My Law School Application Stats (REALISTIC): GPA, LSAT, Results

[@jordanrattanavong2655]

A 155 after a couple months of studying actually isn't bad. It took me like 10 months of studying for a 161.

[@themccarthyproject8654]

I also have a 161

[@Wolveram1519]

Lawyer here, totally agree with the “shoot your shot” mentality. I remember asking my pre-law advisor if I should apply to top schools as a low-GPA, high LSAT “splitter.” She said 100%. I ended up getting a huge scholarship at the exact school I threw out as an example. One thing I would add is that people should think about their debt. Salaries for lawyers, especially in the beginning of our careers are bimodal. You’re either making like 70 or 225. No in between.

[@thelegaldiaries]

All very true, thanks for sharing your wisdom!

[@erin_amerikanka]

I got the same score ❤ thanks so much for being transparent. I work full time and I’m a mom. I also recently discovered many people aren’t transparent. There are so many state schools that would love to have you!

[@thelegaldiaries]

You’re a super human! You have a lot on your plate but thank you! We will all end up where we are meant to. Goodluck on your journey and stay motivated 🙏🏼

[@MelissaAlvarado-rz6hw]

Congratulations on your acceptance to UM! You should be so proud of yourself! I think it is awesome that you tell your story as it is; it shows great strength and courage and I know it’s going to help lots of folks. Way to go! Keep it up! Good luck!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!! That means a lot especially since this was very vulnerable for me

[@jarrettevanbrown]

Congratulations! You're going to do great things at law school and beyond!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!!!

[@victoriawalker9964]

thank you for being so real and honest about your stats !!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Always!

[@jluvmusic1001]

Honestly I take all Information with a grain of salt, the medians, Reddit, and numbers don’t define or intimidate my law journey I move on hard work and faith. And I’m so glad that you did your best and it worked out.

[@Jasmyne444]

Thank you for this! Very realistic! ❤ congrats on law school!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!!

[@erikabontrager3886]

TYSM love hearing abt your experience!!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!!

[@VersatileVick]

Very transparent video, glad it worked out for you!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you so muchn!

[@SPOLJMEISTER]

I actually had my CAS GPA raised after LSAC's appraisal. It's very ticky tacky for sure. Just took my LSAT this past weekend, I hope I did well!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Awesome!! And Goodluck !

[@natalietiu6743]

Thank you so much for this means a lot I’m applying this fall and you kept it so real throughout this video

[@thelegaldiaries]

Yay good luck!!! Shoot your shot

[@mariaromo2743]

Congratulations. All the best for you. Keep working hard and always be proud of yourself! ❤

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you so much!

[@finurra3905]

This was soo helpful omg yayy UofMiami is a great school, I worked in big law (non lawyer) and there were a large number of corp and lit lawyers from that school! Good job!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!!! That’s so cool, I’m definitely considering biglaw 🙏🏼

[@gothtaino]

I think this video shows if you really want to go to law school, you can do it.

[@elizabetht308]

i’m actually kind of surprised you got waitlisted!! not that your stats were bad, mine are pretty much the same. but your statement and recommendations must have been so good if you got waitlisted at Columbia! congrats on everything!

[@elizabetht308]

it’s really helpful to hear that you applied to some of the top ranking schools even though your lsat wasn’t like a 170, i think i’ll try to apply to a couple top 20 schools then!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thanks for the congrats! And shoot your shot!!! From what I’ve heard, it’s worth it to cover all of the T20. Good luck!!!

[@abigailsurdez5225]

Taking the exam on Wednesday… I’ve only been studying seriously for less than a month. I’m so nervous, I know I’ll probably have to retake it. Practice test have been showing 149-153. Thank you for this vid it’s so helpful. I have no strong relationships with professors so I have no clue who to ask for recs from lol.

[@millyb1478]

thank you for this. seriously

[@TheSuraj300]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 📊 The video discusses the speaker's law school application stats, including LSAT score, GPA, letters of recommendation, and acceptances. 01:24 💡 LSAC recalculated GPA might differ from the original, affecting applications; many people face this issue. 01:37 📚 LSAT score of 154 achieved despite not being able to study extensively; nervousness on test day impacted performance. 02:36 💌 The importance of building strong relationships with professors for letters of recommendation, and having meaningful engagement with them. 04:14 🎯 Realistic application outcomes: received waitlists and rejections from schools with higher medians, while gaining acceptances from schools with lower medians. Made with HARPA AI

[@qcb648]

Thank you for your truth!!!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you for your support!

