as "yield protection," and explains steps you can take to prevent being waitlisted as a result of it.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/Qkdm-3eF7tg or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
As promised in the podcast, here are some resources for how to choose which law school to attend:
- My Rank by Spivey (personalized law school rankings based on the metrics you prioritize most) https://myrankbyspivey.com
- How to Choose Which Law...
2020-12-1511 min
Status Check with SpiveyStaying Calm in the Law School Admissions ProcessIn this newest episode of our weekly Tuesday law school admissions podcasts, Mike Spivey talks about how to stay calm in the law school admissions process.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/V4SpDNg3BvI or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
0:24 — outline
1:42 — good news for this cycle
4:43 — biological reasons for stress and how to manage it
11:07 — long-term optimism
2020-12-0814 min
Status Check with SpiveyHow the LSAT-Flex Has Changed the Admissions CycleIn this podcast, Mike Spivey talks about the LSAT-Flex, particularly is it relates to timelines and the pace of admissions this cycle. It is important to note that LSAT scores are higher at the top bandwidths right now than one would expect in any cycle. There are several hypotheses out there for why that is.
LSAC maintains that they will organically come down to natural levels. Spivey Consulting (and others we should note) believes that we won't maintain this pace of increase, just like every cycle, but that we are already past the point where they could come down to "...
2020-11-2009 min
Status Check with SpiveyLaw School Admissions/LSAT Q&A with Mike Spivey and PowerScore’s Dave KilloranIn this podcast, Mike Spivey and PowerScore founder Dave Killoran ask each other questions about law school admissions (Mike's wheelhouse) and the LSAT (Dave's specialty).
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/UgkmlM-Xc74 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
Check out PowerScore's options for LSAT prep here https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/
Please note that our waitlist for this cycle (2020-2021) https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/upcoming-availability-to-work-with-us/ and reservation list for next cycle (2021-2022) https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/21-22-reservation-list/ are now open.
2020-11-131h 09
Status Check with SpiveySelf-Care, the Fallacy of Reductionism, and Something to Be Said for an N of 1In this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses one of the fundamental difficulties of applying to law school—and how to cope with it. Mike mentions two blog posts in this podcast: the first, about all the different variables that go into law school admissions, can be found here: https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/all-things-considered/ and the second, about load management days, can be found here: https://www.spiveyblog.com/posts/load-management-day-sxh78
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/HbMmvzHbmR8 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223, or read a transcript on our blog https...
2020-11-1216 min
Status Check with SpiveyThe Overlooked Upsides to an 'Up' CycleIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses the upsides to a law school admissions cycle when applicant numbers are significantly up from the prior year.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/04PWb7_9IGs or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
Choosing which law schools to apply to or attend? Check out My Rank, where you can make personalized rankings based on the metrics you care about most: https://myrankbyspivey.com/
2020-10-2904 min
The Spivey Special PodcastEpisode 49 - Mike Spivey 60th Birthday Tribute, Where Does Lebron Rank All-Time and the Astros Getting EliminatedIt was our dad's 60th birthday this week and we decided to honor him by sharing some stories and introducing everyone to some Spiveyisms. We also discussed the week in sports including the Astros getting eliminated, Lebron winning number 4 and Dak's gruesome injury.
Make sure to check us out on social media @SpiveySpecial
2020-10-1844 min
Status Check with SpiveyThe Three Elements of Admissions and Why the Most Important is Also the Least UnderstoodIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses the three elements of admissions, particularly focusing on the one that is both the most important and the least understood.
You can read a transcript of this podcast on our blog https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/the-three-elements-of-admissions/
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/A8b5O4yYfoY or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
2020-10-1208 min
Status Check with SpiveyPredicting This Cycle's Admissions PaceIn this podcast, Mike Spivey predicts what to expect as far as the timing of admissions decisions this year, then discusses the preliminary LSAC data that has applicants wondering whether this will be a far more competitive cycle than normal.
You can also listen to this podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/8A24gIVjcB0, or read the transcript on our blog https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/predicting-this-cycles-admissions-pace/
Please note that we are currently at capacity and are not taking new clients for this cycle at this time. (If you are already on our waitlist, don't worry, your process will continue as...
