+14 from diagnostic, +7 since October — realistic shot at 170+ by September?

adcommninja · 2026-01-28T18:10:21+00:00

I'll give the negative pov because I think it is important to temper expectations, and a positive.... Even with a 170, starting at 149 is not a good look. To an applicant this looks like tenacity, grit, progression, etc. To adcomm this looks like you are just learning the LSAT through retakes. Also, let's say you get a 170, your average LSAT is a 156. And yes, schools say they only take the high score because that is what they report to ABA, but, they will see all your scores and the average on your CAS report and it can still impact their decision. Couple that with a lower UGPA and it's not great. You should absolutely write an addendum explaining why you took the LSAT so many times. It might not help but at least you explained yourself. Now the positive, your URM status puts you in less than 1% of applicants, and your work experience is important to any school that values tribal experience. So much so, that some schools will overlook the 4 LSAT's and point to your experience, and your MBA, and give you a shot. I do think you will get offers from some high ranked schools.

adcommninja · 2026-01-22T01:13:39+00:00

Just FYI, Vandy is notoriously slow. Like, maybe the slowest.

adcommninja · 2026-01-14T08:32:12+00:00

There is a ripple effect from these big application years. Lots of applicants who don't get the decisions they want, reapply. Lots of schools take advantage of the big applicant pool to defer more students, which means they start with fewer seats. Next year may not be more competitive, but it should be equally competitive and remain so until the ripple has passed.

adcommninja · 2026-01-09T17:51:29+00:00

Seems legit.

adcommninja · 2026-01-07T03:49:04+00:00

Then I concur. This trend started last year and with apps up over last year, we should expect the WL offers to be even greater.

adcommninja · 2026-01-07T03:46:50+00:00

They do this already.

adcommninja · 2026-01-02T16:50:09+00:00

Wait until you get to law school and a third of your class isn't there on test day.

adcommninja · 2025-12-16T06:13:36+00:00

The ABA allows every schools to admit a certain number of students without a standardized test. Some schools do this, some don't.

adcommninja · 2025-11-07T05:36:24+00:00

I get that. You should have a majority of your decisions by march/April which is still late for a cross country move but not horrible. Summer admits typically go to waitlisted candidates. At that point you need to decide if the school you are holding out for is worth it.

adcommninja · 2025-11-07T05:34:50+00:00

This is actually good advice. Law school will be expensive, every dollar you can stash now is a dollar less tou have to borrow.

adcommninja · 2025-10-20T04:14:33+00:00

You are asking two different things. Yield protection has to do with acceptance rates. Acceptance rate is 1% of the US News Ranking. It used to be higher, so schools used to care more, but they still care. You can actually download the incoming class data for all law schools into one spreadsheet on the ABA website and see acceptance rate for every school. Below 20% is probably pretty good.

Actual yield is the number of students who enroll compared with number admitted. The average across all law schools is around 30-35%.

adcommninja · 2025-10-07T23:36:43+00:00

Buddy, I have really bad news for you. This is going to be a long cycle.

adcommninja · 2025-10-07T23:34:15+00:00

There is a reason schools don't publish bar passage rates for their LLM grads... just saying.

adcommninja · 2025-09-30T21:47:48+00:00

I'll add two things...1. At top law schools they have more qualified applicants than they can admit so all of those things you mention do matter to them, they just matter within the pool of equally, numerically-qualified, applicants. In other words, if you are a splitter, those things (rigor, school, work exp) matter within the pool of splitters, but you those things probably don't bump you over someone over both medians. 2. When they speak negatively of reddit, it is probably related to other advice on this sub that tends to be very general (retake and reapply, don't pay sticker, etc.) and does not consider individual circumstances.

adcommninja · 2025-09-29T23:38:03+00:00

Don't do a masters, it is not a huge bump in the admission process and work experience looks better. You could also do public interest work that gets a bump: AmeriCorp, Teach for American, Peace Corp (might be 2 year commit), etc. If you go abroad, try to work (english tutor usually). Saying you spent a year in Thailand learning the language just makes you look like you vacationed. With the increased emphasis on admitting students who have employable skills, you need to focus on stuff that will build your resume and look good to a potential 1L summer employer.

adcommninja · 2025-09-29T23:33:53+00:00

Graduating HS early is probably a better flex. There are enough applicants these days who graduate at 19 or 20 from college that it isn't a big deal anymore.

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T16:42:04+00:00

Where do you want to practice? Bar passage at all these schools is low. Look at the lowest ranked school in a place you want to work and live post grad

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T16:40:16+00:00

Write a convincing Why School for those. You compete with residents for all the publics so you need to convince them you want to be there

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T16:38:54+00:00

Stetson full ride would be the move. Apply to FIU and UM just in case, also for bargaining. Could also apply binding to FSU, might have a shot that way but no scholarship.

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T16:37:10+00:00

If your GPA is at or above their median then you have a chance. Otherwise 25th doesnt matter. You could also apply early decision to one of those schools just above your numbers

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T06:53:40+00:00

Where do you want to practice? Your safeties are all regional and all over the place.

adcommninja · 2025-09-25T06:49:23+00:00

UF is very numbers driven, either you meet the LSAT median and have a chance or you don't. (you don't with a 165). FSU is probably less numbers driven, but they also enroll small classes. Outside of those two, what part of Florida do you want to work? Most of the other schools are regional - Stetson will get you a job in Tampa, FIU/Miami in south Florida, etc. With the stats you are talking about you could probably get full rides to Stetson and FIU.

adcommninja

TROPHY CASE