Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature that provides law school admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.
If you have a question, email us for a chance to be featured next month.
This week, I will discuss how applicants studying science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, can leverage their backgrounds. I’ll also address application-development strategies for first-generation college students with low GPAs.
[Learn more about applying to law school.]
I am a double chemical engineering and chemistry major and want to go into patent law. As a chemical engineering student, I do not have a 4.0 but am aiming for, at absolute worst, a 165 on the LSAT.
Let’s say I have a 3.1 or 3.2 GPA and a 170 LSAT. Does this make my dream of NYU Law impossible? What New York law schools would you think I have a shot at? I have a chart of the law schools I am aiming for but it’s hard to paint a good picture using their averages as their average applicants are social science/humanities majors. I have heard they give some leverage for STEM major GPAs. Is this true? –Leveraging STEM
Dear Leveraging STEM:
Law schools are enthusiastic to receive applications from STEM majors, so your background and experience could serve as assets.
Your GPA and LSAT scores will still be primary admissions criteria, so you should focus on maximizing those numbers. Regarding your GPA, law schools are aware that there can be less grade inflation in STEM-related subjects than there is in humanities and social sciences courses.
Admissions committee members also understand other factors such as course difficulty and average GPAs within each department.
All of that said, you could choose to write an addendum to address your GPA, perhaps as compared with your GPA in non-STEM courses or even relative to the average GPA in your major.
For the LSAT, the logical reasoning skills you’ve gained through your coursework will serve you well in the games section, but you will likely need to practice critical reading skills in order to perform well on the exam.
Aside from the numbers, you will need to put together a strong overall application. A key part of that endeavor will be conveying your motives for pursuing law. For some STEM-majors, this can be a challenge.
I recommend that college students who major in STEM-related subjects take courses of interest in the humanities and social sciences to strengthen reading, writing and research skills that are essential to success in law school. Dabbling and succeeding in these areas of study might also reassure admissions committee members that you can excel in a different paradigm of learning than the one you are used to in STEM classes.
[Read about three challenges for law school applicants with STEM degrees.]
In addition, STEM applicants should highlight or seek out professional experiences that relate to a law career. You don’t need legal experience to gain admission, but it is in your interest to round out your STEM background with professional experiences that relate more closely to the legal world.
If you don’t have directly relevant experiences on which to draw from, focus on the skills you’ve learned in professional contexts that position you for success in law school. You could, for example, emphasize skills such as attention to detail, organization, and methodical and linear approaches to problem-solving, all of which translate well to a legal education.
Since you have a clear interest in patent law, you’ll want to showcase your engineering and chemistry background and clearly explain both why you want to pursue this area of law and how your academic studies so far will give you an edge in this field.
NYU Law will be a reach, but with a 170 LSAT, it is certainly worth applying to. Good luck!
I am a first-generation college student who is heavily involved in the well-being of my family. My parents didn’t speak English, and I raised my brothers. My college experience was horrible, and I received very poor grades. I was depressed and was dealing with other personal issues. I am now healed and have built a community of support. I don’t know exactly what I can do to prove to law schools that I am a great candidate for their schools. Any advice would be great. –First-Gen
Dear First-Gen:
College is challenging even without the additional stresses you’ve overcome. All of your family and personal experiences are a testament to your strength of character.
Your undergraduate GPA will be a factor admissions committees evaluate, but a strong LSAT score can help compensate. Take the exam seriously and invest in study preparation to ensure that you achieve your best score.
[Find law schools that support first-generation applicants.]
Consider writing an addendum to explain the circumstances surrounding your low GPA. This is your opportunity to provide some insight to the admissions committee about the issues you faced and to explain why your GPA is not an accurate indication of your ability to succeed in law school.
Candidates with less competitive grades often struggle with obtaining strong academic letters of recommendation. Since you’ve already graduated from college, you might want to consider registering for an extension class — potentially one with a legal element — and forging a strong relationship with the instructor. A solid performance in the class coupled with an enthusiastic letter of recommendation would strengthen your candidacy.
You can also write about your experiences as a first-generation college student in your diversity statement. For your personal statement, be sure to address why you want to go to law school and what experiences have prepared you for a legal career.
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Law School Q&A: STEM Applicants, First-Generation Students With Low GPAs originally appeared on usnews.com
