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Applicant wisdom

Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.

GPA 4.01 2023–24 cycle

Attending Stanford University

write all optional essays spend time cultivating a strong narrative connect with current law students at the law school you’re applying to if you use reddit, use it with discretion attend info sessions for the schools you’re applying to write your essays the summer before so you have time to edit them and get them…

LSAT 173 GPA 3.81 2020–21 cycle

Attending New York University

Do what you love in undergrad. Get some work experience, even if it’s just a gap year. It’ll give you a difference perspective about the real world and will give you time to make sure that law school is right for you. Write a cohesive PS that speaks true to who you are. Don’t get too stuck on this website the way I…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.99 2022–23 cycle

Admitted to University of Virginia

Hey you, you’re finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there.

LSAT 171 GPA 4.00 2022–23 cycle

Attending University of Virginia

slay <3 Now that my crazy cycle has come to an end here is my advice to future applicants: Put your soul into every essay - make sure they should who you are and your perspective. Find what you’re passionate about and follow it headfirst. Don’t let the application process stop you from enjoying life. Law school…

LSAT 180 GPA 3.96 2025–26 cycle

Attending New York University

Set yourself apart! In addition to boring but rigorous corporate work experience, I also had a 5 year long small business that is truly unique among law school applications. Additionally, I overcame legitimate, significant adversity during undergrad. In a cycle which strong stats and work experience are commonplace,…

LSAT 169 GPA 3.97 2020–21 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

Wrote optional essays for every school, including diversity statements. Wrote an update email to NYU HTE and sent LOCIs + additional letter of rec to the WLs I didn’t withdraw from. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in this process, but I strongly urge you to just leave it in the background of your life after…

LSAT 174 GPA 3.77 2023–24 cycle

Attending Yale University

Shoot your shot, you never know which law school will value your background, and likewise which law school will be the best home for you to thrive intellectually. I say this as someone whose undergrad GPA falls well below the median of most of the T14. However I have cultivated a career for myself and additional…

LSAT 177 GPA 3.97 2023–24 cycle

Attending Yale University

Wrote Why Northwestern, Why WashU, Yale Optional 2, Columbia LSAT Addendum (lol), Georgetown Top 10, Penn Core Values, Stanford Songs/Class, Stanford Optional, and submitted a diversity statement or equivalent to everywhere but Yale and Stanford. 4 LORs (2 academic, 1 research position, 1 WE). LPT: Help pay for…

LSAT 168 GPA 4.00 2020–21 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

T3 based on LSD’s definition - At the time of submitting apps I had 3.5 years of consistent legal employment at one firm. One LOR from boss and one from former professor. First-gen college. Looking back, I would have put more time into my writing pieces. In this crazy cycle, I believe stronger writing could have…

LSAT 164 GPA 3.85 2022–23 cycle

Admitted to Duke University

Shoot your shot and APPLY EARLY because timing matters (especially for $$)!!! My friends with similar backgrounds, gpa, and higher lsat scores get rejected or waitlisted after applying in January rather than October/November. As long as your score isn’t horrendous, apply with the score you have instead of waiting…

LSAT 169 GPA 3.07 2020–21 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

T2 softs and Ivy undergrad. Didn’t write Why X essays, but wrote other optional essays. Included a non-traditional diversity statement (meaning I didn’t talk about race) and a pretty wild academic addendum. I know for a fact that my essays and interviews were what got me very far in the admissions process- spend a…

LSAT 167 GPA 3.97 2022–23 cycle

Attending University of Virginia

Softs matter. Shoot your shot! Blanket the T20, especially if you’re a splitter or reverse splitter. If a $45 CAS fee gets you an extra acceptance or even $50 extra in scholarship money it’s worth it. All fee waivers unsolicited except Berkeley and UW. Wrote all optional essays. Also unsolicited Why X for CLS, UVA,…

LSAT 176 GPA 3.85 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

I spent the summer before application season working on my PS and other essays, and I recommend doing so rather than trying to hurry to finish when application season starts. I sat the last in-person LSAT administration before COVID. My PS was about being molested and how the legal process shaped me and drives me…

LSAT 179 GPA 3.98 2022–23 cycle

Admitted to Stanford University

Wrote Why Washu, GULC Top 10, Northwestern Goals, Why Cornell, Why Duke, Michigan Optional (NOT Why Mich), UPenn Core Values, Why UChicago, two Stanford Optionals, Yale 250 Did not write: Why Mich, Why UVA, Why CLS, Why NYU, or Penn Collaboration essays Full cycle recap here:…

LSAT 176 GPA 3.56 2021–22 cycle

Admitted to University of Chicago

(∩`- ´ )⊃━━☆゚.*・。゚ background: master’s student, minor c&f issue (grades only), no special softs supplementals for: yale, stanford, chicago, penn, michigan, berkeley, cornell, georgetown bonus tea leaves: chicago: went UR2 through UR5 after interviewing, decision two days after UR5 michigan: date changed two thursdays…

LSAT 171 GPA 4.10 2021–22 cycle

Admitted to Stanford University

All apps sent in either the last week of September or early to mid October, except for YLS (right before Thanksgiving). Wrote supplementals for Stanford (time travel, 3 songs), Penn (core values), UMich (why Mich), Duke (why Duke), UCB (why Berkeley), Georgetown (top 10) and UCLA (programmatic contribution). To all…

LSAT 171 GPA 3.94 2023–24 cycle

Attending Columbia University

i am not a URM but for some reason there was no “asian” option other than “east asian”, which i’m not. some things i did: wrote every why x possible took a week and a half off work to tour schools kept in email contact with my top schools attended every in-person or virtual event hosted by all of the schools i…