Applicants are up 22 percent from last year, and LSAT test-takers are up 19 percent. That’s leaving a lot of applicants wondering what this cycle really looks like.

This episode of the 7Sage Admissions Podcast features our Fall 2026 Application Vibe Check Deans Roundtable, with a panel of law school admissions deans discussing the realities of the current cycle.

They address key questions applicants are asking right now, including whether January 1 is too late to apply, whether admissions teams are being more cautious this year, common application pet peeves, and what they consistently like to see in strong applications.

If you’re applying this cycle and trying to make sense of rising application volume, this episode will help you understand what matters most.