HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE
Everyone has a powerful story to tell (yes, even you!)…and it is that story that will get you into law school.
And no, this isn’t some feel-good, Hallmark-inspired testament just to uplift you, but something I know to be true from actual experience.
How I know that your story can change everything:
Picture this:
A redheaded, short (especially for a ballerina) yet graceful small town girl arabesque-ing on one of the greatest dance stages in the world.
No, not me.
But…proud daughter moment, because that’s my mom!
Despite parents who scoffed at ballet, a middle school teacher telling her she was too poor to ever leave South Dakota, and ballet instructors claiming she was too short to ever reach the professional stage, she refused to listen.
At 16, my mom took the shoebox full of the money she’d been saving since she was 13 (from her waitressing shifts at the local nursing home) and bought a one way ticket to the Big Apple.
Imagine with me for a second…
The first time away from rural South Dakota farmland and you step off the Greyhound bus into the bustling streets of New York City. While you’re excited, you’re also scared. Because having just been emancipated from your parents, you have no one but yourself to rely on.
My mom knew she had to make it.
But, she didn’t just “make” it.
She made it to the very top: dancing for the American Ballet Theater.
(If you’re not a ballerina aficionado, basically…that’s big stuff. Like really big stuff. Like the equivalent of going to Harvard Law!)
What has always inspired me more than anything about my mom’s story, is not what she accomplished (though having a celebrity ballet mom is pretty cool), but her belief:
She never doubted she would get there.
Because my mom believes that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to - and more.
Having inherited her belief, I too set my sights HIGH when it came time to pursue my dreams:
Law school, in the Ivy Leagues.
But, the odds were NOT in my favor:
An average but not exceptional GPA and a good, but not Ivy League undergrad meant that I had just ONE last chance:
The LSAT
Months of studying, sneaking in problem sets in between classes, cramming on the bus ride home, packing in questions on my lunch break at work; missed events with friends to take practice tests every weekend; sleepless nights filled with anxiety…
I devoted everything I could to getting a top LSAT score.
But then test day came. And so did the jitters.
When my score came back, it was nowhere near what I knew I was capable of…or what I needed for the top schools.
My career counselor told me to set my sights lower, but I KNEW I could excel at the top schools, even if my LSAT score didn’t suggest that.
So like my mom, I leaned into my belief and found the one advantage I had left:
My story.
(and let me be clear, my story wasn’t anything out of this universe…I just figured out how to share the best possible version of me for law schools)
The results were mind-blowing:
JUST THINK...
Because here’s the truth no one talks about:
Which brings me to where I am today:
Now I help law school applicants get into their top law schools…with 100% of my clients getting into at least one of their top ten schools.
What’s more, because law school is expensive…I’ve also assisted law school applicants in securing millions of dollars in scholarships.
And because law school admissions is a confusing and closed box…I share my inside understanding of how applicants’ stories drive the admissions process, learned from conducting interviews for the University of Pennsylvania.
And since law school is just the beginning…I use my experience hiring for a top law firm to help law school applicants reach their long term career goals.
Want to learn more about how you CAN get into your dream law school...no matter what odds you think are stacked against you?
Start with my FREE training.
It'll walk you through the exact steps to stand out and get admitted to your dream law school--even if you don't have the perfect GPA, highest LSAT score, or most unique story.
EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE AND POWERFUL STORY
The story of the struggle and hardship my mom went through to get to where she is today is powerful. But a story like hers is not the only one that has an impact. I saw how my own story was the key to my success in my own law school admissions journey, and I see how it is the critical component for every law school applicant I’ve worked with. I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t have something unique and powerful to share…sometimes it just takes a little digging (or gentle interrogation from me!).
THE BEST LAW SCHOOL IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE
–and definitely doesn’t have to do with rankings. I didn’t go to the highest-ranked school I got into because I knew that there was a school that was offering me something better, better for me. Look at your ultimate career and life goals and figure out what school will best get you there.
YOU CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS WRONG…AND STILL, BE OK…MAYBE EVEN BETTER
In law school and even after, I rejected a lot of the “right” way to do things…said no to prestigious law journals, skipped on-campus recruiting where most students get their jobs and left a highly competitive position as a federal clerk to teach yoga and recover from taking care of a dying family member. I’m pretty sure my law school advisor (lovingly) wanted to kill me. But I still ended up at a highly sought-after public interest law firm, doing work I was passionate about. So my point…don’t be afraid to reject the shoulds…you never know where it may lead you.
YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR GOALS, YOUR WORK, YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
I’ve always had big ambitions and professional success. But I’m not just a lawyer or law school admissions consultant. I’m Mara, the passionate, goofy, klutz who is always available for a spontaneous dance-off or a deep conversation. Who are you? Don’t forget that during the stress of your law journey.
MOST PEOPLE SHOULDN’T GO TO LAW SCHOOL
Yes, even though I’m an admissions consultant, I said it! Law life is tough; there are long hours, emotionally draining clients, tedious tasks,
THESE MANTRAS GUIDE EVERYTHING I DO.
That’s why I run Top Law School Consulting differently
I WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH CLIENTS
You won’t be getting some random consultant who barely knows your name, and you’ll never have to track me down for a response or edits. I have time for you. And we’re going to get personal; I get to know you, your story, and your law school dreams…and then help you achieve them.
YOU WON’T FIND ANY CARBON COPY ADVICE OR RUBBER STAMPING
I’m a hands-on partner in your law school admissions journey, which means I’ll give you lots of substantive feedback and ideas of my own…not just grammar or small edits you could ask a friend to look for. Together we’ll start from scratch, figuring out the best narrative for your application and strategize every piece of your law school application from there.
YOU’LL ALWAYS FIND A JUDGMENT-FREE ZONE.
Around here we don’t believe any score is too low, any dream too ridiculous, or any background not enough. We work with clients from all walks of life, pursuing all different kinds of goals (that’s what makes this job fun!) We genuinely care to hear about you and your story, but we also know that the best applications are those that can open up and be honest…so we create a space that is safe to do that.
I BELIEVE IN YOU
I believe in your ability to achieve your goals…which means sometimes I’ll push you…to write another draft, to go back to the drawing board, to try another study method.
WE’RE A TEAM, BUT YOU’RE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
I am here to give you every ounce of support you need to get the best law school admissions results for you. You’ll always get my honest opinions and feedback, but you’ll never feel pressured to do anything that doesn’t feel right for you.
