Goff '25–'26 app cycle Class of 2029 class year

Wow what I cycle I had! I wish everyone who comes across my profile the best of luck in their law school journey. I will try and impart my best advice.

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Ranking the most important parts of your application:

1. Get the best LSAT you can. Your highest score is the only one that matters. I had a 161 and a 176 (don’t call it a come back). I studied one hour a day for 10 months. Do it every day.

2. If you are in undergrad, maintain a 4.00. That is your highest priority.

3. Make your resume look professional and clean. Delete old jobs and keep all bullet points to a single sentence. I read so many of my peers resumes and they had way too many sentences and old jobs that were not relevant. A resume that is ugly/too long can get your out-the-door before they even read your personal statement. Professional school requires a professional-looking candidate.

4. Rewrite your personal statement a hundred times over. Talk about your accomplishments and frame yourself as someone who succeeds.

5. Your diversity is a strength. I am a first-gen from a flyover state + community college grad. These items likely did not matter for most schools given I was way above medians, but for Stanford and Harvard I believe it made a difference.

6. Apply broadly. You will never know what acceptances and scholarships you will receive unless you throw a wide-net. I spent $2000 in applications. It was well worth it.

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Interview advice: a lot of interviews are temperature checks (are you a normal person). Come prepared with specifics about each law school (classes, professors, clinics) that excite you and make you want to attend them. Do a few practice interviews with friends/mentors so you are slightly prepared.

Michigan (Darrow): First of all, my goal when applying to law schools was to attend Michigan. Obtaining the Darrow was a dream come true (and Dean Z is as cool as they say). Find an interviewer you can relate to. Darrow invitees get to select their interviewer from a list of current and previous recipients. Be EXCITED about Michigan if you can. I was over the moon and clearly wanted to attend there so I had a lot to say. About half of Darrow invitees receive the scholarship offer.

Berkeley: This interview is given by the admissions staff to those on the fence. If you want to attend Berkeley, show them you are excited you want to be there as well!

Harvard: Something like 60-70% of the interviewed are accepted, so you have high chances. Keep your cool, be prepared for questions such as a difficult challenge, and tell them why you want to attend HLS outside of it just being Harvard.

Georgetown: You will likely do a group interview. Just stand by your answer lol. There is no magic sauce to this. Keep your answers concise as well since you are in a group.

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Softs: 6’1, 405 deadlift, midwest charm.

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Other notes:

Stanford: These thoughts come attending from their admitted students day. They love students who have a prestigious undergrad background + are from a unique state. I met people from Kansas, Missouri, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Montana, etc. Easily the school with the most geographic diverse student body (according to admitted students). Also everyone went to a Ivy/adjacent school (besides Harvard). I was the only one from a state school. If you are from the east coast or went to Harvard/unremarkable school, you might be at a disadvantage applying here. Shoot your shot though.