Law School Admission
Law school admission is extremely competitive. For example, the top twenty-five law schools in the United States have an admission rate of about 10%. Law school admission is primarily based on: undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA), results of the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and evaluations from faculty. In addition, a personal interview weighs heavily in the admission process. Law school admissions departments also look for participation in community and college activities and these activities may be considered by some law schools. Law school admission is a very numbers-oriented process, with LSAT scores and GPAs playing a primary role. When you apply as seniors or as alumnae, you can find published precise listing of law schools and the range of LSAT test score results and GPAs that they normally accept.
Law school admission testing is not too difficult to pass. The entrance exam usually consists of logical reasoning, reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and an essay containing your views on why you would like to study in a law school. These tests are very similar to other standardized tests that you may have taken all through your educational career.
Law school admission is becoming more competitive. According to a recent survey of law school admissions professionals, there has been a decline in the number of law student applicants, while the law school professionals have noticed that the applicant pool’s index scores are increasing. Law school admission is need-blind; that is, when deciding upon an applicant, admission committees do not look to see whether an applicant has applied for financial aid. If you need financial aid, including loans — and most people do — then you should certainly apply for it. It will have no effect on your admission chances with any law school.
Law school admission is competitive. Before applying, ask the admissions office what percentage of their law school applicants were admitted over the past five years, and apply to the colleges with the best records. Remember, law school admission is based primarily on the cumulative grade point average as an indication of solid academic preparation and strong scores on the Law School Admissions Test (usually taken in the fall of the senior year). Faculty evaluations and volunteer service or an internship in a legal or political environment may help to inform an admissions decision. Law school admission is highly competitive, and law schools favor students with high grade point averages and high Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores. Pre-law students who are eligible to participate in the Honors Program may increase their chances for admittance to law school.
