Break Into Law School® Podcast
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, and Audible
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Break into Law School® is the podcast for students who are ready to break down generational barriers to law school and walk confidently into their future.
This podcast provides transparent, quality, and ethical law school advice in a way that is uplifting and relatable.
Sydney Montgomery, Esq, is a law school admissions consultant specializing in working with first-generation and minority applicants. She herself is a first-generation graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. Through Barrier Breakers®, she and our team have helped over 7,000 students gain admission to law school.
Are you struggling with information overload? Are you getting lost in Reddit and Google? Are you feeling stuck, not sure what to write about, not sure how to even begin the application process? Join a community of students who are choosing to stop the cycle of confusion and missed opportunities and find quality and ethical answers to their application questions.
No scare tactics here. No tearing people down. No shaming anyone. This show is all about leading with love, uplifting you, and encouraging you as you step confidently into your career as an attorney.
Meet Your Hosts
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LoVetta Jenkins
Content Curator at Barrier Breakers
LoVetta is a Multimedia Journalist with a Master's Degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. She's most passionate about sharing knowledge with others and being a champion for positivity.
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Nadia Castriota, Ph.D
Associate Law School Consultant at S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting
Nadia studied at Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and St. Thomas University. She has nearly 20 years of experience in graduate admissions.
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Cynthia Rivera
Associate Law School Consultant at S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting
Cynthia was raised in Puerto Rico before attending Cornell University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She is dedicated to helping law school applicants discover their strengths and maximize their potential.
Ep 46: When to Start Preparing for Law School
In this episode of Break Into School, I discuss when you should start preparing for law school. I'm also going to give you a month-by-month breakdown of how you should spend your time as you put together your materials both written and non-written.
Ep 39: How to Approach Scholarship Negotiations
Many of you have started to receive offers and acceptances (yay!) and this season always brings with it the conversation of scholarship "negotiation." In this episode, I discuss this term and ways you can approach this process with a different and, arguably, healthier perspective. I will also share some personal stories of how I approached admissions and attained more money.
Ep 36: Can You Still Apply This Late in the Cycle?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I want to have an honest discussion about application timing. It's February and I know many applicants are wondering if it's too late in the cycle to still apply. I specifically am going to discuss who can still apply, who would really benefit by postponing their application, and how you should feel about the February and March LSAT.
Ep 35: How Much Debt is Law School Worth?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to be talking all about debt. How much debt should you be taking out for law school? How does debt relate to your future career as a lawyer? How can you minimize the amount of debt you'll have after you graduate? The good news is you don't have to pay off loans forever just to attend law school. Conversely, you don't have to give up a top school just to live debt-free.
Ep 34: You've Been Waitlisted, Now What?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I want to talk about waitlists. What does it really mean to be waitlisted? Should you be happy about it? What steps should you take once you've been put on the waitlist? I am going to discuss these questions as well as what to include in your letters of continued interest.
Ep 33: Paying Your Bills While Attending Law School
How do you pay your bills and personal expenses while attending law school full time? How much should you take out in loans? What's the smartest money move to make as a student? In this episode of Break Into Law School, I want to discuss with you how personal allowances work and how to get them, how much to take out in loans, and alternative ways to earn money for your bills.
Ep 32: Should You Still Apply This Cycle?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I want to discuss how one should make the decision to defer their law school application. When is it too late?
Ep 29: All About Law School Financial Aid
It's not a secret that law school is expensive. Many students wonder how they can afford to go to law school and how the financial aid process differs than that of college. In this episode of Break Into Law school, I want to cover:
1. What factors contribute to financial aid eligibility
2. How to apply to law school financial aid
3. The different types of loans for law school
Ep 27: You Don't Need To Apply Early Decision
I've noticed so many of my students and so many students who contact us to work with them are starting to really stress out about applying early decisions. In this episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to discuss whether you really need to apply early decision.
Ep 26: How Optional Are Optional Essays?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I am going to discuss about optional essays.
Ep 24: Things to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I am going to cover the most common mistakes students make in writing their diversity statement.
Ep 23: Should You Apply Early Decision and Can You Afford It?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, we're going to be covering whether you should apply early decision to law school.
Ep 16: Equity in Law School Admissions with Kellye Testy, LSAC President, Vincent Rougeau and Kyle McEntee
Listen to a timely conversation about equity in law admissions; recruitment, rankings and debt. I had the privilege of moderating this panel of experts: Kellye Testy (President of the Law School Admissions Council) Dean Vincent Rougeau (Dean of Boston College Law School; President of the American Association for Law Schools; incoming president of the College of the Holy Cross) and Kyle McEntee (Executive director of Law School Transparency)
Ep 14: Carving Out Time for Applications
In today's episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to be discussing realistic expectations for how much time should be allocated for your application materials. I'm also going to share tips and techniques for making sure you complete your application materials on time while juggling your work schedule and personal life.
Ep. 13 Which Law Schools Should You Apply To?
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I am going to be talking about what factors you should take into consideration when building your law school list. How important are rankings? How do you weigh scholarship options and geography? I am going to bust some myths and share what is truly crucial during this step of the process.
Ep 12: Building Relationships with Admissions Committees
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to discuss the three main ways you can build a relationship with law school admissions committees. Fostering a relationship with those in admissions is an important part of your application process, and this step is often overlooked by students.
Ep 11: Tips for Conquering the LSAT with Accommodations
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I am joined by Jasmeene Burton-Martin, incoming Northwestern Law student, former boot camp student and current instructor at S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting. We will be talking about how to conquer the LSAT when you need accommodations. How do you prepare for the LSAT with text anxiety? ADHD? A learning disability? We'll discuss how to ask for the right accommodations, who to talk to, and when to make your request.
Ep 10: Who Should You Get To Write Your Law School Letters of Recommendation
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to talk about securing your letters of recommendation for your law school application. I'm going to discuss who to ask, how to ask, and why the contents of your letter are such a crucial part of your application.
Ep 09: Staying Motivated Through The Law School Application Process
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I'm going to talk about staying motivated through the law school application process. I want to touch on three points:
1. How to avoid and combat negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.
2. How to stay focused on your journey.
3. How to avoid burnout and make time for rest.
Ep 06: Is the 2021-2022 Law School Application Cycle Going to Be More Competitive
In this episode of Break Into Law School, I discuss whether the 2021-2022 law school application cycle is going to be as competitive as the 2020-2021 law school admissions cycle. We take a look back at the factors that made this past law school admissions cycle the most competitive cycle in ABA history and the factors that I believe will contribute to this law school admissions cycle being just as competitive. We will also go over what you can do to prepare for this upcoming law school admissions cycle.