[@hachi7100]

Thanks this gave me hope to shoot my shot at Columbia and Georgetown with only 162 😭

[@Lpstpaul]

Heads up, being waitlisted doesn’t mean the don’t want you or aren’t sure. It actually means they want you at their school but they have already met their acceptance letter quota. If you reapply, the majority of the time you’ll get accepted the second time around!!! So considering that, CONGRATS at getting waitlisted at GW and Columbia! That’s amazing!

[@abbyboyone]

The LSAT tests accuracy and mental quickness. It's done one purpose to separate people.

[@wenkaiyang1487]

I don't think those factors have much impact on how good a lawyer you will be. Eventually, you got into a great law school. It pays off. Keep it up.

[@thelegaldiaries]

This means so much to me! I hope to be a great lawyer one day. I appreciate it!!!!

[@jacksteudle]

Lsac calculates your gpa based on what is reported in your transcript. If your undergraduate institution records, for example, A+’s will give a higher lsac gpa than a regular A or A-.

[@jacksteudle]

Also, like 70% of the weight of these applications is determined by LSAT

[@hyerichoi3501]

question: will they combine ur gpa from different institutions together? (i have a 3.9, 3.5, and another one not known yet but i expect it to be low) (the 3.9 and 3.5 are from dual degree program so i got 2 transcripts from 2 unis for BA in law) so can i submit only 1-2 of them and not submit the last gpa. (the last gpa is for BA in IR from another institution separate program and everything)

[@Caroline-cg6sk]

@@hyerichoi3501 LSAC will combine them, you can’t submit one

[@taz9234]

@@hyerichoi3501Yes

[@AntiAshley]

LSAC doesn't honor university policies such as grade replacement. Mine decreased by 0.13 from LSAC, because it took the grade from both times I took a course. Thank you for being so transparent, by the way! It's put me at ease as I wait to hear back from schools, and so many students will not talk about stats or results. Congrats and best of luck to you!

[@AntiAshley]

Also your comment about Reddit- so true lol. It certainly is bringing me more doubt and fear, so I appreciate content like yours.

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you!!

[@themaskedlawstudent]

Good video

[@hyerichoi3501]

I literally just found out I have to do the LSAT like last week (personal circumstances)….so I have no choice but to do the one in January as that’s my only chance of enrolling in fall 2024. I have never taken it before and I also just found out what it is. I know im not gonna do well the first time but :( idk how im gonna prepare for everything in these few months. Plus, working with LSAC and CAS is a bit complicated for me AND i also have to write bunch of essays too. I also have financial issue so resources for my LSAT study will all be free only 😭 I have 5-6 months 😃

[@Caroline-cg6sk]

why can’t you wait until next cycle? You’ll have a better chance of admissions if you wait and apply early

[@hyerichoi3501]

@@Caroline-cg6sk yeah i wanted to wait too but i cant due to some family circumstances ☹️

[@ftknmlo]

Its so weird about the gpa bc for some people it increases it

[@thelegaldiaries]

Omg I had no idea

[@banardadams8776]

It’s because different schools have different grading scales so lsac tries to uniform everyone’s gpa

[@annnnaanaam]

❤❤❤❤

[@attiyagriffith2829]

What was your major for your undergrad ??

[@patboland1650]

Key is coming out debt free is key...........or as little as possible. Good luck

[@thelegaldiaries]

Very true, thank you!

[@christophermister9017]

Out of curiosity- are you a URM? I know it doesn’t matter currently but it still probably applied for part of your cycle

[@thelegaldiaries]

I am and I believe it did, so I probably got a push there

[@user-zn1pc8br2v]

Hi friend, question- How do you figure out what your newly calculated LSAC CAS gpa is once you send in your transcripts? Thanks

[@thelegaldiaries]

Hi! You look at your Academic Summary Report on LSAC! It might be unchanged which can be a good thing. Good luck!

[@jluvmusic1001]

I forget to ask , what month did you apply for schools ? I’ve heard the earlier the better

[@thelegaldiaries]

I believe I applied in November and kept applying throughout December

[@candyk6826]

Which major did she go in college?

