Susan Krinsky on Law School Admissions: LSAT, GPA, Personal Statements, and Application Tips

^{Last Updated: September 2026}

Originally published as an interview with Susan L. Krinsky during her tenure at Tulane University Law School, this conversation provides an inside look at how an experienced law school admissions professional evaluates applicants.

Krinsky has spent decades working in legal education and admissions. She later served at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and joined the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), where she has held senior leadership roles. Her experience makes her observations particularly useful for prospective law students trying to understand what admissions committees look for beyond test scores and grades.

Although some Tulane-specific statistics and procedures discussed in the original interview reflected the admissions environment at the time, Krinsky's broader guidance about preparing an application, writing personal statements, selecting recommenders, explaining weaknesses, and choosing a law school remains valuable.

Applicants looking for additional guidance can also explore the Top-Law-Schools.com Law School Admissions resources.

How Do Law Schools Evaluate an Application?

TLS: What does the law school admissions process involve, and how is an application evaluated?

Susan Krinsky: A law school application should be viewed as a complete package rather than simply a combination of GPA and test scores. Admissions officers examine the application form, academic history, standardized test results, résumé, personal statement, explanations or addenda, and other supporting materials.

Letters of recommendation can also provide important context. A strong recommendation may tell an admissions committee something that cannot be learned from a transcript or test score.

The key point is that admissions officers read applications as a whole. Academic indicators matter, but applicants also have opportunities to demonstrate experiences, judgment, motivation, accomplishments, and qualities that could make them valuable members of a law school community.

For a broader overview of the factors schools may consider, see LawCrossing's resource on how law schools determine whom to admit.

How Important Are LSAT Scores and GPA Compared With Other Factors?

TLS: How much weight do admissions committees give factors other than an applicant's GPA and LSAT score?

Susan Krinsky: Numbers matter, but they do not always tell the entire story.

Admissions committees regularly encounter applicants whose LSAT scores or undergraduate grades are not among the strongest in the applicant pool but whose experiences, accomplishments, professional background, service, academic work, or personal circumstances make the overall application compelling.

Simply having an interesting experience is not enough. Applicants need to explain its significance.

A candidate who has completed substantial volunteer work, held an unusual job, served in the military, overcome significant obstacles, conducted meaningful research, or pursued another noteworthy experience should help the admissions committee understand what was learned from it and why it matters.

That is one reason the personal statement can be so important: it gives context to information that otherwise appears as a line on a résumé.

How Should You Prepare Before Applying to Law School?

TLS: What advice would you give students preparing to apply?

Susan Krinsky: Preparation is critical.

Applicants should research the schools they are considering rather than submitting applications based only on rankings or name recognition. They should understand what individual schools offer, think carefully about why they want a legal education, and give themselves enough time to prepare thoughtful application materials.

That preparation should include:

Researching each law school before applying.
Understanding the school's academic programs and strengths.
Reading every application instruction carefully.
Preparing a polished résumé.
Thinking seriously about why law school is the appropriate next step.
Choosing recommenders early.
Meeting or communicating with recommenders before requesting letters.
Allowing adequate time to draft and revise application essays.
Reviewing the complete application for accuracy and consistency.

Applicants can use the Top-Law-Schools.com admissions resource center to explore the application process in greater depth.

How Should Admitted Students Prepare for Their First Year of Law School?

TLS: What should admitted students do before starting law school?

Susan Krinsky: Students often focus entirely on academics, but practical preparation matters too.

Successful first-year students tend to arrive ready to concentrate on their studies rather than spending their first several weeks dealing with housing, commuting, finances, food, or other logistical problems.

Students should also recognize that methods that worked in college may not work equally well in law school.

Law school can require students to read differently, analyze problems differently, manage large amounts of material, and rethink how they prepare for examinations.

The ideal attitude combines confidence with humility: believe that you can succeed, but remain willing to change your approach when circumstances require it.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Law School?

TLS: What factors should admitted applicants consider when deciding which law school to attend?

Susan Krinsky: Applicants should look beyond a single ranking or statistic and think carefully about what they actually need from their legal education.

Consider making a list of your priorities and comparing schools against those criteria.

