Admissions

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Wednesday, Apr 29

🙃 Confused

Take another LSAT or not?

Hi everyone!

As many of you probably did, I just got my April LAST score back and am a little underwhelmed... For context, I started studying at the end of last May, took the September test, and got a 152. I took a step back, decided not to apply this cycle, and signed up for the April test and got a 164. I am happy with the significant score jump, but feel like I have more in the tank with most of my recent PTs being 168-174 (and a 162 2 weeks before :/ )

I was really, really hoping that would be my last test and did not sign up for the June exam. I am getting married on August 8, so the August test is off the table for me. September almost seems too soon after my wedding to really lock in again, and October feels so far away.

I work full-time, over 5 years out of undergrad, and am trying to decide if I should be content with a significant score jump or if I should try again. The burnout is real right now...

Any advice, motivation, etc would be most helpful.

My goal score is a 168 btw

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Hi applicants! I'm the coordinator of 7Sage's admissions program. It's my job to organize our committee of admissions officers, train all of our consultants, and refine our expert strategic advise to all applicants. I'll be on the 7Sage podcast answering questions about the admissions process. Give me all your questions, particularly those related to:

  • How admissions officers view different 'softs'

  • How to approach the personal statement

  • What law school are really looking for

  • Anything else!

Two lucky question-askers will get a free Essay Workshop with a 7Sage consultant, chosen at random on the day of taping ! (Friday, May 1st). Post away!

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Monday, Apr 27

JacobBaska

Admissions Strategy Expert
💪 Motivated

Admissions Classes This Week

This is going to be a busy week for admissions classes here at 7Sage!

With the April LSAT results coming back in a few days, we'll be doing our latest rounds of our "What Does My Score Mean" sessions. You've spent all this time prepping for the LSAT, stressing about the LSAT, taking the LSAT, waiting for your LSAT scores, and now you have them ... and now what? We'll contextualize the LSAT's role in the admissions process as well as give you insights on the other factors that go into the law school admissions process (hint - there's a lot more than just this score!).

Sessions on both Wednesday and Friday at 12PM and 3PM Eastern.

And speaking of Wednesday, we'll have our regular weekly admissions AMA session! Stop on by to ask whatever questions you have about applications, the law school admissions process, or those admissions phobias that have been in the back of your mind and have been meaning to research but it never seems like the right time. Well, Wednesday, is the right time!

Session on Wednesday at 1PM Eastern.

You can find info and links for these classes right here!

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I’m already above medians for schools I want to apply to but I know I can score higher and have free time to study. Will it hurt my application if I apply with future tests scheduled? For example, if I send in applications on September 1st while being signed up for September and October LSAT will this hurt my application?

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Edited Saturday, Apr 25

💪 Motivated

Visiting Law Schools

I'm from the east coast, but I have a trip planned to the west coast in early June.

Conveniently, I've got some time to visit law schools. Even though schools aren't in session, is it worth contacting admissions and scheduling an information session and/or campus visit?

What should I expect and is there anything I should ask for particularly?

For extra information, I would've taken the LSAT (but not know the score) when I go in early June.

3

Hi all,

I need some advice on whether to enroll in my old undergrad school as a non matriculated student for the sole purpose of obtaining an academic letter of recommendation.

I have seen some posts where really strong applicants who are lacking academic letters of rec are being rejected or waitlisted. Currently I'm PTing at around a 168 and have a 3.0 gpa. I graduated in 2023 and cannot get an academic letter. I am confident I can get strong letters from my boss and supervisor at the law firm I work at, but I am leaning towards taking a summer class as well to have at least the one academic letter.

I wish to make my application as strong as possible to possibly get a full ride somewhere or even hopefully get accepted into a T14. I will be applying this upcoming cycle. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

2

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give insights into what schools I should look into and what my chances are, as I've found information about Canadian schools to be harder to find.

