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[quote=Anonymous]My DC20 just went through the law school admission cycle.  These are my impressions (consistent with many other posters -- I second everything that 12:59 said):

LSAT and GPA are the most important factors by a mile; accordingly, the process felt vastly more predictable than undergrad admissions did.  You have the best shot if you're above both LSAT and GPA medians, but "splitters" also have a shot. Look at the 7Sage admission predictor; it gave a good estimate of chances.  (Expect the medians to go up for this year's entering class, however.)  Minor GPA-related points: 
- There seems to be some allowance for more challenging majors, but not as much as a STEM major would like.  
- Undergrads who go to schools that offer A+ grades have a potential advantage. Even if not calculated by the undergrad institution, when the LSAC recalculates GPA from your transcript, these come in at 4.33, which can make a big difference.
- Don't forget that [i]every[/i] class (study abroad, community college classes taken in HS, etc.) will be included.

The undergrad school provides a context, but the "prestige" factor seems to be of limited importance. LSAC provides law schools with data on the grades and LSAT scores of students from each university, so they understand the relative standing of the applicant within that population.

Work experience seems to be very helpful; so-called KJDs appeared to have less favorable outcomes in admissions.  Post-JD employment is important to schools' rankings and reputations, and prior work experience can make new JDs more competitive for their first jobs. Also, law students are generally apply for their 1L summer positions before any grades are posted, which means they're basically applying with their pre-law school experience.

My sense is that ECs matter on the edges; see 12:59 for great examples of ones that impress. I think ECs can be a key part of packaging if they help tell a coherent story. For my DC, the extracurriculars (STEM-related) helped tell the why-law (and what kind of law) story.

I think fit really does play a role. Look carefully at each school, do the optional essays, and if it doesn't seem to be a match, pay attention. I believe the why-THIS-law school mattered in my DC's success (great merit aid, multiple T14 offers, no traditional "hooks"); the fit was real, and I believe it came through.

This was a historically competitive cycle, with a record number of applications. The impression seems to be that earlier applications were more successful.  Consider the timing of the process, but don't rush that LSAT -- the best score you can get will be key.

Finally, there are so many excellent resources out there! My kid had a great experience with Spivey consulting for a single-app review and a few later questions (no attorneys in the family, so an expert eye was very reassuring).  Fantastic free resources include:

- Michigan Law's Dean Z's A2Z Videos (YouTube and TikTok) -- can't express how informative (and often funny!) these are.
- r/lsat -- lots of tips and shared experiences. 
- r/lawschooladmissions -- so many applicants posting so much information! Now is a great time to see the cycle recaps.  Lots of current students do "Ask Me Anything" posts, which are very interesting.
- LSD.law -- applicants enter their stats, application dates, interview dates, decision dates, financial awards, etc.  It's a treasure trove of data (although some portion is likely not accurate).  You can see graphs of applicants, scores, admissions decisions stats at every school. This is also where you'll find the description of "tiers" of "softs." 
- Various consulting organizations (Spivey, 7Sage, etc.) do really informative blogs and podcasts in addition to paid consulting.

Good luck!

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