SunsetMoon23 '24–'25

Hi! If you’re reading this, I hope my advice is at least a little bit helpful to you! I realize that nothing I’m saying is super unique or new but hope that, if anything, it reinforces what you may have already heard elsewhere. Wishing you the best of luck with your cycle!

• Pursue your genuine passions during college! Take classes that interest you, get to know professors who you really want to learn from, and don’t be afraid to get involved in academics/activities that may not seem the most law-related. I can only speak from my own experience, but I do think genuine interest (especially if it’s demonstrated over time) in a topic(s) goes a long way.
• Following your interests can also lead to internships and jobs that actually excite you, which can then lead to strong relationships with supervisors/mentors who you can ask for a rec letter.
• I’m biased, but I’d recommend taking time off between undergrad and law school. It really helped me confirm that the other career path I was considering wasn’t right for me, and gave me more clarity on the fact that I actually do want to become a lawyer. It also generally helped me think through my application with some perspective and maturity that I personally may not have had during my senior year of college.
• For the LSAT, I found that consistency was key. I treated my studying like a non-negotiable commitment but also made sure I wasn’t burning myself out and took one day off per week. I took it twice and went from a 171–>172 (lol). After the second try, I decided to turn my focus to my other application components, as a 172 was at the median for several of my top choices.
• For all essays, I’d recommend giving yourself lots of time. I was glad that I got the LSAT out of the way first, and spent several months just focused on my personal statement, then a couple more months on my supplemental essays.
• The most helpful piece of advice I received on my personal statement was to show schools “who I am” rather than “what I’ve done and why.” I scrapped an initial draft that hit on several pivotal experiences in internships/jobs (which also did connect to personal experiences) and instead submitted an essay that highlighted some of my more interpersonal strengths, lessons learned, and how my experiences have shaped my values as an advocate. I was proud of my final draft and happy that it did not just repeat what could be gleaned from my resume.
• Write the optional essays. And have fun with them! I did not write “Why X” essays for UMich and UPenn, which I think may have affected my results.
• While interviews can be really scary, I tried to focus less on the stakes and more on how awesome it is to be asked to share more about yourself.
  Good luck!