Splitter reapplicant, chances at improvement? Forum

[kinge]

Stats from last cycle were 3.4x / 175 KJD, stats come September will be 3.5x (.1 higher) 175 and hopefully employed. Non-URM, some volunteering/ECs in undergrad but nothing that would move the needle.

Waitlisted from Columbia on down except for Berkeley (didn't apply) and Cornell (rejection), $$$-$$$$ at various T20-T30s. Will my new GPA and hopefully a job get me into a T14? Looking to do antitrust biglaw in east coast/midwest.

[Jialw]

0L so take with a grain of salt.

Had a friend who had similar stats who also reapplied, the only difference from you is that they took more time off than you and worked. The first cycle they only got GULC at sticker, the second cycle they got into Michigan on down. What kind of work are you doing? It's anecdotal evidence but my friend got a job in a field clearly tied to their law interests and their personal statement vastly improved compared to when they applied as a KJD.

At the end of the day, a 3.5x vs a 3.4x does put you above 25th at lower t14 and work experience is always great, but these improvements are not going to move mountains. I think you do have a shot at lower t14 so shoot your shot.

[QContinuum]

Here's the increase in your chances based solely on GPA and LSAT:


It's an increase, but not a huge increase. The big takeaway is that last cycle you significantly underperformed your numbers. The key is to figure out why that happened. Do you have any character and fitness issues, either a criminal record or academic discipline? Are you certain your LoRs were at least decent (i.e., is there any chance one of your recommenders sabotaged you with an awful letter? if in any doubt, try not to reuse that person next time around)? Are you confident you wrote a decent PS?

[kinge]

Here's the increase in your chances based solely on GPA and LSAT:
It's an increase, but not a huge increase. The big takeaway is that last cycle you significantly underperformed your numbers. The key is to figure out why that happened. Do you have any character and fitness issues, either a criminal record or academic discipline? Are you certain your LoRs were at least decent (i.e., is there any chance one of your recommenders sabotaged you with an awful letter? if in any doubt, try not to reuse that person next time around)? Are you confident you wrote a decent PS?

No C/F issues to my knowledge - never even gotten a parking/speeding ticket before. One of my recommenders said he'd write me a great letter, the other one didn't know me as well but he seems to like me well enough and was more than willing to write me a letter. I will likely have a third LoR by the end of the summer (non-academic, from one of my volunteering supervisors).

I thought I wrote a solid PS. I had my parents, prelaw advisor, several people in my school's writing center, and several randos online look at and critique my essay and they all said it was good.