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Applying to law school may seem daunting, but becoming part of an outstanding legal program is possible if you understand what admissions committees look for in an application.
GPA and LSAT scores are certainly important when applying to law school; however, personal statements are just as integral. Avoid cliches by discussing why you chose law school and how these experiences have prepared you to enter legal practice.
Gaining admission to law school requires more than an outstanding LSAT score and GPA; other considerations, including extracurricular activities, work experience, and your personal statement can help determine your admission into a program.
Admissions committees evaluate applicants holistically when making a determination as to whether or not they should attend law school, including factors like undergraduate institution attended and major, grade point average, letters of recommendation, academic awards and portfolios. Race and ethnicity (whether disclosed or not disclosed by applicants) also play a part in this assessment process.
Students often ask if having a low GPA will prevent them from getting into their dream school, and while it does not mean you cannot apply, having one does not guarantee admission into any given university or program.
The LSAT is a standardized exam designed to allow law schools to assess prospective law school applicants fairly. It consists of five multiple choice sections and an unscored writing sample at the end.
Your LSAT score is measured as a percentile score, which indicates where you rank among other test takers. Higher scores indicate that you performed well on the exam.
Most law schools use a formula that blends LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA to calculate your objective strength index or admission index, an important statistic used for US News and World Report rankings.
Kaplan reports that LSAT scores have seen an incremental rise over recent years; however, other factors play a much more crucial role when applying to law school.
Letters of recommendation are key components in any strong law school application. Ideally, your letters of recommendation should come from professors who know and have evaluated both your academic performance and leadership capabilities extensively. If applying from employment/internship contexts, one letter should come from either your manager/supervisor.
Recommenders should be able to speak enthusiastically about your intelligence, focus, character, research and writing abilities as well as any other characteristics not easily measured by grades or test scores. You should provide your recommender with your resume and personal statement so they have some context when writing their letter of reference.
Make sure that you request letters from recommenders at least two weeks in advance, and follow up regularly with them politely in order to ensure they’re on board and meeting deadlines.
Lawyers know that compelling storytelling is key when convincing juries of their clients’ cases or negotiating favorable contracts; admissions committees look for this same skill when reviewing personal statements. Take time crafting one that will have an impactful narrative and make an impressionful statement that stands out.
Avoiding jargon and long digressions unrelated to law school is key when writing your personal statement, and having someone trustworthy read over your essay for feedback to ensure its focus on those aspects that most apply to your application and your chosen area of law study.
Most law schools do not conduct interviews for applicants; however, those that do can use an interview as an opportunity for their admissions staff to assess how well you fit in to their program and culture as a whole.
They want to ensure that you are truly committed to attending their school and will bring value to both the legal profession and to their local community. Granting someone a law degree who doesn’t want or have the potential for being one would only damage everyone involved – including themselves!
Imagine how your personal experiences will make you stand out in an otherwise competitive field of applicants. Think about what makes you truly different; maybe it is your background or unusual hobbies.