Don’t apply very early (September/October) if your essays aren’t in the best shape possible! A better application » an early application
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
370 entries
Admitted to University of VirginiaLook, a lot of this is a crapshoot. I was a good applicant, but in a certain sense I feel like getting the Darrow offer was one part my interview/application and one part luck. So do your best, but don’t take anything personally. And start early on applications. I had almost all my apps in (except for Harvard Yale…
My best advice is to apply anyways. Breathe and remember you’re more than your scores and resume. Take your time and be thoughtful with your essays (I had to convince myself that the expectation is not originality but rather authenticity when it comes to whatever you write). Focus deeply on submitting application…
I was convinced going into the cycle that my KJD status would completely bar me from the t 3-5 schools, but I’m happy to have been wrong. Work experience is the right call for many people, but if you have high stats and have had exposure to legal work, I think you can have some confidence going in. A few random…
Control the controllables.
All it takes is one! Apply to more schools than me–I was stupid. Additionally, really focus on that personal statement, resume, and letters of rec. With such a competitive cycle, that’s what got me into UVA + being a really good fit, rather than LSAT/GPA. When it comes down to it, schools will evaluate you…
I took my time on my essays and iterated a ton. I believe my work experience in M&A played a huge role in my A’s as well! Don’t psych yourself out of applying - shoot your shot!
I applied four years ago (right after undergrad) with a 167. I applied this year with a 168 after three more LSATs, but with far more life experience. Night and day difference in outcomes. Don’t be afraid to take time, develop your story/resume/why law, and then come back to law apps; you may even see that law…
cohesive application. it only takes one. i believe in you :)
apply EARLY. like september lol. and don’t give up on the LSAT until you get the highest score you can.
Very proud of all my statements. Wrote all optionals. Several T3 and T4 softs. FGLI. 1 year of relevant WE (I think not having more hurt me for YLS). Did everything I could to make my GPA the weakest part of my application. Applied late oct-early nov. Would recommend waiting until jan/feb to apply for YLS if you…
No extra essays for Columbia and Harvard Wrote a Why X for UChicago, NYU, UVA, Northwestern, Michigan, GULC, Duke, and Cornell Did the teamwork essay for Penn, the failure essay for Michigan, and the unpopular opinion for GULC Got an HTE from NYU on 1/28 went UR3 for UChicago on 2/15 Also had a GPA increase during…
You can do anything you put your mind to. I was devastated when I got my LSAT score back, but I applied anyway. This is proof that you are more than your LSAT score, so don’t opt out of applying just because you don’t have a 170! I believe in you :)
Try to get a good GPA in college, but if you can’t it’s not over. Write all the optionals, go to the LSAC fairs and talk to reps (I reminded one admissions team about our chat in my why x essay). If you’re on a waitlist, write them an earnest letter. Basically, be bold and put yourself out there as much as possible…
Reapplicant. Last year is https://www.lsd.law/users/creep/MindlessUsefulFox. Focusing on my essays and not applying as a KJD helped a lot the second time around.
It only takes one (good) offer to make a successful cycle. Given my goals (clerking + working in DC,) UVA with $$$ is about as ideal of an outcome as there could have been for me. Deferring to complete an M.A. at my undergraduate institution using my last year of scholarship funds there. UVA allowed me to keep my…
Completed all applications by the first week in October. Wrote at least one optional for all schools! 155 -> 167 -> 175 (No addendum written)
Detailed UVA ED timeline for future neurotic applicants: Submitted 12/5 Complete 12/6 UR1 12/6 UR2 12/30 UR3 1/2 UR4 1/7 UR5 1/8 II 1/9 (morning) UR6 1/9 Interview 1/14 UR7 1/15 (Only the date changed, nothing else) A 1/16 (late morning) Went under review again later that day and the status eventually changed to…
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