She Was a Dean of Admissions—Now She’s Telling Applicants the Truth (Ep. 11 with Autumn Lockett from Gradmissions)

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In this episode, Ben Parker sits down with Autumn Lockett, former Dean of Admissions at the University of Oklahoma and current founder of Gradmissions.org, for an unfiltered look at how law school admissions really work. Autumn shares her experience navigating the priorities of law schools—including the pressure to enroll students at full tuition—and explains how that affects waitlist management, merit aid, and exploding scholarship offers.

The conversation dives into the realities of application timelines, with both Ben and Autumn emphasizing the importance of early LSAT prep and strategic application submission. They discuss the value of professional mentorship (not just “coaching”) and why many applicants unintentionally sabotage their chances with underdeveloped essays, late submissions, or misplaced confidence in overused tropes like trauma narratives or inspirational quotes.

They also talk data. Autumn breaks down how schools use index formulas based on GPA and LSAT scores long before looking at personal statements or résumés. The two share stories about admissions myths, the impact of undergrad institutions, and why being “smart” isn’t enough—you have to put in the work.

The episode closes with Autumn explaining her firm’s approach to admissions strategy, including biweekly mentorship, application branding, and even scholarship negotiation—highlighting how thoughtful application support can pay off big in law school funding.