2020-09-2808 min
Status Check with SpiveyHow to Tell If You're Overdoing It in Law School AdmissionsIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder Mike Spivey discusses one of the most common mistakes in law school admissions that we see from applicants who have underperformed their numbers — overdoing it in the admissions process — then details the most common types of applicants this happens to: the "over-explainer," the "over-spammer," the "over-[publically] talker," the "permutator," and the "boundary pusher."
You can find the blog post Mike mentions in the podcast, "Spooky Halloween Blog: Real Stories of Things That Creep Out Admissions Offices" (examples of the most extreme "boundary pushers"), here: https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/spooky-halloween-blog/
For more free advice...
2020-08-0912 min
Status Check with SpiveyAdmissions Q&A with Mike SpiveyIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder Mike Spivey answers questions from r/lawschooladmissions on strategies for splitters, international students, non-traditional applicants, reapplicants, and more.
You can view the full video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x4OWh53SAjM
2020-08-0156 min
Status Check with SpiveyE to Esquire Interview with Mike Spivey: WLs, Next Cycle Admissions, & Recession Job SearchOn today's podcast, Mike Spivey is interviewed by E to Esquire on a variety of topics, including late-cycle waitlist strategy, next cycle admissions, and how to search for a legal job in a recession.
You can find the E to Esquire YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjI0PaeoThl7iK-ULdLF7aw
2020-07-2123 min
Status Check with SpiveyRecession Podcast: Job Search Tips You Won’t Hear from Career ServicesMike Spivey served as a law school dean of career services during the Great Recession, and in this podcast he shares his best actionable advice for legal networking that you won't hear from your CSO.
This podcast is also available on:
YouTube https://youtu.be/_SfuhvOVhVo
Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast
Deciding on a law school? Check out My Rank, a free service that allows you to create your own law school rankings and compare specific law schools, all custom to your own priorities. https://myrankbyspivey.com/
2020-06-1115 min
Status Check with SpiveyHarvard Law Goes Fully Remote: Will Other Law Schools Follow Suit and What It Means for ApplicantsIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder Mike Spivey discusses Harvard Law School's recent announcement that all classes will be held fully remotely for Fall 2020 — what does it mean for other law schools, for international students, the ABA, and current applicants? Will this cause more waitlist movement? What about deferrals? Plus, a bit of a look into what the 2020-2021 cycle might bring.
You can also listen to this podcast on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/jBpDtQBHtt0
Or on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast
Also check out My Rank, our tool for ranking and comparing law sch...
2020-06-0512 min
Status Check with SpiveyUniversities, Colleges, and Law Schools Plan to Be Open On Campus This FallIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder and higher education expert Mike Spivey discusses the plans universities are making to resume on-campus operations this fall, as well as challenges to those plans from the medical community.
To see the diagrams discussed in this podcast, please visit our blog: blog.spiveyconsulting.com/universities-colleges-and-law-schools-plan-to-be-open-on-campus-this-fall
2020-04-2930 min
Status Check with SpiveyWill Universities, Colleges, and Law School Campuses Be Open in Fall 2020?In this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder and expert on higher education Mike Spivey discusses the various factors university and law school leadership are considering in their discussions of whether or not to reopen campuses in the fall.
Other Spivey Consulting resources to check out —
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice
My Rank: https://myrankbyspivey.com/
Blog: https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/
2020-04-0314 min
Status Check with SpiveyHow Will Law School Transfer Admissions Be Impacted by COVID-19?In this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group founder Mike Spivey discusses how COVID-19 and new grading systems will affect law school transfer admissions.
Other Spivey Consulting resources to check out —
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice
My Rank:
https://myrankbyspivey.com/
Blog:
https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/
2020-04-0215 min
Status Check with SpiveyUpdate on COVID-19 / Coronavirus & Law School AdmissionsIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting founder Mike Spivey discusses some updates and predictions for the developing coronavirus situation and how it has and will continue to affect law school admissions.
Other Spivey Consulting resources to check out —
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice
My Rank:
myrankbyspivey.com
Blog:
blog.spiveyconsulting.com
2020-03-1804 min
Status Check with SpiveySpivey Consulting on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Implications for Law Schools and AdmissionsIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses the potential implications of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on law schools and law school admissions. Thanks all, and stay healthy.
