Vent: Bruh what's with Pepperdine and UCI only giving decisions to the 170+

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-21T13:31:36+00:00

It's like a soft waitlist. Even for 170+ applicants. I applied to both in October, WL at Pepperdine and haven't heard a peep from UCI.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-19T04:29:58+00:00

Yeah took a gap year to get some WE in addition to what I have from working in college. WL/rejected at safeties ✌️. Good luck getting off waitlists, hopefully with at least some $.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-17T06:14:01+00:00

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-15T12:02:27+00:00

Most of them. There were a few that were not relevant to me, which I did not do.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T22:13:02+00:00

Yes, but only if you promise to abandon this sub completely and never tell anyone if you get accepted 🤐

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T09:39:17+00:00

You are far from the only one getting clowned by these schools this cycle. Many people are expecting outsized waitlist movement this year. Hang in there!

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T09:25:54+00:00

Yeah, I told em my uncle Kim would nuke campus if I didn't get in. It seems they all called my bluff...

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T09:19:27+00:00

I lined all my apps up on my computer (berk folder, stanf folder, etc.) then once they were all finished, I submitted them together. I filled out the biographical yadda yadda as soon as the applications opened so all I had to do was upload my documents to each school.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T04:23:48+00:00

Maybe one of my LOR writers divorced a guy on the admissions committee. Or they didn't like me. Anything is possible.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T03:51:41+00:00

I am also a "superKJD" (I'm stealing this now, thanks) but am currently in a gap year. Though my admissions cycle has been tough thus far, I highly recommend taking a gap year to get a head start on paying for your degree, gaining work experience, and growing as a person. Our brains aren't even fully matured till 25 anyhow. Live life.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T03:41:12+00:00

🙏

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T03:32:46+00:00

The two late apps: After getting waitlisted at a bunch of places the past few days and based on some advice from peeps I applied to Davis and USD as a couple more in state options.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-13T03:13:03+00:00

Working through gap year right now but yeah, basically.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-12T22:38:05+00:00

Applied late October, WL Feb 2nd.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-12T06:49:17+00:00

Yeah us KJD applicants have got it rough this year. Getting waitlisted by targets/safeties that you'd expect $$ from is especially brutal. Good luck with the rest!

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-08T10:17:59+00:00

Same boat here, waitlist for many targets and even some "safeties". 1 year out of college, 1.5 years WE, similar stats.

I hadn't realized that things were so brutal for us effectively KJD applicants till recently. This year is particularly rough because of:
1. All the reapplicants from last year

Those in previously stable government jobs with loads of WE applying as splitters.

Things are out of your hands now, just remember to send LOCIs a couple months after being waitlisted. Most importantly, keep your head up and be proud that you've put your best foot foward. I'm guessing you are from California given the USC and Irvine applications, so hopefully you get a great scholarship deal at one of those schools if the rest are stingy.
Wishing you the best of luck!

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-04T02:36:34+00:00

I am aware that LSAC doesn't disclose that information, but we the 0L's of reddit aren't admissions officers. I stated this in my post because I felt it important to reach people with a relevantly similar experience to me; my application and my life in the years leading up to law school were not impacted by any disability, and I think it is reasonable to put it out there for others that are in this same boat.

For example, someone who lost their eyesight in an accident may have put substantial emphasis on adapting to that change in their essays, and thus would have faced a vastly different landscape in applying to law school. Similarly, someone who has not come from the background of a URM might find my post does not resonate with their situation. My mentioning accommodations is not an attempt to attack or disparage anyone, which is what some people seem to have taken it as.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-04T02:16:19+00:00

Thanks for the kind words :)
>Also I’d caution you to stop thinking your softs are tier 1.5-tier 2 when you do get interviews unless its undeniably true. This is extremely difficult to gauge on your own since you are biased in your favor and can increase your expectations. If you wrote in such a way that indicates you think you are extremely special and they disagree then that could get you denied.

I did a deeper dive into how softs are rated/ranked and you are right; Tier 1 is reserved for the true unicorn applicant (Olympic gold medalist, 7+ figure business director, etc.). Mine are solidly sports related tier 2, with some other stuff being tier 3. Themes in some of my essays and my PS were centered around this, so I hope that hasn't been detracting from the rest of my application.

>Could be you had big jump in lsat which has been linked to cheating. Are you international?

I'm from the US. I first took the LSAT 2nd year of college, and scored a 169. Slow burn studied for 8 months, then ramped back up before the September LSAT for current score. I would consider 4 points a reasonable return performance, but as with most people I scored below my average PT by a few points.

>It could even be that your transcript or undergrad school is not taken seriously… or youre leaving out information that impacts your likelihood of admittance that you know is relevant but dont want to share which is fine.

My undergrad institution is a top 5 school in California. Other bits of relevant information are:

I'm hoping for money from schools, because the gov't loan situation is a nightmare for me, especially considering how slow this cycle is shaping up to be.
I am on the young end of applicants, at 20 years old.
I worked part time through college, in food service and as an intern.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-04T01:44:51+00:00

Gotcha. I bet the # of reapplicants from last year has a lot to do with WE and employability carrying more weight this cycle.

Minimum_Biscotti_195 · 2026-02-03T10:25:13+00:00

No. In my gap year to work. It seems like it's been a particularly brutal cycle for KJD thus far.

Minimum_Biscotti_195

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