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Since, from everything I've read, gaining admittance to law school is pretty much a numbers game, how far can a really good PS realistically take you?

It won't help you outperform your numbers. It may help you when you might otherwise be waitlisted.

Ultimately, it is a numbers game, but if you can put together a nice PS that can help. A great PS alone wont get you into a school, but it can improve your chances. In short, write the best statement you can write.

URMdan wrote:Since, from everything I've read, gaining admittance to law school is pretty much a numbers game, how far can a really good PS realistically take you?

A bad PS will hurt you. A good PS will let you perform at your numbers. A great PS (of which there are few, don't think yours is special) might make up for 2 or 3 LSAT points and that's it.

I would say applying early (Sep-Oct) with a good PS is better than applying late (Dec-Jan) with a great PS, especially for schools like NYU, Columbia, Boalt, UVA.

The "Why X" essays are also critical at Mich, Penn, Duke. But again, they have to just be good enough, being great doesn't make as big a difference as it should.

I'm honestly not convinced they read them very closely - I was accepted at my school within 2 weeks with a handwritten note saying "I loved your personal statement!"

I can hardly write