RMFN '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

Military paralegal with 10 years’ service, first degree GPA of 2.4 from 2012 and second degree GPA of 3.8 from 2022. I took the LSAT in 2009 and received a score of 159, and after a year of study while working, I took it again in 2021 with a score of 168. I genuinely feel that if I had continued my LSAT studies, I would have broken 170+; but I was hitting diminishing returns on my time invested and believe it was the best decision to accept and apply with a 168.

I was overeager and decided to have customized letters of recommendation for each school I applied to. I submitted nearly 40 individual LORs; I realize this slowed down my process significantly and do not encourage anyone to go to that same extent of individual application personalization.

Be patient. This process is longer than expected, and I made multiple withdrawals earlier than I should have before giving sufficient time to consideration. I didn’t consider the Post-911/YRP combination before withdrawing from schools that offered no scholarships, but there was good reason as I could go at no cost without one. Keep your options open as you feel out which admission is best for you and take the time to think without making a gut decision.

Acceptances and rejections don’t reflect you or your potential; they simply reflect a decision made based on that individual school’s calculus on what is best for them. It might feel personal, and you may feel that it is somehow your fault, but that isn’t necessarily true. Be good to yourself.

2024 update: For anyone wondering, NUSL is a really great law school. There aren’t class rankings and students are generally collaborative rather than competitive. The co-op system gives you effectively three internships rather than two and the end result of the first-year LSSC course is a really great resume bullet from aiding an organization (and a very polished writing sample.)

2024 update: JAG Corps goal achieved, professionally recommended to commission into JAGC.