This is a listing of the fifteen "best" law schools
obtained by comparing a number of rankings. Next
to each school is listed its students' average LSAT/Undergraduate
GPA for a recent admission cycle, which are two of many subjective and objective
factors used to determine rankings. Because any
two different rankings almost never agree on the
exact order of the law schools, this listing is
alphabetical instead of numerical. Again, keep in
mind that while many rankings agree that these law
schools are among the best, the rankings are necessarily
subjective.
How tough is it to get into a law school like
one of these? In a recent admission cycle,
the University of Virginia received 3,443 applications.
Twenty-eight percent (964) of the applicants were
accepted, and of those who were accepted, 37% (357)
attended. Harvard received 5,813 applications, 15%
(872) were accepted, and 65% (567) of those attended.
Numbers like these are the norm at top-tier law
schools. So if you apply, you'd better be the kind
of person who handles rejection well. Each year,
the "best" law schools turn away thousands
of applicants with stellar numerical credentials.
The good news is that these students get to pick
and choose from a host of "lesser" law
schools that eagerly offer them admission.
You can register for the LSAT by
regular mail, by phone (215-968-1001), or online
through the Law Services' and Law School Admission
Council's joint website.
You can register for the LSDAS at any time. However,
if you plan to apply to law schools within a year
after taking the LSAT, then register for the LSAT
and the LSDAS at the same time. You can register
by mail (Law School Data Assembly Services, Box
2000-M, Newtown, PA 18940-0993), by phone
(215-968-1001), or online through the Law Services'
and Law School Admission Council's joint
website.
A one-year LSDAS registration costs $99.00. This
registration includes having your Law School Master
Report, and up to three letters of recommendation,
sent to one law school. Reports for additional schools
can be purchased at the time you register for the
LSDAS at a cost of $10.00 each. Reports for additional
schools purchased after you register for the LSDAS
cost $12.00 each. You can renew your one-year LSDAS
registration for $56.00.
Other Web Sites
Check out these websites. They all talk about
law-related stuff, and many devote a lot of space
to things like law schools, admissions, financial
aid, legal careers, and the LSAT.
In addition, every year U.S. News & World
Report does a ranking of law schools, and publishes
that information along with other topics of interest
to prelaw students. The most recent ranking can
be found here.
In addition to the rankings, you'll find a lot of
useful information on individual schools.
Finally, if you want still more information,
get on any search engine or directory and type
in "law school". You'll come up with
more hits than you can possibly review.
Return to Law School
Page
Appendix E
Bibliography
Stewart, Mark A., 30 Days to the LSAT, IDG Books
Worldwide (Oct. 1997) (ISBN: 0028618351) 266 pgs.,
$11.95 retail
Morgan, Rick L., ed, ABA Guide to Approved Law
Schools 2000, IDG Books Worldwide (Apr. 1999) (ISBN:
0028628241) 480 pgs., $21.95 retail
Stewart, Mark A., ARCO GRE/LSAT Logic Workbook,
3d ed, IDG Books Worldwide (June 1999) (ISBN: 0028632468)
186 pgs., $10.95 retail
Barron's Educational Series, Inc., ed, Barron's
Guide to Law Schools, 13th ed, Barron's Educational
Series (Oct. 1998) (ISBN: 0764104314) 420 pgs.,
$15.95 retail
Van Tuyl, Ian, The Best Law Schools, 2000 ed,
Princeton Review (1999) (ISBN: 0375754644) 565 pgs.,
$20.00 retail (includes "Headstart 2000 Business
and Law School Application Software" interactive
CD-ROM, Windows compatible)
Deaver, Jeff, The Complete Law School Companion:
How to Excel at America's Most Demanding Post-Graduate
Curriculum, John Wiley & Sons (Mar. 1992) (ISBN:
047155491X) 240 pgs., $15.95 retail
Robinson, Adam, Cracking the LSAT, 2000 ed, Princeton
Review (July 1999) (ISBN: 0375754105) 336 pgs.,
$34.95 retail (includes "Sample Tests on CD-ROM"
interactive CD-ROM, Windows compatible)
Kaufman, Daniel, Essays That Will Get You Into
Law School, Barron's Educational Series (Oct. 1998)
(ISBN: 0764106120) 135 pgs., $10.95 retail
Curry, Boykin, ed, Essays That Worked for Law
Schools: 35 Essays From Successful Applications
to the Nation's Top Law Schools, Fawcett Books (Sept.
1991) (ISBN: 0449905152) $12.00 retail
Martinson, Thomas H., Getting Into Law School
Today, 3d ed, IDG Books Worldwide (June 1998) (ISBN:
002862498X) 148 pgs., $12.95 retail
Castleman, Harry, Going to Law School?: Everything
You Need to Know to Choose and Pursue a Degree in
Law, John Wiley & Sons (Sept. 1997) (ISBN: 0471149071)
240 pgs., $14.95 retail
Lermack, Paul, Ph.D., How to Get Into the Right
Law School, 2d ed, VGM Career Horizons (1997) (ISBN:
084424127X) 225 pgs., $14.95 retail
Kaplan, ed, Kaplan LSAT 1999-2000, Kaplan (Mar.