Important questions may include:

Does the school offer courses and faculty in the areas of law that interest you?
Is there sufficient depth in those areas, rather than relying on a single professor?
Do you prefer an urban, suburban, or smaller-city environment?
How accessible are professors and administrators?
What type of academic culture does the school have?
What employment markets does the school commonly serve?
What will attendance realistically cost?
What scholarship or financial-aid package have you received?
Would you be comfortable living in that location for three years?
What do current students say about their experience?

Whenever possible, visit schools after admission. The atmosphere of a school and your comfort with the community can be difficult to evaluate from statistics alone.

How Should Applicants Think About Multiple LSAT Scores?

Policies concerning multiple LSAT scores can change over time and may vary by school, so applicants should always check each law school's current admissions policy.

The broader principle from Krinsky's advice remains useful: when something in your testing history needs context, provide a concise explanation when there is a legitimate reason to do so.

Applicants preparing for the exam can review the TLS LSAT Preparation Resources for additional guidance.

When Should You Write an LSAT or GPA Addendum?

TLS: When should an applicant include an addendum explaining a low GPA or LSAT score?

Susan Krinsky: An explanation can be appropriate when part of the academic record does not accurately reflect the applicant's normal ability or performance.

For example, an applicant may have experienced:

A serious illness.
A significant family emergency.
An unusual disruption during one semester.
A documented circumstance affecting standardized testing.
A temporary academic setback followed by substantially stronger performance.

An addendum should provide context rather than make excuses.

Keep the explanation focused, factual, and proportionate to the issue. The goal is to help the reader understand why a particular result may not represent the applicant's overall potential.

Not every disappointing grade or score needs an explanation. Applicants should use addenda when there is genuinely useful information an admissions committee otherwise would not know.

Does Applying to Law School Early Help?

TLS: Can applicants improve their chances by applying early?

Susan Krinsky: Applying early can offer practical advantages.

Earlier in an admissions cycle, a school generally has more seats available. Admissions officers may also have more time to request additional information if something in an application raises a question.

Submitting early can also demonstrate preparation and organization.

However, "apply early" should never be interpreted as "submit an unfinished application as quickly as possible."

A carefully prepared application submitted somewhat later is preferable to an early application containing a weak personal statement, errors, incomplete information, or poorly chosen recommendations.

Applicants should begin early enough that they do not have to choose between speed and quality.

LawCrossing's guide to developing a strategy for law school applications provides additional ideas for organizing application materials effectively.

How Do You Write a Strong Law School Personal Statement?

TLS: What advice would you give applicants trying to write an effective personal statement?

Susan Krinsky: Remember the word personal.

Admissions officers already have your transcript, LSAT score, résumé, and application form. The personal statement should help them understand something meaningful about the person behind those documents.

Applicants should carefully read each school's prompt and answer the question actually being asked.

A strong statement should also demonstrate that the applicant has researched the school when school-specific information is relevant to the prompt.

Most importantly, the essay should tell the reader something meaningful about you.

Avoid writing an essay that could have been submitted by virtually any applicant. Experiences become compelling when the writer explains what they meant, what changed, what was learned, or how they influenced subsequent decisions.

For detailed writing advice and examples, see the TLS Law School Personal Statements resource center.

Should You Customize Your Personal Statement for Each Law School?

TLS: Is it worth tailoring an essay to a particular law school?

Susan Krinsky: Applicants should pay close attention to what each school asks.

That does not necessarily mean writing an entirely different autobiography for every application. It does mean reviewing each prompt independently and ensuring the submitted essay actually responds to it.

If a school asks why you are interested in its program, give a meaningful answer based on genuine research.

Avoid generic sentences that could be produced simply by replacing one school's name with another.

Instead, identify aspects of the school that relate directly to your interests, goals, or background.

What Personal Statement Mistakes Can Hurt an Applicant?

TLS: Can a personal statement actually damage someone's application?

Susan Krinsky: Yes.

A personal statement should reinforce the impression that the applicant is thoughtful, prepared, mature, and capable of communicating effectively.

