JD Admissions Testimonials

My application needed to be delicate, a balancing act addressing a semester of failing grades and subsequent academic probation while also promoting my unique experiences. Meanwhile, my numbers (3.23, 170) left me at the edge of the top 14. I knew the quality of my applications could push the cards either way, so I phoned Anna. The following day Anna edited my resume and addendum and together we restructured my personal statement, leaving 75% of it on the cutting room floor. The new positioning disregarded much of the literature on personal statements, but Anna assured me the strategy was sound.Read More...

I went to Anna having written, revised and completed an admittedly magnificent personal statement, a brilliant 250-word Yale essay, and an impressive resume. All I wanted from her was confirmation that my application material was ready to go, that it was tiptop and first-rate. On Anna's end, I expected nothing more than a proofread at most. As it turned out, the material contained errors that had nothing to do with things like grammar or format; they were subtle and yet substantive — they had to do with the very meat of the application, things that only an experienced Dean of Admissions could know.Read More...

When I applied to college, I relied primarily upon the guidance counselors at my high school for information about the application process. What a mistake! In retrospect, my application strategy was terrible and I was not admitted to any of my top choices. This disappointment, however, motivated me to study diligently in college and emerge with a 3.9 cumulative GPA. After taking the LSAT and scoring a 168, I sought to avoid a repeat of my undergraduate admissions experience. It became clear that law school admissions was primarily a "numbers game.Read More...

When I started my journey to law school, I had a million questions about the admissions process. I knew my undergraduate institution had a pre-law advisor. I even knew the advisor well. I also did a little math: the pre-law advisor at my undergraduate institution serves hundreds of students every year. I really needed help with things like my personal statement. I knew I could write well. I also knew my pre-law advisor could do a grammar check. But, what law schools wanted in that statement eluded me.Read More...

Were it not for Anna's advice and support, I know I would not have had the JD/MBA program options that I did. Anna was incredibly valuable throughout the process of applying to schools. It felt like a very short time between our initial conversation when I introduced myself and when I felt as though she really knew me and what my goals were (in life, not just in applying to schools). It was especially valuable to get her insider thoughts about the various programs and their match with me. Anna is flexible, honest, and direct.Read More...

Anna Ivey is a gift from the gods. After being wait-listed and finally rejected from University of Virginia School of Law after I applied on my own, I signed up with her and re-applied the following year. Anna performed an extensive background evaluation to brainstorm about potential essay topics and came up with a gem, one that was right in front of me but that I had never considered. Moreover, she helped me structure my essay and tailor it to admissions readers, helping me keep it concise, poignant, and completely devoid of pithy (and pervasive) closers like, "And this is why I want to attend _____ Law School.Read More...

I began my law school application process by reading all the how-to books, articles and whatever else I could get my hands on. Following their guidelines, I completed my applications and thought I was in a pretty good position before I even contacted Anna. But the final before-and-after comparison was starkly clear; with Anna's help, I went from applications swathed in mediocrity to having to choose among top-ten law schools. I can't recommended her more strongly, and in fact have recommended her to friends and even my own wife.Read More...

When I began the law school application process, I knew I wanted additional assistance to create a polished, professional product for schools. I chose Anna because of her experience as a law student and more importantly her knowledge of the admissions process, given her experience as the Dean of Admissions of University of Chicago Law School. From our initial telephone conferences and email exchanges, I knew that the overall quality of my application materials would increase immensely. She learns your strengths and weaknesses — both academically and personally — and maximizes the positive aspects and minimizes the weak.Read More...

I look at Anna Ivey as a sort of savior. I first contacted her during the summer of 2003 when I was to begin taking the Testmasters LSAT prep course. I was taking the summer course in preparation for the October 2003 LSAT. I stayed in contact with Anna throughout this time, and she was extremely helpful. By October, I had only raised my LSAT score from a 150 to 159. I had set a goal of a top 25 law school and was far from it. I conferred with Anna on what I should do and made the decision to continue to work on the LSAT and start law school during the fall of 2005, rather than fall 2004.Read More...

Working with Anna Ivey on my applications to law school was absolutely the right choice to make. She helped to simplify what is a very complicated process. Her methods, such as the Brainstorm Questionnaire, are thorough, efficient, and effective. She was intent on understanding my reasons for going to law school, and these initial conversations helped me thoroughly reflect on my decision and make certain that it was the right one. Her advice was an indispensable asset for choosing which schools to apply to, for interviewing, for resume writing, and for completing the applications themselves.Read More...