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Pre-Law Program |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Getting In To Law School ...
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| What is involved in applying to law school? Law schools look at a variety of factors in making their admissions decisions; however, three things usually outweigh all others in their decisions: the Law School Admission Test score (LSAT); prior academic performance (GPA); and the application form, particularly the personal statement by the applicant about why he/she wants to attend a particular law school.
All students applying to any law school in the United States or Canada must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). It is offered four times each year in North America and overseas. The annual schedule begins with a test on the second Monday afternoon in June, followed by the first Saturday mornings in October, December, and February. Students taking the LSAT in the morning must arrive by 8:30 am and are usually finished by 1:15 pm. The test is almost always offered at Calvin. The test is comprised of five 35-minute segments and a 35-minute writing requirement. Four of the five sections contribute to the test taker's score, and the last one is being "pre-tested" for validity. The student does not know which sections are actual and which is being pre-tested. The four sections that make up the score consist of one reading comprehension component, one analytical reasoning portion, and two logical reasoning sections. The 35-minute writing sample is not scored by LSAT, but copies are sent to each law school where you apply. The score scale for LSAT ranges from 120-180, with a median score of 151. The scores are not evenly distributed along the scale; however, approximately 80% of the participants' scores fall in the middle 25 points of the 60 point scale. In other words, a modest percentile difference near the ends of the scale can make a significant difference in the score.
It is generally advisable to take the LSAT in June, a full year before you plan to attend law school. This allows you to get your score in July and make an early decision about whether you want to begin the lengthy application process. You can, of course, take the LSAT in October, but then your score will not be available until November -- the very time when class assignments pile up and Christmas vacation looms on the horizon. Another option is to use the January interim term to prepare for the February test during your junior year. There is no benefit to delaying the LSAT until your senior year, and most law schools require applicants to take the LSAT by December at the latest in order to be considered for admission the following fall.
How do I register for the LSAT? LSAT and LSDAS (Law School Data Assembly Service) Information books are available on the second floor of the DeVos Communication Center, in the hallway rack next to the Pre-Law bulletin board, near the lobby seating. Information is also available at www.LSAC.org. LSAT registration must be completed over the internet four to five weeks in advance of the test, with the registration fee paid at the time of registration, and scores can be accessed over the web or by phone (for a fee) within three weeks, or are mailed in four to five weeks after the exam. LSDAS is a centralized service that handles sending an applicant's LSAT scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation to law schools. Individuals who decide to apply to law school after receiving their score are required to subscribe to the LSDAS and pay the registration/subscription fee as well as paying a fee for each law school to which scores must be sent.
May I take the LSAT more than once? Yes, but it is not to your advantage. Law schools tend to average multiple scores or take the lower of the scores. In addition, students generally don't tend to improve their score significantly in subsequent exams. You are also required to pay the registration fee each time you take the LSAT. Instead, you should prepare thoroughly before your first exam, and go with your first score. The only caveat to this advice is if you have a substantial reason for not performing well the first time (for example, a death in the family, illness, a mechanical problem with the exam).
How do I prepare for the LSAT? Since it is best to take the LSAT only once, you should prepare for the test seriously. Plan to spend 4-6 hours each week during the 4-6 weeks prior to the test (another reason to consider taking the exam in June, when you have more time to prepare). The best way to prepare is to review old LSAT exams to become familiar with the types of questions asked. A copy of one previously used exam can be found in each LSAT Registration and Information Book. In addition, LSAC publishes a variety of different books (available from LSAC.org) that include previous exams (10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests, The Official PrepTest with Explanations, etc.). During late stages of your preparation, it is important to practice with the most recent versions of the prep test available (over the LSAC website for $8 each), because the test has evolved over time. There are also books (such as The Princeton Review) available in local bookstores. Plan to take these practice exams under the actual time constraints, allowing you to become familiar with the amount of time you can devote to each question. In the long run, however, the best preparation for the LSAT is to take courses at Calvin College that force you to read and engage in difficult, abstract text and to write extensive term papers.
Should I take a LSAT review course? A LSAT review course is not necessary if you spend the time on your own working through previous exams. However, some students have found preparatory courses offered by Kaplan, Princeton Review BarBri or Prepmaster Review Service to be helpful. These courses can be expensive, but they do offer tips on how to improve your test taking abilities, and can generally alleviate nervousness about the exam. Also, if English is not your primary language, if you study better with groups or outside accountability, or if you need information delivered in multiple styles, you might want to consider such a course. Calvin College does not endorse any specific preparatory course and reminds you that no agency knows what questions will be asked in a LSAT booklet.
How do law schools use the LSAT score? Law schools combine an applicant's GPA with his/her LSAT score to determine a composite ranking. A lower GPA can be helped by a higher LSAT score, and visa versa. Also, strong letters of recommendation and a compelling personal statement help somewhat. Most schools publish reports which indicate the average GPAs and average LSAT scores of their first year class. You can find this information online at LSAC.org, which includes a very useful tool for sorting law schools according to your own GPA and LSAT scores ("LSAC Data Search"). Other information is available at www.lawschoolnumbers.com. Keep in mind, however, that law schools consider many factors for individual applicants beyond GPA and LSAT scores.
