By Jeb, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Though a cliché at this point, the adage good things take time can certainly be applied to the law school admissions process. Mapping out an application process plan ahead of time will allow you to ensure that you’re putting together the strongest law school application possible. While this approach will not eliminate stress altogether, it will undoubtedly make the experience a more manageable one.
Most law school applicants take the LSAT, but many law schools also accept the GRE. As soon as you determine the exam that makes the most sense for you, commit to completing standardized test preparation and taking the exam as early as possible in the process so you can focus more on the application itself. Remember: Standardized test scores are valid for five years, so you can take the test well in advance of applying.
We recommend kicking off your application process during the summer of the year you plan to apply. Here is a suggested timeline that will guide you through the process. Keep in mind that this may not be the exact timeline that you ultimately follow — everyone’s process is different.
By this point, you should be familiar with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), which facilitates the process for law school admissions — you will be utilizing their services to transmit your applications. Create an LSAC account and familiarize yourself with their services, especially the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which compiles and sends your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other documents to the law schools to which you apply.
Curate and finalize the list of schools to which you plan to apply. Considering factors like geography, career placement, and financial aid options, among others, can help in narrowing down your list of schools. We strongly encourage you to review the ABA’s Standard 509 Information Reports, which offer public information about all ABA-approved law schools. From this point on, you will likely add some schools while eliminating others. It’s important to select schools thoughtfully and not just apply because they are schools to which you feel you should apply.
While you are in control of mapping out your admissions process, there are certain components that require you to rely on third parties — namely your letters of recommendation and transcripts.
Use this month to select who should write your letters of recommendation. Most schools require two letters, and some allow up to four. We encourage you to be judicious not only about how many letters you plan to have submitted but also who will be writing them. The number of letters and the people writing them vary by school, so undertake some due diligence to determine this information. Once you have selected your recommendation providers, chat with each of them to go over your goals for law school and how your work with them — in or out of the classroom — has prepared you for law school. It will be very important to provide them with a deadline. For your own peace of mind, ask them to submit their letters to LSAC by the beginning of September.
July is also a great time to have your official transcripts sent to LSAC. Generally, you should send transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you attended — even if, for example, you took courses at a community college during high school. Submitting all your transcripts will save you time later in the process, as missing transcripts often delay the application review. If you are applying as a college senior, you may be asked to submit your fall grades, so be prepared to send a copy as soon as they’re available.
During this month and into early September, law schools begin to open their applications. This is a chance for you to get a better feel for the applications, including the types of essays you’ll be required to write.
Begin drafting your personal statement this month with the expectation that it will go through multiple iterations during the writing process. Give yourself time to think carefully about the big questions:
While the answers to these questions may not ultimately comprise your personal statement, they will prepare you for the drafting process — and most likely — your interviews after you submit your applications. Aim to have your personal statement finalized by mid-September.
In addition to your personal statement, review and begin to draft (if necessary) optional essays for each of your schools. These optional statements may be a diversity essay, a “Why this school?” essay, or an essay on another topic that allows for some more creative freedom. Keep in mind that these essays are optional — write them only if you feel they would add another dimension to your application.
During this time, we recommend making sure your resume is in good shape. Law schools don’t require a resume different from the one you likely have already. It’s important to ensure that admissions officers will have a thorough understanding of you across several dimensions, so provide sufficient details. While most law schools do not mind if your resume goes over one page, check the application requirements just to be on the safe side.
All applications should be open this month, so take the time to fill out the application forms completely. Ensure all your information is accurate and complete, so anticipate spending more time on this than you think.
While there will be some information overlap on your application forms, pay close attention to the Character and Fitness section for each school, as they will likely ask for slightly different information. It is imperative for you to read these questions thoroughly and answer them honestly: Your responses to these questions will likely be compared to the answers you provide on your future bar application. If you respond affirmatively to any of the questions asked of you, then the school might require further documentation, so give yourself plenty of time to have these documents submitted.
By this point, you should have finalized your resume, personal statement, and optional statement(s). It’s also advisable to confirm that LSAC has received all your official transcripts and that your recommendation writers have submitted their letters. If they have not, then send them reminders.
It’s the end of September, heading into early October. You’ve prepared all your documents and read over everything with a fine-tooth comb: You are ready to submit! Most law schools have final deadlines in February or March but try to submit your application early in the cycle. While most schools review applications and admit on a rolling basis, you don’t want to chance applying too late in the cycle when schools have already filled their classes.
From here on out, you’re playing the waiting game, and there is really no way to predict when exactly you will receive a decision. During this time, we encourage you to visit the schools to which you’ve applied if you haven’t already. This is a wonderful way to get a feel for the campus and the school community. Additionally, try to chat with current students and alums from the schools to which you’ve applied — they will give you genuine, unfiltered perspectives on their experiences.
Every applicant’s law school admissions process will be different, but mapping out and starting the process early will only benefit you in the long run. However, you don’t have to do this alone. Here at IvyWise, we offer personalized, expert guidance for law school admissions and LSAT/GRE test prep that will help you stand out from the competition. To learn more about our services, contact us today.
Applying to grad school is a big decision for many students and working professionals. Whether you’re still in college or have a few years of work experience under your belt, it’s likely been a few years since you’ve applied to school. The graduate admissions process can be daunting, but understanding how it works and when to start can make it more manageable.
Graduate school is becoming an increasingly attractive option for many students, if only because it provides a sense of security and purpose in an economic climate that does not. Still, applying to grad school on a whim is ill-advised. So, how do you know when grad school is right for you?
Planning to attend graduate school? You will find the graduate admissions experience to be like the undergraduate process in many ways, but there are a few differences that stand out. Researching the type of programs offered, knowing what to consider, and understanding the requirements for admission can help you more smoothly navigate the process of submitting your grad school applications.
Similar to undergraduate applications, graduate applications usually have a prompt to submit additional information or an optional statement. Applicants often wonder if and how they should use the ‘optional’ prompt and whether it is tacitly required. The short answer is — no.
