TL;DR — Thinking About Reapplying to Law School? Here’s How to Do It Right
If your first pass at law school didn’t work out like you’d wanted, you might be considering reapplying. In today’s post, Cordel Faulk, former Chief Admissions Officer at the University of Virginia School of Law and head of College Solutions’ What’s Next? law school admissions advising program, shares his insights on the right way to reapply.
Reapplying to law school isn’t a weakness — it can actually be a strength if done thoughtfully. Some of the strongest applications I read as dean of admissions came from reapplicants who had grown, reassessed their materials, and came back stronger. If you’re reapplying, don’t just resubmit last year’s file. Reflect. Refocus. And most importantly, give the committee a reason to see something new.
Applying to law school doesn’t have to be one-and-done.
It’s easy to feel discouraged when your first round of law school applications doesn’t yield the results you hoped for. But here’s the good news: reapplicants win admission frequently — and some of the strongest applications I reviewed during my time as dean of admissions came from students applying for a second (or third) time.
The key difference? The strongest reapplicants didn’t just try again. They thought carefully about where their previous application fell short, made smart, strategic changes, and came back with purpose. Growth isn’t just welcome in this process — it’s a plus.
Each cycle is a fresh start.
One of the most common misconceptions is that admissions officers hold a grudge — that if you didn’t get in last year, you're permanently on some kind of “no” list. That’s simply not true. In most cases, the committee doesn’t even compare your past application to the new one. Each cycle is a silo. What matters is the story you’re telling now.
Of course, if nothing about your file has changed — same test score, same essays, same résumé — it’s fair to ask: what are you hoping they’ll see this time that they didn’t before?
How to Strengthen a Reapplication
Before you hit resubmit, here are the questions I’d encourage you to ask yourself:
Did I tell the right story in my essays?
Personal statements that felt meaningful a year ago might no longer reflect who you are — or maybe they didn’t land the way you thought they would. Rethink your narrative. Could you be more direct, more vulnerable, more you?Have I grown since I last applied?
Whether it’s a new job, leadership experience, a writing project, or community involvement — growth shows maturity, purpose, and resilience. Highlight it.Should I retake the LSAT?
If your score was below the median at your target schools, the best way to signal readiness is often through a stronger score. It’s not the only metric that matters, but it is one of the few you can still influence.Was my school list realistic?
Sometimes the problem isn’t the application — it’s where it was sent. If your list was top-heavy, consider including a broader mix of schools this time.
You don’t need to apologize for reapplying.
A reapplication isn’t something to explain away. You don’t need to open your personal statement with “Last year, I applied to this law school and was not admitted…” In fact, unless you have a specific, forward-looking reason to bring it up (e.g. “I reapplied because I spent this year doing X that deepened my interest in Y”), it’s often best not to mention it at all.
What matters is that this application — the one on the desk now — makes a compelling case for who you are and what you’re ready to take on.
When Reapplying Might Not Be the Move
That said, reapplying without growth or reflection usually leads to the same result. If this is your third or fourth cycle with no new developments, it may be time to pause and reassess. Sometimes the stronger move is to take a beat and come back when you have something different to say.
Final Thoughts
There’s no shame in reapplying. In fact, I respected the students who came back with renewed clarity and direction. They didn’t flinch from the first “no.” They learned from it. And law schools noticed.
So if you're thinking about reapplying, don’t see it as starting over. See it as building on what you've already begun — with greater insight, sharper tools, and a more focused voice.
What’s Next?
The law school application process is intimidating, confusing, and at times scary. We at What’s Next? law school advising can use our expertise to demystify this process. We want it to be more exciting than it is scary. We can help you find the right fit. It’s out there.
Led by Cordel Faulk, former Chief Admissions Officer at UVA Law, What’s Next? is grounded in deep experience and honest guidance. We’ve helped applicants navigate this journey before — and we’re ready to help you do the same.