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Applicant wisdom

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

LSAT 171 GPA 3.40 2024–25 cycle

Attending University of Minnesota

…most schools. If you’re like me, work extra hard on your personal statement and essays, do ALL of the optional/supplemental components, and have help with proofreading and edits and suggestions. Submit your best possible app even to your “safety” schools, because many people found in a historically competitive cycle…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.42 2025–26 cycle

Attending University of North Carolina

Softs/essays/work experience/LSAT can counteract a weak GPA (especially if you’re older, perhaps?). Find a writer friend to review your boilerplate personal statement to catch the one passive voice clause that slips through your filter.

LSAT 169 GPA 3.11 2023–24 cycle

Attending Georgetown University

…to law or public service, I marked with an asterisk. Personal Statement:- I am a creative writer and I believe it played to my advantage when writing my PS. I shared a very vivid story about my family and I growing up homeless and impoverished and how these experiences alongside my work in juvenile justice is what…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.40 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Pennsylvania

…to be able to write an artistic or intimate memoir as a personal statement if you don’t want to–especially if that’s not your style. Write with honesty and show schools how you got to where you are today, what your goals/values are, and why you’ll be a great lawyer. Good luck!

LSAT 174 GPA 3.84 2022–23 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

…and I think if I’d addressed that more convincingly in my personal statement I might have performed better. I could’ve used a few more sets of eyes for proofreading, too. The LSA Reddit and other internet resources were okay, but I connected with the most helpful folks through LSD chat. Unfortunately this was a bit…

LSAT 164 GPA 3.72 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Notre Dame

Take a deep breathe. Numbers are important but they’re not everything. Make sure you polish up your personal statement–it is one of the most important parts of your application. Don’t take advice from people online that have no real experience. Use resources like Spivey or other websites that have admissions…

LSAT 164 GPA 3.80 2019–20 cycle

Admitted to University of Michigan

Wrote “Why X” essays, had a pretty solid personal statement. LGBTQ. Unsure if URM or not – I’m white and “Canadian Aboriginal,” and schools seem to vary on if I count if I’m not part of a US-recognized tribe.

LSAT 169 GPA 3.89 2024–25 cycle

Attending Duke University

…longer—and were much harder—than I expected.- Start your personal statement and résumé early. Ideally, have them ready before fall so you can hit the ground running when applications open. Transparency:- I didn’t use a consulting service, but I did ask strong writers in my life to review my essays. Deciding Where to…

LSAT 171 GPA 3.65 2024–25 cycle

Attending University of Minnesota

…weakest part of my app), spend time crafting an amazing Personal Statement, write ALL of the optional essays and have them edited, and achieve the highest LSAT score you can. Apply to schools at or slightly below your medians, reach-schools are fine too, but I would focus on applying to a handful of schools below…

LSAT 171 GPA 3.47 2024–25 cycle

Attending University of Georgia

…level at a top 5 public university. I discussed in my personal statement my desire to pursue a career in Election Law. Obviously, my main weakness is my GPA, which I think is what kept me out of the T-14, especially because I don’t think the 171 quite made up for it in this competitive of a cycle. I probably needed…

LSAT 173 GPA 3.90 2024–25 cycle

Attending Harvard University

…deadline back when I realized I had more to add to my personal statement. I customized my diversity/perspective essays for each school, in order to communicate what I would bring to their community. Speaking of–I only chose schools I would be excited to attend.- I think file readers can tell when you are not…

LSAT 158 GPA 4.08 2024–25 cycle

Attending Georgetown University

I’m a HOYA LAWYA Shoot your shot and don’t hesitate to apply to your first choice. I only took the LSAT once and my resume, personal statement, optional essays (I always did them) and recommendations all focused on my experience in advocacy and social justice and my interest in my being a public interest attorney.…

LSAT 175 GPA 4.09 2023–24 cycle

Attending Yale University

…would recommend choosing your schools, then tackling your personal statement, then working on other required and optional essays.- Do the optional essays if you can. I know lots of people talk about yield protection and getting waitlisted at “worse” schools than they think they deserve (although I think this mindset…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.41 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Virginia

…Finding yourself along the way is a pain, but writing the personal statements can help. Dry out/get clean /before/ you apply, not during. Comparison is the thief of joy. GLHF!

LSAT 172 GPA 3.73 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

…as T4 because I didn’t feel the need to write a diversity statement (still mostly in the closet) and most of my softs are just general “you’re a person in college who has their life together” things. ⛧ I am really garbage at interviewing, so I’m pretty sure those hurt me across the board. ⛧ ☠ ⛧ Go blue! ⛧ ☠ ⛧