I know some schools drop your lowest credits, which would be ideal; I feel that my current cgpa is pretty low at around 3.5 since all of the schools I have looked into are asking for 3.8/3.9. At this point, I would be happy to get into any school, so I am not too picky. I'm taking the LSAT in June, but so far my range of scores has fallen between 165-170. I know that applications have been tough, but I am really hoping not to apply to too many schools to save money, and due to my immigration situation, I ideally need to find a school this following year rather than wait another cycle as that would complicate things with my student visa.

Does anyone have any recommendations for Canadian law schools that weigh LSAT more heavily or are maybe more forgiving on dropping some credits?

2

I went to the University of Toronto with a Bachelors of Computer Science. My GPA is around 2.9. I want to apply for Canadian law schools near Toronto/anywhere in the GTA.

I went through some financial instability and traumatic experiences which significantly made it harder for me to live, let alone perform well in school despite endlessly studying. I also pursued a Specialist degree which means I rarely had electives, most of my required credits were for technical courses (programming, theory, calculus, statistics, etc.) so my GPA reflects that. I did do better in my fourth/fifth year where I had more humanities electives (I perform much better in writing courses) and wasn't overloaded with credits.

Can anyone give me some insight on what my LSAT score should aim to be, and how realistic it really is for me to apply? I'm having some serious doubts in myself because of my GPA.

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Hi, wondering if I should retest and reapply or start school in the fall. Here are my stats

160 lsat, 3.86 ugpa, 4.0 masters in human rights gpa and currently working with crime victims. First gen student and urm.

I got waitlisted to BC, BU, Columbia, Northeastern, and Brooklyn

I have a scholarship that covers nearly all tuition at a T100 school and I’d like to go into public interest law. I feel like I could do better than this school but I’m not sure if I want to delay law school further. Any advice?

4

Hey everyone! I will be a first gen lawyer/law student in my family, and I would love some guidance on schools to look at. I have a master's in Marine Conservation and I really would like to go into ocean/coastal law (think NOAA general counsel). I am currently looking at Pace, RWU and UMaine, but is there anywhere else that has an ocean/coastal law institute, law review or certification program on the east coast?

I'd like a good law school, but I'm definitely not a genius lol so I'm not looking for a T14 or anything!

Thanks!

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Thursday, Apr 16

🙃 Confused

Online degree...

Hi everyone- I am currently gearing up to apply to law schools, mainly in the NYC area, this upcoming cycle. I currently have an LSAT score in the 158-162 range and am hoping to submit a score of at least 163-165. For my undergrad, I have a 4.0 GPA from Excelsior University, a fully online school based in Albany, NY. I was wondering if anybody had any insight into how much this will impact my admissions chances at schools? Will it matter if i apply to schools that I am within their lsat median, or will I need to score a few points ovber medians to secure acceptances and hopefully scholarships?

The main schools i am currently targettng are: Cardozo, St. Johns, Brooklyn, NYLS, but would love to shoot higher if my LSAT permits me to do so. (fordham, nyu, columbia)

Any advice or answers people may have is appreciated, thank you all and best of luck!

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Hi, as I start thinking about my personal statement- I wanted to get some opinions about mentioning mental health, it would be mentioned in the least dramatic way possible I promise and it would not be the main theme, just a small touchpoint within the broader picture. I just wanted to see if admissions officers would read about struggles with mental health and see it as a drawback (again nothing debilitating), is there a stigma? Thanks!!!

4

Hello! As I start to think about my application materials for the next cycle, I had a few questions about LORs.

  1. I know I need a letter of recommendation from a professor, but I am unfortunately not that close to any and don't really have time to build a relationship with one. Has anyone dealt with this situation, and if so, how did you go about getting a strong LOR from a professor?

  2. I am an RA and my supervisor has already written me a strong LOR speaking to my character and work ethic. Would it be a good idea to ask them for a LOR for law school, or would their letter carry less weight since their work isn't law-related?

