TeacherGuy19 '23–'24 app cycle Class of 2027 class year

Take the LSAT at least three times, apply to all the schools you’re interested before November, and spend weeks - months, even - perfecting your written materials (oh - and write every optional essay). The LSAT is hugely important, but so is your demonstrated interest in a particular school and the quality of your writing.

Personally, I would suggest taking a year or two off of school before applying to law school. This gives you time to reflect on and articulate more clearly why law is attractive to you, and also gives you valuable work experience. Law school is like a full-time job in a way that undergrad simply is not.

Finally - location, average scholarship offers, and career outcomes should be the primary determinant in how you decide where to apply. Rankings simply do not matter most of the time; your actual law school grades will have far more impact on what you do after school. So, pick the school that makes sense for you - in the city that you can affordably move to, live in, and hopefully one that you’ve visited and enjoyed - and can see yourself living in for the foreseeable future. The right school looks different for each applicant. For some, debt will be a minor consideration; for others, it’s the greatest. Do what makes sense for your financial situation, and ultimately, do what will give you the best shot at being happy, healthy, and comfortable a decade from now.