Cornell Law Grad Exposes the Truth About Law School Rankings (Ep. 15 with Troy Anderson)

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In this episode, Ben sits down with Troy, a recent Cornell Law grad who shares his journey from scoring a 151 on his first LSAT to achieving a 174. Troy explains how his background in logic and philosophy helped his early progress, but also how the jump from the 160s to the 170s took months of slow, deliberate work. He emphasizes that consistent study and a deep understanding of the test—not just brute force—are what helped him break through.

Troy also shares his law school admissions journey, explaining why he ultimately chose Cornell over other elite schools. He breaks down the school's underrated placement power in big law, clerkships, and top public interest roles. He discusses the importance of outcomes-based rankings and warns against relying on reputation or USNWR rank alone, especially when scholarship money is on the table.

Ben and Troy tackle deeper issues in the LSAT and pre-law space, including the impact of accommodations on score inflation, the removal of logic games, and the declining predictive power of the LSAT. They agree that the test needs to be harder and more writing-based to reflect actual law school skills. Troy also gives invaluable writing tips for future lawyers, like eliminating passive voice and making every sentence persuasive.

The episode closes with a raw and honest conversation about the law school “grift”—the myth that any law school at any price is a good investment. Troy talks about his free mentorship program for underrepresented applicants and how he vets students to ensure long-term success, not just short-term admissions. Both he and Ben agree that transparency and strategic planning are essential in a landscape filled with misleading advice.