JoyousCeruleanHummingbird '21–'22 app cycle Class of 2025 class year

Reapplicant from 2020-2021 cycle. Same stats as the previous cycle (4 LSAT takes starting in 2019, 30+ point improvement from initial diagnostic to 169), but all new materials. Fully funded MA through fellowship, L**GBTQ+**, first-generation college and professional student, Pell grant recipient all 4 years of college (low-income background), 3-5 years relevant legal experience.

Waitlisted in 2020-2021 at all the schools I applied to (except UVA, WashU, BU, UF, UA, UGA, BC, and PSU Dickinson which I didn’t apply to in my first cycle). Chose not to reapply to Chicago (WL), UCLA (WL), UT Austin (A), Vanderbilt (A), Fordham (PWL) in subsequent cycle.

Why did I withdraw before receiving my last decisions/aid packages?
As soon as I received UVA’s offer in late February, I knew my cycle was over. This was genuinely a dream outcome for me. I’m PI or bust and really debt averse, so none of the options I had on the table were ones I would have accepted over $$$$ at UVA. That being said, don’t feel pressured to withdraw from schools or make a decision prematurely - schools account for yield when building their accepted students pool, so take your time to make the right decision for you! :)

Parting advice: Please don’t feel afraid to reapply if you are not happy with your results and have the ability to take a year (or more) off to do so. I was so devastated about reapplying last cycle (you can see my last cycle here: https://www.lsd.law/users/creep/FestiveAzureCat), but in retrospect it was the right decision for me and I don’t regret it at all. Separately, getting work experience (of any kind!) never hurts if you decide to reapply! Working over the past several years has helped me to grow so much both professionally and personally and I finally feel ready to take on law school.

Finally, aim high and shoot your shot, friends :). While numbers matter, they’re not all that matter. 7sage’s predictor chanced me at 31% at UVA. Your softs and your application materials are important, so don’t sell yourself short!

Essays + Additional Info
Yale - Y250 on niche issue of academic interest
HLS - KJ1 off the WL. Decided to withdraw after I interviewed off the WL, I’m set on UVA!
UPenn - Core Values
NYU - Applied to be considered for RTK without additional essay, received hold tight email on 1/21
UVA - Why UVA
Duke - Why Duke, UR3 on 12/6
UMich - Why Michigan, date change on 1/6
Northwestern - Did Kira. Invited to apply for Netsch (public interest) scholarship on 3/25, did not apply.
Cornell - Why Cornell
GULC - Why Georgetown, Top 10 List. Invited to group interview on 9/22 but **ineligible to participate (did group in previous cycle). GULC status date disappeared on 11/19. Was not invited to apply for Blume (public interest scholarship) in the 1st wave, withdrew before subsequent waves hit.
WashU - Webster Society Scholarship essay (public interest) - submitted 1/13
BU - Public Interest Scholarship essay - awarded PI scholarship on 2/11 by phone call**
BC - Public Service Scholarship essay - notified by email on 2/22 that I had been selected as a Finalist for the Public Service Scholarship ($$$$), withdrew before interview/aid package.

Note: I applied to 18 schools in total! I withdrew from NYU and Mich before they rendered decisions but I hated the gray on my chart lol so here were my timelines for those two schools:

NYU - Sent 9/16, Received + Complete + UR 9/17, Hold (HTE) 1/21
Michigan - Sent 12/5, Received 12/6, Complete 12/14, date change 1/6