Based on my experience, soft factors and essays are VERY important in law school admissions, especially at T-14 schools (I believe that the more you go up in the rankings, the more softs and essays matter). Strong numbers matter a lot too, but they’re usually not enough on their own to give applicants a strong shot…
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41 entries matching "softs"
Admitted to University of MichiganLong recap below ordered by: Biographical, LSAT, Softs, PS, Applications. Summary: Had inconsistent results, but such is the life of a splitter. Apply broadly, study as hard as you can for the LSAT, and emphasize how you’ll fit into a school. I thought I was more likely to get into Cornell than UMich or NW, so 1.)…
…Some thoughts for my fellow T14-or-bust peeps: my softs were (ironically) solid enough to get me into my school in what was otherwise an extremely cycle. I relentlessly highlighted the most appealing parts of my softs in my application. Don’t ignore your softs in highly-competitive cycles where schools could pick…
Thoughts on particular schools UNC “hold” is a soft waitlist, and unless you demonstrate visit-level interest after receiving it, it will turn into a real waitlist- Address went long at Michigan the Thursday/Friday before the week I got the A Gray bar at WashU within a week of decision GW date did disappear but I do…
I’m a late-cycle applicant, and I applied to UChicago last (besides WashU). Shoot for the stars and focus on your softs! I almost didn’t apply to Chicago because I didn’t think that I would get in without insane stats (read: 175 or higher). Clearly my softs made a hell of a difference and ended up getting me into my…
Stream of consciousness advice in no particular order: Don’t coast on any component of your application! Keep addenda short and sweet, when possible. Even T4 softs can tell a story about you - don’t collect “softs” as gold stars, do what makes you fulfilled and use that as the starting point of your “narrative”…
…of majors, so it may have helped there. ⛧ I listed my softs as tier 3 because I’ve received a research award and competitive academic scholarship and am LGBTQ+, but I had initially put myself as T4 because I didn’t feel the need to write a diversity statement (still mostly in the closet) and most of my softs are…
…members because I was so borderline, but my essays and softs made up massively for my questionable GPA. Softs: Teach for America, promoted to a HS department chair role my second year. Liberal arts double major from a top 10 private. Three recs: two from professors that gave me As, one from the director of my TFA…
…obvi ended up a waitlist). Other details about stats/softs. I took the LSAT 3 times: 169, 173 (Flex), 178 (flex). I listed my softs as T3 because I played D1 baseball (non-HYP Ivy) and made the Academic All-America team one season. My job out of undergrad was very unique (STEM field in what’s considered a “cool,”…
…your answers concise as well since you are in a group. – Softs: 6’1, 405 deadlift, midwest charm. – Other notes: Stanford: These thoughts come attending from their admitted students day. They love students who have a prestigious undergrad background + are from a unique state. I met people from Kansas, Missouri,…
…out. My grades are terrible, I didn’t have crazy softs, and my essays are probably strong but not the strongest. It’s certainly no love lost. Just kind of annoyed I spent $135 on application fees since my waiver expired, but I figured this outcome was the most likely. I applied 12/31, complete 1/8, received the news…
I had a pretty tight resume with plenty of softs related to mentorship, athletics, and research, as well as demonstrated success in a field (IP/tech) where there are very few URMs.
Softs do matter!
…education after undergrad. Those schools who value those “softs” may admit me in spite of my sub 25 percentile GPA. Those who do not either simply don’t have enough spots or value numbers in a way that probably would not work well with the kind of producer I am.
…essays helped set me apart. And yes, I have some good softs, but my two cents is that it’s more about *how *you write about them and use them to tell your story more than what they actually are.
I reject the premise of soft tiers and so should you.
…I almost certainly underperformed my stats. I had no solid softs to speak of though, and if I did it all again I would’ve focused more on experiences ahead of time and developed a well rounded application instead of just a stat-heavy one. Happy to walk away with only two R’s, but getting waitlist after waitlist was…
…A professional career spanning 19 years and additional softs in profile.
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