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Applicant wisdom

Advice applicants left on their LSD.Law profiles, searchable by topic, school, and stats.

LSAT 168 GPA 3.96 2022–23 cycle

Attending Stanford University

…Notes for Specific Applications: ** Yale: Personal statement + Diversity Statement + 250 essay I wrote my 250 essay on my undergrad honors thesis and how I had to confront challenging ideas that made me reconsider my position on things that I felt really strongly about. Stanford: Personal statement + Diversity…

LSAT 165 GPA 3.94 2020–21 cycle

Admitted to University of Chicago

…to make sure everything told a story. Did NOT write a diversity statement; however, my personal statement touched on elements of diversity (race & class background). Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t think of anything to write for a diversity statement, I really don’t think it hindered me at all by not having one.…

LSAT 174 GPA 3.95 2022–23 cycle

Attending University of Pennsylvania

…would have improved: Could have written/finalized personal statement, diversity statement, supps over the summer. Not sure why I didn’t? I think I felt like I needed to have the apps open to start which is not necessary. To be fair, this is more to mitigate stress than improve outcomes. My SLS essay topics were more…

LSAT 172 GPA 4.07 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Minnesota

…it paid off. My biggest pro was my GPA imo. In my personal statement and diversity statements I dug into being LGBT, working in a law firm as a legal assistant/paralegal, and my immigrant, Spanish-speaking girlfriend.

LSAT 180 GPA 3.99 2021–22 cycle

Attending Columbia University

…my apps were not submitted earlier. Essays: Personal Statement on my work experience and why I want to be a lawyer Diversity Statement on growing up in a lower socioeconomic class w one parent who didn’t go to college and one parent who went to college in another country. Some supplemental essays on times I’ve been…

LSAT 176 GPA 3.78 2022–23 cycle

Attending Columbia University

…App Materials, Supplementals, & Context: Wrote “Why X” statements for CLS, NYU, UVA, Berkeley, Michigan, Duke; “core values” essay for Penn; two optionals for Stanford, “top 10” list for GULC.- Submitted a diversity statement to each school about a specific disability, as well as a brief GPA addendum (grades are…

LSAT 167 GPA 3.89 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Chicago

…LORs, etc.) are outstanding. I spent months on my personal statement, and I’m really glad I did. I wrote additional essays for Stanford, NYU, Georgetown, and Duke. I did Kira for Northwestern and Berkeley. I submitted a diversity statement everywhere but Stanford (error in judgement).

LSAT 180 GPA 3.93 2023–24 cycle

Attending Yale University

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,…

LSAT 170 GPA 4.00 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Chicago

-Wrote Diversity Statement, Why Berkeley, Berkeley GDP, UCLA Prog. Cont., UCLA Academic Fellowship, NYU Furman & AnBryce, & 1 Stanford Optional Essay. -Ultimately I don’t think writing these made much impact–in hindsight I’d forego the additional month spent writing these essays & apply earlier. I only interviewed…

LSAT 174 GPA 3.84 2020–21 cycle

Attending New York University

Do what’s best for you. Write Why X for schools that you are actually interested in. Write a diversity statement if you have something to say!

LSAT 176 GPA 3.91 2020–21 cycle

Attending Yale University

…to display your reasoning and deducation skills Personal statement -> chance for you to bring out the person in all of these things. You want to go beyond the accomplishments and illustrate the person behind them - why did they do it? what core values do they have? What problems (business or social) do they want to…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.92 2020–21 cycle

Attending Georgetown University

…Georgetown (unpopular opinion). Non-URM but submitted a diversity statement about being mixed-race where applicable.

LSAT 177 GPA 3.97 2023–24 cycle

Attending Yale University

…Stanford Songs/Class, Stanford Optional, and submitted a diversity statement or equivalent to everywhere but Yale and Stanford. 4 LORs (2 academic, 1 research position, 1 WE). LPT: Help pay for applications by applying for a new credit card that has a sign-on bonus. The Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, will…