My path as a nontraditional student often perplexes people I meet whose own paths have led seamlessly from high school to college to professional life. It's also tiny, with only 200 slots available each year. This guide will go over everything you need to know to tackle your Yale Law School application, including statistics, a discussion of standardized tests, an overview of all the application components, and full-length examples of personal essays. Be sure to carefully follow essay instructions, including length guidelines. 1 school in the 2019 Best Law Schools rankings – Yale Law School – had an acceptance rate below 8.4 percent in fall 2017. More or less on a whim, I decided to apply to Smith College’s Ada Comstock Scholars Program, which is designed for women of nontraditional age. Yale’s JD program is what we’ll cover in this post. One trip took me to an overstuffed wing chair in the august lounge of the Yale Club of New York. As I read more about environmental racism, I began to understand that disadvantaged communities all over the country and the globe were being impacted by toxic environments. I’d never paid much attention to politics up to that point, but as an aspiring environmental scientist and a native Michigander, I felt a mixture of horror, sadness, and anger when I thought about how the residents of Flint had been put in danger so that the government could save money. Step 3: Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Do not use the Yale 250 to explain bad grades or offer excuses for other extenuating circumstances; save anything urgent regarding context for the addenda. By comparison, Harvard Law is twice as easy. The admission rate is 6.9%. Though I’d always imagined myself changing the world as a scientist out in the field, the more I learned, the more I felt that working from the angle of policy and law would be the most effective contribution I could make towards achieving environmental justice. These are very stiff … Forget about it. I went down every online rabbit hole about fertilizer, soil, and the indefinable “bright indirect light.” When a plant began to yellow or drop leaves, I’d spend hours reading about how I could improve its water or light levels. Factors to consider when choosing a law school include the school’s cost, available specializations, and modality (full-time, part-time, or online). But having a coveted acceptance to Yale Law get pulled is very different from being told sorry, you didn’t get into Touro Law (which, by the way, you didn’t even apply to). Using the Flint story as a spine, she seamlessly weaves in information about her academic interests, geographic and socioeconomic background, and political awakening. Students are required to work with renown faculty on not one, but two major research papers. As a child, my family spent most summer weekends at the beach, where I ran nervously into the freezing blue lake and spent hours combing the sand for interesting stones and shells. Though they are not the main subject of his essay, Malcolm also transmits small but informative details about his upbringing. All of the things Anne mentioned, however, will also get you into almost any other law school in the country, so you can prepare for Yale as well as everywhere else. Scott Johnson writes – Do you know how hard it is to get into Yale Law School? Next, tackle your essays with creativity and impeccable writing to demonstrate the unique experiences, skills, and point of view that you will bring to Yale. It’s also tiny, with only 200 slots available each year. So Yale Law School admitted students with an LSAT score as low as 154. Thank you! Here are some statistics on Yale Law School’s class of 2022: Though there is no minimum GPA or LSAT score for applicants, the lowest GPA and LSAT scores received by a member of Yale Law School’s class of 2022 were 3.32 and 155 respectively. Gaining acceptance to Yale Law School will be a challenge for any applicant, no matter how qualified. Yale Law School is a community of commitment: commitment to world-class scholarship, to professional excellence, and to service for the greater good. Instead, she has an intuitive ability to understand what a plant needs. Resources and programs designed to make it possible for students to pursue their legal education at Yale. However, even with an LSAT score in the 176+ range, your chances of getting into Yale are still low relative to other top law schools. By comparison, Harvard Law is twice as easy. If you hope to add your name to the Yale Law School alumni list, you probably already know that you’ll need stellar undergraduate grades and standardized test scores, stand-out personal essays, and that little, mysterious, crucial something extra to be a competitive applicant. Remember that we are looking for students who will make the most of Yale and the most of their talents. Your Trusted Advisors for Admissions Succes. In 2004 she founded Law School Expert and has helped thousands of applicants navigate the tough process to get into law school. From the first small group class meeting to the final gathering at Commencement, Yale Law School is an extraordinary community in which to study law. Here’s an example that our student, Rebecca, wrote to apply to Yale Law School: Growing up thirty minutes from Lake Michigan, I always loved water. With valuable resources like the Environmental Protection Clinic and the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, I know that Yale’s Program on Law and the Environment will provide the strongest possible foundation for me to do this crucial work. Typically, only about ten students a year are accepted. Students may undertake independent writing projects following their own academic interests or organize reading groups around a specific topic. While a chronological order is by no means necessary to writing a good essay, it works well here because it anchors the personal information that naturally leads into Rebecca’s explanation of why she would benefit from a Yale education. It’s also tiny, with only 200 slots available each year. The admission rate is 6.9%. I’d enjoyed my short stint in college, but in the wake of such catastrophe, I needed to be close to my family, and no one I knew argued with this logic. In addition to its JD program, Yale Law School also offers a few other graduate degrees: Master of Laws (LLM), Doctor of the Science of Laws (JSD), Master of Studies in Law (MSL), and PhD in Law. The mailing address for Yale is: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Yale University, PO Box 208235, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520-8234 Include a check or money order payable to Yale University. 