With more than 200 U.S. law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, deciding where to apply can be daunting. Factors like location, specialized programming, campus culture and, of course, career opportunities are essential in shaping your list of schools.
Equally important is applying to a strategic range of reach, target and safety programs. Not only do you want to maximize your chances of admission, applying to a spectrum of 10 to 15 programs should increase your options for merit-based funding.
Determining what constitutes your personal reach, target and safety range can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you objectively assess your chances:
[Weigh four factors when deciding on a law school.]
— Do: Evaluate your candidacy in terms of GPA and LSAT. You obviously have more to offer law schools than your undergraduate GPA and LSAT score. If admissions committees only cared about numbers, they would not ask you to submit resumes, essays, letters of recommendations, transcripts and (increasingly) interview to secure your spot. That said, it can be difficult to predict how these soft factors will impact admissions results.
To reduce some of the guesswork, let numbers be your guide. U.S. News’ rankings include a breakdown of median LSAT, GPA and acceptance rate. Another helpful resource is the Law School Admission Council’s UGPA and LSAT Score Search, which predicts your chances of gaining admission to law schools based on your specific numbers. You can also access LSAT and GPA averages, as well as compare the number of applications submitted to the number of offers extended, through the American Bar Association’s disclosure reports.
For applicants who have what I call a GPA-LSAT split (when one figure is significantly more or less competitive in terms of median range), I prefer to be conservative and use the lower number to gauge reach, target and safety status. To increase options come results season, I also suggest applicants in this situation apply to between 15 and 20 programs.
[Know the deciding elements in law school admissions.]
If you are concerned about the cost of submitting to multiple programs, be aware that schools, particularly those in your safety range , may offer application fee waivers. Contact admissions committees to see if you qualify.
— Don’t: Be afraid to reach. Here’s where your soft factors come into play. Notable achievements and a compelling personal story can compensate for less than competitive scores. Make sure to highlight how your experiences prepare you for law school in your personal statement, and find recommenders who can attest to your strengths.
I’ve worked with many applicants at Stratus Prep who were delightfully surprised by their admissions results when their numbers alone made an acceptance seem unlikely.
One applicant, whose LSAT score was between 155 and 161 and undergraduate GPA was between 3.29 and 3.71, was admitted to the University of Houston Law Center. The client’s GPA was within range, but by no means competitive.
Moreover, the first time the client took the LSAT the score received was a 135, and while the client was eventually able to improve to a 149, that number was still well below the median range. The applicant secured a favorable result at this reach program thanks to a personal statement that captured impressive accomplishments, while simultaneously showcasing a solid motivation for attending law school.
— Do: Stay grounded. I’ve also worked with applicants who were disappointed by their admissions results because they overestimated what made them exceptional. Developing a list of solely reach programs is risky. If that’s your plan, make sure your soft application materials are as strong as possible.
Also, take advantage of opportunities to give your application a competitive edge. Consider submitting an early decision application to your top choice, and aim to complete applications to the other remaining programs on your list as soon as possible.
Be prepared for the possibility that you may not get into any schools. But know also that being rejected from law school does not preclude you from having a successful career. You can always apply again or explore other professional opportunities.
[Figure out how ready you are to apply for law school.]
— Don’t: Apply to schools you wouldn’t want to attend. Above, I recommended applying to a spectrum of 10 to 15 schools, or in some cases, 20, to maximize your options. However, I do not advocate submitting applications to schools you have no interest in attending.
Law school is a significant investment of time and money, and post-graduate employment opportunities remain competitive. The goal isn’t to enroll at a law school just because you were accepted. The goal is to find a good fit.
There’s no need to inflate your list beyond 10 schools if only a few programs inspire you to apply. And if you do decide to apply to a full spectrum of programs, even your safety schools should still excite you to pursue the study of law.
Have other questions about developing a list of schools? You can email me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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Do’s, Don’ts for Building a Law School Application List originally appeared on usnews.com
