{"id":194,"date":"2016-02-08T16:49:28","date_gmt":"2016-02-09T00:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/lsat\/?p=194"},"modified":"2017-06-09T16:39:56","modified_gmt":"2017-06-09T23:39:56","slug":"how-to-get-into-law-school-10-tips-for-getting-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/lsat\/how-to-get-into-law-school-10-tips-for-getting-in\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips for Getting Into Law School"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting into law school, particularly a top law school, is no easy feat. How can you maximize your chances of success?
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1. Take a rigorous courseload.<\/h3>\n

A demanding courseload shows admissions officers that you\u2019re prepared to handle the rigors of law school. Take courses that challenge you intellectually and help you develop the abilities and skills you\u2019ll need to perform well on the LSAT. Courses heavy in writing, reading, and philosophy can give you a solid foundation for both the LSAT and law school. Don\u2019t just focus on the humanities and social sciences, though \u2013 admissions officers want to see you step outside of the box and broaden your intellectual horizons.
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2. Be prepared to take the LSAT once.<\/h3>\n

Of course, sometimes a retake is necessary and beneficial. A retake that boosts your score by even a few points can drastically improve your odds of being accepted to the law school of your choice. That said, in an ideal world, you will be prepared to take the LSAT and get a great score the first time around. Retaking the LSAT costs both time and money, and in a time-sensitive admissions process, you want to make sure you stay ahead of the game. That means getting a great score in round one. Check out our post \/”What’s a Good LSAT Score?”<\/a> to get a better sense of what number you’ll need to hit.
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3. Be organized.<\/h3>\n

Create a timeline so you\u2019re aware of each deadline you need to hit for each school you\u2019re interested in. Not only should you mark final deadlines, but you should also mark personal deadlines along the way \u2013 for example, when do you plan to ask for letters of recommendation? When do you plan to complete your resume? When do you plan on sending in transcripts?
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4. Optimize your letters of recommendation.<\/h3>\n

Develop strong professional relationships with your recommenders. Of course, you shouldn\u2019t develop relationships for the sole purpose of getting great letters of recommendation \u2013 your network can help and support you far beyond providing letters! However, don\u2019t underestimate how much a letter that speaks to your qualities can help you in the admissions process. To make sure you have the best letters possible, give your recommenders sufficient time to write them. Don\u2019t ask your professors or managers for letters two days before the deadline!
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5. Play to your strengths.<\/h3>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve always been known for your leadership skills or speaking skills. Or maybe you\u2019ve always been a great writer. Make sure your application materials shine a good light on your strengths! If you want to emphasize your leadership abilities, highlight your leadership positions. If you want admissions officers to take note of your gift for writing, explain your senior thesis in detail.
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6. Ensure your personal statement isn\u2019t a rehash of your resume.<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t give admissions officers the same material to read twice. You have limited space to tell your story. Use that space wisely. Make sure your personal statement sheds new light on your application by offering a different angle to your work, hobbies, and experiences.
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7. Find an objective reviewer to edit your application.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in college, have someone from your career services center edit your resume, and seek out the campus tutoring center to give your personal statement a second look. If you\u2019ve already graduated, tap your network of friends and colleagues to find an editor who can catch typos and grammar issues. It\u2019s best to find one editor who knows you well (so you can validate you\u2019re presenting yourself truthfully and genuinely) \u2013 and one editor who doesn\u2019t know you as well (so you can get a completely objective review).
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8. Apply early.<\/h3>\n

Law schools have rolling admissions, meaning spots in a class can fill up quickly. Maximize your chances of admission by taking the LSAT early, getting your resume and personal statement in order, and hitting submit as soon as your materials are prepared. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of admission \u2013 particularly if your LSAT and GPA numbers are on a school\u2019s border.
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9. Find a school that matches your interests.<\/h3>\n

Not every school that\u2019s highly ranked will be highly ranked in the particular line of work you\u2019re interested in. Maybe you\u2019re driven by environmental law or sports law or personal injury law \u2013 find the school that will best allow you to follow your path of interest.
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10. Show targeted interest.<\/h3>\n

If a school is your number one school, and you\u2019d go despite<\/em> offers of admission or scholarship money from other schools, make sure that school is aware. Of course, don\u2019t send \u201ctargeted interest\u201d communications to ten schools vowing you\u2019ll attend all ten if admitted. Think carefully about which school gives you the best mix of academics, cost, and career opportunities you\u2019re looking for, and go from there.
\n 
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting into law school, particularly a top law school, is no easy feat. How can you maximize your chances of success?   1. Take a rigorous courseload. A demanding courseload shows admissions officers that you\u2019re prepared to handle the rigors of law school. Take courses that challenge you intellectually and help you develop the abilities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[3851],"class_list":["post-194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-law-school-admissions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Tips for Getting Into Law School - Magoosh LSAT Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Top ten tips outlining how to get into law school\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Tips for Getting Into Law School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Getting into law school, particularly a top law school, is no easy feat. 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