Hi everyone!

Ann Perry, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Chicago Law School, is coming on the 7Sage podcast next week -- and we want your questions!

Post your questions on the Reddit thread linked below by Friday at noon, ET, and we'll put them to Ann on your behalf!

https://www.reddit.com/r/7SageLSAT/comments/1wzcww6/ask_ann_perry_associate_dean_for_admissions_and/

Curious if I should literally list every school I am applying to. Should I just list schools around the same ranking and geographic region? I do not like this question.

Context: I got a 176 on the September LSAT, and am ready to finalize my applications before sending them off, but I need to get Letters of Recommendation first.

I am in a bit of a confusing situation with regard to what to do for my LoRs due to the following:

1) I have been self-employed as an SAT/ACT tutor since pretty much right when I graduated in 2021. As a result, I do not have a supervisor or manager that can speak to my abilities, and as I understand it, asking clients (i.e. students' parents) is considered a bit of a no-no.

2) I essentially took my last class in Fall 2020, so I'm about six years out of college. I went to undergrad from 2017-2021. I was a transfer student from 1 year at a CC. I then went to UVA for about 2.5 years. During those 2.5 years, most of my courses were either large lecture hall courses or conducted entirely online due to the pandemic, leading to pretty impersonal/surface level interactions with my professors. I've reached out to the two professors who I had multiple, smaller-sized classes with, but I've yet to hear back two days later, though I'm not sure if this is atypical.

3) Many, if not most, of my universities that I'm applying to require 2 recommendations.

Any tips for how I should go about this?

Attending my first LSAC forum in a couple of weeks! Any suggestions on what to bring? Like resume just in case, or anything else?

Hello everyone,

I know my post is a bit untraditional for admissions but, any advice would be greatly appreciated on the below dilemma.

I love legal work, but unsure if I ever want to be a practicing attorney. Not because I wouldn't enjoy it to some extent, but rather I just think I equally enjoy other avenues such as compliance roles in corporate settings or government work. Currently I work as a legal researcher at a firm where I do most of the same work already as a compliance professional, so I began a Master of Legal Studies at Vanderbilt so I would have a degree to support that I know what I am doing beyond my work experience since my undergrad is fairly unrelated to what I do. But, this inspired me to study for the LSAT and potentially pursue a JD so it seems "more official". However, unlike my MLS program that I am already accepted into at a "good school", the JD programs I am likely to get into for the 2027 cycle would be much less prestigious and regional "Tier 4" schools with probably at best Rank 60 more likely Ranks 80-120. I already am doing the applications just to see if I get lucky with good aid or miracle admissions to law school, but with no aid from my MLS, would a JD to going into a non-traditional role later be a waste of time and money if I could do these things with an MLS from Vanderbilt already? Would finishing the MLS mean better or the same job prospects in that context with much less time commitment than a 3-year law school? Would a JD be better to have from a "lower prestige" law school, or will it always not matter if I want to go untraditional and avoid practice? My biggest limiting factor here is that I do not really have the money or loan capacity to "easily" go to any law school without aid, and of course I am kind of gambling for the next cycle here. But, I am on a time restraint since I would have to continue (and pay 15k) for my MLS by the time most law schools would admit/reject me (early Spring).

I have a lot of questions that include nuances of these. But, I think my dilemma here is fairly articulated and I truly would want any advice on the situation that y'all have. Really any advice on this would help so much, as I have a lot of stress trying to balance these decisions with law school being such a major decision financially and time-wise. I look forward to hearing from y'all and thank you for whoever is reading and bearing with my long post.

I feel like I don't quite know how to write this essay.

Hello! I am planning on applying to law schools at the end of October. I am currently in the revision part of my personal statement and I have been looking into the editing options but everything seems so expensive. Can anyone send me someone they used maybe a 7sage tutor or even a law student that they used to revise their letter. I am sending it to family as well but I would like someone with some knowledge about the law application process. Also if anyone wants to offer some advice for law school applications that would be greatly appreciated!!

