Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Follow @lawschooldata on TikTok & Instagram

Applicant wisdom

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

LSAT 178 GPA 3.00 2021–22 cycle

Admitted to Stanford University

…things from the source instead of through hearsay. Both softs and numbers matter. Softs are everything about your app that isn’t quantitative. Whether it is a “good” soft is a matter of framing. In the words of Dean Andy from GULC, this is basically pole vaulting; the bar is set by your numbers, and the pole is your…

LSAT 169 GPA 4.11 2021–22 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

Long 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.)…

LSAT 172 GPA 3.40 2020–21 cycle

Attending University of Michigan

…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…

LSAT 180 GPA 4.00 2024–25 cycle

Attending Harvard University

…Mike Kim’s LSAT Trainer helped me a lot as well. On softs/your narrative as an applicant: I think a better question than asking what tier softs someone has is what tier narrative they have. Someone can have a bunch of softs that are impressive individually (elite internships, unique upbringing, published work, etc),…

LSAT 173 GPA 3.78 2023–24 cycle

Attending Georgetown University

…but I don’t think it went well overall. I think my softs outside of what I wrote my PS about were pretty weak, and that probably hurt me the most. I don’t think good writing can overcome mediocre softs, or at least not in 2024. Being a splitter didn’t help either, but I’ve seen enough people with my stats get better…

LSAT 179 GPA 3.85 2023–24 cycle

Attending Northwestern University

…My LSAT score carried me for sure, but with stronger softs and essays I think I would have had very different outcomes (proof: stats twin this cycle got a Ruby at Chicago). Not R&Ring as my statistical profile can only depreciate and my softs are bad, so there’s no guarantee I have a better cycle next year. Chose NU…

LSAT 170 GPA 4.00 2021–22 cycle

Attending University of Notre Dame

…a full semester of pass/no pass grades thanks to COVID-19. SOFTS: one great internship, a couple meh internships, some retail/food service part-time work, and no full-time work experience. campus involvement throughout undergrad including some leadership. captain of university speech team and a few cool awards for…

LSAT 178 GPA 4.00 2020–21 cycle

Attending Columbia University

…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,”…

LSAT 176 GPA 4.00 2025–26 cycle

Attending Harvard University

…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,…

LSAT 171 GPA 4.00 2025–26 cycle

Attending Harvard University

…number of high-quality applicants increases each cycle, softs become extremely valuable and are your opportunity to stand out. I have no doubt that my life story, upward trajectory, essays, and LORs played a major role in my admission to HLS, and in being waitlisted at almost every other T14 school. Work your ass…

LSAT 177 GPA 3.98 2025–26 cycle

Attending University of Pennsylvania

…for the prison volunteering that I did through undergrad. Softs details: I did two legal internships (one at a “Big Law” firm, one at a prominent plaintiff law firm), during undergrad I worked as an RA, TA, and Notetaker, I did volunteer work at a prison (and talked about it in 1 of my essays), was active in a bunch…

LSAT 174 GPA 4.00 2023–24 cycle

Attending Harvard University

LSAT:  167 -> 168 -> 174 I used LSAT Demon + The Loophole (highly recommend both)  GPA:  4.0/4.0 (top 1% – humanities classes only) softs:  average for a KJD who knew they wanted to go to law school early (summer legal internship, legal research assistant, a handful of undergrad awards, a couple leadership roles in…

LSAT 173 GPA 3.93 2023–24 cycle

Attending University of Pennsylvania

…for rushing your apps just to start school a year earlier. Softs are everything, and the tiers most people use to categorize them are nonsense. Never feel like you have to do anything law-related in your free time if you don’t want to (i.e. paralegal, pre-law frat, pre-law classes). Doing something that actually…

LSAT 162 GPA 4.01 2023–24 cycle

Attending Washington University in St. Louis

International KJD student, attending a top 10 liberal arts college T3 softs: focused on international law and rights Submitted every possible supplemental essays for every school except WashU, GW, UMiami

LSAT 177 Int'l GPA Above Average 2022–23 cycle

Attending Washington University in St. Louis

…results on my part. I had banked on somewhat decent T4 softs + the 177 to get consideration in the T14, but oh well. Only real frustration I have is not knowing enough about the law school application process in high school, otherwise I might’ve stayed in the US to get a degree w/ GPA and also I would’ve taken the…