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Applicant wisdom

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

LSAT 162 GPA 3.70 2021–22 cycle

Admitted to University of Virginia

…I felt that I needed to explicitly state this. 2+ years WE Softs: Worked two jobs during undergrad, TONS of leadership/volunteering experience, department awards, completed two thesis, and one funded research project. Some other softs are not mentioned as they are doxxy. Wrote a DS and included it with every…

LSAT 163 GPA 3.68 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Iowa

…a chance. Just. Do. It. Bottom line - it’s the numbers. Softs, addendums, personal statements matter less than you think. Yes, write the personal statement, addendums, extra why? Because if it just may be the extra push you need for that school. Keep in mind even you have the best softs, PS, addendum - numbers come…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.73 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

…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…

LSAT 167 GPA 3.89 2021–22 cycle

Attending University of Iowa

…I could get substantial scholarship money from. My softs are incredibly uninteresting and largely irrelevant. I have worked as a legal assistant at an insurance defense firm for a little while, but I am still a “KJD” by most standards. I didn’t have involvement in any clubs or organizations; I got some scholarships…

LSAT 170 GPA 3.60 2022–23 cycle

Attending University of California—Davis

some wisdom (◕‿◕) Take the money and run.**Softs/work experience make a difference. They are necessary but not sufficient. **- Some people underestimate softs and think they can easily get into T14 schools without them. On the other hand, some people don’t realize that you need the stats BEFORE your softs matter.…

LSAT 171 GPA 4.05 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

…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.

LSAT 164 GPA 3.68 2022–23 cycle

Attending Indiana University - Bloomington

Softs details (tier 3 and 4): legal field employment - Immigration paralegal with a mid-sized firm for ~2 years (honestly love it, would consider immigration law if swayed from int’l/comparative during law school)- Academic honors/awards - graduated with major honors (completed an honors thesis), Major Dept…

LSAT 165 GPA 3.65 2022–23 cycle

Attending Northeastern University

…to schools before the end of November. No extraordinary softs; Have been a private, self-employed tutor since high school and worked at a small non-profit for 2 years part-time as an administrative intern in terms of work experience. Extracurricular-wise, I was involved in a cultural club my entire time as an…

LSAT 174 GPA 3.84 2022–23 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

I’m several years out of undergrad and went into this process knowing next to nothing. I hope some of this can be of use to someone. My softs don’t lend themselves to a very cohesive “why law,” and I think if I’d addressed that more convincingly in my personal statement I might have performed better. I could’ve used…

LSAT 163 GPA 3.95 2022–23 cycle

Attending Georgia State University

…with C&F issues, misdemeanor, >10 years ago. Other softs: university assistantship, honors thesis, honors college peer mentor, honors college dean’s student advisory board, immigration-related volunteering. ADMG; we’re all in this together. DM if you want me to add you to my novena!

LSAT 169 GPA 3.45 2021–22 cycle

Attending University of California—Davis

…professors anymore and taught me 9 years ago. No amazing softs. I applied with a goal of writing myself as a future public interest lawyer tangentially related to my prior profession. What i wish i knew/did before applying to ALL these schools: Look at the history of scholarships. Don’t under-estimate your stats. I…

LSAT 163 GPA 3.39 2021–22 cycle

Admitted to University of Colorado—Boulder

T1 softs from being ex hockey pro athlete with career ending injury. I wasn’t in the NHL, it was an overseas pro league, so maybe it’s considered as T2? Beats me. regardless, the trend seems that stats are still the primary decision of admission outside of T14

LSAT 162 GPA 3.74 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

…statement (undocumented immigrant, mild poverty). my softs are ok: number of internships+ jobs (city gov, state gov, non-profit) focused on immigrant rights started a non-profit startup this past summer to feed immigrant families during COVID.

LSAT 179 GPA 3.41 2020–21 cycle

Attending New York University

Strong softs with a cohesive narrative (somewhere between tiers 2 and 3). TFA for 2 years after undergrad, with another year at a similar organization in a leadership role. Good luck, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself!

LSAT 169 GPA 3.07 2020–21 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

T2 softs and Ivy undergrad. Didn’t write Why X essays, but wrote other optional essays. Included a non-traditional diversity statement (meaning I didn’t talk about race) and a pretty wild academic addendum. I know for a fact that my essays and interviews were what got me very far in the admissions process- spend a…

LSAT 167 GPA 3.70 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

…Plan to negotiate. 1/29-2/2 - UNC hold, which feels like a soft WL based on last year’s data. – TAMU WL… – BC WL… – IU negotiation did not work :/ 2/5-2/9 - no decisions, applied for UCI PSS. 2/19-2/23 - OSU A, scholly coming later. 2/26-3/1 - Emory A w/ $$$. 3/4-3/8 - OSU scholly ($$$) came 3/7. – UWisc II, seems…

LSAT 164 GPA 2.78 2023–24 cycle

Admitted to Baylor University

…the “shoot your shot” advice. In my experience with good softs (imho), I didn’t get in anywhere if I was under medians.