Other Spivey Consulting resources to check out —
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice
My Rank:
https://myrankbyspivey.com/
Blog:
https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/
2020-03-1322 min
The Spivey Special PodcastEpisode 22 - GUEST Mike Spivey, Favorite foods, Arco Arena and 2008 US OpenWe had our first live in-studio guest this week, our father, Mike Spivey.
Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here. https://podcorn.com/podcasters/
2020-03-0156 min
Status Check with SpiveyHow Mike Spivey Would Apply to Law SchoolThis is a very encompassing podcast that features the A to Z of the law school admissions process, starting with "Why am I applying" and finishing with scholarship negotiation and the three things that applicants are doing who are punching above their numbers this competitive cycle—with most everything in between covered.
Three other blogs/podcasts are mentioned during this podcast:
First, the brief motivational blog Mike wrote that caught that eye of deans of admissions in respect to writing about what matters to YOU, which is what often stands out to others. https://www.spiveyblog.com/posts/failure-is-a-liar
Second, th...
2020-02-2333 min
Status Check with SpiveyHow Will The Rest Of The 2019/2020 Law School Admissions Cycle Play Out?In this podcast, SCG's Mike Spivey speaks on what to expect for the rest of the cycle — including why it might greatly favor some people with strong softs this summer, thus making it a "Soft Cycle," but also why it has and will continue to be slow. Also discussed are two internal LSAC changes that will have significant impact for the rest of the admissions cycle and in future years.
Finally, the link Mike mentioned to the blog he wrote to those who are done and checking out of the admissions process – or just want a different take on things —can be...
2020-02-0814 min
Status Check with SpiveyMike Spivey on How to Approach and What to Take Away from Admitted Student Days/WeekendsIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group Founding Partner Mike Spivey talks about why law schools have admitted student programs, what you can expect from them, what you can expect from others at the event, and how to make the most of the visit.
The other podcast he mentions, about insecurity, can be found here: https://www.spiveyblog.com/posts/overcoming-insecurity
As always, please reach out to us at info@spiveyconsulting.com for more information about working with us.
Also check out our custom law school rankings/comparison data website, https://myrankbyspivey.com.
Also check us out on Apple Podcasts https...
2020-01-1515 min
Status Check with SpiveyMike Spivey on LSAT Prep: Discomfort ZoneIn this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses the most effective macro-level strategy for preventing the common problem of practice testing at a high level—then underperforming on test day.
The other podcast he mentions, about mental preparation on test day, is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbv4D...
Our website is here: https://www.spiveyconsulting.com/
Also check us out on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223 and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA_Rbmm6gSV09dUwrnlBjyQ
As always, please reach out to us at info@spiveyconsulting.com for more information about working with us...
2019-12-1806 min
Status Check with SpiveyDeep Inside Law School Admissions: What I Wish Applicants KnewIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group Founder and Partner Mike Spivey goes in-depth on the real reasons some applicants are admitted to law schools even if they're below both medians.
Spivey Consulting blog post mentioned in this podcast: https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/getting-admitted-below-both-medians-heres-how-we-did-it/
Other blog mentioned in this podcast: https://www.spiveyblog.com/
As always, please reach out to us at info@spiveyconsulting.com for more information about working with us.
Also check out our custom law school rankings/comparison data website, https://myrankbyspivey.com, and our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice
2019-11-2307 min
Status Check with SpiveyCalming Your LSAT AnxietyIn this podcast, Spivey Consulting Group Founder and Partner Mike Spivey discusses how the LSAT might not be as important as you think it is—and how we hope that fact can calm your nerves as you walk into the test.
Blog post mentioned in this episode: https://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/staying-mentally-cool-and-crushing-the-december-lsat/
Also check us out on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/c/SpiveyConsultingLawSchoolAdmissionsAdvice and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spivey-consulting-law-school-admissions-podcast/id1477090223
As always, please reach out to us at info@spiveyconsulting.com for more information about working with us.
Also check out our custom law school ra...
2019-10-1410 min