Common problems include:

Grammatical and spelling errors.
Sloppy proofreading.
Ignoring the application prompt.
Using gimmicks instead of substance.
Beginning an interesting story but never explaining its relevance.
Sounding arrogant or dismissive.
Repeating the résumé instead of adding new information.
Writing extensively about someone else while revealing little about yourself.
Submitting generic material to every school.
Failing to connect an experience with its meaning or significance.

Exceptional essays are rare. Applicants should not become obsessed with producing a dramatic literary masterpiece.

A clear, genuine, well-organized, carefully edited personal statement that gives the admissions committee useful information about the applicant can be highly effective.

How Should You Choose Law School Recommenders?

TLS: What advice do you have for choosing people to write letters of recommendation?

Susan Krinsky: Choose someone who actually knows you.

A famous professor, politician, judge, executive, or family acquaintance is not automatically a strong recommender.

A persuasive recommendation generally comes from someone who has observed your work closely and can discuss your abilities using concrete examples.

Applicants should approach potential recommenders early enough to have a meaningful conversation.

Provide them with information that may help, such as:

Your résumé.
Your academic or professional goals.
Your reasons for attending law school.
Relevant work you completed for the recommender.
Deadlines and submission instructions.

Applicants should also give recommenders an opportunity to decline.

It is better to learn that someone cannot write an enthusiastic recommendation than to receive a vague or reluctant letter.

What Makes a Strong Law School Recommendation Letter?

A useful letter does more than say that an applicant is intelligent or hardworking.

Strong letters typically demonstrate that the recommender knows the candidate well and can provide specific evidence supporting the assessment.

Helpful examples could involve:

Analytical ability.
Quality of written work.
Intellectual curiosity.
Improvement over time.
Reliability.
Initiative.
Attention to detail.
Research ability.
Professional judgment.
Ability to work with others.

Academic recommendations can be particularly valuable because professors can discuss skills relevant to succeeding in an academically demanding environment.

Employer recommendations can supplement that information by discussing professional characteristics such as judgment, reliability, motivation, initiative, and communication.

Can a Recommendation Letter Hurt an Application?

Yes, although strongly negative letters are relatively uncommon.

A more common problem is a recommendation that adds almost nothing.

A letter from someone prestigious who barely knows the applicant may be far less valuable than a detailed letter from a professor, supervisor, or employer who can describe the applicant's work firsthand.

Applicants should therefore prioritize quality of relationship over prestige of title.

Does an Upward GPA Trend Help in Law School Admissions?

TLS: How much does an upward grade trend matter?

Susan Krinsky: Improvement can help provide context to an undergraduate record.

A dramatic and sustained improvement is naturally more meaningful than a very small change.

Admissions officers may consider:

The magnitude of the improvement.
How long the stronger performance continued.
The difficulty of later coursework.
Other information in the application.
Experiences that explain the change.

An upward trend becomes particularly meaningful when the rest of the application supports the picture of an applicant who has matured, developed stronger habits, or demonstrated greater academic ability.

Does Your Undergraduate College or Major Matter?

Admissions committees may consider the context in which grades were earned, but evaluating academic records is more complicated than simply assigning extra points for attending a prestigious university or selecting a difficult major.

Schools may consider academic rigor, course selection, institutional context, performance relative to peers, and information supplied by recommenders.

Applicants should not assume that a particular undergraduate major automatically receives special treatment.

Instead, focus on building a strong academic record and, where useful, provide appropriate context for unusual coursework or circumstances.

Does a Graduate Degree Help With Law School Admission?

Graduate education can contribute positively to an applicant's overall profile because it provides additional evidence of academic interests, accomplishments, maturity, or professional development.

However, graduate grades do not necessarily replace or erase an undergraduate record.

Applicants with graduate education should therefore use their application to explain what the additional degree demonstrates about their development and how it relates to their reasons for pursuing law.

What Should You Do If You Are Waitlisted?

TLS: Can applicants improve their chances after being placed on a waitlist?

Susan Krinsky: Genuine continued interest can be useful.

If you would seriously consider attending the school, communicate that interest appropriately.

You may also provide meaningful updates when allowed, such as:

New semester grades.
A promotion.
A significant professional achievement.
A new honor or award.
A relevant change in circumstances.
Another substantial accomplishment.

The important word is meaningful.

