@trniekras572 I wouldn't consider the amount of studying reached to be fairly long though, especially given the whole timeline of studying for the LSAT.
NOTE FOR CANADIANS: Most applications will open in early September and close by December 1! Only a handful will still be open in February. Also note, all Canadian law schools are roughly equal quality: employers will select minimally based on the law school you attend, so don't stress about "elite" schools.
the process is infuriating and humiliating. i have full confidence in myself as a student but to any casual observer i'd be considered an under-achiever. perhaps the real test here is making a strong case with poor evidence?
@dedolence I would say lean into this and emphasize why it makes you a good candidate for school. Law schools really care about who you are in addition to your scores. Lots of "high achievers" get rejected as well.
Because of other circumstances, I'll be applying for law schools in January/February. When 7Sage says "you'll probably be fine", how fine are we talking here? Will law schools that have filled all their allotted slots by October/November close off admissions? Is getting deferred from a law school I apply to in February indicative that I could have gotten in if I had applied earlier?
Does anyone feel like they have a pretty average life with nothing to write about for there personal statement? Ive had a normal life and want to go becasue its a dream of mine to find justice for others no specific reason besides having hope for others lives.
Im struggling with this part of the application. if anyone has tips let me know
What makes for a stronger recommendation: an academic letter from a former professor, or a professional recommendation from an attorney who you have worked with closely, like a supervisor?
Does anyone know the best way to go about asking for a recommendation letter from professors if you were never close with them? My school is very big and I have a hard time connecting with professors so I am not sure how to ask anyone for a letter.
I would just email them or go into their office. You don't need to have been their TA or crazy close to them, but I would say try to use professors you have had two or three times who know who you are.
Like I said, you don't have to be close to them, but as long as they know you are a good student, that can be enough basis for a letter. Also, don't count out recommendations from other settings like a job or a coach. While yes, you want at least one recommendation from a professor, a boss or coach has likely been around you more and can offer a better view of who you are as a person through work ethic or teamwork and may be able to write you a great recommendation!
My friend just got into her dream law school and was able to speak to someone in admissions who looked at her application and she was told her best letter of rec came from her old cheer coach.
Can anyone provide me with personal experience applying for the same fall after taking the January LSAT? That's the LSAT I'm studying for right now, and I'm really hoping to get scholarship money provided I score high enough. I scored very high when I took the LSAT blind with no prep this past January, and now I'm prepping diligently and am confident I can up my score significantly from an already high diagnostic score. I really don't want to wait another year to apply; I've been delaying it so much already.
I'm also applying for the fall of 2025 and I plan to take my LSAT in August 2024 (in a couple of months). The thought process is that I will be able to take my first LSAT relatively earlier, see how I did, take it again if necessary, and still allow myself to do everything else for the application process in a timely fashion.
might depend on the country but i think it's january for canada. that's the final time you can take the lsat and still be eligible to attend in fall 2025. even if you're taking the lsat after the deadline for law school applications, still apply! law school admissions will process your application once they receive ur lsat score. this is only for the absolute last minute tho and you should not plan for it bc you never know what ur score would look like. additionally, admissions are given on a rolling basis and they will not grant you an admission until your lsat score comes in, but which point, most of the space for the admission class could be filled. so pls plan accordingly!
i was originally going to take my lsat in august but i've revised my plan to take it in september instead with novemeber as my secondary date if i want to take it again
I passed your question to one of our admissions officers, who responded with the following:
"Yes, the timeline still applies, but I would also offer the caveat that many Canadian schools have November 1 deadlines. As such, students really do have to be mindful of getting a lot done over the summer."
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
i just did some research, but im not sure... would it be better to get 2 rec letters from 2 different professors? or 1 rec letter from my boss (a lawyer) at the law firm ive been working at for almost a year and 1 rec letter from a professor? im just alittle worried since i havent really had a relationship with any of my professors ...
@JuelsL as a disclaimer, I’m speaking from a Canadian Law research background. I’ve attended a law admissions panel event where the admissions officers talked about the importance of your experience working at a law firm and for management to write you a recommendation which would definitely be a plus. But a recommendation from a prof would still most likely be advisable alongside your legal experience recommendation.
I have less than a year left of college. I graduate in December 2026, and will be applying to law schools starting in September 2026. I don't know how to go about getting letters of recommendation. I'm enrolled in an online college that only has 5-week long semesters, so in most classes, I have zero interaction with the professor at all, so I've not been able to build any sort of relationship that would let me ask for a letter. What should I do?
