CowardlyLittleCrane '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

If you are married to the idea of attending a specific school, try to get above at least one of their 75ths, talk to current students, professors, and alumni, research programs, and write a compelling Why X. If not, just make a list of schools you would be very happy to attend, and shoot your shot. In this case, you will be happy getting into even one of your choices (as I was!).

The colors on my chart paint a grim picture, but 11 of my 15 applications were to reach schools, so I performed predictably considering my stats. It sucks that these numbers probably would have gotten me into Duke, Michigan, Georgetown, or Berkeley just five years ago, but that’s how it goes - can’t be too bitter about something you can’t change.

“But Crane, why not R&R?” Yeah that’s gonna be a hell no from me, dog. This cycle was horrific on my mental health, especially after I discovered the LSA subreddit. I cannot go through studying for and taking the LSAT, asking for recommendations, writing essays, and paying all those fees again - but this time knowing about LSA from the beginning. I wanted to go to law school this year, and I will be! That’s an accomplishment for me.

Maybe you think I’m insane for choosing GW over NDLS, but for personal reasons, living close to family and friends began to take precedence over nearly every other consideration for me as this cycle went on, and DC is where I have the biggest support system. I am wholly uninterested in BL, even as a springboard for PI work, so a lot of the gap in outcomes between the two schools is bridged there. Also not super interested in a federal clerkship, especially not if I have to join FedSoc (out of the question for me). I’m also not gunning for any “unicorn” outcomes; I just want a respectable PI job where I’m making a positive difference in the world, no matter how small. Some people on this website/Reddit are legit unhinged; do not let other people skew your self-image and make you feel bad about your cycle, your LSAT score, or yourself - especially yourself!

Regarding waitlists: While my rejections hurt, I began to see them as a blessing as this interminably slow cycle dragged on and on. Waitlists require much more work and expressing continued interest for a school that has been dangling you from a string for nearly half a year is exhausting. I would have written passionate LOCIs for some of the schools where I received Rs (Yale, Duke, and Michigan especially) but the R released me from having to think about those schools ever again. I was waitlisted at five schools, none of which I expected favorable movement from and a couple of which I withdrew from before receiving a final decision.

I’m now no longer waiting on any school’s final decision, so I leave you with this: Que sera sera. Follow your heart; what’s meant for you will come. :)