I applied very late in the cycle for 2026 admission and did not get into schools. Do I completely scrap my admissions essay and start over? I am re-taking the LSAT in October.

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7 comments

  • JacobBaska Admissions Strategy Expert
    Yesterday

    As much as it stinks to say/type it - yes - as a reapplicant, you should prepare to submit a new personal statement and new optional statements. SIGH!

    The reason for this is purely practical. If you're applying to a school that you already applied to last year, they'll already have last year's app on file. They'll then review it briefly to see what you wrote last time. This provides them with a baseline to see what's new this time. And if what's new is "... nothing...," that's not the best look.

    Good luck! You've got this!

    5
    19 hours ago

    @JacobBaska thank you!

    1
  • 2 days ago

    Perhaps redoing your personal statement might help, or even retaking the LSAT to get an even higher score. But you might have a better chance if you apply early. Applying late puts you at risk of all seats beings filled for the incoming class. Even if all your application materials are perfect, schools might no longer have a seat to offer you if applying late.

    5
  • 2 days ago

    If it makes you feel any better, I did the same exact thing. Made the decision to go to law school in December-January. Applied extremely late in the cycle for Fall 2026. Although I did get waitlisted at more than half of the schools I applied to, I did not get accepted anywhere. Retaking the October LSAT And submitting applications as soon as the scores come back. Good luck!

    2
    19 hours ago

    @AndrewGreen Thank you! I took a break from studying and I feel like I shouldn’t have counted so heavily that I’d possibly get in somewhere. I’m hoping studying from now till October will help yield a few points difference in my lsat score.

    2
  • 2 days ago

    Can I ask how late you applied?

    2
    2 days ago

    @soleluna883 I took the April lsat and applied after that. I re-entered the job market after having kids and made the decision to go to law school in January.

    2
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