Self-study
Hi everyone,
I applied for the 2026 admissions cycle and did not get into the schools I wanted. Because of that fact I decided retake the LSAT and reapply for fall 2027. I am almost certain my LSAT score was the defining factor in those decisions, but was curious about my personal statement. I felt my personal statement was strong, but when it comes to reapplying to schools I applied to this year, is it smart to change it up? Or the better question I suppose is, does it look bad if I resubmit the same personal statements from the previous year?
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4 comments
Slightly different take here, @CalebTurner, from the admissions perspective!
If you're reapplying, yes, you have to have a new personal statement. It's just how it goes! Admissions officers can understand the very human aspect of matters in case you feel like your previous statement was a) good and b) effectively answered the question of why you want to go to law school and be a lawyer and c) nothing has changed regarding since you wrote that PS. But then look at things from their perspective - they'll flip through your previous app before coming to this year's app (they do this mostly to understand the context of the previous decision prior to taking a look at this year's app) and if they see the exact same documents, that's kind of redundant, right? Someone reviewing your app will ask "Surely they could have given us some new insight on their interest in law school?"
If it helps, look at it this way. Many people find it hard to whittle their personal statement down to just two pages. A lot of time, you have A LOT to say. For reapplicants, you actually get to submit a four page personal statement - you submitted the first part last year, and now you get to submit the second part this year. Both will help inform the admissions officers about you and your legal interests.
And regarding the further question of timeline that was followed up on - applying before the end of October is optimal. Really "mid October" even. National law school apps are at a 15-20 year high and early indicators (ie, LSAT registrations) suggest that the numbers are going to be just as strong this year. Unless you're retaking the LSAT or have some sort of other personal matter that precludes you from submitting apps before mid-October, I'm encouraging folks to use their summers wisely so they can be ready to roll this autumn!
Hello! I am so sorry to hear that you did not get into the schools you wanted this time around. As you are probably aware, the cycle has been tough on a lot of people considering the increase in the applicant pool.
Regarding your personal statement, although I am not an admissions expert, some schools highly encourage reapplicants to submit new materials. For example, the UMichigan explicitly states:
Seeing that, it may worth to write a new one.
Regarding the LSAT, if you are almost certain your score was the primary reason, then getting it up to the medians of your target schools will be huge.
Lastly, it could also be that you applied a bit late in the cycle. Considering the larger applicant pool, applying late means there are a lot of candidates in line to be considered before you. Applying earlier next cycle with a new score and refreshed essays will put you in a much stronger position. Best of luck!
@SerinJ great Insight. Applying early would be what month?
@AstridRivera918 Hello! If you look at this page called Sample Admissions Timeline, October-November is considered early, December-January is still reasonable, and February is getting late. But as the page also states, it's better to submit when you're completely ready than to be in a rush and submit an unsatisfying application early. Hope this helps!