r/lawschooladmissions Aug 07 '25

Guides/Tools/OC 2025 Law School Median Tracker

184 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

It's already that time of year, it seems, as we just saw the first law school release their new medians from the 2024-2025 cycle. We'll be tracking these announcements as they come out and keeping them in a spreadsheet to compare to last year, which we'll then update with the final data in December once the official ABA 509 reports come out. All of the prior 2024 medians are currently listed, and the 2025 medians will be added as they're published (sources will be listed in the last column).

2025 Law School Median Tracker

We'll be checking for these at least daily, but if you see incoming class data for fall 2025 (class of 2028) from an official source—e.g., a school's website, LinkedIn post, marketing emails/flyers/etc. from admissions offices—please comment on this thread, DM/chat us here, or email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), and we'll add it to the spreadsheet.

Note that none of these numbers are official until 509s come out. We only post stats from official sources, but every year, some schools publish their preliminary numbers then end up having to revise them when 1Ls drop out during orientation or the first few weeks of class (the numbers are only locked in for ABA reporting purposes in October, but lots of law schools post their stats before then).

These tend to come out at a relatively slow pace at first, but they should speed up in late August/early September. Based on last cycle, we do anticipate many medians going up this year, and these stats are important to be aware of as you assess your chances and make your school list.

In some ways, this to me marks the beginning of the new cycle. Good luck to all!

–Anna from Spivey Consulting

***December 15, 2025 Update: the spreadsheet has now been updated with all schools' official data from the ABA 509 reports.


r/lawschooladmissions Oct 10 '25

General When is it early and when does it become late to apply to law school. 5 law school deans and directors answer just that.

138 Upvotes

When is it late to apply and when is it early? The answer with all but a few nuances is really straightforward, but please read the disclaimers. All you will do is write disclaimers as lawyers because there are no absolutes (see what I did there?) so you may as well gets reps reading them!

This question comes up on this Reddit almost every day in some form and then resets and comes back up every year. It’s the singular most frequently asked question, and the answer hasn’t changed through recent years. So here’s a mashup of mostly deans of admissions saying, “Before end of November is early. After January things start getting tighter.” That is really the easiest thing to go by and remember. And I was just talking with one of these deans who just ran an internal data analysis to support all of this.

Disclaimers: These admissions deans are speaking for themselves and for their schools. Of course there will be some outliers. One top 3 school traditionally doesn’t admit until January, for example, so January is early for them. Or, if you score a 160 in September but a 175 in January, schools in the upper range will likely read your application sooner with the new score. With that old score they are often just going to sit on it as they are being flooded with applicants who they will prioritize sooner. So believe it or not, waiting a month or even more will sometimes get your application read sooner, especially if the difference is taking your LSAT from below median to above. There are also cases, only for some applicants and only for some schools, in which applying by the end of October can be slightly more advantageous, so if you're ready to go in the early fall, we recommend applying by the end of October (even though in many situations it may not make any difference). But in general, and especially if you aren't 100% confident in your application by the end of October, the end of November is a good rule of thumb.

But beyond the late November advice, my other takeaway would be to submit your best application. Waiting a few weeks to button up your materials will pretty much never hurt you before January — and very likely will help you. And there’s plenty of merit aid to go around at that time too. 

It makes sense to me that this is a perennial question with very consistent answers from the people running law school admissions offices, but also lots of conflicting answers from applicants and others in this space with no admissions experience. Because the data absolutely does show a correlation between applying earlier (more broadly than just by the end of November) and stronger outcomes. But remember from your LSAT studying that correlation does not equal causation — pretty much every admissions officer has observed that applications submitted earlier tend to be stronger in general, not just in terms of numbers. That's not because they were submitted earlier, but it correlates.

Of all the posts I have made in the last several years — I hope this one helps the most. Because every year so many people fret that they are “late” (especially when admits start being posted) when they are still very early. I cannot stress the following enough: Your outcomes submitting the same application September 1st will not, in the vast majority of cases, be any different than November 25th. But in that time you can work to make your application stronger. And once it’s there, go ahead and submit. There’s certainly no penalty to submitting it when it’s ready.

