Hi Anne! - No, I haven't really starting working on that stuff yet. Gotta get the LSAT out of the way first. I'm sorta putting all my eggs in one basket and not planning to apply at any other schools. I realize that isn't the best idea, but I'm not in a situation to move.
What do you think my chances are with a 3.4 GPA and around a 160 LSAT?
In my essay, do you think I should include any mention of why I'm choosing part-time instead of full-time?
Your chances with a 3.4/160 are stellar. You'll be right at the 75th percentile of part-time applicants with your GPA, and way above the 75th percentile in LSAT. Heck, with a ~160 LSAT, you'd be above the 75th percentile of full-time applicants, too. If you take a look at the ABA profile for the school, you can confirm my numbers (
http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchResults/SchoolPage_PDFs/ABA_LawSchoolData/ABA6374.pdf). Another thing you've got going for you is that you're applying with excellent credentials to the part-time plan, which has a higher acceptance rate than the full-time program (FT acceptance is 48%, PT is 61%). I would say your chances are very good with those numbers; now your focus needs to be on the "softs" of your application (résumé, personal statement, letters of rec--basically anything NOT LSAT/GPA-related) to make sure that they raise no red flags and only complement the rest of the good stuff on your application.
Regarding your personal statement, I think it depends on what else you might write about. If you had already thought about writing about something else on the PS, then don't try to jam a mention of the part-time program in there. Instead, just add a brief addendum explaining why you're interested in the part-time instead of the full-time program. Does that make sense?
The only other comment I would make regarding Loyola is that their evening program is a "civil law" program, which is not the type of law that the rest the country observes (the rest of the U.S. falls under "common law"). It involves a fundamental difference in the interpretation of the law, which will likely affect the way your classes are taught. This is okay if you're staying and planning to practice in Louisiana (and you can still sit for the Bar in any other state with a degree from NOLA Loyola), but I thought I would mention it.
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