Hello,

I am in need of some advice/guidance, as I would be considered a non traditional applicant. I have worked in corporate nearly 14 years, and I am currently pursuing my Doctorate degree in Business at the University of Florida. I would like to attend law school after completing the program. I am also a recently divorced mother of two. So that self doubt is trying to take over. I am a bit nervous as to how admission boards will view me, especially considering my gpa for undergrad was a 3.12. My GPA for my dual masters is 3.65, and currently have a 4.0 in my doctorate program…….with time, came wisdom. I know that the undergrad gpa is what’s counted, so how heavily will it be held against me? Also, are there any school suggestions that may align better with my situation?

Thanks in advance.

I just started filling out the Employment section for an application. It states "List all employment including internships." At two of my employers, I was promoted several times and had multiple positions.

Should I create a separate entry for each position, or just include the employer as a single entry?

I am taking the January LSAT, with scores being released on February 3rd, and one of my top schools deadline is February 1st. Will they still review it?

Hello! I have gotten conflicting advice on how to write my personal statement. I have seen LSAT tutors say to write it about a specific story and how that taught you something that drives you to go to law school. I talked with my Pre-Law advisor at school and she gave me opposite advice. She told me to briefly talk about the moment I realized I wanted to go to law school and then for the rest of the essay talk about skills that I have that make me a good candidate for law school. Which of these is a better style? I can put a brief overview of the two different kinds that I have written that may give a little more context. Which of these options are stronger?

Option 1: I start off talking about a TikTok where a nurse doesn't believe older people should receive life saving care like resuscitations. I then go into how this TikTok upset me because I have first hand seen how the healthcare system has failed my loved ones due to discrimination based on age and preexisting conditions. I then dive into how seeing medical malpractice first hand showed me I needed to not be complacent and pursue a career in law.

Option 2: I start off talking about the TikTok and the instance of medical malpractice I have witnessed in a much shorter and more objective manner. I then state I want to go into law so that I can help to change systems for the better. I then talk about experiences and qualities that I have that would make me a good lawyer. I talk about my fundraising experience, internships with law firms, and a research paper I did on a social issue and the solution I proposed.

I think my first option is stronger but my advisor said the second one is better. I also would ideally like to start my career working in corporate law and then do elder and healthcare law on the side as more pro bono work. Should I mention that or would that harm my admissions chances?

Can someone help me understand how scholarship applications work? Do I have to submit my scholarship application at the same time as my law school application? Or can the scholarship application be submitted later?

Also I was wondering if 7Sage had a bank/resource of all the scholarships available for people to apply to?

Hi! I reached out to a previous professor of mine for an academic reference, and she informed me that although happy to write one, she is no longer a professor. She was an assistant professor/temporary lecturer at the time and is now no longer in the teaching field. I'm worried that if I use her as a reference my application won't be considered for any schools that require an academic reference. Anyone have any experience in this area? Otherwise my backup plan is to reach out to other profs, but she's the only one I had an individual relationship with... any others I fear would give me a very generic, non-character reference which I also don't want to hurt my chances. What should I do?

Is it better to have two academic LORs or one academic and one work related? I graduated this May so I think my professors do remember me pretty well still. I will definitely have my thesis advisor write on LOR but I'm not sure if the second should be from my boss or another professor. Are academic letters generally more valuable or is it better to diversify?

Hi everyone! I’m working on my applications (to Canadian law schools) and am struggling to choose a direction to go with for my personal statements. Once I start the writing process I’m usually more self-confident, but selecting which topic to focus on and how to narrate myself from the beginning has been difficult. Does anyone know of any essay help tutors (preferably on the more affordable side), ideally for Canadian schools?

Will law school admissions counselors hold it against me if my personal statement and resume indicates a strong background and commitment to public interest law, but I decide not to apply to the specialized public interest programs at the law schools I'm applying to?

hi yall, i'm having trouble on what/if to write the diversity statement for each school. they phrase them as "Describe any experiences in your life or unique qualities you think would benefit X School of Law and/or your classmates." i feel like i don't have a "diverse" aspect given that i've lived a pretty normal life, but i have plenty of interesting experiences from work to share. my only hesitation is that i don't want it to sound like a personal statement.

does anyone have any advice here?

