专业精析 Accurate Analysis
法学院拒绝你的三大理由
3 Common Reasons Law School Applications Get Rejected
Rejection, no matter how politely it's delivered, never feels good. Prospective law school students who are not admitted to one or more of the schools they applied to often dwell on the reason why they were rejected. What was it that got them crossed of the list? Was it one particular factor, or a combination of factors?
Unfortunately, institutions receive thousands of applicants every year and cannot provide detailed feedback for candidates who were not accepted. I, however, can shed some light on the most common reasons students are rejected from law school.
1. The law school you applied to received a lot of applications from students of similar backgrounds. Sometimes, the cards are simply stacked against you. If you are part of a large pool of candidates who have similar backgrounds in undergraduate study, ethnicity, upbringing or career goals, you face steep competition.
This is because law school admissions committees seek a diverse class and are faced with the extraordinarily difficult task of eliminating qualified but similar candidates to foster an environment where law students can learn from the unique perspectives of their peers.
2. Your LSAT-GPA Index was too low. The LSAT-GPA Index combines the two numbers in a way that makes it easy for admissions readers to compare thousands of applicants very quickly. Candidates are placed in one of three pools – definitely admit, maybe admit and definitely reject – based on their index.
While the specific formula for this index is not publicized, students may find this Law School Admissions Council tool helpful in determining how their GPA and LSAT scores stack up at various schools.
Review the average LSAT score and GPA for the school that rejected you. If your numbers are far below their preferred achievements, your index was likely the culprit. Keep in mind that a competitive GPA with a low LSAT score or vice versa will negatively impact your overall index, which is typically the first factor admissions readers evaluate.
3. Your essays didn’t stand out. While numbers are the first measure of qualification during the law school admissions process, essays are critical to success for those placed in the "maybe" pool. There are a lot of fish in that pond, so if your essays lack a compelling story or fail to show your unique attributes, your application may be passed over.
I recommend that all law school applicants exert significant effort over their law school essays, but focus on them in particular if their GPA and LSAT score are lower than average for their chosen schools. I have worked with several students with LSAT scores in the 160s who got in top schools like Harvard Law School by composing stellar essays, which speaks volumes about the impact of application materials beyond your GPA and LSAT score.
For those who haven’t yet applied to law school, take these common rejection reasons to heart when crafting your applications. For readers who have been rejected from law school, take comfort in the fact that candidates are often not admitted for reasons beyond their control, such as background, and that the factors within your control such as LSAT score and essays can be improved if you choose to reapply later or transfer schools.
时间:2014-05-21
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