It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
Applicant wisdom
Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.
205 entries
Admitted to Southern Methodist UniversityThere are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and say, “Morning boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water?”
I got in off the waitlist eleven days before orientation. I made an appointment with Admissions while waiting and told them, in no uncertain terms, that I would attend if they accepted me. I 100% think that made the difference. “Never give up! Never surrender!” –Commander Peter Quincy Taggart
I have received application waivers from a majority of schools on my list. Have a little over 5 years of total work experience. Official cold diagnostic 150 (5/6/2022); did not study for roughly 1 year and took another PT cold and got 155 (1/28/2023). Actual test score 168 (6/10/2023).
Know ur worth and have fun >.< Congressional intern, involved with various campus organizations, honors college, connected with sorority (TLAM), 3.88 degree GPA @state school (boomer sooner), sent in additional rec. letters, only made why statement to GW and schools that required it.
Approximate time to hear back from schools (Class of 2028, assuming you applied right when apps opened): September: Arizona State, Baylor U, WashU- October: UGA November: Florida (Levin), USC December: UCLA, UMN, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, UNC, Utah February: Duke March: UT
Wrote Why X’s most places that asked and some that didn’t. For anyone looking in from the future, this cycle was incredibly competitive. My only advice is to apply broadly; I was accepted below median at UT and waitlisted at median at Notre Dame. All it takes is one school.
Miss 100% of the shot you don’t take. Can’t get accepted if you don’t apply BUT ask and apply for ap fee waivers - don’t pay to get rejected when you can do it for free.
Apply early, ideally before Thanksgiving. Make sure your essays are *excellent *and write any optional essays offered. I put a lot of work into my essays and I think ultimately they helped a lot to compensate for my < 3.0 GPA and made me competitive for scholarships.
LSAT: Personal Tutor that began after the June2023 LSAT (Diagnostic score- 156)- LSAT Score listed is August, June was a 156 Resume: No internships; lots of leadership and community serviceAcademics: 4.0 on 4.0 scale Undergraduate GPA( one B from dual credit course).
LSAT 169 GPA 3.99 2023–24 cycle
Admitted to University of California—Los Angeles
always have faith in yourself!!! you can get into a T14 without a 170. write some killer essays and get your apps in as early as you can but also when you feel confident in them (it’s okay to not have them in as soon as apps open - you are not late and not behind).
Email admission offices and ask for CAS fee waivers if you are a student with a LSAC fee waiver. You get either 3 or 6 for free with the fee waiver but was able to get multiple more just by asking. Even if you do not have a LSAC fee waiver it never hurts to ask!
Start writing early. I did a Why X essay for almost every school. Did not do a diversity essay, but completed other optional prompts. I had very strong, program specific reasons for UVA and UChicago that I didn’t really have at the other schools
Stay off Reddit
Hello fellow LSD lurkers! All apps were submitted between December 2nd and 8th. Started studying for the LSAT during the summer of my junior year. Sat the exam twice, highest score was September 2023.
Def think my work in the legal community helped with my low LSAT. I also am an early graduate and spending time abroad, which some admissions teams liked to hear :) SMU has been my top choice from day one!
Sent a Why X to Penn, UVA, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan Legal internship experience (w/ District Attorney) Massive upwards trend in GPA (started college pre-med, wrote addendum for all schools)
Never count yourself out (especially when it comes to stats!) – putting together a cohesive, polished application that you’re proud of goes a loooong way sometimes It only takes one yes :)
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