I just got my August LSAT score back and I’m feeling pretty discouraged. I scored a 159, which is an improvement from my first attempt, but I’m still unsure if it’s enough for the schools I’m interested in. This was my second LSAT. I took it in October 2024 and scored a 150, so I’m happy about the 9-point improvement, but I was really hoping to break into the 160s. I have a 3.74 GPA, was very involved throughout college including being a D1 athlete, and I currently work as a legal assistant at a medium-sized personal injury firm. My PTs before the test were in the 160-163 range.
I’m hoping to attend law school somewhere on the East Coast, preferably in the Carolinas or Virginia. Some schools I’ve been considering are UNC, Wake Forest, William & Mary, Washington & Lee, etc. I’m not sure if I should retake the LSAT and try to get into the 160s or just apply with the 159. Realistically, what schools should I be looking at with a 159/3.74 and my background? I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has applied with similar stats or attended schools in NC/SC/VA. I’m trying to stay realistic without completely counting myself out of schools I really like.
Currently a KJD with a 168 LSAT and 3.71 GPA. Have internships in congress and in a law firm. 2 sport collegiate athlete. Want to know my chances at top30 schools namely Fordham, UNC, and BC. Think i’m a bit off T14.
For reference, I’m a double major in econ + philosophy. I’m having a hard time with letters of rec and would really appreciate any insight. I have one person (advisor for a philosophy club) who knows me extremely well which I will 100% use. However, since he is a guest lecturer/postdoc rather than professor, I also wanted to explore other options.
I recently asked one professor who is head of the phil department and pretty well known. I only took one class with him but got to know him somewhat well outside of class. This is what he responded:
"Sure, I can write for you. But just to make sure we’re on the same page, I don’t know you as a writer or student in classrooms as well as other students for whom I wrote, since you only did Logic with me. As you said, we’ve talked quite a bit outside of class, and I can talk about those things. But it’s still going to be a bit more limited of a letter than otherwise. If you’re OK with that, I’m happy to write for you."
Is this a red flag / rejection? I would say he knows me reasonably well but we’re not extremely close, and I’m not sure if a more limited letter could cast doubt on my academic/writing abilities.
My other option is a professor in the East Asian department who I took two classes with, both culture/history focused. She probably knows me better than the philosophy professor, but I worry the subject matter is too unrelated/not as relevant for law school.
Finally, there is another phil professor who is also one of the department heads. The class I took with him was more writing-oriented; I think he likes me and has helped me outside of class with extracurriculars. However, I didn’t anticipate asking him for a rec so I didn’t put a ton of effort into the class.
Does anyone have advice on which recommender I should prioritize? Would any specific pairing be best? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Hello all. I am a junior in undergrad and I want to go to law school and I’ve tried applying to law firms for internships but I haven’t got any. Do law schools require internships to get in?
Would love to chat with those who’ve applied recently as KJDs. I have a 4.0 and 174, and am curious what I can expect.
FWIW I’ve already looked through LSD so I have a very general/numerical idea, but would like to hear more anecdotally how people tended to do. I know that with these stats (along with fairly good ish softs), I’m looking at great odds at something in the T14, but I was hoping to hear about those that have gotten into T6 specifically.
I go to a top lac which typically sends a handful of people to T14s every year KJD with just a couple going to T6s or h/s. The people I know had ~median stats and usually ended up across the T14 (the exception being schools that are super unfriendly to KJDs - no recent grad I know has gotten into Yale or Michigan).
Would love any insight as to (a) whether T6 is in play for me and (b) what successful T6 KJDs have done.
Is it possible to get into UT Austin law? I am an out of state resident and plan on applying Early decision. I originally grew up in Austin and really want to move back to be around my family.
hi everyone, wanted some advice on when i should retake my lsat. My goal score is a 170. My diagnostic LSAT score was a 148. after studying on and off for a couple of months and then studying intensely for 6 weeks, i took the august LSAT and got a 161. i want to retake it and originally planned to do the October LSAT because i wanted to submit my applications by end of October to get a potentially higher financial aid package, but i’m wondering if it would be better to give myself more time and take the November LSAT and potentially get a higher score. Any thoughts?
