Early law school admissions data is in! We’re looking at what that data suggests about your admissions odds and the best time to apply to law school. Should you apply right away, or does it make sense to wait a month or so to take one more LSAT and really dial in those essays?
It should be noted that comparisons to last year’s early data are somewhat speculative given last year’s application circumstances. Following the SCOTUS SFFA college admissions decision, many law schools were dragging their feet in opening applications.
Accordingly, this article will also compare data against last year’s numbers as well as the 2022-2023, and 2021-2022 cycles to account for any variances from the previous cycle.
That said, ultimately, you just want to know: Should I apply ASAP or is it ok to wait a bit to retake LSAT or get my essays perfect?
More Applicants. Higher Scores. More Competition!
Compared to last year around this time, applications are up 26.3%. While this spike is partially due to last cycle’s unique circumstances, it is still an overall increase, given that applicants are up 20.3% compared to two years ago.
Accordingly, we expect this trend to somewhat continue through the remainder of this application cycle. This is supported in large part by LSAT registration trends.
September and October LSAT registrations were up 13% and November registrations were up 31% from last year. Similarly, there is a clear increase in LSAC Law School Forum attendance and a comparable increase in CAS sign-ups. All this data indicates this will be a larger than usual applicant cycle.
As we know, more applicants means more competition. However, it is not just the number of applicants that are up. Early data suggests that the number of applicants with high LSAT scores is also up. In fact, in 2024, 15.6% of applicants had a 170+ LSAT score.
Thus, like the last few cycles, since both the overall number of applicants and the number of high-scoring applicants went up, law schools generally maintained or increased their enrollments while simultaneously raising their LSAT medians.
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What Do These Law School Admissions Trends Mean for You?
Most law schools use a rolling admissions model, which generally means the sooner you apply, the better. But that doesn’t mean an applicant submitting right now (mid-November) has a better chance than an applicant who waits. Not only do law schools factor in LSAT scores, but they also value well-crafted essays. (Tip: There is still time to take another LSAT and apply this cycle. Download our free Guide to Retaking the LSAT.)
Given that law schools seem to be prioritizing diversity in their student body and placing a comparatively larger emphasis on reading the applications holistically, applying in February is probably ok for most schools.
Keep in mind, waiting a month to earn a higher LSAT score or to have a more perfectly crafted personal statement or statement of lived experience can be worthwhile. However, don’t let the extra month lead to procrastination. As seats get filled, law schools can be pickier with who they admit vs. put on the waitlist. Plan accordingly.
Additionally, make sure that you do everything you can to meet the law school’s median LSAT. Ultimately, your LSAT score is still going to be the biggest predictor of admission. While the median LSAT at a given law school can change year to year, we predict most schools will stay within one LSAT point of last year’s median. Moreover, a given law school’s median GPA is unlikely to change substantially. Accordingly, use last year’s median LSAT and GPA numbers to gauge your law school admissions odds.
Further Reading
Final Thoughts
Make sure to create an LSAT study schedule that puts you in the best possible position to hit the score for your dream law school. If you’re not sure where to start or need help hitting your goal score, Blueprint LSAT experts are here to help! Whether it’s in a Live course led by Blueprint LSAT instructors, in a Self-Paced Course that gives you total control over your schedule and studying, or one-on-one with a tutor, we have the LSAT prep that fits your learning style.
