Cycle Notes

Stats

Undergrad GPA:3.63

LSAC GPA: 3.30 - first couple semesters in 2020 quarantine were difficult for me to adjust to. Classes being forced online was not my preferred method of learning, or best way of learning for that matter. Traditional in-person was best for me, a setting where I could actively ask questions and engage with my peers. Online learning limited that, and I did not enjoy sitting behind a screen, pretty much teaching myself all the material. In 2021, once classes were offered in person again, I immediately signed up for them and my GPA skyrocketed from a 2.7 to a 3.8 and I maintained that for my next full time 4-5 semesters, including a 16-credit summer semester and 19-credit fall semester until I graduated, Dec 2023.

April 2024 LSAT
Score release: May 1, 2024
Goal: 154
Score: 150
Writing Section Completed: 4/12/2024 (I wrote ~5 paragraphs)
LR - RC - LG - LR
Exam Date: Saturday 4/13/2024

Studying
Khan Academy: 1 stage/random timed section/day + review
LSAT Demon: Drilling all 3 sections.
Blueprint Logic Games Book: 1-2 chapters/day.
LSAT Trainer: 1-2 chapters per day
LSAT Demon: LR/RC/LG section + review (different section each day)
Blueprint LSAT Strategy guide: ~15 pages/day.
Practice Tests: 1x per week - Khan Academy + LSAT Demon

Last 2 weeks before exam: 1 PT/day

Financial notes**:**

Fed Direct Unsub Loan; $20,500 for Fall 2024-Spring 2025Fed Dir Grad PLUS Loan: $27,602 for Fall 2024-Spring 2025- Devlin and Denton scholarship: $1,000 for Fall 2024-Spring 2025

Study Notes:

Around mid-March I found the blueprint LG book to be a waste of time.- Kinda discovered that with LSAT Trainer too. wasn’t really gaining much from it.

• LSAT demon free trial recycles questions you’ve done before so scores are kinda skewed
• I think khan academy is the best thing to study with. really accurate stuff, it seems, score-wise
• 7sage wasn’t appealing to me, not sure what people like about it
• finished blueprint LSAT strategy guide pretty quick. didn’t think i benefitted from it either. just a bunch of “you got this!”
• finished through LSAT demon reading passages ~2 weeks before exam. fine because i preferred khan academy anyway (no recycling)
  3/27/2024- : Tried starting with a “wrong answer” journal.
  3/28/2024- : this just seems to make me go over WHY something is wrong and read through it. i’m just writing it down so i don’t see the point of this since i’m not going to do the question again.. i see the idea though
  3/29/2024- : officially done using lsat trainer, feels like a waste of time now
  3/30/2024- : found that reading through my wrong answers is more efficient for me than writing them down w/ explanations. learned a lot better and understood why it was wrong simply by reading. i’d then have an “ohh” moment lol
• late march/early april: super happy with the 1 pt / day thing i got going. i’m doing way better this way than constant drilling.
• i noticed a lot of the answers i missed are ones i selected then changed my mind about. i guess this isn’t necessarily bad - i just have to work on not second-guessing myself
  4/10/2024- : feeling good for saturday
• a lot of people online are talking about how difficult the exam was, and how there were 2 RC sections (NOOOO)

Testing center notes:
scheduled for 10:45am at a center in Toledo, OH- preferred getting the exam over with in the morning instead of waiting til the afternoon

• place was fine. security check-ins were a bit weird. someone kept coughing super loudly, even the headphones we were provided didn’t muffle it well
• started exam at almost 10:00, when I arrived I got security screened nearly right away and got started around 10:15am. I think I finished around 1pm.

School Notes

3/15/2024: I visited Detroit Mercy. I didn’t really like the campus. Admissions weren’t that good about answering questions either. Building was super small. I felt like class size was way too big to be squished here. Didn’t seem appealing to me. Oh well

4/6/2024: Went to UToledo Law’s Preview Day today. It was alright, I fell asleep during the mock Constitutional Law class though. I liked the dual/joint degree program and the CRJ certificate stuff, too. It was nice meeting new people. Only wish I spoke to the admissions committee more.

4/15/2024: Received email from dean at U of Michigan Law that “it was concluded I am no longer interested in applying” there because of my incomplete application. I responded, saying that it is only incomplete because I don’t have my LSAT score since I just took the exam. Admissions told me that when I have a valid LSAT score to submit, I can email them again to request reinstatement of my application. Admissions also said that depending on the timing, it is possible that they will only be able to offer me a position on the waitlist, or that they will no longer be accepting applications for this fall’s incoming class. I’m not too worried about the decision from UMichigan, because I don’t really wanna go there.

5/1/2024: Will be writing letters of continued interest to all schools. LSAC said my completed CAS report should be processed and sent within 24-48 hours. I will send the letters Friday morning. Bought Lawhub Advantage today to keep track of my statuses.

5/2/2024: UMichigan reinstated my application and it is now under review.

