Don’t be scared of a school’s “sticker price” - you’re not paying it! Apply even if it would take a huge scholarship for you to go. You never know!
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
145 entries
Admitted to University of North CarolinaShoot 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…
Write a LOCI to your top choice, even before a decision! I applied late (mid-February) to UNC, and sent a follow-up letter three weeks later stating that they were my top choice and that I would attend and withdraw other applications.- Received around an 70% tuition scholarship despite seemingly giving up most of my…
Your personal statement, and Why X statements I personally belive are crucial. Write them once, then rewrite them, then get a trusted source to look over them (Mine was a Notre Dame Alum who is my neighbor) and then rewrite them again. I went through almost 4 drafts of my personal statement, and my Why X for each…
I actually completed two cycles and took my LSAT 3 times total. I was extremely excited to apply to UNC and UT– I think it showed in my essays. I didn’t apply early in either cycle (and it likely hurt me). But, I still ended up with great options– if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. Deciding between UT and UNC…
PS and DS for all 2 academic LORs for all, 1 professional for H/S/Col/Duke Essays: Yale - Required 250- Harvard - NA Stanford - One optional Columbia - NA Chicago - NA NYU - NA Penn - One optional (core values) Michigan - One optional (NOT why x) UVA - Required resilience, LOCI Cornell - Required short why x, KIRA…
I was probably hurt by having somewhat bland written materials - not poorly written, just boring to read. Make sure you have multiple people review your personal statement. Be bold and tell your unique story and perspective. If you write a “Why X,” give *real *reasons or choose a different supplemental - don’t just…
Have spent the last 7 years working in secondary and higher education. Current director although split between T2 and T3 softs. Have a Masters in Education with a 4.0 (hopefully covering for my mediocre undergraduate GPA). Essays are thoughtful but probably not on par with some of the top writers applying in this…
If you are planning to take a gap year to work fulltime, try to study for the LSAT before you start working because you will not be able to optimally prioritize and dedicate time to the LSAT while working. LSAT resources used: 7sage, PowerScore Bible Trilogy, The Loophole Rather than just prioritizing rankings, take…
I’m just really going for it right now you guys. Like, fr, February applicants rise. I retook the LSAT in January ‘25 after my first attempt in November ‘24 and did not do better to both my surprise and dismay. Soooooo, we’re applying with the score we have! I will R&R if my cycle goes poorly, but there’s no point…
Lots of apps = lots of work/time preparing apps… Fee waivers saved my wallet and sanity! Buy Ann Levine’s law school admissions book… Listen to Mike Spivey’s podcast for advice… Use all online admissions “sources,” but know when to leave them, have patience, and let the decisions come (@LSData - the tornado of data,…
Don’t apply to 35 schools like me hoping you’ll get in somewhere cool. Only apply to schools you could reasonably see yourself going to (why on earth did I apply to Fordham?). Write a “Why X” statement whenever possible, those are absolutely the most impactful.
“The mighty in their pride walk alone to destruction.” - Calvin Coolidge “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated…
Leave this process regretting nothing! Do the campus visit, take that extra hour on your personal statement, get another set of eyes on your resume, TAKE THE LSAT AGAIN (none of the other stuff matters if your foot isn’t in the door with yiour LSAT score unfortunately) Trust me, you only want to apply to law school…
resume included study abroad- capital defense paralegal for three years President of clubs and member of many leadership positions published thesis and manual for PD URM, first generation, multilingual took LSAT three times, 151, 156, 158 final Did all optional essays and contacted schools for phone conversations,…
Based on this difficult cycle and my stats, I wouldn’t have guessed for the outcomes I received. UNC was a long shot, and so were my other T25s, most of which are WLs. I’m just glad I shot my shot even if I was rejected. Super excited to be going to Carolina, and hope my page helps someone in future! Best of luck to…
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.
If you are at all considering public interest, please read into your school’s LRAP.
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