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

Hello!! Here are some tips I’ve accumulated from my personal experience for those beginning their law school journeys! 

Do ALL of the optional essays you can, especially the “why X school”!! Admission committees actually care to learn more about you, your interests, and why attending their particular law school is important for your goals. Honestly, my stats are not amazing for T14 schools. I believe my resume and personal statement allowed me to stand out and demonstrate why I was a strong candidate. Make sure your passions are showcased and be explicit on why you want to attend law school. 

If your stats are at/below medians and you are dead set on attending a top law school, regardless of debt, you should ED to your first choice. I really regret not EDing anywhere as waiting on all these WLs dragged out my cycle for over 6 months. I ended up at a top school with no scholly, and I could have saved myself the time and stress if I had gotten in earlier in the cycle. 

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY WAITLISTS!!! When I was getting waitlisted at all my target schools and some reach schools, I did not believe I was going to get off. I perceived them as rejections, but that is definitely not the case. I got off four waitlists, and it was done through sending LOCIs. Of course, each law school is different and some prefer more LOCIs than others and vice versa. Make sure to check what the law school you’re waitlisted at prefers. Highly recommend sending LOCIs around the time the school’s deposits are due, like maybe a day or two after. Write at least one LOCI as a 1-2 page letter kind of as a “Why X Law School.” In the LOCI, describe why you want to go to that law school, what programs/clinics you’re interested in, and how going to that specific law school and participating in their programs is beneficial for your career. It is definitely unnecessary to send out a 1-2 page letter each time; even a simple email saying you’re still very interested will suffice. If you are waitlisted at your first choice, let that law school know that they are your first choice, and that you would attend if admitted off their waitlist. Also, if you have urgent deadlines and/or binding contracts from other schools, let your top choice know that so they can render a decision for you in a timely manner. Communicating this to my top choice ultimately helped me in receiving an acceptance from them!

Please please limit your time on reddit and lsdata!! I know this is easier said than done, but it really is not healthy to compare yourself to other applicants. Do not let someone’s cycle affect how you feel about your own. Just because you share similar stats with another applicant does not necessarily mean you guys will have the same outcomes. Everyone’s cycle is insanely unique.

GOOD LUCK!!! You’re going to kill it!! Always remember, what’s meant for you will find you. This process is long and gruesome; don’t lose hope. You’re going to make an incredible lawyer one day, no matter where you go! :’)