OldMillennial1208 '20–'21 app cycle Class of 2024 class year

TL;DR… APPLY EARLY AND RETAKE THE LSAT!

6 years WE, most recently a project manager role with a well known FinTech Company. Went to a state school for undergrad, but I was very involved (lots of internships during school and waited tables over the summers, sorority Vice President, multiple clubs with leadership positions, art director for a national advertising competition, etc.). 4 solid LORs, 3 professional and 1 professor from college who I had for 2 semesters during senior year.

Wrote my PS about living through a traumatic experience that garnered global attention (if you check where I ED’d you can probably figure it out) that I was really happy with. I think it told a cohesive narrative about how my perspective shifted after the experience and led me to law. DS about being the first person in my family to pursue a post-grad/professional degree (s/o to all the first gen lawyers!!)

Applied in November with a 166. Retook in February with a 169. I wish I had retaken earlier (January) but the deadline had already passed by the time November scores were released. It could have made the difference between an A and riding out a WL in a lot of cases (UT, GW, and BU specifically), or being accepted to UVA ED, but this cycle was so unpredictable who f*kin knows.

Biggest piece of advice: If you are on the fence about retaking, just do it! I thought my WE and essays would be enough to overcome my numbers, but unfortunately that’s not the case. I believe they definitely helped my application and told a compelling story, but I wish I understood how much of a numbers game the application process really is.

Also apply early!! Lots of people with my stats were admitted to schools I was WL at months later. Apply AS EARLY as possible. I thought November was early but I was wrong.