You’ve done the applications. You’ve waited (and waited). Now the decisions are starting to come in and you start wondering: Where should you actually go?

In this episode of GradMissions Office Hours, the team, with the help of our new VP of Client Success Morgan Hager, pulls back the curtain on what really matters when choosing a law school or medical school, beyond rankings, Reddit threads, and well-meaning family opinions.

From research infrastructure and career services to alumni engagement, student services, campus vibes, and even commute realities, we break down the factors that shape your day-to-day life and long-term outcomes.

We talk candidly about:

- Why “research opportunities” and “career placement” don’t mean much without asking the right questions.

- How Student Services and Career Development can make—or break—your experience.

- The power of alumni networks and what disengaged alumni can signal.

- Why visiting campus and doing a real vibe check matters more than you think.

- How being favorable (yes, kind and professional) can quietly open doors.

If you’re staring at acceptances, waitlists, or silence and wondering how to make a smart, human decision, this episode gives you something productive to do while you wait.

Because the best school for you isn’t always the highest ranked one. It’s the one where you can thrive.

The lived experience essay isn’t about proving hardship. It’s about painting the full picture of you.

In this episode, we break down the essay formerly known as the diversity statement: what it is now, who it actually serves, and why skipping it costs more than people expect. We talk through lived examples—non-traditional paths, first-gen stories, faith, privilege, career pivots—and how committees read professionalism, not performance, from a few short paragraphs.

We also get specific about scholarships, redacted data, and why writing from scars—not scabs—changes outcomes.

In this LSAT-focused episode of GradMissions Office Hours, Autumn sits down with Ben Parker of Hey Future Lawyer to cut through the noise of LSAT prep and admissions strategy. Together, they unpack why most LSAT “studying” doesn’t move scores, why reading—not logic games wizardry—is the real differentiator, and what actually drives dramatic score increases.

Ben walks listeners through his results-first approach to LSAT prep, explains why practice and review beat performative studying every time, and shares hard truths about timing, consistency, and planning for multiple test takes. The conversation also covers GPA strategy, why sacrificing grades for early LSAT prep is a losing trade, how admissions cycles are shifting, and when waiting a year actually improves outcomes.

If you’re serious about law school admissions—and want advice grounded in data, ethics, and real results—this episode is your no-nonsense guide to preparing smarter, earlier, and with intention.

Check out Hey Future Lawyer to reimagine your LSAT prep.