Admissions Decisions Weekly Insights

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Welcome! One of the larger issues at stake in the world of graduate admissions is the proposal to eliminate the standardized testing requirement in law school admissions. The upcoming vote will determine whether schools will be forced to require the LSAT for admissions.

Recently, there was a change in the standardized test requirement that allowed individuals to take the GRE and submit those scores in lieu of the LSAT.

There are several proponents and opponents to the change, and the implications are significant. A brief summary:

• Currently, law students are primarily admitted based on LSAT scores, GPA, and undergraduate pedigree. There is some credence given to extra curriculars (particularly those with a legal focus), letters of recommendation, and personal statements

• Proponents of eliminating the LSAT are primarily in two camps:

  • The first group is focused on the LSAT preventing diversity in the legal field

  • The second group is focused on the restriction the LSAT places in evolving and innovating law school admissions policies

• Opponents of eliminating the LSAT view it differently. Some believe the LSAT is a standardized way of evaluating a large pool of applicants in an objective way, while others believe that the exam acts as a barrier to otherwise unqualified applicants who would incur tens of thousands in dollars in debt for a profession they are not prepared to practice

No matter which position you identify with, the possible elimination of a standardized test requirement from the law school admissions process would change how applicants apply and compete for admissions spots at the best law schools in the country.

This Week’s Articles:

1. There are several factors into the decision to attend school in state vs. out of state.

2. If you are feeling as if you have plateaued in your SAT/ACT prep, here are some helpful proverbs to apply in your studying.

3. For those interested in the ABA decision to potentially end the LSAT requirement, you can get more information here.