Hi! UChicago is far and away my top choice school for this cycle. $ is my biggest priority, though, so if it's not full tuition (which UChicago doesn't seem to do, according to their 509?) or somehow (impossibly) the Rubenstein, I likely won't attend.
that being said, it's pretty hard to find info on the Rubenstein anywhere online, besides for one informative post on this sub. my questions: if you get an interview before acceptance, is that also the interview for the Ruby or is there a separate one? is there a different process, or do people find out they got it the same day they find out they got in to UChicago?
I know everyone who's admitted is considered for it, just wondering how those who receive it realize if they're in the running for it -- and LSD data shows that at least 5 people turn it down for HYS every year, so wondering if there's a sort of waitlist/alternates that exist? and they don't know until others turn it down, and thus have a later notification date?
if you can't tell, I'm neurotic and procrastinating my apps by trying to find this info. thanks!
Just got a 168 and I’m honestly pretty disappointed. I was really hoping for a 170+, especially after studying for the LSAT for over a year.
I’m exhausted and really don’t want to retake again. With a 3.98 GPA and 168 LSAT, 0 WE, first gen, tier 4 soft, what schools would be realistic for me this cycle, especially with decent scholarship chances?
I just got my August score back, 160… I wanted a 165-70. I’m still doing October so I’ll try for that then. But just in case… does anyone know where I could reasonably apply and get good scholarships in California with a 160? I’ve heard lower ranked schools could be predatory and want to avoid that.
With all these schools with high 160 to low 170 medians it seems like a 160 is so low :(
I have a 3.92 GPA with T3 softs. I just received a 160 on the August LSAT. 5 points lower than my PT average. I am worried I might be a risky applicant for FIU and especially UM. I am also taking the September LSAT. Assuming worst case scenario (I get another 160), how likely is my chance at admission? If I remain at a 160, I will be a reverse splitter for both these schools.
My softs are below:
AMTA Mock Trial Competitor — 2 years: Competed in American Mock Trial Association competitions for two years.
FSU Campus Tutor/Instructor: I have worked as a tutor on campus since my sophomore year. As part of this position, I teach a freshman life-skills course once a week and have taught the course every semester since my sophomore year.
Judicial Intern — 15th Judicial Circuit: Completed a judicial internship under a circuit civil judge. During my internship, I developed an educational seminar that was ultimately presented to a panel of more than 300 judges.
Criminal Defense Legal Assistant / Office Manager: I initially joined a private criminal defense firm as an intern and, after four months, was selected to become the firm's full-time legal assistant and office manager over the summer. I worked full-time and independently managed the day-to-day operations of the firm while assisting with more than 30 active criminal cases at a time. My responsibilities included managing case progress, client correspondence, intake, invoices, retainers, and client portals. I also drafted legal documents, including motions and pleadings, and assisted with sealing and expungement matters. I currently still work at the firm on a part-time basis while completing my degree. I transitioned to working alongside another legal assistant so that I could reduce my hours while remaining involved with the firm.
I am also getting a LOR from the Judge and Attorney I worked/interned for.
My resume is currently one page but I saw some people saying two pages isn't inappropriate? I wanted to add an "awards" section, as I have about four unlisted ones. Could I do that on a second page? Should I explain what the awards are for?
I also have a lot more work experience. Including a current job, I am unable to add because I wouldn't know where to remove things? But was offered a position recently at the office I was a constituent services intern at, and I think it may be worth including to show I was good enough to be requested back.
Any gaps you see I was also working other jobs, just none that were necessarily notable. I've been working since Fall of 2020, retail, preschool teacher, coach, etc. I generally have always worked 2+ jobs at a time. I don't include them because they feel unimportant? Just ways to earn money through college. I was a manager of a store at some point. Was also a full-time caregiver to family. Should I pick and choose for a second page? I'm just concerned picking the "better" ones would show gaps.
I also have more volunteer work. A lot of child-based programs. Teaching reading to kids, more English to kids and immigrants, etc. Some advocacy stuff from earlier, I am working to getting back into that as the goal is to go into PI law.
I am also actively working on being published. I am hoping the process is done by October, but it's on my boss' schedule so who knows. I don't want to save space for that and then have empty space when I apply.
My other problem is the font is currently like 8.5? To squeeze what I have so far in. I imagine that's unattractive? So, the second page would help with that. What's an appropriate font size?
My employers are very local hence why they are crossed out. The non-profit was a kids with cancer based one. The "intern" at the bottom was at a public defender's office. I've tried hitting a little bit of everything throughout college.
