What's Going On in the Admissions Cycle Right Now?
Many admissions offices are slowing the rate of decisions until they get beyond their commitment deadlines so that they can assess how their classes are filling up and what more is needed to reach their goals.
FAQs from Law School Applicants
Are you just getting started? Here’s a checklist to help you get organized.
Helpful Link
Need LSAT tips on how to flag questions and return to them before time runs out? Hear from 7Sage Tutor/Manager Raphael here.
Discussion
If you did not receive the outcomes that you were expecting this cycle and are considering reapplying next cycle, here are some tips to help you navigate the reapplication process:
Your Previous File
It is important to note that AOs will reference a reapplicant’s previous file to see what has changed from one cycle to the next. When you submit a new application to law schools, admissions officers will have the ability to attach your old application to the new one, making it easier for them to toggle back and forth as they evaluate your candidacy. If the school previously waitlisted or rejected your application, the expectation will be that the new application will have updated LSAT scores, new written statements, and/or updates to your résumé. They’re looking to see indications of growth, new experience, additional education, and/or updated test scores.
LSAT
Often, the LSAT is the one hard factor that can be updated; however, I can’t stress enough how important it is to plan and prepare for the LSAT. Many schools have a hard time assessing candidates with many scores, because the more of them there are, the harder it is to say which score is the true indicator of a candidate’s anticipated performance for law school. If you are scheduled to take the LSAT, but your PTs are not landing in the range that you planned, or you do not feel ready to take the exam, reschedule and allow yourself the time that you need to adequately prepare.
GPA
Once your first undergraduate degree has been conferred, no changes can be made to your cumulative GPA. Even if you decided to enroll in another undergraduate program, your cumulative GPA will remain unchanged. All additional transcripts must be submitted, and though law schools do not report other graduate school performance, they do evaluate that performance when considering candidates for admission.
Written Statements
If you are reapplying to law schools this cycle, now is the time to begin refreshing your written statements. Is it required that you rewrite every statement? No. However, a new application is an opportunity to tell the admissions committee what has changed over the course of a year—how you’ve grown, what new roles or responsibilities you’ve taken on, and/or something more about you that they didn’t learn from your last application. When reviewing a reapplication, part of what an admissions officer will be assessing is what has changed from one cycle to the next. If a candidate submits the exact same application—without any new statements or updates to their credentials—it’s extremely unlikely that they would receive a different result the second time around.
LORs
Do you need to obtain new letters of recommendation? Not necessarily. Letters of recommendation can have a shelf life, so if you’re using them in the very next cycle, they won’t be considered stale. However, if a couple of cycles go by before you reapply, it’s not a bad idea to reach out to your recommenders and ask them to refresh the dates of their letters. They might also be able to add new examples of your growth over time.
Assessing Target and Safety Schools
There may be some discrepancies in how you’ve assessed what schools are targets, reaches, and safeties. We have a full module and a predictor to help with this!