@Audreyeliz have you had any reoccuring professors? im assuming you're already taking law related classes. maybe if you send out an email about needing letters of rec, they'd be able to help you.
if I am taking the test in August or September and only want to work on everything else after I get the scores back, will it be too late to start for that cycle?
7Sage admissions consultant here! Happy to provide some advice!
While acknowledging that there's always a healthy dose of "it depends" for admissions questions (eg, are you applying ED anywhere, what's your LSAC GPA, what are your target schools, etc), waiting to begin working on app materials until wrapping up with the LSAT in August or September is not too late in order to apply in a normal admissions cycle. But if students want to follow this plan, I advise that they "accept" a few tradeoffs:
- There will be others who are taking the LSAT in Aug/Sept and are working on their app materials now. You're going to be behind them. #thatslife
- You may need to re-take in October. If you're not working on app materials until after the LSAT, there's a possibility that this will all take longer than you'd like. So what's the plan if this happens?
- You'll need to work quickly on your app materials. Some folks want to write a draft of their personal statement then let it sit for two weeks before the next round of edits. If you start working on things in September, this won't be an option.
- August and September are a great time to do research on the schools you're applying to. If you can't do that because of LSAT prep and focusing on app materials, try to do that research in the spring/summer instead.
And on that note and working against the premise of this prompt (ie, what if I don't start working on app materials until post-LSAT), I'm going to throw something out there. It's currently February. The August LSAT is six months away. That's A LOT of time! While acknowledging that there's always a lot going on in people's lives, I think it's also possible to start outlining the master docs (like a personal statement) and to do an updated resume now. Doing this basic prep now won't take away from LSAT prep. But doing that basic prep now can help an applicant turn things around more quickly once it's Go Time in Aug/Sept. Just my two cents!
If you are a non-traditional student who has been working in the medical field for your undergrad and just recently this year started the pre law journey, is it ok to get a letter of rec from a Physical Therapist or Doctor that knows you better along with a science professor? Or is it better to have a lawyer write you one?
I wonder if my case for letters would be fine. I have been out of college for 6(will be 7 when I apply) and have been a paralegal during that time. I will have Letters of Recommendation from the leading shareholder of a top 100 law firm that began the immigration sector there. I also will have another one from the main attorney I work with who is Of Counsel. I feel these would be very good ones to have as they are lawyers and have seen me work in the legal field and could argue I have skills to potentially be a good lawyer. Wondering if this would be an exception, as I did not do well in undergrad for numerous reasons and as such did not get close to any of my professors(and it has been 6-7 years)
@KingAndrew1296 I'm not an expert but I have taken time off as well so getting letters from professors is pretty much out of the question. I say as long as your letters are great and show you as an asset you should be fine. Since you've taken time off admissions officers will understand that.
From what I have read, not only will they google your name and look, but they will do searches through various social media sites to find things. Mostly the main spots like X, Instagram, and Facebook, but if they find you on other sites its very possible they could look through it.
If you have private accounts with nothing questionable in your bio or profile picture you really should be okay. If your reddit account is not connected to your name or not otherwise easily linked to you I think its incredibly unlikely they would ever find it. The online searches for applications is mainly for people who post edgy stuff or have a damaging digital footprint which could reflect poorly on the school looking to admit you.
Don't quote me on this but I remember reading something a few years ago about a group of guys that got admitted to Harvard but were then denied admission after the school found their Facebook group where they were being openly offensive online.
With that being said, I still do not have any public accounts excluding my LinkedIn profile. Even if some may call this unnecessary, it is great peace of mind, and it could be a useful strategy just to give you one less thing to worry about for admissions. There is nothing bad admissions officers can find out about you online if there is literally nothing for them to find.
I hope this was helpful lol. Best of luck in applying!
95 comments
I find it kind odd that this information is presented after a fairly long time of studying. It probably should be in an introduction of the process.
@trniekras572 I wouldn't consider the amount of studying reached to be fairly long though, especially given the whole timeline of studying for the LSAT.
why did this stress me out more than the LSAT does...
Loyola Law School here we come!
I'll see you there!
This video simultaneously made me anxious and excited.
@Paige same but more on the anxious side
NOTE FOR CANADIANS: Most applications will open in early September and close by December 1! Only a handful will still be open in February. Also note, all Canadian law schools are roughly equal quality: employers will select minimally based on the law school you attend, so don't stress about "elite" schools.
@Canadia Fellow Canadian here--thanks for the heads up.
When do students typically start hearing back from schools if they apply in October/November?
the process is infuriating and humiliating. i have full confidence in myself as a student but to any casual observer i'd be considered an under-achiever. perhaps the real test here is making a strong case with poor evidence?
