-Reverse Splitter -Late applicant due to personal circumstances -Relatively unknown state school undergraduate -Took some graduate classes with a 4.0 grad GPA -Wrote why x for some but not all schools -Included diversity statement in all possible applications -Applied to schools in every tier because this cycle left…
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
107 entries
Admitted to George Mason UniversityGive yourself time to study for the LSAT and use that time wisely. Don’t get lost in trying to find the best prep course. Indecision is more costly than wrong decision. Spend time drilling then drill some more - that’s how you learn. Think your life is boring and there’s nothing to write about? Wrong. There is only…
studied lsat for 3 weeks w/ lsat demon, took june 2023 lsat wrote ps about being audhd wrote ds about being mixed race (black and asian) if a school didn’t want a race-based ds, i submitted a “struggle statement” about me moving out of my parents’ house a week after i turned 18 and fully supporting myself worked…
If you’re in undergrad, focus 100% on GPA, because it is the only thing you cannot improve after the fact. LSAT can improve, it’s a skill. If you are in a rush to go straight into law school, ask yourself if you would skip a year for $100,000. If your answer is no, you are probably a rich kid funded by your rich…
Consider retaking the LSAT and reapplying next cycle if you’re not happy with your results this time around. That’s what I did, and it’s worked out splendidly. :)
Wrote a diversity statement on growing up in socio-economic constraints and escaping abuse. Did not submit why x statements as I addressed that in the last paragraph of each personal statement. Did write a GPA addendum but did not submit to all schools. Most importantly I would say I’m satisfied with all my…
Sancta Thoma, ora pro nobis
Apply to reach schools but be prepared to attend a target. Applying early doesn’t help that much. Just get your apps in before the new year. Take the LSAT again if you think you can do better, even if it’s a lot of work. That is my one regret. (Took 1 time) Make sure you’re writing is strong and your why law is…
It’s a lonely journey; the freedom that awaits you at the end is worth it. Submitted a Why X for Duke, Michigan, Northwestern, Cornell, GMU, and UVA. It’s required for GMU and Cornell, but not sending a Why X to the other schools from what I read would torpedo the application. I’m pretty shocked that I got into…
My advice would be apply for all the optional scholarships, and write every optional essay. This was a tough cycle, but I think my strong written materials were my biggest asset. I believe this set me apart from other candidates with similar stats, both in admissions and later in the scholarship process. I chose SMU…
You already know… GPAmaxxing. You can’t change it so don’t let it slip. I think being above at least one median helped me get on some of these waitlists. The optional statements, do them! You really have to. LSAT is most important but I felt as though my other attributes carried my application despite being 9 points…
If you have not-so-good looking things in your application, such as C&F and undergrad. academic issues, even if you have demonstrably changed, had a career, family etc., you must, in your application, develop a narrative of how you have changed. Do not be indirect or think “well they can see I’ve worked x job, or y…
If you want to go to law school, seriously, focus down your GPA. You can improve your LSAT score and practice interview skills for a second or third round of applications, but you can’t go back and repair your GPA. If you’re struggling, check in with your university - they have resources. Talk to your professors.…
Apply to more places! It’s worth it to have the backups and will save you much in terms of emotional stress. I didn’t think it mattered until I had been waiting for decisions for two months. Also, while it may seem like a waste of money, applying to schools solely for the purpose of using their scholarship award for…
🇺🇵🇩🇦🇹🇪 6.4 : Trust the process. 🇺🇵🇩🇦🇹🇪 ₁.₂₁, 𝖎 𝖆𝖒 𝖘𝖚𝖋𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⠤⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠤⣄⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢠⠞⠀⠀⠈⢷⠀⠀⡜⠃⠀⠈⢳⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⣾⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡇⢰⠅⠀⠀⠀⠸⡇⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⣾⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⠃⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢹⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⡾⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠷⠿⠀⠀⠀⢰⠇⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⡴⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢶⡀⠀ ⢰⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⡄ ⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣷ ⢹⠀⠀⠀⢰⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣄⠀⠀⠀⡟ ⠈⢧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢄⡀⣀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⣸⠃ ⠀⠈⠻⢦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠚⠙⠂⠀⠀⠀⣀⡴⠋⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠓⠒⠲⠶⠶⠒⠒⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀
Ask your recommenders months ahead of September. I didn’t get my second letter submitted until after the new year despite asking in August, and it hurt my scholarship and admissions chances. If you’re a splitter, target splitter friendly schools and write optional essays. In the end, I went with the school that gave…
Work on your application over the Summer and submit it as soon as you can.
Be humble. Be consistent. Keep advocating for yourself while remaining grateful for every opportunity. The waitlist process tested my patience, but persistence ultimately paid off. To all my fellow Waitlist Warriors: don’t give up—you can do it!
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