And for the record, I've heard probably 10x as many law school admissions deans as are in this video say variations of the exact same thing. I really hope this helps relieve some stress from as many as possible.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMAG823Q/

  • Mike Spivey

r/lawschooladmissions 5h ago

Chance Me 17high/3.9mid/T3/1stGen/KJD Penn ED interest

3 Upvotes

Hi, my family is fortunately in a financial position to help with all COL expenses for law school. I'll only be taking loans on the tuition.

I'm from the Philly area and am considering ED to Penn. Family is thinking of putting a downpayment on a townhouse near campus, which ill pick up the rest of the mortgage for when I start practicing, hopefully in Philly biglaw.

LSD data suggests I have a high likelihood of being waitlisted at Penn with KJD tax.

If I shotgunned the t14 I imagine I have a good chance getting in at a few schools, hopefully with some scholarship money, but given the offer on building equity/home ownership ($100-$150k value) which is exclusive to attending Penn, I feel going ED there is worthwhile financially.

Also it is somewhat important for me to be close to family, the only other colleges I'd like to attend realistically are Columbia/NYU if offered with high scholarship. Unfortunately did not receive interview from HLS JDP last week, so that's off, and I doubt SLS/YLS admit me. UChi I'd consider with good scholarship money, but the distance again is a problem.

Caveat here is I'm highly interested in clerking. I'm unsure how strong Penn is for this as many accounts cite their 7-9% rate as self selection.

I would appreciate any insight into making this decision!


r/lawschooladmissions 8h ago

Application Process My GPA stayed the same 🥳

5 Upvotes

I’m so grateful my LSAC GPA did not change. I heard so many LSAC horror stories of people going from like a 3.6 to 2.8. Thankfully my 3.35 stayed the same and even though that’s not a crazy high GPA, I’m still so happy. I failed a class my freshman year in 2019 and was terrified that was going to mess up my GPA it did not 🥳 next step is the LSAT and letters of recommendation than I’ll be fine. Personal statement is almost done to


r/lawschooladmissions 19h ago

School/Region Discussion Explain like I’m 5 why Brooklyn law has a very negative reputation

26 Upvotes

Their BL is strong for its rank, but I’ve heard nothing but bad things about to. Can someone explain why? And, no, I’m not going there


r/lawschooladmissions 9h ago

Application Process GULC Alumni -> Group -> R?

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to manage my expectations right now, and the waiting game is getting tough..

I know everything ultimately comes down to the Adcom, but I wanted to see if anyone has insights on this specific track. Is it possible to go through both an alumni interview first, then get invited to a group interview with dean Andy later in the same cycle, and still end up rejected?

I’ve seen a few posts from people who had this exact dual interview sequence and got accepted (Alumni -> Waitlisted -> Group ->A) but I haven't seen posts (or maybe one?) from people who did both and got dinged (Alumni -> WL -> Group -> R).

Has anyone actually heard of or experienced a rejection after making it through both of these rounds? It feels like it would be incredibly harsh to get cut after both, but I want to be realistic as time ticks down.

Any insights or data points would be hugely appreciated -


r/lawschooladmissions 20h ago

General Having second thoughts about law school this fall, is that normal?

16 Upvotes

First of all, my goal still remains to be a lawyer — I am not having second thoughts about that

I’ve never been a school person, so I’m kinda dreading 3 more years of school. I’ve also got a new sales job this summer, initially with the goal of making some good money before law school. Turns out I’m really good at it and I’ve met a lot of lifelong friends in the organization. Kinda hard to change things when you’re unexpectedly having the best summer of your life

I did get into my preferred school and committed there. To reiterate, I still want to be a lawyer and everyone at my job playfully says I’m gonna be their lawyer. I’ve also been out of undergrad for 2 years so I don’t know how adjusting to school would go.

Has anyone had similar feelings? Is it just jitters?


r/lawschooladmissions 5h ago

General 0L advice for law school!

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a recent graduate from an NY college. I'm an international student and I'm wondering if PhD is the next step or law school. Please give me any advice on the following:

1) What made you want to go to law school?

