Aspiring JDs decide to reapply to law school for many reasons. Sometimes law school reapplicants do not get in anywhere the first time; other times, applicants get into some schools, but they think they would benefit from applying in another cycle.
Regardless of why you are reapplying to law school, the following tips can help you ensure that this application cycle is successful:
1. Take some time off.
Your previous application cycle likely ended in late winter or early spring, and there is nothing wrong with taking some time to decide whether you want to apply again. Even if you know you want to reapply, you can take some time off to keep yourself from burning out. But after that, it is a good idea to get moving. The application process will be fresh in your mind, so it is a good time to think about other possible schools, do research on any mistakes you may have made, and create a study plan for retaking the LSAT.
2. Compile a list of schools.
The results of your previous application cycle will likely impact the kind of schools to which you will apply this time. If you struck out in the last cycle, reflect on why. If you only applied to reach schools, you can reapply to some of those schools this time, but you should also look into some schools where you will have a much better chance of getting in. If you are sure you want to go to law school no matter what, then apply to some schools where you are in the 75th percentile for GPA and LSAT score.
If you did get into some schools last cycle but want to aim for higher-ranked schools, you can certainly pursue that strategy. However, you might also want to apply to some different schools that are in the range of the schools that accepted you last time.
In any instance, you should really consider why you are reapplying. Do you want to go to law school under any conditions? Or have you determined that only certain schools make sense for you? Developing this strategy can ensure you have a solid plan to follow through this cycle.
3. Decide whether it is worth retaking the LSAT.
Your LSAT score plays a large role in determining which law schools will accept you, so it might make sense to retake the LSAT. If you feel your stats harmed you last cycle, you should probably retake the LSAT. If you had a low LSAT score, raising it will, of course, help. If you had a solid LSAT score but a low GPA, getting your score as high as possible can help compensate for your low GPA.
If you applied to a bunch of reach schools last cycle and did not get into any of them, and you are planning to reapply to them, it is a good idea to retake the LSAT. If you got into some schools in that range or were waitlisted at some, it might not be as essential, but it always helps.
Even if you are planning to apply to schools that are easier to get into, you might want to investigate your potential to receive merit aid from those schools and determine how the LSAT plays into that decision. If you need the money and can get aid, it is worth retaking the LSAT.
If you really feel that you hit the wall on studying for the LSAT last cycle, you do not need to retake it, but you should consider how it impacts your application strategy. If you were shut out from schools and you are not going to improve your LSAT, you can reapply to those schools—but you should also apply to some more obtainable schools, because you are unlikely to get into the schools you previously applied to. If you were waitlisted or interviewed by some schools but did not get in, you can probably roll the dice—but again, you should apply to at least one or two more obtainable schools.
If you are retaking the LSAT, you might want to consider a new studying strategy. If you studied on your own previously, consider a taking a class or hiring a tutor this time. If you feel you got everything you could out of a class, you might want to go with a tutor. If you only gave yourself six weeks to study last time, give yourself three months. Although all of this will equate to a lot of time and money, given that you will now have spent two years and hundreds of dollars in application fees to determine where you will spend three years and tens of thousands of dollars, the investment is worth it.
4. Review your application.
You have already gone through the application process once, so you might feel there is nothing you can change this time. However, when reapplying, you should review your essays. Look for any typos, and consider anything that has happened in the past year that you could add to make your essays stronger. In addition, search online and attend informational sessions to see if you can find any essay tips that you might have missed last cycle.
It is also worth having someone else review your essay; this can be a friend, someone you know who is in law school, or a law school admissions consultant. There may be small things that you missed previously that could make all the difference.
For any applications that ask you to address why you are reapplying, be sincere and concise. Describe your genuine interest in the school and explain why you think it can support your legal career goals. Think of anything from the last year that could help bolster your application—even just the fact that you have worked for an extra year.
5. Prepare for interviews.
You should always prepare for a law school interview. But if you interviewed with a school last time and did not get in, you might want to reflect on whether something during the interview might have hurt your candidacy.
Regardless, if you interview with a school you applied to last cycle, there is a good chance that you will be asked why you are reapplying. Again, just be sincere and explain how the school ties into your legal goals.
Having to spend another cycle applying to law schools is never fun. But if you approach the process with determination and organization, you can help make this cycle successful!