Self-study
If I have median or below median LSAT but have extreme softs how should I operate for admissions this coming cycle? I have a lot of softs that I have been told set me apart such as 3.9 masters GPA, military service, worked at the NSA with the highest security clearance, and have many medals. However, I cannot get over the 150 hump into a higher score. I am taking the LSAT again in Sep to hopefully apply mid to late OCT. Should I lean towards schools that value more of a holistic approach? How should one approach admissions with strong softs and not as strong hard factors?
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1 comments
That's a good question, @AnnaTidmore, and also a really tough one!
Here's what I advise with my clients - just rely on your stats when defining who your reach, target, and safety schools are. I advise this partly because it's a conservative approach (and I think this is one of those times when it's better to "expect less and be surprised when you get more" than the opposite) and because a number of folks overestimate their softs. And on that note, I'm not accusing you of that. I'm just saying that this is a prevalent enough issue that my default setting is to just encourage folks to use their stats to build the foundations of their list. And beyond the stats, look for schools that are good fits for what you want (eg, they're in the right region of the country for your post-grad plans, they offer the exact clinics and externships that you're looking for, etc).
And with that said, yes, softs do count. Every law school will admit people who are below their medians. These are people who have some combination of an extraordinary resume and/or an extraordinary personal background. Additionally, these are also people who have a clear articulation of their professional goals (meaning that the admissions office can say "even if they are the dead last person in our class at graduation, they are absolutely getting a job because they know what they want to do with this JD") and who are going to add significantly to the Socractic learning environment at the school for the next three years (ie, "even if they are the dead last person in our class at graduation, they are absolutely going to expand the conversations in our lectures because of their personal/professional experiences").
I hope that helps!