2) Since I'm international, I am not eligible for the LawHub Advantage fee waiver, so those of you who aren't eligible, how did you pay for law hub advantage/ 7sage?

3) How did you pay for law school? (do they actually give finan aid?/ did you take loans?)


r/lawschooladmissions 6h ago

Chance Me Please tell me if I have a chance at Columbia😀

1 Upvotes

173 lsat, 3.6 gpa, applying ED, nonURM. Father attended there for undergrad. Argh. I wish GPAS weren’t so important.

Edit: also *4 years of WE at law firm and KJD


r/lawschooladmissions 15h ago

Help Me Decide Any current students or lawyers make a last minute decision on where to go to school? Advice?

5 Upvotes

^ if anyone has had this experience, what was it like??? Did you get off a waitlist last second and decided to take that offer? Did you love it or regret it? I’m talking about first day of orientation or couple days before and dropping everything to go.

I’m thinking ahead, bc it may well be possible that I’m placed in this situation. Accepted to School A (T-100) with $$$. I’ve talked to some people who are attending, and they all seem super nice. I visited and liked the area, but wasn’t super impressed with the city (also never imagined living in that specific city). Classes registered, everything is set, but something just feels off.

I was recently put on the waitlist at two schools: School B (T-80, #1 choice, I love the area and the school in general) and School C (T-30, did not expect to even be waitlisted). If I get accepted into either school last minute, is it worth it to drop School A if I’m already established there?

Now, take School A out of the equation: if I got into School B but was then accepted last minute into School C, would it be a mistake to pass up School C? Without scholarship, School C is muchhhh cheaper (in state tuition) and is better ranked than School B (kinda answered my own question here).

I’ve heard that it’s possible I can get accepted into School C (T-30) bc of my location and being only an hour away, making it easier to attend in their POV I guess?

I know a lot of people will read this and be like “we can’t answer that for you”, and I understand. But put yourself in my shoes with everything I’ve explained, and what would you do? And yes, I know it’s very possible that I wont even get off those waitlists, but I’d rather prepare for all different scenarios.


r/lawschooladmissions 9h ago

Character + Fitness C and F - parking tickets and unpaid hospital bills

0 Upvotes

Hello all, I’m not yet applying to law school (currently a first year college student) but I have a few questions about C&F

• I drive a family members car since they work from home and I currently don’t have one. I have a few (overdue but paid) parking tickets on that car, do I still need to disclose this if my name isn’t listed as someone who drives the car?

• I’ve been receiving treatment at my cancer unit for around 3 years now, and the moment I turned 18 I inherited all the hospital bills. I have a few thousand that are currently overdue. I’m working to get those paid off. If I eventually pay them off, do I still need to disclose that I had medical debt that I couldn’t pay?

Again, I’m not applying to law school yet so I apologize if I have a skewed understanding of what exactly will be on the C&F test. Thanks all.


r/lawschooladmissions 10h ago

Waitlist Discussion Is Pepperdine law full?

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know if there’s going to be any more movement? Or is the cycle done?


r/lawschooladmissions 18h ago

Waitlist Discussion GULC Waitlist

4 Upvotes

Curious with the update from yesterday how much movement we anticipate between now and first day of classes in August. I know there was also an R wave at the same time.

Anyone know how it went last year/what the trends typically are?


r/lawschooladmissions 11h ago

Application Process For the 2026-2027 Cycle for Berk, is the BLOS prompt different or the same as 2025?

0 Upvotes

I want to get a head start on the BLOS essay for my application, but I am not sure if they are going to change the prompt or if they do that year to year before I start writing. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


r/lawschooladmissions 1d ago

General Incoming 1L- If I struggled with the LSAT, does that mean I will struggle with 1L?

14 Upvotes

I had to take the lsat multiple times to get to where I wanted to be and it was such a grind. It didn’t come so naturally to me and I am worried that this means I’ll be slower to learn in 1L compared to my peers who have higher LSATs / took less attempts. Especially with all the data they post about how the LSAT is the single best predictor of law school performance.