5/2/2024: Status checker says I’m admitted to UToledo. No email yet. Asked around and apparently, it’s normal for the status checker to update before you get notified by the school. Curious to see scholarship info.

5/6/2024: Applied to Ohio State, UCincinnati, and Florida International to see how things go.

5/7/2024: Received email from Detroit Mercy that I was placed on the waitlist.

5/9/2024: Received email from UToledo that I got admitted. Got seat deposit and commitment deposit info as well as my Rocket ID. Gonna wait for my package to come in the mail, I believe that’ll have my financial info.

5/13/2024: Email from Wayne State that my application is under review

5/14/2024: Received letter in mail from Toledo. No scholarship was able to be offered. Will be in contact with office of admissions for possible reconsideration. I expected to get a least a little bit of award.

5/14/2024: Status checker updated for Cooley as Accepted.

5/14/2024: Called Toledo about possible scholarship reconsideration. They said this year’s cycle was super competitive and are unable to give out anymore merit scholarships. I was a participant in their ‘Launch into Law’ program, and we were told that upon completion if we are admitted into Toledo Law, we are given a $1,000 scholarship. I will inquire about this soon.

5/15/2024: Received email from Cooley Law. I qualified for their Merit scholarship and was offered 20% of tuition. Had to do math to figure out how much this was. Full tuition ~138,800

5/16/2024: Received email from UCinncinati that my application is under final review

5/19/2024: Received email from Michigan that I was not admitted

5/21/2024: Got email from Toledo fin aid about $1,000 scholarship. That was for a being a participant in their ‘Launch into Law’ program May 2023. I will ask this same person for some scholarship reconsideration. What’s the worst that can happen?

5/21/2024: Got an email back from fin aid saying I should send any competing offers I have to the dean, who was the initial person I reached out to regarding scholarship reconsideration. All I have right now is the 20% merit from Cooley. I will make the deposit soon to Toledo but I’ll email later regarding the competing scholarship, or if I get another one.

5/28/2024: LSAC status application updated for Michigan State that my file is under review. I think I am going to write a letter of continued interest to Detroit Mercy to hopefully get admitted with a good scholarship and use that as leverage for scholarship reconsideration with Toledo.

5/30/2024: Filled out housing application for UToledo.

5/31/2024: I emailed UToledo’s dean the merit scholarship from Cooley and she responded saying she was going to forward that info to the committee for them to reconsider. She say she can’t promise anything but repeated the same reasons as before. (She was the first person I asked for reconsideration, I just had leverage this time).

6/3/2024: Received email from Michigan State that I have been placed on the waitlist.

6/21/2024: As of late I have been waitlisted at Wayne State, rejected at UCincinnati, Florida International University, and Ohio State. Got a suite on UToledo’s campus. No update on scholarship reconsideration. I may write a letter to WSU in hopes they offer me a good scholarship so I can use that as leverage with Toledo.

CAS Report
Complete: May 1st, 2024 (Only waited on LSAT score release date for this. Everything else was complete, LORs, transcripts, etc.)
Sent: 05/01/2024

Schools, Medians, Acceptance Rates*

U of Toledo: 3.55 GPA / 152 LSAT / 43.75%
Florida International University**: 3.72 GPA / 160 LSAT / 85%
Michigan State: 3.52 GPA / 157 LSAT / 43.9%
U of Michigan: 3.83 GPA / 171 LSAT / 13.5%
Ohio State: 3.86 GPA / 164 LSAT / 58%
UCincinnati: 3.73 GPA / 158 LSAT / 43%
Wayne State: 3.8 GPA / 161 LSAT / 35.5%
Detroit Mercy: 3.39 GPA / 154 LSAT / 56.1%
Western Michigan (Cooley): 3.0 GPA / 148 LSAT / 48.1%

*Listed in order of attendance preference

Decisions & how I feel about them:
U of Toledo: Accepted! Happy about this because this is where I wanted to go
Michigan State: Waitlisted - kinda surprised
U of Michigan: Rejected - Surprisingly fine
Wayne State: Waitlisted - very surprised..
Detroit Mercy: Waitlisted - Don’t mind
Western Michigan (Cooley): Accepted - Don’t care much
Ohio State: Rejected - fine
Florida International University: rejected - fine
UCincinnati: rejected - fine

7sage chance predictor:

Toledo - 97% - Accepted
Michigan State - 51%
UMichigan - 0% - Rejected
Wayne State - 31%
Detroit Mercy - 96% - Waitlisted
Western Michigan (Cooley) - 99% - Accepted
UCincinnati: 25%
Florida International: 13%
Ohio State: 3%