Thank you so much in advance!

3

Hey all,

I did my writing sample a few months ago, but I found myself thinking about it again these past few weeks. I’m just curious how important it actually is in this process? It just feels like there’s a wide range of opinions, ranging from it essentially being a captcha that makes sure you have basic literacy to it being so significant that a single grammar mistake while ruin your chance of a top law school.

I’m honestly of a more middle ground perspective - that it’s something admissions officers will see, and you certainly don’t want to blow it off, but it’s also a rough piece of writing you produce in 35 minutes, and few people are probably expecting it to be a genuine testament of your full writing ability. But I was curious what other perspectives this board might offer, especially from those who are more versed in the admissions process.

For reference, I don’t think my writing sample was bad. I took a clear position, argued it with the given perspectives and some real world examples, did a counter argument to address any rebuttals, and did so in an organized way - essentially the classic 5 paragraph essay. I just think that my piece was a bit clunky and repetitive, like very bluntly repeating my main idea at the end of each paragraph.

Thanks all.

6

I've been listening to the 7Sage admissions podcast and panicking. I was wondering if I could get a second opinion on my chances of getting into Penn State Dickinson Law? Preferably from @JacobBaska :), but I'll take ANYTHING!

I am a junior at Penn State, studying Human Dev. & Family Science, minor in Social Justice. 3.92 GPA, 1500+ hours of volunteer work, have worked 30 hours a week through college, involved with SGA as a chair, and involved with THON (largest student-run philanthropy in the nation) as a chair as well.

However, I was placed on academic probation at a community college when I dual enrolled. I had a 1.9 GPA due to me taking 15 hours of straight sciences. Being homeschooled, I had no clue how bad testing effected me. I thought it was my study habits. I sought help, found a therapist, and have many coping strategies now. However, I did not meet SAP even after being diagnosed with panic disorder and severe OCD. I hope to write an addendum.

I have obviously well recovered since then, but I completely forgot the LSAC could see the mistakes I made at 13 years old. Yes, I was 13 in dual enrollment. I am 16 now. I've got LSAT age waivers and accommodations to help me take the test in June 2026. I would be 17 when I start law school next year.

As far as the LSAT goes, my first diagnostic score was 139 on March 10th. As of today, my PT is averaging 150. 11 pt increase in a month isn't awful, but I have less than 2 months to go. I'm aiming for a 165, in hopes that I at least make a 155 (median admittance score). Is that increase possible? If not, will I be able to get in, even with my awful past issues?

I've heard they give priority to PSU undergrads, so maybe that will be in my favor? My personal statement also covers why it's my dream school. I want to use my JD to open a non-profit benefitting children and families of color in poverty in Philadelphia and Penn State Law has so many awesome clinics. They also founded an anti-racist institute. I feel like I am a perfect fit and I would give my firstborn child to get in.

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Wednesday, Apr 8

🙃 Confused

Admission Facors

I am confused as I am watching more decisions roll out in the decision tracker tab. Why would schools deny students that have high LSAT and GPA? What factors would get them denied other than those? This is not in reference to the top ranked schools.

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My plan is to test this June and turn around (assumig its a decent test score) and apply for this cycle here in FL. If I apply and am rejected because most of the seats are filled or it was just an average score, does this damage any future application to the same program?

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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With deposit deadlines closing in, @JacobBaska walks through everything you need to know about the final stretch of the admissions cycle. Do schools actually negotiate scholarships right now, when applications are at a 15 to 20 year high? The answer is more complicated than the Reddit threads might suggest.

Jake breaks down how to find out if your school negotiates, what to say when you reach out, and what makes a compelling case for more money. He also covers the biggest change to law school financing in years: the end of grad plus loans and what that means for how you budget your legal education.

Plus, a look at the data on LSAT test takers and what it signals for next year's applicant pool, and why if you're planning to apply next cycle, earlier is better than ever.

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