[@shaniyams]

congrats! what did you major in during undergrad?

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you! Economics

[@reginaldcharles1133]

Congratulations counselor

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you so much

[@reginaldcharles1133]

​@@thelegaldiarieslooking forward to this amazing journey

[@TheChantelxxFields]

I had a very low GPA for my bachelors due to health issues etc. I want to go back to school for a paralegal certificate and enter that work field to get a feel for it and see how much I enjoy law. If my GPA for the certificate is high would they consider that or just undergrad?

[@Caroline-cg6sk]

just undergrad sadly

[@Caroline-cg6sk]

but having work experience is a good thing and helps you!

[@Missginalove]

If you have a low gpa you better have a great great essay story and work history and a lawyer to vouch for you. If you are Christian and belong to a church try a Christian university law school and get your pastor to vouch for you. They usually would over look gpa cause they want personalities. Also try getting your masters in law and bust your ass to get a 3.5 and up and you should be soild

[@orianeasmore8941]

What are the current tools to atudy for LSAT in 2024?

[@Tyler674]

Thomas will give you study guide

[@simplyxparis8547]

im a little confused to how this all works. So do you go to college and take like pre law or something first? Then after you graduate you go to law school? Im not really close to college (9th grade) but im a planner and im curious about this. Thank you in advance!

[@thelegaldiaries]

Hi it’s awesome that you’re preparing already! You go to college for your bachelors degree (which can be anything) and then around your 3rd year of college you take the LSAT (law school entrance exam). Then you apply to law schools with that score! Everyone’s timeline looks different but that is essentially the process

[@simplyxparis8547]

@@thelegaldiaries okay tysm! this was very helpful!

[@jluvmusic1001]

This is the exact video that I needed the rest of law videos are alot of fluff

[@jluvmusic1001]

If I write a diversity statement I will sound reparative , my personal statement strong very strong highlights of diversity.

[@dakotamarie2712]

I am thinking about law, but my act score is pretty low🤣

[@haileycobb7476]

your ACT score won’t impact law school admissions!! work hard in college and start studying for the LSAT 6+ months for a few hours a day to get a good score! (however your scedule works would differ ur study schedule)

[@carlosjuliobertos8469]

U have a good score chill

[@miraculouslynada]

no way you said "theyre a minority, they have everything going for them" 💀

[@thelegaldiaries]

Obviously I didn’t mean it in that way. I meant it application wise.

[@pbj0815]

Caught me off guard too

[@thelegaldiaries]

It was poorly said, sorry guys. I didn’t mean to offend anyone! I am a minority too

[@tendiie]

What’s wrong with saying that? She’s literally correct. You can be 10+ points below the median LSAT for a school and they’ll take you over someone else because you are a “URM”.

[@maxshilt]

Which university did you attend?

[@thelegaldiaries]

ucf

[@jasmineartis5754]

It’s really disheartening to hear you say that being a minority helps you get into law school, when they banned affirmative action. A persons race might make them more interesting but if you don’t put in the work you’re not getting in.

[@thelegaldiaries]

I should have framed my statement better! What I was trying to say is that although statistics matter, being a URM may give you a boost, even if it’s small. Schools want to increase diversity, even without outwardly pronouncing affirmative action, especially in a profession dominated by white individuals, like the field of law. I didn’t say it with malicious intent and apologize if it came off that way. I’ve always been a huge advocate for minorities, as I am one myself! I agree that you have to put in the work, no matter what your color, race, culture, gender, etc. is.

[@jasmineartis5754]

Ohh i understand that i appreciate you commenting back. I’ve been told my entire life that I’ve gotten things because of my race/gender so I try to work 10 times as hard to really show that I deserve to be in certain spaces. I thought by schools getting rid of affirmative action that everyone would be on an equal playing field, that’s sad that isn’t the case. Thank you for your comment, you seem very lovely.

[@thelegaldiaries]

Thank you for hearing me out, I need to edit that part of the video out because it really came out super wrong!! But I know what you mean and it’s far from the truth. You have achieved things that you deserve because of the hard work you put in. I’m sorry that people have undermined your efforts and made you feel like you got everything handed to you because that’s simply NEVER the case. Once again, thank you for listening to my explanation!