Practice Test History
May 14, 2023 - 142 - Took my diagnostic around this time. Studied only a week. Had some books and study materials.
Oct 12, 2023 - 141 - Took another pt. Was originally registered for Jan LSAT but didn’t have much time to study, being a full-time college student.
Nov 5, 2023 - 145 - Second pt after beginning to “study”. At this point I was just drilling on Khan Academy. No more than an hour per day.
Nov 25, 2023 - 143 - Had a hard time focusing this exam. Was very disappointed with results; I had consistently studied for a week.
Dec 16, 2023 - 146 - Was very proud of improvement. By this time, I was at least giving 30min to an hour per day just drilling.
Feb 19, 2024 - 144 - Didn’t study for a month due to family travels.
March 3, 2024 - 149 - Very happy with this progress. Studied 1-2hrs per day since the previous PT. Was very proud of the +5 pt increase!
March 11, 2024 - 149 - Didn’t focus too well this exam, satisfied with results nevertheless; I didn’t drop points. (Although, progress doesn’t have to be linear!)
March 18, 2024 - 147 - A little surprised with this score but won’t let it be discouraging. I couldn’t study a couple days beforehand, so this was understandable. Next time will be better!!!
March 24, 2024 - 145 - Need to practice RC. Did absolutely terrible. Somewhat satisfied with other sections. :(
March 29, 2024 - 156 - WOW. This surprised and shocked me. I definitely wasn’t expecting to do this well. I took this PT at a mock LSAT event in person. I think that’s what helped me. Also, it was taken on LawHub, not Khan Academy, where I usually take my PTs. Once I finish the khan academy ones, I’ll stick to LawHub. 11 points in 4 days. Wow.. preptest 90 or 91+
March 30, 2024 - 152 - Was expecting in 140highs. I’m just glad I broke the 150s! I think my problem this exam was running out of time. Got 2 LG sections.
March 31, 2024 - 152 - Yes!!! This was a khan academy pt, which I clearly have scored lower with in the past (I did better on LawHub PTs which were 90+) This one was Preptest 85. Most of my old PTs were preptest 60s with a few 70s.
April 1, 2024 - 148 - Was kinda expecting this. Didn’t study the last couple days. Only did PTs. This was PrepTest 84. I was a little distracted much of the time. It’s ok! Tomorrow will be better.
April 2, 2024 - 153 - Like I said, today would be better. This was PrepTest 93+. Definitely kinda seeing a pattern here. I seem to do better the higher number the PrepTest is..? Super proud of this.
April 3, 2024 - 156 - Yesssss!!! This was preptest 78. I found the reading to be super easy. Got only -3 on LG. Proud of myself!
April 4, 2024 - 153 - So glad to be consistently scoring in the 150s now. Did terrible on RC, though. Only got -4 on LG. Gonna try to drill reading comp more
April 5, 2024 - 152 - Did much better on RC today than yesterday! Ran out of time on one LR so kinda rushed and guessed. I think I did better on RC because I had to pretend I was interested in what I was reading. This was Preptest 89.
April 7, 2024 - 153- This was Preptest 88.
April 8, 2024 - 150 - I’m just glad I didn’t fall back into 140highs. It was Preptest 87 (LG-LR-LR-RC). First half of LG was great, second was kind of difficult. First LR was good. Second LR was difficult. Not sure which is experimental. RC was fine, I think I’m slowly doing better with them. My biggest issue during this test was not using time efficently, and running out of time in the end.. LG -8 LR -9 LR -15 RC -13. I’ve done better than that previously so I’m not even worried about this test. I should take my PTs in the morning when possible. I took it 11:30pm-2:00am today and that probably explains a lot.
April 9, 2024 - Took first half of Preptest 86. Ran out of time in LG, couldn’t answer last question.
April 10, 2024 - 149 - Took second half of Preptest 86. Not surprised. Was sick today, plus kinda feeling burnt out. Felt good about RC though. Second LR was what brought me down. -8 LG, -17 LR, -10 LR, -11 RC. Definitely did better today than yesterday. Tomorrow will be better. PT 94 will be GREAT. Watch. I’m going to rock the real thing.
April 11, 2024 - 154 - I thought I did way better, but this was good. Preptest 85 again (first time was on khan academy, this was on lawhub). -7 LG, -13 LR, -6 LR (my best!) -10 RC. I’m not sure which was the experimental, probably the first LR. This was an ok test. Finished each section with a good amount of time. Nearly 10 min on the second LR. I answered questions 1-5 first, then 20-25, and then 6-19. I think that made a big difference. RC was good when I don’t highlight. Feeling good for Saturday!!
April 12, 2024 - 151 - Ok, not bad for a last practice test. Saved PrepTest 94 for this day because I was told the PrepTest 90s+ are most representative of April/current tests. Which is good.

4/12/24, Night before exam: I feel okay. A little worried, but for the most part fine.

4/13/24, Night of exam: Fine. I hope LR1 was experimental. LG wasn’t THAT bad. RC felt normal.

5/1/24: Score release day: Well! It’s over. Now I just have to wait and see what the schools will say. Didn’t do as well as I wanted to, but that’s okay. Proud of myself for how far I’ve come.

3/19/24: I will get into my dream school (UToledo) !!!!!!!! Good scholarship too maybe!!!!