Balkinization left no wisdom for posterity… (◕︵◕) How schools weight LSAT and GPA: (2020) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D_shFUpmvBVDfGOFphLb-7Vf8BpwDB9htcAidnhXkKM/edit#gid=0 Law School Decision Tracking: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F0eR9BGyM4cdOJNCNzSQz8IMhq48NfF-YiKDi0OdrOw/edit#gid=0 2022-23…
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
6,731 entries
**Stats are not everything. ** Went in to the cycle with UVA being my top choice. ED’d but was deferred to regular decision. Very unfortunate but what can ya do. Next choice is/was GULC but I would be very happy with a Duke, Penn, UMich A as well. Some facts about my application for context - 7 W’s on transcript…
Came in with a strong sense that Berkeley was far and away my top choice based on fields of interest, local connection/family nearby, and the school’s overall reputation. Applying binding ED was an easy choice, particularly with the guaranteed scholarship. When my August LSAT score came back, I wrestled with whether…
TIPS: (I’m obviously not an admissions officer, so take these with a grain of salt; this is just what I felt helped me) When studying for the LSAT, don’t be afraid to take breaks! Especially if you’re studying a lot during a short period of time (e.g., 3-4 months of consecutive studying instead of 1 year of on and…
I think it is safe to say I punched above my weight this cycle and I’m incredibly lucky and blessed. I did not know what to expect and think my cycle shows how random/chaotic admissions can be. My advice is to SHOOT YOUR SHOT, I can’t emphasize that enough. People said there is no reason I should have got an A at a…
My $0.02 on the application process: The LSAT If you think you need a year to study for the LSAT, you probably need two. Despite what everyone on reddit says, it takes most people a lot of time to score 160+. If you’re able, take a gap year (or two) and work part-time while studying for the LSAT. It may sound…
For college students: I highly recommend getting a year of work experience. You will be able to speak on your experience during the application process, have a matured perspective, and get better results. It really helps to have a year to step back and be deliberate about your next choice. Also, be a unique and…
Some miscellaneous advice: 173 is the new 170 for nURM. If your GPA is below the T14 25th percentiles, you may need a 173+ to give yourself a decent shot at the T14. If you’re not there, consider retaking (NOTE: This advice applies to the 2021-2023 cycles and may change in the future). If you are a splitter, apply…
DISCLAIMER: I AM GOING TO SOUND VERY NITPICKY ABOUT MY APPLICATION, GPA, AND LSAT IN THE FOLLOWING SECTION. I AM CONTENT WITH MY OUTCOME AT THE END OF THE CYCLE. THIS IS JUST WHAT I WOULD TELL MYSELF ON HOW TO IMPROVE MY OUTCOMES IF I WERE TO GO BACK IN TIME. **Study hard for the LSAT. Like, take the amount of time…
I was honestly shocked by my results. Given my numbers, I didn’t expect to get waitlisted at Penn State or OU. They were reaches for me, like most schools I applied to. I genuinely think it was due to my strong personal statement and unique softs. But we’ll never know, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. If I…
Link to my reddit cycle recap where I talk about my decision and reasoning: https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmissions/comments/12cou3v/super_splitter_cycle_recap_in_at_penn_uva_going/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Used 7Sage for LSAT prep while working full time: 159 diagnostic –> 166 first take –>…
LSAT June 2022 168 -> November 2022 170. I spent about 5 months on total studying for the LSAT. Started out at a 154 diagnostic. I only used 7Sage and took around 30 PTs total. Personal Statement Objectively I’d say my personal statement was around a 6/10. I feel that it was fairly well written, but the narrative…
Notes and dates for future applicants to promote transparency in this painstaking process :) Harvard 3/18 - Waitlisted 5/1 - Sent LOCI 5/3 - Interview invite 5/8 - Interviewed 5/14 - Feeler call (5:30pm ET) 5/15 - Acceptance call (11:31am ET) UChicago 3/14 - Received initial scholarship award ($30,000). 3/22 -…
Reapplicant To: Stanford- Columbia NYU UC Berkeley Duke UCLA UT Austin Fordham UC Davis First Time Applicant To: Yale- Harvard Boston University Boston College Account from 2021-2022 Cycle: https://www.lsd.law/users/creep/EternallyWrite From 153 on the LSAT-Flex, to a 151 on the first 4 section test since the…
Do not over plan - you may end up where you least expect, embrace flexibility- Most law students are generally neurotic people. Ambitious perfectionists, we have big goals and spend time crafting plans to reach those goals. When things don’t work out the way we envisioned them, we feel panicked and out of control.…
”Fat Bear” as in the brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park: if not friend, why friend-shaped? https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1jsyd1Mq8RlyMVqli_BW9z1uxY2SzNtFK?sort=13&direction=a for a collection of personal statements, diversity statements, and resumes from previous cycle applicants. End of…
Reapplicant from 2022-2023 cycle (LSD doesn’t have an option to have multiple cycles in the tracker and I wanna keep my old data there for my splitter friends). After some family things, my applications weren’t great and it just wasn’t a good time for me to do law school. Between cycles, I’m working full time and…
Application info: Submitted a DS to every school except UVA, as I made my DS the answer to their “resilience” question. Wrote Penn Core Values, Why UVA, Why Mich, Why Duke, GULC Top Ten, Why Florida. Advice: Stats are necessary, but not sufficient. Get the best LSAT and GPA possible, then write the best essays you…
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