Going to try to keep this updated through my cycle to help out any other super-uper-duper splitters out there. Brief background**:** Changed my major twice with a strong upward trend in GPA (~2.0 in my first year vs ~4.0 in my final year) at a top 30 undergrad, submitting addendum. Took the LSAT four times (157 to…
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
174 entries
Admitted to University of California—IrvineReapplicant from 2021-22 cycle with the same stats, but all new essays (honestly, I think my PS was worse the second cycle, but all the other essays were better). I had decent options last year, but I had to withdraw apps for personal reasons. Goal: California BigLaw (either SF or LA). Advise: My main advise would…
T3.5 (LGBT+). Did my undergrad in engineering at a good state school in a state I didn’t live in. Texas resident (CAP sucks) Studied for the LSAT for 2 months. First diagnostic was a 163, ended at a consistent 175. I used Mike Kim’s LSAT Trainer and about 1.5 dozen PTs to study. Had bad test anxiety and stress…
Take my app year’s results with a grain of salt. I mean it was 2020, with inflation in application numbers and LSAT scores. Be that as it may, here are a few things I did that could be very helpful for you in the future. Applying early- this I think was key into why I had at least a little more acceptances or…
R&R cycle! Last year, applied with a 165. Softs: Work at DOJ for 2+ years in Antitrust; Goals: Government work in the DC area; I was really interested in government/PI work and remaining in the DC area after law school, so Georgetown, GW, and George Mason were the best fits for me. Georgetown: Interviewed mid…
Minnesota- did interview and got response a week later. interview important to do ASU- did not write any of their essays and only applied because it was free. I wasn’t gonna go if I got in anyways Temple- got scholarship with acceptance. got what I expected when I applied 1/30 no response from any school in January…
some wisdom (◕‿◕) Take the money and run.**Softs/work experience make a difference. They are necessary but not sufficient. **- Some people underestimate softs and think they can easily get into T14 schools without them. On the other hand, some people don’t realize that you need the stats BEFORE your softs matter.…
Softs: Teach for America- Coach youth sports Getting a MEd in curriculum and instruction Part-time jobs for nonprofits (in college and now as second job) Student government stuff Club sport + black belt in martial art founded a non-profit research interned at a state agency, legal non-profit, and for a union Random…
This cycle for me was brutal. Decisions were released slower than expected and LSAT medians were being raised at top schools. One thing I learned—hang tight and do not panic. If you have quality stats and a solid app, schools will get back to you eventually. When it came time to make a decision, I loved Northwestern…
LSAT: took multiple times, 167 highest. GPA: 3.7ish in a STEM field, then flunked out of medical school (kinda). Writing Materials: Personal statement - finding a passion for child advocacy as a teacher, wanting to transfer that skill to be a juvenile public defender. Diversity/Experience essay - being a bi teacher…
Your story matters just as much as your stats!!
Apply broadly: I applied pretty broadly partly because I anticipated this cycle being more competitive than usual. I took it a little too far with the amount of applications I sent, but I’m grateful for all the options I received and the leverage they gave me during scholarship reconsideration. Apply early: Shoot…
Apply early and broadly and never be afraid to send a scholarship reconsideration email. After strongly considering Berk and Mich, personal life circumstances intervened that made it difficult for me to leave SoCal. Still have no regrets about applying to 20 schools because it gave me a better idea of my worth and a…
Do the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. AdComs are cold, unfeeling, and opaque machines. Don’t take it personal.
Definitely focus on the LSAT and writing supplements! I really do believe that increasing my LSAT score and working on my essays were a large factor in my acceptances and scholarships, as well as applying early (in October/early November). If an essay is optional, do it. Schools expect you to complete all writing…
APPLY EARLY!!! BEFORE MID OCTOBER!!! DO IT!!! to be honest and not to be bitter, but i suspect i could have gotten into some of my waitlists as a sept/oct applicant. i thought applying before the new year was sufficiently ‘early’ but looking back i wish had gotten my materials together over the summer. don’t get me…
It’s important to gain as much knowledge as you can from mentors, peers, admissions, etc. so you can make well-informed decisions during this process. But at the end of the day, you know yourself best. My authenticity as an applicant was muddled by too much noise from well-meaning mentors and guides. If I had been…
Bird law in this country – it’s not governed by reason.
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