I will be working abroad for the next few month, and though theoretically the schools can still reach me via my US number, I am afraid of missing texts due to technical glitches (android phone, you never know). Can I not check the "Will accept text message to cell phone" box on the LSAC application form? Or would that look negative? Thanks a lot.

I got a 168 in June, and a 164 in September. I plan on taking it again in October; I am going to push myself, but I am not setting my sights unrealistically high by expecting to get much higher than 168. (although my goal is 170-174...)

What I am wondering is if I should keep or cancel my 164 score. Will AOs see that I took it in Sept but canceled the score? Would they rather see a canceled score, or a 164? Should I keep the score, but have a brief addendum explaining the factors I think led to the score decrease (taking it in a test center instead of at home, a break in my studying in June for traveling)? Anyone else contemplating canceling a score?

Thank you!!

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some opinions on my situation and what I should realistically be aiming for.

I’m a German international student and former college athlete. I recently graduated with a 3.82 undergraduate GPA and a B.S. in Digital Marketing. I played varsity sports for four years during college in the U.S, so while I’m happy with my GPA, I also know it probably could have been a little higher if I had been completely locked in academically the entire time.

After graduating, I joined an exciting startup in my area and currently work around 50–60 hours per week while studying for the LSAT on the side.

I started seriously studying in September 2026. My first-ever LSAT attempt/diagnostic was a 145, and my most recent practice test was a 156, so I’ve already made some decent progress. English is also my second language, my native language is German, which has made some parts of the LSAT especially challenging.

Right now, I’m planning to take the November 2026 LSAT, but I realize that two months of preparation is not a lot. I’m strongly considering taking the January 2027 LSAT as well, which would give me roughly two additional months to improve.

My goal is to start law school in Fall 2027.

A few things I’d love some input on:

• With a 3.82 GPA and my background, how competitive could I realistically be for law school admission?

• What LSAT score should I be targeting to have a solid range of schools available to me?

• At what LSAT range could I realistically start seeing merit scholarships or significant aid?

• Would taking the January LSAT put me at a meaningful disadvantage for Fall 2027 admissions, or would the potential benefit of a higher score outweigh applying later?

• Does being an international applicant change how schools evaluate my GPA, LSAT, or scholarship eligibility?

• How much do factors like being a four-year college athlete, working full-time, international background, and strong professor recommendations actually help in the admissions process?

I should be able to get strong letters of recommendation from a few professors who know me well.

I’m still pretty new to the law school admissions process, so I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially international applicants or people who made a significant LSAT jump in a relatively short period of time.

Thanks in advance! :)

hey guys i hope everyone is doing well!! i’d really appreciate any advice or perspective on my situation because i’m honestly struggling and feeling pretty lost right now.

for some context, i’ve been studying for the lsat since august 2025, and my diagnostic was a 136. i hired a tutor and worked with her from january - july, and the progress i made was amazing. i was consistently scoring in the high 160s and 170s on practice tests leading up to the june 2026 lsat.

unfortunately, during the june exam, i had a panic attack and got to the point where i couldn’t properly read the words on the screen. when i received my score of 158, i assumed anxiety had been the main issue, so i decided to retake and do the september exam.

between june and september, i worked really hard on managing my anxiety, drilling my weaker areas, and maintaining my stronger areas. i took the september 2026 lsat without experiencing that same intense panic and actually felt pretty confident afterward. i genuinely thought the dreadful year i spent on this exam was finally going to pay off.

when i received a 155, i was honestly heartbroken and completely baffled. i had spent an entire year studying, driving myself insane, and being so mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. i had been planning to finally submit my law school applications and felt like my chances at my goal scores disappeared.

