Keeping up with Keala
The law school application process can be daunting and somewhat overwhelming if you don’t have your ducks in a row. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Oh no, I haven’t done one thing yet,” fear not because it is still early. And in fact, you are right on schedule. However, make sure you’re not waiting too long, as most schools, including Loyola, have rolling admission, so getting your application in earlier will be better.
This week’s blog will be how to get through the law school application process and come out winning! Here are three steps that got me through the application process:
STEP 1 – The LSAT
The LSAT is key, and is required by almost every law school. The standardized exam consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple choice. The sections include one reading comprehension, one analytical reasoning and two logical reasoning sections. The fifth section is a “variable” and could be any one of the aforementioned sections. There is also a 35-minute unscored writing sample that usually presents a problem that you must argue for one side or the other. While unscored, many schools look at your writing sample to assess your critical reading and writing skills, which are essential to any lawyer.
In order to register for the LSAT, you must create an account through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website . The one caveat about the *LSAT is that it is currently only offered four times throughout the year: in February, in June, in September, and in December. There are also deadlines to register for each, so check the site to make sure you are good to go. Most schools prefer that you take the LSAT the June or September before you plan to enter law school, but will accept a December score as well**. If you don’t get the score you want the first time, feel free to take it again. Most schools will take your highest score, and in a rarer occasion, the school will average the two scores.
*Prospective law students will have more opportunities to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) starting in mid-2018. The Law School Admission Council announced today an expanded testing schedule that will increase testing dates from four to six annually.
** Loyola accepts the February LSAT.
STEP 2 – The Application
After you’ve received your LSAT score (or even if you’re still waiting), go ahead and begin the application process. Loyola, like most schools, require that you apply through LSAC; which consists of your application, your LSAT score(s), your undergraduate transcripts, and your letters of recommendation will be available to the schools to which you are applying. ***Loyola’s application includes a biographical section and requires a personal statement (with optional essay options). Allow yourself time to complete your application, especially your personal statement.
Your personal statement is the time to brag about yourself and why you are interested in that school. If you are applying to more than one school, make sure that your personal statement is tailored to that particular application. Your accomplishments can be similar, but make sure that you are answering the question correctly. Admission Committees can often tell when a prospective student uses a general statement and just changes the school’s name, especially since different schools have different strengths.
*** Please review our information on How to Apply, which includes the application deadlines and a list of requirements to complete your application. APPLY NOW.
STEP 3 – School Selection
Sometimes choosing a school can be just as stressful as the application process. Just remember, the school(s) have already chosen you. Just as it was your job to impress them during the application process, it is their time to impress you during the school selection process. Think of it as a second round of choosing a college. You already have an idea of who you’re interested in since you applied to that school, but make a short list of your top three. Think about the school’s strengths and weaknesses, their location and where you’re wanting to practice after law school. Loyola, for example, is a great pipeline for students wanting to stay in Chicago, and will help you network with practicing attorneys in the area.
Go on a visit! There is no way to really know what the school is like if you’ve never seen it. You can schedule a visit on Loyola School of Law’s website, which can include a tour of campus, a question and answer conference with one of our admissions staff members, and a class visit with a 1L (where you can sit-in on a real course lecture). Our admissions office offers tons of resources, so definitely take advantage of it to make the best decision for yourself.
These three steps will help to put you in front of your competition and help you make your best decision. Ultimately, that’s what counts.
Thanks for reading this week’s blog and I hope that you found it helpful!
Loxley
Loxley Keala is a 1L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is blogging about the journey of her first year of law school. To search all posts written by her search the Loxley category on the right hand side. Questions for Loxley? Email law-admissions@luc.edu with the subject “Ask Loxley” and she will make sure to answer them in a future post.