There’s nothing that screams black hole like looking at an application to graduate school, including law school. In fact, many an unwary student has had their free time consumed by that very black hole. So how do you avoid this abyss, and fast track the law school application process?
There is a way to do this! It’s just going to take a little bit of advance planning on your part.
1. Schedule All of Your Deadlines
Let’s face it. There are a bunch of students out there that have a difficult time meeting deadlines. I happen to be one of them. There is a way to get around that issue. Set aside an hour and put these deadlines on your calendar:
- The date the law schools you want to apply to open their applications
- The date the law schools you want to apply to close their applications
- The date you plan to take the LSAT
- The date you need to apply for the LSAT
If you put these events on your calendar you’ll be well on your way to fast-tracking your applications. This will give you a global view of your deadlines, and let you know when you’ll need to finish everything up.
2. Get Everything Done Early
You have a bunch of stuff you’re going to need to get done before you can press the submit button. Set aside about 15 minutes to print out a list of everything you’re going to need in each application. Here’s everything I could think of off the top of my head, but be sure to check the LSAC’s website just in case.
- Undergrad transcripts
- LSAT Score
- Application
- Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
There could be more, but you’ll need to get these things done at a minimum. The next thing you need to do is mark out on your schedule when exactly you plan on accomplishing the above tasks.
Keep in mind that it may take a while to get your transcripts and your recommendation letters. So, I suggest you start them as soon as possible. I mean, why wait? As with most things, the sooner the better.
So send quick emails to the professors you want to write the letters today! Call up the registrar for your undergrad transcript today too.
Get these first steps done. There may be some follow-up, and definitely some transit time involved, but if you get things in motion immediately, then you should get the documents you need within a month or so.
And remember how I suggested that you mark down when you can start applying to law schools? Well, I think you should set a goal to get that stuff taken care of at least a month before you can submit your application.
Keep in mind that being a lawyer involves efficient ability to meet constant deadlines. Procrastination will kill you then — so you may as well get used to meeting deadlines early now!
3. Get the LSAT Done Before February
June is the perfect time to take the LSAT, hands-down. It’s before you can start submitting your applications to law school, so it gives you ample time to take the exam, see how you did, and decide if you need to take it again before applying to the schools you want.
February is probably the worst time to take the LSAT. You don’t get to review your grades, and you won’t get your scores back until just a few days before a lot of law schools close their registration windows. Talk about a stressful experience! Believe me when I say you don’t want that to happen.
4. Send All Your Applications Out at the Same Time
Once you have everything taken care of, send all your applications out
on the same day. The law school application process takes about the same amount of time at every school. So sending out your applications simultaneously should mean that you’ll get all your responses at right around the same time.
Getting all of your acceptances and/or rejections at approximately the same time will help you in making the ultimate decision of where you want to attend school.
Try to relax during this law school application process! Yes, it can certainly be a stressful time! But don’t spread out the drama by procrastinating. Get it all done on time, even early — and then relax while you wait for your law school career to begin!
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