i canceled the 155 and am keeping the 158 on my score report. my cas gpa is a 3.49, and i originally wanted my lsat score to make me more of a splitter applicant. i’m feeling really discouraged about applying this cycle because i know i’m capable of scoring significantly higher based on my practice scores, but i just don’t understand why my official scores aren’t reflecting what i was consistently doing in practice.

my goal was to attend a school in the t40 and i’m having a hard time figuring out whether i should apply this cycle with my current score or take another year and retake the lsat.

my family and friends are encouraging me to apply this cycle and “see where life takes me,” but i’m struggling with the idea of applying when i know i’m capable of a better score. at the same time, i’m scared of delaying law school for another year and potentially regretting that decision. what if i hold off for another year, take the lsat again, and end up with another score that i have to cancel? i don’t know if i can put myself through another year of this just to potentially end up in the same position.

i’m really struggling with what the right decision is, so any advice, especially from those who have struggled with significant gaps between practice scores and official scores would be so appreciated. thank you so much 🩷

Hi. So I am in the process of applying for this cycle. My GPA is a 3.4 and LSAT most recently in September was a 152. I’ve been PTing in the 170s too. Since August, I’ve had really terrifying health scares and I’m registered to take October next week. I really don’t have much confidence in myself for October. My health still isn’t amazing but I’m doing a bit better.

As for GPA, it all goes back to freshman year. I was working around the clock while balancing 5 classes to support my family after my dad had a severe car accident. (Amazing luck guys right) I also finally got diagnosed with adhd junior year and my semester GPAs since then have been a 3.8+.

And I would say, my ECs are very strong. (Can elaborate more in chat to keep anonymity)

I’m really not in a position to take a gap year because of undergrad loans. and honestly.. I don’t care about top law schools. I have addendums I can write but I’m just at a loss right now and was thinking if anybody could give me genuine advice. Thank you!

I'm a nontrad applying to a state school whos median GPA is 3.67 and median LSAT is 157. My GPA is 3.96 and my current highest official score was from August, and it was 158. I think my personal statement is good, I have 4 years of professional experience in a law-adjacent field, and I have 2 really good recommenders.

The problem with my LSAT score is that I've been PTing reeeeeally inconsistently. If I do a few short drills, I rarely miss any questions. Like hardly ever. But as soon as I sit down for the full thing, it's like my brain just won't work. The mental fatigue is BAD. Also, I work two jobs, so I don't get to study as much as I want. The PT test before my last was a 167, and then today I took another and got a 159. I'm taking October and I'm freaking the freak out.

I would really love to not have any student loans if possible. Is this realistic, even for a lower-ranked state school? And before anyone tells me to wait until next cycle, that doesn't make sense for our family, so it's now or never. Maybe I've been listening to the tiktok and reddit warriors too much (lol) but I genuinely just don't know how much my LSAT is going to pull down my other stats.

Hello,

Two brief questions on the resume:

-I've often heard that you should list every job you've had since you started college. Is this true?

-In that case, my resume hits one page with just my jobs, and that's with some having one or two bullet points. I made sure the second page wasn't just fluff: it's mainly leadership positions and volunteer work that I think ties into my narrative. Is it okay to have two pages, even though I've only been out of college for a little over two years? I'm just a super involved person, lol

Ok so, in college I started off pretty strong- here’s my GPA by semester my first two years. 3.7, 3.8, 4.0, 4.0 then my junior year my GPA dropped to below a 3.5- I got a 3.4 both semesters. My classes were not hard - I honestly just got too into partying and started losing motivation and didn’t really have any goals (whereas freshman and sophomore year I was excited and motivated). Then I only had one semester senior year (graduated early) where I got a 3.7. So my overall gpa is a 3.64. I’ve been out of school for almost two years and working in big law (and have matured a wholeeee lot). While I don’t think I should say “oh my gpa dropped bc I was partying :P” in my apps- it was a very transformative year for me personally and I changed a lot for the better (not sure if I would have seen that change had I not made and learned from all the mistakes of that year). I know this was a very long paragraph for maybe something that might not be so significant? I just wanted to know if I should write an addendum and if so how to frame it? Thanks!!!