melodramatic2 '21–'22 app cycle Class of 2025 class year

My advice:
for t14 especially, do optional essays regardless of your stats. if you can write a convincing Why X for the school that shows a real interest in the school and, most importantly, highlights your writing skills while adding to the overall narrative of your app, do it. T14 tend to be more holistic from my experience at least. - Don’t assume your 2 point below median lsat is an auto-reject and don’t assume your 4 point above-median lsat is an auto accept. Put together an outstanding app regardless If you are above a median, you probably have a fighting chance anywhere and should make your app the best it could possibly be

• frankly, non T14 T20 schools were not too friendly to reverse splitters this year due to intense focus on setting LSAT medians above 170. this could change but who knows
• try to interact with schools before and after you apply. go to the lsac forum and chat with adcomms. meet with them to ask questions about the school before you apply
• admittedly, this made absolutely no impact for the aforementioned “targets,” as I networked very hard at UT and BU, but this is all anecdotal. However, it seemed to help with scholarship offers at UMN.
• Don’t feel the need to apply before october. Take a lot of time to think about the schools you’re applying to (my biggest error). Get a million eyes on your essays. Retake the lsat again if needed.
• My biggest takeaway- DONT SELL YOURSELF SHORT! i told myself i would be “practical” and this only hurt me when making a decision because I had huge imposter syndrome. Don’t be afraid to shoot your shot at more reaches!
• if i could do it all again I would have applied to 3 fewer safeties and 2 more reaches instead
• Depending on your goals and preferences, 2-4 reaches, 2-4 “targets,” and 2-4 safeties is never a bad idea!
• Take time to identify YOUR goals. What sector do you want to work in? If private practice, do you want big law, in-house, smaller firm? When picking schools, focus on the schools that will help you achieve YOUR goals, not just what’s ranked highest.
• example- if you want to work in Atlanta, it would make more sense to go to UGA or Emory than it would to go to Minnesota, even if Minnesota is a few spots higher.