1999) (ISBN: 0684856700) 304 pgs., $34.95 retail
(includes CD-ROM)
Lammert-Reeves, Ruth, Law School Admissions Adviser
2000: Selection, Admissions, Financial Aid, Kaplan
(July 1999) (ISBN: 0684859580) 304 pgs., $24.95
retail
Kolby, Jeff, Master the LSAT, Nova Press (Jan.
1997) (ISBN: 1889057045) 560 pgs., $29.95 retail
Times Books, ed, The Official Guide to US Law
Schools, 2000 ed, Times Books (June 1999) (ISBN:
0812990463) 448 pgs., $20.00 retail
Falcon, Atticus, Planet Law School: What You
Need to Know (Before You Go)…but Didn't Know to
Ask, Fine Print Press (May 1998) (ISBN: 1888960027)
404 pgs., $19.95 retail
Zavatta, Amy, ed, The Princeton Review Prelaw
Companion, Princeton Review (Sept. 1996) (ISBN:
067977372X) $15.00 retail
Kaplan, ed, Two Real LSATs Explained, Simon &
Schuster (Aug. 1997) (ISBN: 068481681) 368 pgs.,
$34.95 retail
Law School Admission Council, So You Want to
Be A Lawyer: A Practical Guide to Law As A Career,
Broadway Books (June 1998) (ISBN: 0767901606) 154
pgs., $13.00 retail
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Page
Appendix F
Law School Application Checklist
This Checklist is intended to be a general list
of the things you need to do, and when you need
to do them, to apply to law schools. It is not specific
to any particular school, nor is it a "one-size-fits-all"
guide. The Checklist assumes you are a "conventional"
student pursuing a four-year course of study. Not
all of the items will apply to everyone. You should
work closely with your pre-law advisor to develop
a plan that suits your needs, and you must check
with each law school where you're applying for that
school's dates and deadlines.
JUNIOR YEAR
February
____ Request interviews at law schools you're
interested in, if you need special accommodations
for applications, admissions, or attendance
____ Request waiver of LSAT fees (those who qualify
for waiver)
____ Request LSAT preparation course information
March
____ Request law school catalogs and admission
information
____ Get Law Services Information Book from Law
Services or prelaw advisor
____ Sign up for LSAT preparation course
____ Sign up for June LSAT and register with LSDAS
(late March)
April
____ Sign up for June LSAT and register with
LSDAS (if not done in March)
____ Begin LSAT preparation course OR
____ Get LSAT self-study materials and begin studying
for LSAT
May
____ June LSAT admission
ticket arrives; verify accuracy and correct errors
with Law Services
____ Continue LSAT prep course OR
____ Continue LSAT self-study
June
____ Take June LSAT
____ Begin visiting law schools you're interested
in
July
____ June LSAT score arrives; check accuracy
____ Finish visiting law schools
____ Make list of law schools you're applying to
____ Register with LSDAS (if not already done) OR
____ Order and pay for extra copies of Master Report
if you need more (LSDAS)
____ Sign up for LSAT preparation course (if you're
taking the October LSAT)
August
____ Order official transcripts from all undergraduate,
graduate and professional schools; arrange to have
sent directly to LSDAS
____ Get current application forms and materials
for every law school you're applying to
____ Get current financial aid forms for every law
school you're applying to
____ Sign up for October LSAT (if you missed June
LSAT or are retaking the test)
____ Begin LSAT preparation course (for October
LSAT) OR
____ Get LSAT self-study materials and begin LSAT
self-study (for October LSAT)
SENIOR YEAR
September
____ Law School Master Report arrives; check
for accuracy and correct errors with LSDAS
____ Make arrangements for letters of recommendation
____ Begin completing law school application forms,
including essays
____ Continue LSAT preparation course (for October
LSAT) OR
____ Continue LSAT self-study (for October LSAT)
____ October LSAT admission ticket arrives; verify
accuracy and correct errors with Law Services
____ Make application deadline list for every law
school you're applying to
October
____ Take October LSAT (if you didn't take June
LSAT or want to retake)
____ Finalize law school applications and essays
____ Collect letters of recommendation or check
to see that recommenders have finished and sent
____ Double-check all applications for completeness
and accuracy
____ Mail law school applications (certified, return-receipt
requested) unless waiting for October LSAT score
November
____ October LSAT score arrives; verify accuracy
____ Mail law school applications (certified, return
receipt requested) if not done in October or if
awaiting result of October LSAT
____ Law schools acknowledge applications (if mailed
in October)
____ Confirm receipt of applications with law schools
that haven't acknowledged
December
____ Order updated official college transcript,
if needed
____ Law schools acknowledge applications (if mailed
in November)
____ Confirm receipt of applications with law schools
that haven't acknowledged
January
____ Complete and file previous year's tax returns
February
____ Complete and send financial aid applications
(certified mail, return-receipt requested)
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