UT from the start was my most comfortable and “natural” choice as an Austin homeowner with numerous personal and professional ties to both the college and the law school. In fact, one of my recommenders was a Texas Law alumnus who could attest to my positive qualities as a student in his paralegal program. Still, I wanted to see how far my application could swing it at the highest caliber of law schools.

If you have at least one number that those schools might want, give yourself a shot at them. Conduct thorough research on their specialties and their surrounding areas in preparation for any interviews. Find a clinic you’re curious about and email the professor as an interested prospective student; without fail, every professor I did this with got back to me within the next day. Nevertheless, understand that this process might have something much cooler in store for you than the “very best” school in your desired field (according to everyone’s favorite arbiter of U.S. school rankings, and little else).

Also, don’t spend too much time on here. Have faith and lock in.