Apply early in the cycle. Essays do matter (as evidenced by my results compared to my LSAT). Take care in every aspect of the application and ensure that your package tells a complete, compelling story. Do the optional essays. Be personable in interviews and always convince them that you want to go to their school.
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
388 entries
Admitted to Vanderbilt Universitysecond time applying. originally aubreyplaza. 2023-2024 timeline: 11/20/2023 - app submitted- 04/03/2024 - LOCI submitted 05/22/2024 - resume updated 07/03/2024 - LOCI submitted 07/11/2024 - offer extended verbally 07/11/2024 - acceptance + scholarship uploaded on portal excited to be going to vandy!
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Feel free to reach out for LSAT advice.
UnwrittenLikeableOcelot left no wisdom for posterity… (◕︵◕) I’m going through this process now. All I can say before I get a complete set of results is be nice to folks throughout the process of applying! We are all stressed about it, but at the end of the day, I think we all want the best for each other.
LGBTQ, from low-income single-family home. Strong ties to California. Wrote PS about my experience founding an international NGO. DS was about my experience overcoming a childhood trauma and healing from PTSD in my adulthood. Wrote “Why Berkeley” and several other “Why X” essays and all optional essays.
No why X, except for Duke, GW, and Fordham. Former State Dept Intern Accepted/offered scholly to GW and Fordham when GPA was 3.82, then went through rest of cycle (before most waitlists) with 3.88 Final CAS GPA 3.91 At least two glowing letters of rec out of four (very likely) decent ones ORM
Ended up getting into a PhD program in a related field and opted for that. To be honest, I hated this application process and it was soul-sucking. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. That PhD applications were multitudes less stressful and demoralizing than those for law schools speaks volumes.
Essays: Duke-why Duke UVA-why UVA, LOCI UC Berkeley-why Berk Michigan-why Michigan, optional personal background essay Georgetown-Top 10 list UT Austin-civil dialogue essay Interviews Vandy alumni interview Northwestern KIRA UT Austin video interview GULC group interview UVA interview
what is meant for you won’t miss you xoxo best advice i can give is to not be like me and decide to take the lsat/apply to law school for that cycle in august. i think i lost *at least *5 years off of my life with the study-for-the-october-lsat-then-apply-by-mid-november turnaround.
Study for the LSAT, it’s worth it Tell a cohesive story in your essays
GPA is out of 4.0. R&R! Update - 2/24/22: I reapplied with the same stats during the 2021-22 cycle! Attending UVA with $$$$. Don’t be afraid to reapply if you are not happy with your results! See my new cycle here: https://www.lsd.law/users/creep/JoyousCeruleanHummingbird
My wisdom is this: I have no wisdom. I am a Mexican-American URM with a unique soft. I’m writing this before I receive any decision, but a horrible cycle would probably be due to me applying at 19 years old. If I had a normal/good cycle, then I guess age doesn’t matter!
I got my first acceptance in 3 days and my last in 183 days. In the 180 days in between I tried (and failed) to anticipate each and every decision and it compromised my mental health. My advice? Block this site and wait patiently for the emails like you’re supposed to.
Supplements Yale: Wrote optional on community- Chicago: n/a (not sure I told my move well enough) Penn: Why X Harvard: 2 pages each for Perspective & Purpose NYU: n/a Columbia: Why X, fun fact Vandy: Lived Experience WashU: n/a Reflections on interviews:
Trust the process and shoot your shot, you never know who on the Ad Comm will read your application and really resonate with it. Write from the heart and never ever give up hope. Oh, and know when to log off of reddit and LSD, there comes a time when it will be toxic
I think the primary reason for my stats underperforming is my age. I graduated undergrad in 2 years and was 19 at the time of sending in my application. Dean Schwartz even told me that fact flagged my app. Still happy with the result tho :) Good luck future lawyers.
You are amazing and I hope for nothing but great things in your future ❤️💨🦭 If your wondering why ND, I absolutely loved my visit, I loved the idea of doing the London Law Program, and it was the cheapest of the schools I was truly considering (UCLA, Vandy, NDLS).
Renegotiated with Texas Law using all of my other scholarship offers, except NYU (hadn’t received my scholly info yet) – offer went from 54k total to 60k total (off of in-state tuition). Headed to Texas Law to stay close to my fam and significant other! :)
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