JCA, can I ask you a law review related question? For your old school, how did they weigh 1L grades and the writing competition itself? Was it 50/50%? My 1st semester grades are not stellar, but my school's law review places 50% on 1L grades and 50% on the writing itself, so I'm trying to predict my chances.

I don't know that they had a fixed numerical formula. IIRC their policy snagged something like top 15 students gradewise, then the top 15 submissions to the writing competition, then another (can't remember number) of students whose grades and writing competition rank combined placed them above a certain index level. There was also an affirmative-action-type provision, details of which I have conveniently forgotten. :)

At my old school, though, the writing competition was for all six official journals, not just law review. It was, as a result, a hugely popular way to spend one's post-exam wind down period. (Or something.)

I want my fall grades to turn into your spring grades/law review experience!!