Whether your first or final attempt, once you have taken the June LSAT, you may be tempted to kick back and enjoy the summer. The LSAT is certainly a big law school application component to cross off your to-do list. However, do not get lulled into complacency. Take advantage of the summer months to get ahead.
Take a quick breather while you are waiting for your LSAT score. Scores will be released via email on July 6. Unless you plan to retake the LSAT, be ready to launch into work on your applications in July and August. Applicants planning to retake the test in September should use the summer to focus on LSAT prep.
[Get law school application advice from recent law grads.]
— Why get started over the summer, when application deadlines are next year? Remember, law school applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Rolling review means it is to your advantage to get applications in earlier in the cycle, while more seats are available. The longer you wait, the more competition for fewer spots. I have seen applicants with lower undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores gain admission into law schools over numerically more competitive clients who waited until the final weeks to submit.
Submitting before the standard early decision Nov. 15 deadline — even if you are not actually applying early — will put you among the first wave of applications reviewed. With the June LSAT under your belt, you are in a strong position to submit once applications are released in September.
Certainly, do not compromise integrity for speed. Use the summer to ensure that all your application components are as polished as possible. Then, when applications come out, you can focus on final edits, supplemental essays and short answer responses.
[Unravel the pros and cons of applying early decision to law school.]
— How can I work on applications before they are released? Aside from the LSAT, the part of your law school application that requires the most time and effort is your personal statement. Law schools do vary slightly in their prompts and formatting requirements. But overall, the personal statement is a fairly standard, open-ended essay that you can begin now.
The clients I advise typically dedicate several months to developing a compelling concept, drafting the essay’s structure and revising.
Brainstorm ideas before you start writing. The mission of the personal statement is to communicate to admissions officials why you are a strong candidate for their school.
When you are ready to draft, think about the essay’s overall structure. What organizing principle will you use to give your essay shape? How will you transition between different ideas and experiences? Where will you conclude your essay?
Set aside time to revise. Too often, applicants rush to submit essays that amount to first drafts. You should do much more than simply proofread. Ideally, take a few days away from your draft so you can reread it with fresh eyes.
Identify whether you need to make any structural or content adjustments to streamline your ideas. Push yourself to add depth to concepts that you need to strengthen. Smooth transitions between paragraphs.
Polish language so your expressions are as eloquent as possible. Vary sentence length. Play with syntax. Keep in mind that complicated grammar and obscure vocabulary does not necessarily make you sound smarter.
In fact, the more complicated the idea, the clearer your writing should aspire to be. Writing is, after all, fundamentally an act of communication. Let yourself be understood.
After you have revised, repeat the process again. And again. Keep revising until the essay is as strong as you can make it.
For more writing advice, refer to “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.
[Follow five steps to craft a great law school personal statement.]
— Besides the personal statement, what other application components can I work on over the summer? In addition to the statement, you can start working on the following application components that take time to develop.
Letters of recommendation: Securing strong letters of recommendation requires you to identify academic and professional contacts, make the initial request and follow up with instructions on how to submit recommendations.
Try to give recommenders at least one month for drafting. If you plan to submit applications in the fall, ideally you will identify your list of recommenders and reach out with initial requests over the summer. Formal follow-up guidance should go out no later than August for those planning to submit in September.
Transcripts: Unless you have summer school classes or other pending issues with your transcripts, register for the Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service through your LSAC account. Use the summer to complete your transcript request forms.
Resume: Finally, there is still enough time to build experiences on your resume. Both undergrads and postgrads can get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work this summer. Look for meaningful experiences, rather than something obligatory.
If you have a job, explore ways to expand your professional responsibilities. If you are unemployed, search for a summer internship or more permanent position doing work that both interests you and will prepare you for law school.
Have questions about how to use your summer to work on applications? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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3 Answers About Law School Applications for June LSAT Test-Takers originally appeared on usnews.com