What is the minimum LSAT score or GPA which I can have and still be accepted to law school? There is no minimum LSAT score or GPA to apply to law school. The general rule, however, is that a student who has a LSAT score below 144 or a Calvin GPA below 2.8 is probably not prepared for law school. Remember also that being accepted to law school does not guarantee that any student will pass the bar exam after law school or that he or she will find employment. Students who have questions about being prepared for law school should consult the pre-law advisor.
How does the application fit into the admissions process? Law schools begin with the composite LSAT score and GPA in making their decision, but the application also plays an important role, particularly in close cases. The application provides an opportunity for the student to represent him or herself in the best possible light. In particular, law schools review an applicant's personal statement to determine the individual's writing ability and potential contribution to their school.
What should I write about in my personal statement? The personal statement can be difficult to write, because it is both an analytical writing sample and a presentation of yourself as an applicant to law school. You are asked to be both descriptive and analytical at the same time; you are asked to brag about yourself without sounding arrogant. These are not easy tasks. As a first step, try to answer the question "why is this particular law school the next logical step in the narrative of my life?" Often you can write a strong personal statement by writing about two or three incidents in your life that were pivotal in your decision to apply to law school. Remember most law schools are looking for a broad spectrum of different people (different ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic standing, religious commitments, work and life experiences), and the personal statement is the best place to describe your uniqueness. Remember also, however, that your statement must be organized logically throughout. For example, if you can tie your reasons to go to law school with some particular strength of the law school to which you are applying, then your statement is usually stronger. To do this, you must research the strengths of the law school to which you are applying. The web is a good resource for this type of research. Your personal statement should not repeat things readily available in the rest of your application (LSAT score, GPA, honors received), and it should not be merely a narrative form of your resume. Rather, it should present a picture of yourself as a candidate, tying together the various parts of your application packet. Remember, it is likely that the admissions officer has to read at least 500 personal statements, so strive to make it interesting, well-structured, and mechanically correct, and be sure to allow yourself enough time to do at least four to five drafts. The pre-law advisor can offer more advice and examples of strong personal statements.
Law schools are generally ranked in three categories: national, regional, and local. A national law school (top 10-15) typically recruits its students from the whole country and places its graduates across the country. A regional school generally recruits and places students from the states which are contiguous to its location (e.g. Indiana University law school draws its students from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky, and they would likely be employed in that geographical area after graduation). A local school recruits and places students in a particular city or region of a state (students at John Marshall, for example, are primarily from the Chicago metropolitan area). Typically, higher-ranked schools have a better track record of placing their graduates in jobs. If you are considering a regional or local school, you need to think about where you would like to live and work when choosing where to apply. Be sure to check with the placement office at your top choices; find out what percentage of graduates were employed the first year after graduation and where those jobs were located. If the placement office is not forthcoming with information, look at another school. Although there are many different national ranking systems for law schools, there tends to be general agreement about the overall ranking of each school. U.S. News and World Reports publishes one of the most influential rankings. By their measure, the top ten law schools include: Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, New York, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Berkeley, with Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, and Georgetown following closely. However, the methodology used in these rankings contains some questionable assumptions. For a discussion of these assumptions and a list of alternative rankings, see the website prepared by Professor Brian Leiter (University of Chicago School of Law), which rates the "Educational Quality Ranking of U.S. Law Schools." Strong regional schools include: Minnesota, Iowa, Notre Dame, Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), Indiana (Bloomington), Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Strong local schools include: Chicago-Kent, Indiana (Indianapolis), Loyola of Chicago, Cincinnati, MSU College of Law, Pittsburgh, and Wayne State. Less strong local schools include: John Marshall, Valparaiso, Ohio Northern and Cooley. In considering your options for applications, you should consult the LSAC website to determine where you might be competitive for admission. Then, apply to one or two of the best law schools you believe you can get into; to two or three more that you think fit your scores; and to one or two additional schools that are a bit below your hopes and dreams but might be useful as fallback options. To find out more about particular law schools, consider attending a law school recruiting forum during your junior or senior year. LSAC forums typically feature representatives from more than 120 law schools and provide information on a broad set of law school-related questions. The closest LSAC forum is held annually in Chicago in September or October. LSAC forums are free, but require pre-registration through LSAT.com Other forums are scheduled throughout the year as well.
Legal education can be an expensive investment. The cost of a three-year law school education can exceed $140,000. Tuition alone can range from a few thousand dollars to over $30,000 per year. Today, approximately 80% of law students rely on educational loans as their largest source of financial aid for law school. You should recognize, however, that incurring a significant amount of debt may well limit your career and personal options following law school. The average law school graduate's debt is about $80,000, repayment of which amounts to almost $1,000 a month on a ten-year payment schedule, while the national median salary for graduates in 2004 was $55,000. Law school may be an excellent long-term investment, but paying loans in the short term can be a burden. New York University Law School financial aid officials recently composed the "Golden Rules of Financing Your Education." The top recommendations are listed below. Live like a student now, or you will live like a student later.
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