Applicants should strike a balance between demonstrating continued interest and contacting an admissions office so frequently that the communication becomes counterproductive.

Because waitlist procedures vary substantially, always follow the specific school's instructions.

What Matters When Applying as a Transfer Student?

For transfer applicants, first-year law school performance can be particularly important.

Transfer schools may also want to understand why the applicant wishes to move and why the new institution makes sense academically, professionally, or personally.

A transfer application should therefore do more than say that another school has a stronger reputation.

Explain what the proposed transfer would allow you to pursue and why those opportunities matter to your goals.

Should Law School Rankings Determine Where You Attend?

Rankings can provide information, but they should not substitute for individual research.

Applicants should evaluate factors such as:

Cost and debt.
Employment outcomes.
Geographic placement.
Academic programs.
Faculty.
Clinics and experiential learning.
Student culture.
Bar passage.
Career services.
Alumni networks.
Scholarship conditions.
Personal and professional goals.

A school that is appropriate for one student may not be the right choice for another.

Use rankings as one source of information rather than allowing a single number to make the decision for you.

What Can Applicants Learn From Tulane Law School?

Krinsky's original interview was conducted while she was serving in admissions leadership at Tulane Law School, so many of her examples naturally focused on Tulane.

Applicants considering the school today should rely on current admissions, tuition, scholarship, employment, and curriculum information rather than historical figures from the original interview.

For additional background, review the TLS Tulane University Law School profile.

The broader principle remains relevant for any school: understand what distinguishes the institution and determine whether those characteristics match your academic, professional, financial, and personal priorities.

Susan Krinsky's Most Important Law School Application Advice

TLS: What final advice would you give applicants?

Susan Krinsky: Prepare carefully, follow instructions, answer every required question, and make your application personal.

Do not allow your materials to become so standardized that they could be sent unchanged to every law school.

Admissions officers are trying to understand who you are, what you have accomplished, how you think, why you are pursuing legal education, and how you might contribute to their institution.

Research each school carefully enough to determine whether it genuinely fits your goals. When a school asks why you are interested, be prepared to give a thoughtful and specific answer.

Above all, present an application that is accurate, complete, carefully written, and authentically yours.

Key Takeaways for Law School Applicants

Susan Krinsky's admissions advice can be condensed into several enduring principles:

Treat the application as a complete package rather than only an LSAT score and GPA.
Start preparing early.
Research every law school before applying.
Follow application instructions carefully.
Use the personal statement to reveal information that numbers and a résumé cannot.
Explain the significance of your experiences rather than simply listing them.
Choose recommenders who know your work well.
Use addenda selectively and factually.
Apply early when possible, but never sacrifice application quality simply to submit sooner.
Evaluate law schools based on fit, cost, opportunities, employment outcomes, location, and your goals—not rankings alone.
Communicate genuine interest appropriately if waitlisted.
Make each application feel intentional rather than generic.

For more preparation advice, LawCrossing also provides a complete guide to preparing for law school and guidance on gaining admission to the law school of your choice.

Related Top-Law-Schools.com Resources

Law School Admissions — Guides and resources covering the application process.
Law School Personal Statements — Writing guides, examples, mistakes to avoid, and application essay strategies.
Law School Personal Statement Advice — Detailed guidance for planning, drafting, and editing admissions essays.
LSAT Preparation Resources — LSAT preparation information and resources.
Tulane University Law School Profile — Admissions and school information for prospective Tulane Law applicants.

Related LawCrossing Resources

Relevant Top-Law-Schools.com Forum Discussions

Prospective applicants can also explore the Top-Law-Schools.com Forums, particularly discussions about law school admissions, personal statements, LSAT preparation, waitlists, acceptances, and choosing a law school.

Personal Statement Samples — Community-submitted law school personal statement examples and discussion.
Question About Each School's Personal Statement — Discussion of customizing essays for individual schools.
Difference Between a Statement of Intent and Personal Statement? — Discussion about the purpose and focus of admissions essays.
Reapplying to Law Schools — Applicant discussion about reapplying, updating essays, and strengthening an application.
Why Tulane Essay — Discussion specifically related to expressing interest in Tulane Law.