Definitely focus on the LSAT and writing supplements! I really do believe that increasing my LSAT score and working on my essays were a large factor in my acceptances and scholarships, as well as applying early (in October/early November). If an essay is optional, do it. Schools expect you to complete all writing questions to demonstrate that you have true interest in attending. I picked Emory due to the fact that I wanted to stay on the east coast, and they gave me a decent amount of money. Don’t take the US News rankings too seriously when picking schools to apply to, look at the ABA 509 Report and Employment Report for each school. Would you be ok with achieving the median outcome for that school, especially if it involves staying in that location? These are all factors to consider when making a decision. Good luck, you can do this!! :)