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

LSAT
June 2022 168 -> November 2022 170. I spent about 5 months on total studying for the LSAT. Started out at a 154 diagnostic. I only used 7Sage and took around 30 PTs total.

Personal Statement
Objectively I’d say my personal statement was around a 6/10. I feel that it was fairly well written, but the narrative was on the weaker side, it was but wasn’t about me (talked a lot about family members), and while I did address “Why law?” it was a bit vague. I did most of the work for it over the course of about a week. I could have and should have spent more time on it, but I truly loathed writing it and it was incredibly difficult for me. Did not write a diversity statement because my PS talked about my background.

LORs
Three academic from professors, one of whom was formerly a high level government official.

Résumé/Softs
Truly nothing impressive or noteworthy here. Part time work experience throughout college and MINIMAL club involvement. I went to an average state school.

Supplemental Essays
UVA Challenges (not really optional)- GULC Top ten

• SMU Why X (not really optional)
• Cornell LOCI that I sent ~2 weeks before I was waitlisted

Interviews
GULC group- UT Kira

Advice For Future Applicants
Don’t take the LSAT until you’re PT’ing at your target score.- Don’t be afraid to retake 16highs-17lows. Every point matters. I’m about 90% sure I wouldn’t have gotten into UT if I had called it quits at 168.

• If you’re still in college do your absolute best to earn all A’s.
• If you’re a KJD and can tolerate it, consider working for a year or two before applying. People with a couple years of professional WE tend to significantly outperform KJDs.
• Write at least one optional essay for every school. I didn’t do this because I felt like I needed to get my apps in ASAP since it was already late Dec/early Jan, but in hindsight I wish I had.
• Try your best to get your apps in by Thanksgiving. Schools have progressively less wiggle room to let borderline applicants in as the cycle goes on. UVA and Duke in particular seem to love to fill up with early applicants.
• Always do optional interviews.
• Be cognizant of debt. The only thing that provides more flexibility than going to a top school is not being saddled with debt.