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

Reapplicant from 2021-22 cycle with the same stats, but all new essays (honestly, I think my PS was worse the second cycle, but all the other essays were better). I had decent options last year, but I had to withdraw apps for personal reasons.

Goal: California BigLaw (either SF or LA).

Advise: My main advise would be to apply broadly! I definitely applied to more reaches in my second cycle because I knew I could probably get into the schools I was accepted to last year, and I knew of my acceptances from last year what money I would get and where I could actually see myself going (so didn’t waste money on app fees for schools I didn’t want to go to). However, I still think I should have applied to more schools, especially lower T14 that I didn’t apply to last year (like Michigan and Northwestern). Even though I kind of knew where I would go based on location, I wish I had applied more broadly for more options. Also—and maybe this is bad advice—but I personally wouldn’t apply to a ton of “safeties” unless you actually want to go to them or want to use them for scholarship negotiations. My second and final piece of advise is that this process really is a numbers game (to an extent). There are exceptions for URM or impressive softs, but that’s not the situation for the majority of applicants. Look at your stats twins and see how they did at schools you want to go to.

If you are considering reapplying, PLEASE consider retaking your LSAT if you think you can improve. I know the test is dumb, but my biggest regret from reapplying is that I didn’t retake the LSAT.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CYCLE!!!

Below is a comparison of my results from each cycle:

Stanford:
2020-21: Rejected
2021-22: Rejected

UChicago:
2020-21: Waitlisted (Withdrew)
2021-22: Waitlisted

NYU:
2020-21: Hold (Withdrew before decision)
2021-22: Hold —> Waitlisted (Withdrew)

Penn:
2020-21: Waitlisted (Withdrew)
2021-22: Waitlisted (Withdrew)

Berkeley:
2020-21: Waitlisted (Quartile 1; Withdrew)
2021-22: Waitlisted (Quartile 2)

Duke**:**
2020-21: Accepted (withdrew before scholarship interview)
2021-22: Didn’t apply

Cornell**:**
2020-21: Accepted (~ $105,000 scholarship)
2021-22: Didn’t apply

UCLA:
2020-21: Waitlisted (Withdrew)
2021-22: Waitlisted

USC:
2020-21: Accepted; $160,000 scholarship
2021-22: Accepted; $180,000 scholarship 🥳🥳🥳

UT Austin**:**
2020-21: Accepted (~117,000 scholarship)
2021-22: Didn’t apply

UCI:
2020-21: Accepted; $135,000 scholarship
2021-22: Accepted; $120,000 scholarship

UW:
2020-21: Accepted; $45,000 scholarship
2021-22: Accepted; $45,000 scholarship