Six Tips for Rejected Law School Applicants
If you were rejected from all the schools you applied to, here are some suggested next steps for you to take in your journey to law school:
1. If your LSAT score was not optimal, consider retaking the test. You should only consider doing this if you are committed to a rigorous study program. You should not retake the test until your practice test scores show that you have a 5 – 7 point improvement. Usually students need a formal prep course or professional tutoring to see this type of improvement. A 1 or 2 point increase in a second LSAT will not change your fate. The schools expect that you will do slightly better the second time, and may even average your scores.
2. If your GPA was low, consider a master’s degree or second bachelor’s degree. You should remember, however, that graduate work does not count towards your undergraduate GPA—it only shows your current academic ability. If your UGPA was very low, you might consider a second bachelor’s degree. Regardless, this is a risky and expensive option.
3. Spend a couple of years in the professional world. Real world professional and leadership experience gives you additional soft factors that will help your application. Doing something related to the law counts more than a totally unrelated field, but the key is to be good at whatever you spend your time doing.
4. Consider applying to spring, evening, or part-time programs. Law school rankings do not factor the credentials of their part-time students, so schools tend to be looser in admitting them. Spring and evening sections usually have less competition.
5. Consider applying to less-prestigious schools. Maybe your path to becoming a lawyer isn’t going to involve a top-50 school. Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Also, if you do extremely well at the lower-ranked school (top 5-10%), you can transfer to a better law school. Be cautious about entering any law school with the intent to transfer. Only a handful of students are able to successfully do this, and transfer entrance into law school is just as competitive as the normal admissions process.
6. Do not apply to the same law school again without making significant improvements to your application.