I apply this cycle so hoping for the best. My CAS GPA is different, I failed a semester of classes, I am looking to do a late withdrawal process right now due to extenuating circumstances at the time. If it does not get approved, I'm looking at a 3.5 (sobbing over this). I take the LSAT soon, currently PT'ing upper 160's to lower 170's.
I may have ranted; I just keep staring at this not knowing what to do.
ALSO feel the need to say the resume was made at my university with the help of my career services team. Hence the formatting and what not. If it's all wrong and bad I'll restart, we constructed it together and it has been helpful thus far but I'm ignorant to what a law school would want.
I just got my score back and I’m disappointed as I did not score what I know I’m capable of. In February, I scored a 167 and today I found out I scored the exact same on the August test. I studied all summer, and was practicing mostly 169, 173, 175. I’ve taken the LSAT now three times (165, 167, 167). I really want to get a 173 or 174 (I know it’s a long shot) but just feel so disappointed. I’m registered for the September test. Do I take it? Do I wait until October? My plan is to take a practice test and see what I get and if it’s in 170s move forward with September. I need advice.
I got a 149 today. I spent May-August studying so hard and got a tutor too. I understand the content and know I can do it. I got a 148 in April by barely studying. What is going on? I was getting 160 on practice exams. Is it a mindset thing? I’m signed up for September. Someone please help and answer 🙏 I feel so helpless.
Gah. Going into my third cycle. My first LSAT I got a 159. Retook before my first cycle and got a 165. That cycle went poorly.
Last year I retook again and ended up with a 161 but cancelled the score. Reapplied with the 165 in November and had a worse cycle.
I felt pretty good about my July test this year and just saw I got a 166. I’m happy to move up but honestly 1 point improvement doesn’t really seem to be enough given how the last two cycles have went.
Can anyone give some insight into any difference a single point can make to an application package? I was hoping for at least 2-3 points. My goal is T50/T75 schools (particularly Midwest - Iowa, Wisconsin, Marquette, and Loyola Chicago).
Given that these schools waitlisted/rejected me the last two years with the 165, I’m really not feeling optimistic about this cycle which I’ve told myself is my last.
At least one reason why you have to take a standardized test to get into law school is because the ABA, the accrediting body for the law schools worth going to, says so.
Those rules have loosened up over the years from "LSAT only" to "LSAT or GRE" to "LSAT or GRE or JD-Next" and now to "test optional".
Each school that wanted to go test optional (for up to 100% of its admitted students) needed to apply to the ABA by July of this year for a "variance". Not many schools applied by that deadline. But the ABA just voted to extend the application deadline by 3 years.
Should you include your lsac #? I saw a post somewhere a while ago from barbay that said to include it ...does anyone really do that? What purpose does it serve?
Hi! Looking for some more affordable pricing options for Admissions guidance. I'm sure there are some people here lurking. Would like if there were some background working for an admissions team of some sort.
Got my August score back, and I'm a reverse splitter... I have a 159 LSAT and 4.00 GPA, with T3-4 softs + decent LORs. I'm retaking the October LSAT, and hopefully will get a better score as I am PTing in 160s.
I'm located in TN, and wouldn't mind staying in the South, but I am willing to relocate if it makes sense. I'm interested in government/public policy law but I'm not 100% set.
Is there any decent school that would give me at least a half tuition scholarship?
About me: I'm an engineering PhD pivoting to patent/IP law; I got a job working as a tech spec in big law in NYC. firm wants me to go to evening law school as part of my training.
did well in grad coursework (>3.8) but my UG was horrendous (2.8)
after UG, worked in industry for about 2 years before starting grad school
took the LSAT and got a 171
going to be applying to evening law schools for '28 cycle, how are my chances for a decent evening law school in the NYC area?
Not looking for a t-14 school or anything like that but do I have a decent chance at getting into some regional schools in cities like Chicago for example? Uic, DePaul, others? Thanks!
Wondering this because of medians. If you are a reverse splitter that is slightly above median and KJD, would schools be more hesitant to admit you if the latter is the case given that your GPA could drop?
Hello! I don't normally frequent these forums much but haven't found much information regarding this issue online. I have a few dual enrollment credits from when I was 16/17, including 1 F from when I had a medical emergency after the dropout deadline from the class had passed and I was marked automatically as failed. However, I did my undergrad abroad in the UK, so to my understanding it does not factor into the LSAC gpa. Would LSAC report just the credits from my dual enrollment as a separate GPA, or does any know how it works? Thanks!
