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Pre-Law

Applying to Law School

What Criteria Do Law Schools Use In Selecting Applicants For Admission?
Law schools generally base their assessments of students on a wide range of criteria. These include but are not limited to Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and course of study, letters of recommendation, personal statement, improvement in grades and grade distribution, extracurricular activities, community service, and work experience. Of these criteria the two that usually weigh the most heavily in an admission decision are the LSAT score and the undergraduate GPA.

A note of caution is necessary regarding the undergraduate GPA. Despite Indiana and Purdue Universities' policies to the contrary, the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), in computing the GPA, will factor in the original course grade as well as the second and substituted course grade for every course a student has retaken.

Finally, please bear in mind that law schools differ in how they utilize LSAT scores when a student takes the test more than once. Some schools assess the student on the basis of the higher score and other schools average the scores for student assessment. For specific information on how the law schools you have applied to handle multiple LSAT scores, contact the schools directly.

What GPA And LSAT Scores Do I Need To Have In Order To Be Admitted To Law School?
There is no set GPA or LSAT score that will guarantee a student's admission to law school. However, a student whose GPA and LSAT score are above the school's median obviously stands a better chance for admission. Therefore, students assessing their chances for admission should attempt to determine the median GPA's and LSAT scores of the schools to which they are applying. These median scores vary considerably school to school. For Indiana-based law schools, the median GPA's and LSAT scores for the fall entering class 1996-1997 are as follows: Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, median GPA 3.45, median LSAT 159; Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, median GPA 3.20, median LSAT 156; Notre Dame Law School, median GPA 3.40, median LSAT 163; Valparaiso University School of Law, median GPA 3.14, Median LSAT 150.

What Is The Format For The LSAT?
The LSAT is comprised of five 35-minute sections of multiple choice questions and one 30-minute section devoted to a writing sample. The multiple choice questions are of three different varieties--reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. Four of the five multiple choice sections are used in determining the LSAT score. The fifth multiple choice section is an experimental one usually designed to pretest new questions. The written section is not scored, rather it is simply sent to all law schools to which the applicant applies.

The LSAT is a test for which an applicant should prepare. You should familiarize yourself with test procedures, questions, and strategies either by using preparation manuals, which can be found in Follett's bookstore or ordered from Law Services, or by taking a preparation course. Each test taker much decide which preparation to use based on such factors as the cost of the materials, time available for preparation, and self-discipline needed to study independently.

When Do I Take The LSAT?
If you are applying to law school this fall, you must be mindful of scheduling your LSAT. It is best to take the LSAT early, and you should give serious thought to taking the LSAT in either June or October. If at all possible, do not wait until December. Here's why....

More and more law schools are requiring that the LSAT be taken by December for admission for the following school year. According to the Law School Admissions Service--the organization that administers the LSAT--the period between October and December test administration is so short that you may not receive the results of the October test before the December registration date deadline. Consequently, you may not know in time for the December registration date whether you need to retake the test to improve your chances for admission. Also, many law schools use rolling admissions procedures: applications are processed as admission files are complete. Therefore, the earlier your admissions materials are complete, the better your chance for acceptance. The LSAT must be taken and reported for the admission file to be complete.

LSAT/LSDAS registration packets are available in both the Campus Pre-Law Advisor's office and the political science department office in Classroom Medical Building room 209.

How Do I Choose A Law School?
Many students applying for law school fail to consider the differences in law schools when completing applications. Every law school and every potential law student are not necessarily right for one another. Students can obtain excellent legal educations in a variety of settings. Therefore, students should select potential law schools on the basis of individual needs. The selection decision will be difficult and will demand considerable care and thought.

You should begin the process of choosing law schools with a self-assessment, an honest appraisal of your strengths and preferences. Consider the following when you choose a law school: the reputation of the institution; the size, composition, and background of the student body and the location, size, and nature of the surrounding community. Equally important are the range of library holdings; the strengths and interests of the faculty; the number and type of student organizations; the nature of the curriculum; the availability of special programs; the cost of the institution; the availability of financial assistance, and the quality of placement services.

Bear in mind that qualified students are rejected each year by all the schools to which they apply because they overestimate their qualifications and underestimate the competition. You can avoid this dilemma by applying to a mixture of schools, including some at which your chances of being accepted are good and some at which admissions are more competitive. The Official Guide To U.S. Law Schools, available in Helmke Library, includes law school descriptions and LSAT/GPA profiles that may aid you in determining your admission chances at various law schools. Moreover, the pre-law library located in my office contains a large number of law school catalogues and books on legal education that may serve as references for you in making your selections. These books and catalogues may be checked out.

What Is The Cost Of A Legal Education, And How Do I Finance One?
While the cost of attending law school varies widely from school to school, legal education is always an expensive proposition. Tuition charges range from approximately $4,000 per year at some state schools to over $20,000 year at many private schools. Housing, food, books, and transportation expenses must also be considered in computing the cost of attending law school.

Most students, approximately 80 percent, depend on loans as their principal source of financial aid. Many second and third year students work not only full-time during the summer but also work part-time during the school year. First-year students are discouraged by law schools from working during the school year. In the schools' view, these students need to devote their energies solely to adapting to the rigors of a legal education. Scholarships, both merit and need-based, are very limited in number for law students.

For additional information on financing a legal education, consult the brochure, Financial Aid for Law School: A Preliminary Guide, published by the Law School Admission Council and available at law school financial aid offices.

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