6 Acquire letters of recommendation. Most students looking to practice law will be interested in earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Although there might be some exceptions to this rule, you’ll be much better off if you don’t take any chances. Scott Johnson writes – Do you know how hard it is to get into Yale Law School? In this section, we’ll go over how to approach writing each of the essays in Yale Law School’s application, plus show you full-length example essays. Do you know how hard it is to transfer to Yale Law? How could water—the thing we had so much of in Michigan—be full of poison? Write about yourself, rather than penning an ode to Yale. I initially felt old and like an imposter, and, for the first year or two, spent a lot of time by myself. When we dropped the water off at Flint’s Red Cross chapter, it became obvious to me that the majority of people who were suffering were working class and black. No less important than familiarizing yourself with law school requirements and learning how to apply is deciding where to apply to law school. When she does turn to YLS, she offers a few specifics while also nodding to the clearest and most powerful thing Yale has going for it: the people. Yale is an excellent school (the best), ranked 1st in the nation (out of 187 law schools). As I complete my final semester of college this winter, I’ll be the first person in my family to graduate from college. Do you know how hard it … Diversity statements also fall under this optional category. Even harder. Think of it as a chance to add texture about something—perhaps something surprising—that you didn’t get to cover in your main personal statement. With its world-renowned faculty, fascinating students, and distinguished speakers, Yale Law School is an invigorating place to think about the law. On that note, while the subjects of Yale and law serve as the culmination of Rebecca’s essay, they take up little space relative to the essay as a whole. Not only has this shown me that I can change my own life through hard work, it’s also strengthened my resolve to advocate for those who have been less fortunate than I have. But roughly 25% of the entering classes at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford have LSAT scores at or below 170. I am applying to Yale Law School in order to equip myself to help communities like Flint as an environmental policy lawyer. School location: New Haven, CT. SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE. To get into Yale, you need to stand out academically. BS/MD | BA/MD | BS/DO Admissions Services, How to Get Into Yale Law School: The Ultimate Guide, please let us know how we can help you crack the law school admissions code. Nearly a decade earlier, as I was beginning my second semester at the University of Massachusetts, my mother’s car was struck by a drunk driver running a red light. The professors and peer group will push Rebecca to be the best lawyer she can be. In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Yale and build a strong application. In addition to a rich history and an accomplished student body, our unmatched faculty-student ratio allows us to offer a vast array of courses, an average class size of approximately 20 students, and countless opportunities for independent research, writing, and student-organized seminars. When I first moved out, I was eager to replicate my mother’s jungle. Notwithstanding its reputation as a very “academic” law school, YLS students are still fully aware that law school is, at its most basic, a professional school – that is, a place you enter looking to get something specific, whether that be a skill, a network, or a job. These are astronomical scores. Since a good GPA … The Yale 250 is about adding color and often quirk to your application. What can we learn from Maya’s diversity essay? Harvard, as a much larger school, will take most people above this threshold. […] I've written a blog post on this, or, more correctly, copied a story: Post in Law School Admissions The only thing I have to add to that is a quote from my first conversation with their then Dean of admissions (now deceased), Jim Thomas. THERE'S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS ALONE, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. Remember that you should only ever explain away bad grades if you have a real story you can tell surrounding what happened, and if you can turn the weakness into a strength by explaining how you grew from a difficult situation. Though overtime I found wonderful and inspiring friends in my fellow Adas, as we were called, I was typically the only nontraditional student in the majority of my courses. While I don’t have an inborn green thumb, diligence has made my plants thrive. By comparison, Harvard Law is twice as easy. Instead, Rebecca uses the majority of her essay to tell a story about herself, which is what a personal statement should do. Republished with permission from the Naked Dollar. Like Malcolm, Maya uses another experience—in this case, her past work as a server—to demonstrate skills that will make her a successful attorney. Harvard Law School is several times the size of Yale Law School. Thank you! Even my mother says so. Some general guidelines to keep in mind when writing your essays: Focus on crafting the very best writing you can and make sure to proofread your essays for correct grammar and spelling. Well, a good GPA for law school is, of course, the GPA that gets you into the school of your dreams! For ten years, I spent time with my dad and sister, forged community with old and new friends in Providence, and held down serving jobs at restaurants around town. To my dismay, my new greenery browned at an alarmingly quick rate. Though by this point I’d declared Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity as my major, I’d never before considered that race could have anything to do with what I was studying. To get into Yale Law School, you should spend your undergraduate years working as hard as you can to earn top grades. Over these last three-and-a-half years, I’ve come to realize that this journey has been a gift because I truly understand the value of my education, having lived a working adult’s life without it. Unlike me, she never got the chance to go back. Eventually, I learned to understand the signals my plants were transmitting, which had been previously imperceptible to me. If you’re unsure of whether or not you should include a diversity statement with your application, we suggest reading our guide to writing law school diversity statements and guide to law school admissions, which cover how to approach this decision. It's well known to people who care about such things, though, that Yale has the most selective law school … CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION. It’s also tiny, with only 200 slots available each year. You should also invest plenty of time in studying for the LSAT in order to aim for a score of at least 173, and preferably 175 or above. Data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) shows that you should have a GPA of 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into one of the top 10 law schools. That’s because I know a true one—my mother. For instance, the No. In the meantime, please let us know how we can help you crack the law school admissions code. 3. Going over a specified word limit will show you don’t know how to follow directions, which is not a great look for someone hoping to work in a field as intricate as law. Choosing a Law School. Your guide is on its way. For the greatest chances of admission, first focus on achieving the very best grades and test scores that you can. Do you know how hard it … Some students choose to focus on traditional “black-letter law” classes, while others experiment with cutting-edge legal theory or interdisciplinary courses. Ann Levine is the author of the best selling law school admission guide book: The Law School Admission Game and made admissions decisions at two ABA-approved law schools. Students from all over the world come to Yale Law School to deepen their understanding of the law. Each year, Yale has an entering class of about 500 law students. Admissions Rate: 6.1%. To my surprise, I was accepted. My mother and I are similar in that she also left college before graduating, though in her case it was to get married after she became pregnant with me. Get a free consultation with Ann on your own law school admissions journey today. The admission rate is 6.9%. Emphases are ours: “The personal statement should help us learn about the personal, professional, and academic qualities an applicant would bring to the Law School community. Note: For the 2019-2020 cycle, Yale began accepting GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT. 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