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10-Week Timeline for Submitting Law School Applications

By U.S. News & World Report

Unless you’re applying early decision, law school application deadlines are next year. However, because admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, you have an advantage by submitting your application sooner rather than later. Ideally, you want to apply before Thanksgiving to get ahead of December LSAT test-takers.

Here is a list of tasks you need to complete. Note that this calendar is designed for applicants who have already taken the LSAT or are sitting for the September exam.

[Learn more about the law school admissions timeline.]

Week 1: Request Transcripts

— Register for the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service — it’s how you will organize and submit all your application materials, including LSAT scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation and electronic applications.

— Submit your transcripts to LSAC, which uses its own algorithm to calculate your undergraduate grade-point average to make calculations uniform across all institutions. As such, it can take several weeks to process transcripts. Don’t delay in making your transcript requests.

— Review the types of transcripts you may need to submit. LSAC requires transcripts from most academic institutions you attended following high school, including schools where you took college-level courses, even for high school credit, or summer school or evening courses as well as institutions that sponsored overseas study.

— Continue to study during this week if you are taking the September LSAT.

Week 2: Brainstorm Topics for Your Personal Statement

— Clarify for yourself why you are interested in applying to law school. This will help you write your personal statement as well as make a stronger case when requesting letters of recommendation.

— Jot down a list of formative experiences in your life. Don’t filter yourself — just write what comes to mind.

[Learn three ways a thesis strengthens a law school essay.]

— Circle the experiences that seem most important. Then reflect on how these key moments connect to each other and your interest in law.

— Keep your brainstorming notes. These will come in handy later.

Week 3: Request Letters of Recommendation

— Use your letters of recommendation to complement your p ersonal statement without overlapping. Refer to your brainstorming notes to identify gaps in your personal statement that a recommendation letter can potentially address.

— Articulate to your recommenders why you want to go law school and how their letters can help you achieve your goals. Remind them of specific accomplishments that would be worth including in the letter.

[Read about the anatomy of a law school recommendation letter.]

Week 4: Create a List of Schools and Download Electronic Applications

— Conduct school-specific research to identify how you would contribute to the school and what each program has to offer you.

— Identify a spectrum of reach, target and safety programs to maximize your admissions results.

— Begin filling out electronic applications. This work is straightforward but at times tedious.

Week 5: Draft Your Personal Statement

— Revisit your brainstorming notes. Begin to shape these initial ideas into a structured essay with a beginning, middle and end.

— Incorporate school-specific research into your personal statement.

Week 6: Draft Your Diversity Statement and Addendum

— Use your diversity statement to highlight another facet of yourself. Read each prompt carefully, since they vary by program, and consider whether including a response would enhance your application.

— Consider submitting an addendum if your LSAT scores vary or your GPA is not within the median range of admitted applicants. I worked with an applicant who chose not to explain an improved LSAT score — after she applied, schools requested the applicant submit an LSAT addendum accounting for the discrepancy.

Week 7: Decide Whether to Submit Additional Optional Responses

— Consider answering optional short responses, which some programs include in addition to the diversity statement and addendum. For example, the Law School at University of Michigan–Ann Arbor offers eight essay prompts to choose from, including describing a failure or setback and how you overcame this. Writing another essay is more work, but it also demonstrates your commitment to the school. You might even be able to take advantage of shortcuts.

— Review your brainstorming notes. Is there an experience you listed that you didn’t address? Can you repurpose an optional response you prepared for a different school? The more valuable information you give admissions committees, the better they can assess your candidacy. But don’t submit an optional essay if you don’t have anything meaningful to share.

— Follow-up with registrars and recommenders during this week. Were your transcripts and letters of recommendation successfully uploaded to your CAS account? Do you need to politely reminder to a recommender?

Week 8: Understand the Importance of Revision

— Set aside an entire week for revision — it is that important. And do not submit your first draft of any essay. Writing is fundamental to legal practice. As a lawyer, you will be expected to revise motions, briefs and contracts repeatedly. Develop this skill now.

— Reread your personal statement and all essays. Revise holistically and adjust your essays for formatting restrictions. Length requirements can vary from multiple pages to a single paragraph or word count.

Week 9: Update Your Resume

— Save updating your resume for the end because you never know what new developments you’ll need to accommodate. Working on your resume now also gives you an opportunity to take a break from essay writing so that you’re ready to proofread with fresh eyes.

— Highlight your education history. Don’t worry about repeating information that may be on the application. It’s better to be thorough than exclude important information.

Week 10: Complete a Final Proofread

— Reread your essays. Read out loud with deliberation to hear typos or awkward phrases that may be invisible to the eye.

— Make sure to review your electronic applications too. Don’t rely on LSAC to autopopulate information without proofreading for yourself.

Need help submitting your applications on time? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.

More from U.S. News

Make the Most of LSAT Practice Tests

Make the Most of Law School Recruiting Events

Tips on Approaching the Hardest LSAT Questions

10-Week Timeline for Submitting Law School Applications originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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