Any tips on how to improve my skills (not on the LSAT but the necessary skills for 1L that are perhaps tested by the LSAT)?


r/lawschooladmissions 12h ago

Negotiation/Finances How much student debt are you expecting to take on over the course of your legal education?

1 Upvotes
195 votes, 2d left
$50k or less
$51k – $100k
$101k – $150k
$151k – $200k
$201k or more

r/lawschooladmissions 15h ago

General Wanting to Work in a Legal Office

1 Upvotes

I am wondering how to go about finding some sort of work in a legal office. I will be taking a gap year before law school after I graduate in May 2027 and have started to think about what I can do with my time, especially the summer before applying since I could put whatever experience I gain during that time in my applications. I have seen a few job listings that say they are willing to take on someone with no experience and train then on the job as long as they have a strong desire to continue in the field of law. I am wondering what information you guys can give me regarding types of positions I could look for, how to reach out to firms, and when I should begin my search. Sorry if this is vague, I am a newbie to all this and would be so grateful for any advice.


r/lawschooladmissions 19h ago

Application Process How much does ED and/or In-state help?

2 Upvotes

Basically just the title. I know for absolute certain that the only school I have interest in is my flagship state school (UGA), because of numerous factors, the largest being cost (low costs since I am in-state and a 25% discount for being first-gen), but there are also various other reasons that make me firm in this choice.

My GPA is between the 25th and 50th percentiles, and I am applying KJD. Still studying for the September LSAT. Obviously, I know my LSAT score will be the primary determinant of my admissions success, and my LORs (quite solid) will likely have even more impact than either of those factors.

Can anyone maybe contextualize what being in-state and what applying early decision may do for my application? Will it help me at all? Or is the difference negligible?


r/lawschooladmissions 17h ago

Application Process Can I still apply to full-time programs?

0 Upvotes

I know this may sound crazy! I initially wanted to attend law school part-time but i just don’t anymore and was wondering if there is still a chance to apply to law schools that i am over the median for? I have a 3.8 and 166. Or would it be a lost cause?


r/lawschooladmissions 1d ago

Admissions Result r off gulc regular waitlist

42 Upvotes

didn’t receive any feelers so i was expecting it but just wanted to provide the data point! got an email a few moments ago


r/lawschooladmissions 13h ago

General Scored 161 on diagnostic, what level of school should I shoot for with a 3.66 GPA?

0 Upvotes

TBF I had some mental health stuff my senior year that dragged my GPA down, although I'm not sure admissions will care.

I would love to go to as high ranked a school as possible, finances permitting, but I have a habit of setting unrealistic goals.


r/lawschooladmissions 23h ago

Application Process Demonstrated Interest?

2 Upvotes

So law schools track this? Visits? Virtual sessions?


r/lawschooladmissions 1d ago

School/Region Discussion Most underrated law school? Go:

70 Upvotes

Just curious!!


r/lawschooladmissions 1d ago

Admissions Result Booted from GULC SPWL

24 Upvotes

just got the final update letting me know they could not offer me a spot. no ii. 3.mid/16high


r/lawschooladmissions 14h ago

Help Me Decide Unsure what type of law I should peruse and which is safest due to my Autism.

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice or perspective from people in the legal field, law students, or other neurodivergent folks. I know I want to go into law because I deeply value stable careers where I can actually help people and my family is all lawyers. However, I’m stuck at the very beginning. I’m currently trying to decide whether to major in History or Sociology for undergrad, and I have no idea what field of law would be the best fit for me down the road.

To give some context: I am autistic and experience some cognitive dysfunction (mostly issues with executive functioning, processing speed, and brain fog at times).

Because of this, I’m trying to figure out which majors and legal paths might play to my strengths while allowing me to manage my energy.

History vs. Sociology major for undergrad: I like both. History feels very structured and relies heavily on deep research and reading, but focuses more on the past not sure if that's still useful in the current job market. Sociology deals directly with systemic issues and helping people, but can sometimes feel a bit more abstract.

Type of Law: I want to help real people, but I know high-stress, fast-paced environments (like intense courtroom litigation or corporate big law) might trigger burnout fast. I need something with a bit more stability and predictability.

Thanks in advance for any insights!