Ivy+ undergraduate degree, one year Master’s degree (’23-’24 year) from prestigious school in legal-adjacent field. On the strong side of T4 in terms of softs. Reapplicant to 7/14 schools. Took LSAT 4 times, scoring well below PT numbers until the 4th attempt. Applied with public interest as the goal and many of my…
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
471 entries
Admitted to Duke UniversityVery grateful for my cycle and results. I cannot recommend enough retaking the lsat even when you don’t want to, and studying differently if you weren’t thrilled with your initial results. If it is possible for you to work w someone 1:1, do it. LG was my biggest struggle (would’ve probably had a much easier time if…
Worked in state government as an aquatic biologist for about fifteen years, so I knew from the get-go environmental law was my main focus. Nearly all my statements - and in most cases I completed every optional essay available for each application - centered on environmental advocacy and my experience within the…
Cycle Recap: Strange cycle with all kinds of ups and downs. Incredibly excited for Duke,- thankful for my scholarship, and looking forward to what’s next. The location, size, cost, proximity to DC market, reasonable integration into the university, culture, name recognition, and tight PI community were all critical…
Summary: I applied to law school after graduating from a NYC undergraduate university and working in a law firm for two years. In that time, I was able to participate actively in a trial of national importance and conduct psycho-legal research using my degree in psychology. I am a cis Latino male from a lower middle…
Things I’m happy I did Applied early to most*******- schools (before Thanksgiving) Ask for LORs by end of July so I wasn’t worrying about it during the cycle Give my letter writers extremely specific instructions about what I wanted them to write about Vary my LORs because I’m paranoid and not sure how good some- of…
Cycle Recap Yale (rejected 3/7/23) - BIG reach- Columbia (reserve on 4/18/23 and broke my heart, withdrew 4/24) - UG alum. Wrote Why Columbia and optional essay on Equitable and Inclusive Environment. Sent LOCI/job update on 3/20/23. Inquired about admissions timeline due to upcoming deposit deadlines on 4/10/23 and…
CONCLUDED 4/27/2023. BEST WISHES TO ALL WHO COME AFTER. Gonna do this by first giving some opening info, then making a list by date of admissions decision, and finish by giving a summary and final remarks. Read it all, skip to the end for my folk wisdom, or just look at my app chart; it’s all up to you. Intro I…
Hey future applicants! First things first, I want to thank all those who have supported me in this journey (mentors and friends, including those in online LSA circles that became my friends over the course of the cycle); I quite literally could not have accomplished this without a solid community around me. Pick…
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…
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…
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 -…
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…
This is my second cycle applying. I applied last year in conjunction with the Navy LEP program. My primary focus last year was to stay in the midwest. I had to withdraw my applications once I was informed I was not going to be allowed to get out of my current contract to pursue LEP. My results from last cycle are…
wrote diversity statement (LGBTQ, mentioned URM identity) for all schools, wrote why Xs for chicago, penn (core strengths), duke, UVA, berkeley, and michigan and integrated why X into PS for columbia and georgetown. STEM background and work experience in STEM field, had a pretty specific PS topic and clear goals,…
Always do the optional essays!! Especially the “Why X” for the schools that really like to see them (UMich, UVA, Duke, Berkeley (mandatory if applying for PI scholarship), UCLA (programmatic contribution), Georgetown, any school that has a dedicated spot in the application to demonstrate interest). I didn’t write a…
A few thoughts on waitlists, “your chances,” R&R, the LSAT, and advice in general: Never give up on waitlists, especially ones that are known to have good movement (like in my case with HLS). A strong, school-specific Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) can go a long way. Do not send the same LOCI to every school,…
I entered the 21-22 application cycle a little unsure about my August LSAT score and whether applying with a 168 would enable me to accomplish my goals. After considering retaking the LSAT, I ultimately decided against it because I did not believe I’d be able to successfully study for the exam during the school year…
Your study break just got better: follow @lawschooldata on Follow @lawschooldata on TikTok & Instagram