Everyone hears that applying to Law School is a competitive process that will require much energy and patience. While that is true, it is essential that those two characteristics are acquired at the beginning of the undergraduate experience. What should students be doing to prepare for Law School at the undergraduate level? Well, it seems as though preparing for Law School on the first day of college might be a little over the top, but you have to start somewhere. The application process will include academic achievements, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
The most important aspect of the application will be the numeric academic achievements in which you have earned, those being GPA and LSAT scores. Law Schools find these two scores the most efficient way to measure the value of a student. To earn these high scores, it is important that to give yourself enough time to study for tests and prepare assignments for class. During the first semester of my first year of college, I spent more time studying than I have ever studied before. Finals week rolled around, and I found myself sleeping as little as three hours per night in order to prepare for the exams and papers that were due. Since then, I have found that studying a little each night for up to two weeks before the exam really enables me to get a higher score. Also, professors recommend that students join some sort of study group to retain more information for a test.
Another aspect of the application process includes the letters of recommendation. Most schools will require that a student have two letters and others will require three. These letters are to be written by professors who have taught you in class, but how do you know which one will write the best letter? It is crucial that you build a relationship with every professor in every class. Visiting with a professor during office hours will enable you to build a relationship strong enough to last for several years. Knowing your professors from freshman and sophomore year will make it easier when deciding who should write your letters during your junior year of college.
A personal statement is the last piece that goes into the applications process. Because there is no formal interview when you apply to Law School, admissions committees use these short essays as a way to get to know students beyond the academic level. Having been involved in many community service events, University organizations, and outside organizations, I will have plenty to talk about other than my grades and test scores. This is exactly what Law Schools want to know.