@dedolence I would say lean into this and emphasize why it makes you a good candidate for school. Law schools really care about who you are in addition to your scores. Lots of "high achievers" get rejected as well.
Because of other circumstances, I'll be applying for law schools in January/February. When 7Sage says "you'll probably be fine", how fine are we talking here? Will law schools that have filled all their allotted slots by October/November close off admissions? Is getting deferred from a law school I apply to in February indicative that I could have gotten in if I had applied earlier?
Thank you!
me too!
Same here!
me too! this makes me feel so much better because I will be taking the LSAT twice.
Me too! I am taking the January 16th LSAT and applying.
What are your recommendations for academic letters if you completed your undergrad degree about 8 years ago?
Would also like to know!
This kind of puts my timeline out of whack. I was intending to take the LSAT in September.
@Njbrunette same!! But we got this!!
Does anyone feel like they have a pretty average life with nothing to write about for there personal statement? Ive had a normal life and want to go becasue its a dream of mine to find justice for others no specific reason besides having hope for others lives.
Im struggling with this part of the application. if anyone has tips let me know
@studyever1234 It sounds like you have plenty to write about. "The highest distinction is service to others"!
What makes for a stronger recommendation: an academic letter from a former professor, or a professional recommendation from an attorney who you have worked with closely, like a supervisor?
@GabrielAcuna Why not both?
Does anyone know the best way to go about asking for a recommendation letter from professors if you were never close with them? My school is very big and I have a hard time connecting with professors so I am not sure how to ask anyone for a letter.
I would just email them or go into their office. You don't need to have been their TA or crazy close to them, but I would say try to use professors you have had two or three times who know who you are.
Like I said, you don't have to be close to them, but as long as they know you are a good student, that can be enough basis for a letter. Also, don't count out recommendations from other settings like a job or a coach. While yes, you want at least one recommendation from a professor, a boss or coach has likely been around you more and can offer a better view of who you are as a person through work ethic or teamwork and may be able to write you a great recommendation!
My friend just got into her dream law school and was able to speak to someone in admissions who looked at her application and she was told her best letter of rec came from her old cheer coach.
Thank you!
Can anyone provide me with personal experience applying for the same fall after taking the January LSAT? That's the LSAT I'm studying for right now, and I'm really hoping to get scholarship money provided I score high enough. I scored very high when I took the LSAT blind with no prep this past January, and now I'm prepping diligently and am confident I can up my score significantly from an already high diagnostic score. I really don't want to wait another year to apply; I've been delaying it so much already.
@danielmatthew97 I'm wondering this as well! I am on the same timeline with a Jan LSAT.
If we want to apply to attend Fall 2025, when is the recommended final time to take the LSAT?
I'm also applying for the fall of 2025 and I plan to take my LSAT in August 2024 (in a couple of months). The thought process is that I will be able to take my first LSAT relatively earlier, see how I did, take it again if necessary, and still allow myself to do everything else for the application process in a timely fashion.
I am taking it in August and possibly one more time in October if my score is not what I would like
might depend on the country but i think it's january for canada. that's the final time you can take the lsat and still be eligible to attend in fall 2025. even if you're taking the lsat after the deadline for law school applications, still apply! law school admissions will process your application once they receive ur lsat score. this is only for the absolute last minute tho and you should not plan for it bc you never know what ur score would look like. additionally, admissions are given on a rolling basis and they will not grant you an admission until your lsat score comes in, but which point, most of the space for the admission class could be filled. so pls plan accordingly!
i was originally going to take my lsat in august but i've revised my plan to take it in september instead with novemeber as my secondary date if i want to take it again
Is this the same timeline we should use if we plan on attending canadian law schools, in terms of "best time to apply?"
Hi there,
I passed your question to one of our admissions officers, who responded with the following:
"Yes, the timeline still applies, but I would also offer the caveat that many Canadian schools have November 1 deadlines. As such, students really do have to be mindful of getting a lot done over the summer."
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
Wait is this guy talking about doing all that in the summer before senior year? I'm in that summer right now and just started studying, am I behind 😭
i just did some research, but im not sure... would it be better to get 2 rec letters from 2 different professors? or 1 rec letter from my boss (a lawyer) at the law firm ive been working at for almost a year and 1 rec letter from a professor? im just alittle worried since i havent really had a relationship with any of my professors ...
@JuelsL as a disclaimer, I’m speaking from a Canadian Law research background. I’ve attended a law admissions panel event where the admissions officers talked about the importance of your experience working at a law firm and for management to write you a recommendation which would definitely be a plus. But a recommendation from a prof would still most likely be advisable alongside your legal experience recommendation.
