Caitlynn Knopp entered college knowing she eventually wanted to go to law school.
That’s what drew her to Willamette University in Oregon, which offers what’s often referred to as a 3+3 program. This option enables students to earn both a bachelor’s from Willamette or a partner school, plus a Juris Doctor from the Willamette University College of Law in six years.
“I thought this would be a good way to get out of school earlier and start earning money and also make it a little bit more affordable,” says the 23-year-old, who graduated earlier this year and now works at the Oregon Department of Justice as an assistant attorney general.
Typically, 3+3 programs require students to study for three years — rather than four — at an undergraduate institution and then spend what would normally be their senior year as a first-year law student. How exactly this works varies among universities. The credits earned during that overlap year may count toward both their bachelor’s degree and J.D., for example, resulting in six years of coursework total.
While Willamette’s 3+3 program is open to bachelor’s students from other schools , such as Oregon State University, some B.A./J.D. options — like the one at Fordham University — are offered only to the university’s undergrads.
[Weigh three factors before pursuing an accelerated B.A./J.D. program.]
Here are five things aspiring lawyers who are considering one of these programs should know.
1. Despite cost and time savings, few pursue 3+3s. A 3+3 program can get prospective law school students started a year early and save them some tuition dollars, says Stephen Brown, assistant dean of enrollment at the Fordham University School of Law.
But experts say it’s important to weigh whether pursuing this type of program is worth not knowing if you would have otherwise been admitted to law school elsewhere. Brown says, for instance, that some students eventually recognize they would prefer to explore other law schools that are more selective or may offer them more financial aid.
Aside from the academic requirements, experts say choice of law school is one reason for a generally small number of students who fully commit to 3+3 programs.
“That’s why we don’t have 30 students a year taking advantage of this program,” Brown says, adding that typically just one or two students a year stick with the 3+3 model.
2. Undergraduate coursework is accelerated. Generally, students pursuing a 3+3 program need to plan ahead and focus on completing their major and other general education requirements by the end of their junior year, says Dan Filler, dean of the Drexel University Kline School of Law, which also collaborates with several colleges for B.A./J.D. accelerated programs.
Overall, the course sequence and program structure vary among 3+3s. Regardless, these programs are typically a good option for students who know from the outset of college that law is the career for them, says Hocine Fetni, an assistant dean for academic advising at the University of Pennsylvania, which offers an accelerated B.A./J.D.
“The opportunity is there for those who are really good students, who from the beginning — when they come to the college — the rule of law is so important and so significant to them,” he says.
[Discover 10 tips to build a strong law school application.]
3. Admissions structures vary among programs. There’s no set application process for all 3+3 programs, including when exactly students apply — for instance, whether it’s during their freshman or junior year, says Amy Mangione, assistant dean of admissions at Albany Law School, which partners with several colleges for its accelerated B.A./J.D. program.
“It can be very specific,” says Mangione. “Even for us, as one law school, each entry point can be different for each undergraduate school that we partner with.”
Many programs still require students to submit LSAT scores for admission — though a year earlier than usual — as well as maintain a certain GPA and submit letters of recommendation, experts say. Often, students who decide to pursue a 3+3 option early in college have the flexibility to change their minds and then continue down the traditional college path.
4. You won’t have a traditional senior year of college. “You now are facing a very intensive 1L experience,” says Mangione. “Sometimes you’re a lot younger than the people around you; and sometimes it’s just a matter of now your peers are having that super fun ‘senioritis’ year.”
[Explore how to prepare for your first-year law school courses.]
Knopp says that wasn’t an issue for her, since she still participated in residence life and various student clubs. But 3+3 students should anticipate that their senior year may differ from that of their peers.
5. Student support services are key. Experts say it’s important to ensure that a 3+3 program has the right student services — particularly academic advisers to assist with mapping out your undergrad courses. Mangione also recommends looking into how financial aid and housing work for 3+3 students.
“I think it will be more difficult for some majors than others,” says Curtis Bridgeman, dean of the Willamette University College of Law. “To the degree that a particular major has more requirements and less flexibility within that major, it’s going to be harder to do this kind of a program.”
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5 Things to Know About Accelerated B.A./J.D. Programs originally appeared on usnews.com
