An update from approximately 50% of the way through the cycle.
LSAT median changes for the fall 2018 entering class: No Change 1 point increase 2 point increase 3+ point increase
All cycles are different – for those that have been following us for a while you will recall the term "counter-cycle" for example – but last year, the 2017/2018 cycle, was truly an outlier. We have well over 100+ years of law school admissions experience on our team, and we have never seen a year with such little waitlist movement. It caught most schools off guard too, but the simple fact of the matter is that if the schools above you are not admitting people off the waitlist, then you aren't ei
LSAC has publicly released applicant data for the first time this early in the cycle — in past years, data has been distributed only to a small group and only beginning in December or so. Below, we have posted a breakdown of this data as of November 1, 2018 (compared to last year's data as of November 2, 2017). So far, overall applicants are up 17.6%, and applications are up 14.6% as compared to last year — before you let this stress you out too much, however, we were anticipating [https://blo
Since the data began coming out in late summer/early fall, we have been collecting the LSAT and GPA statistics of the 2018 entering classes of every ABA-approved law school, primarily on Reddit here [https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmissions/comments/978z9u/link_to_new_medians] (and feel free to comment on that post if you have any new data we can add to the full spreadsheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/157-bOhUHh5eVc/edit#gid=1117512034] of 25th/75th percentiles and medians). Ple
The incoming class' GPA/LSAT stats and look at how they changed from last year.
This is the final cycle data as of August 1, 2018. Applicants are up 8.1%, and applications are up 8.7% compared to last year's data as of August 2, 2017. Detailed data below. Highest LSAT# Applicants% Change YTD< 1404,3481.9%140-1445,9421.1%145-1499,775 2.3%150-15411,5984.3%155-15910,5406.6%160-1648,28314.7%165-1695,12327.2%170-174 2,38213.4%175-18068959.9%% Change in applications# SchoolsIncrease of 100% or more1Increase of 50% to 99%2Increase of 40% to 49%2Increase of 30% to 39%4 Increase o
This is the new cycle data as of June 26, 2018. Applicants are up 8.1%, and applications are up 8.9% compared to last year's data as of June 27, 2017. Detailed data below. Highest LSAT# Applicants% Change YTD< 1403,971-2.0%140-1445,483-0.1%145-1498,962 4.2%150-15410,9476.6%155-15910,1486.9%160-1648,11715.9%165-1695,04229.0%170-174 2,35716.9%175-18068369.9%% Change in applications# SchoolsIncrease of 100% or more1Increase of 50% to 99%1Increase of 40% to 49%4Increase of 30% to 39%5 Increase of
In this podcast, Mike Spivey discusses perspectives and considerations as we head into the 2021 law school waitlist season.
You can listen to this podcast below, or on SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts.
In this podcast, Mike interviews Jeff Chapman: Partner, Co-Chair of Global Mergers and Acquisitions, and Executive Committee Member at Gibson Dunn. Mike and Jeff met when Mike was a law school Dean of Career Services, and they became good friends — in this interview, Jeff shares his story, some thoughts and advice about law school, and a bit of biglaw hiring advice.
You can listen to this podcast below, or on SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts.
We are thrilled to announce that we will be interviewing Dr. Gabor Maté — renowned physician, speaker, and author of four best-selling books including the critically-acclaimed In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts — for a podcast episode to be released on May 15. We will be discussing with Dr. Maté the roots of anxiety and addiction, particularly in relation to law school and the legal field. One in 5 attorneys struggle with alcohol abuse, 1 in 5 show symptoms of clinic anxiety, and 1 in 4 suffer from depression (source) — mental illness and addiction are very real and present problems in the legal field, and we look forward to sharing Dr. Maté's insights with you.
You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, or YouTube for access to all of our past and upcoming episodes. We post advice, analysis, and predictions about law school admissions, plus we interview notable people about admissions, legal education, and the legal field. Our last two podcast interviews featured Gibson Dunn Partner/M&A Chair Jeff Chapman and acclaimed psychologist/TED Talk speaker Guy Winch, and we are excited for upcoming interviews with a law school dean, the preeminent researcher on self-compassion, a current admissions dean from a top 3 law school, and many more.
Listen below, or on SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts.
In this podcast, Mike Spivey explains how the scholarship negotiation process works from the law school's perspective and gives some advice and tips for how to strategically approach increasing your merit aid offers.
You can listen to this podcast below, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, or RadioPublic.
You may also notice our new name and new look — thanks to u/lightningmcboops from r/lawschooladmissions for the name suggestion, and thank you all for listening to the first official episode of the Status Check with Spivey!
In this podcast, Mike Spivey speaks with Dr. Gabor Maté, one of the world’s leading experts on physical and mental health and author of four best-selling books including "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts" and "When the Body Says No." Dr. Maté shares his thoughts and advice on self-doubt, stress, anxiety, and addiction, and offers the following insight for prospective law students (among others):
"You're going to look at all your confident classmates, and you're going to go in there with all manner of self-doubt. You're making the big mistake of comparing their outside with your inside. You have no idea what their inside is like. And believe me, you're not the only one."
You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Google Podcasts.