I can't see the video. It is just blank. If anyone has the video or a way to to please lmk.
I have less than a year left of college. I graduate in December 2026, and will be applying to law schools starting in September 2026. I don't know how to go about getting letters of recommendation. I'm enrolled in an online college that only has 5-week long semesters, so in most classes, I have zero interaction with the professor at all, so I've not been able to build any sort of relationship that would let me ask for a letter. What should I do?
@Audreyeliz have you had any reoccuring professors? im assuming you're already taking law related classes. maybe if you send out an email about needing letters of rec, they'd be able to help you.
@mnv449 Yeah thank you ill try reaching out to them, I have a few that have taught multiple of my classes.
When do law schools typically post their essay prompts?
if I am taking the test in August or September and only want to work on everything else after I get the scores back, will it be too late to start for that cycle?
Seconding this question! #help
Hey All,
7Sage admissions consultant here! Happy to provide some advice!
While acknowledging that there's always a healthy dose of "it depends" for admissions questions (eg, are you applying ED anywhere, what's your LSAC GPA, what are your target schools, etc), waiting to begin working on app materials until wrapping up with the LSAT in August or September is not too late in order to apply in a normal admissions cycle. But if students want to follow this plan, I advise that they "accept" a few tradeoffs:
- There will be others who are taking the LSAT in Aug/Sept and are working on their app materials now. You're going to be behind them. #thatslife
- You may need to re-take in October. If you're not working on app materials until after the LSAT, there's a possibility that this will all take longer than you'd like. So what's the plan if this happens?
- You'll need to work quickly on your app materials. Some folks want to write a draft of their personal statement then let it sit for two weeks before the next round of edits. If you start working on things in September, this won't be an option.
- August and September are a great time to do research on the schools you're applying to. If you can't do that because of LSAT prep and focusing on app materials, try to do that research in the spring/summer instead.
And on that note and working against the premise of this prompt (ie, what if I don't start working on app materials until post-LSAT), I'm going to throw something out there. It's currently February. The August LSAT is six months away. That's A LOT of time! While acknowledging that there's always a lot going on in people's lives, I think it's also possible to start outlining the master docs (like a personal statement) and to do an updated resume now. Doing this basic prep now won't take away from LSAT prep. But doing that basic prep now can help an applicant turn things around more quickly once it's Go Time in Aug/Sept. Just my two cents!
If you are a non-traditional student who has been working in the medical field for your undergrad and just recently this year started the pre law journey, is it ok to get a letter of rec from a Physical Therapist or Doctor that knows you better along with a science professor? Or is it better to have a lawyer write you one?
I wonder if my case for letters would be fine. I have been out of college for 6(will be 7 when I apply) and have been a paralegal during that time. I will have Letters of Recommendation from the leading shareholder of a top 100 law firm that began the immigration sector there. I also will have another one from the main attorney I work with who is Of Counsel. I feel these would be very good ones to have as they are lawyers and have seen me work in the legal field and could argue I have skills to potentially be a good lawyer. Wondering if this would be an exception, as I did not do well in undergrad for numerous reasons and as such did not get close to any of my professors(and it has been 6-7 years)
@KingAndrew1296 I'm not an expert but I have taken time off as well so getting letters from professors is pretty much out of the question. I say as long as your letters are great and show you as an asset you should be fine. Since you've taken time off admissions officers will understand that.
How will they be able to find your social media and Reddit? Is it safe to try googling your own name and seeing what pops up?
From what I have read, not only will they google your name and look, but they will do searches through various social media sites to find things. Mostly the main spots like X, Instagram, and Facebook, but if they find you on other sites its very possible they could look through it.
If you have private accounts with nothing questionable in your bio or profile picture you really should be okay. If your reddit account is not connected to your name or not otherwise easily linked to you I think its incredibly unlikely they would ever find it. The online searches for applications is mainly for people who post edgy stuff or have a damaging digital footprint which could reflect poorly on the school looking to admit you.
Don't quote me on this but I remember reading something a few years ago about a group of guys that got admitted to Harvard but were then denied admission after the school found their Facebook group where they were being openly offensive online.
With that being said, I still do not have any public accounts excluding my LinkedIn profile. Even if some may call this unnecessary, it is great peace of mind, and it could be a useful strategy just to give you one less thing to worry about for admissions. There is nothing bad admissions officers can find out about you online if there is literally nothing for them to find.
I hope this was helpful lol. Best of luck in applying!