For law school hopefuls, a recent survey shows now may be the best time to apply, but the admissions process still remains competitive. A study released late October by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions shows law schools nationwide are experiencing a significant decline in applicants. The Paul M. Hebert Law Center participated in the study and is following this national trend. The law center received 1,298 applications for the fall, a drop from the 1,682 applications it received in fall 2005. Kaplan surveyed admissions officers at 190 law schools during a two week period in July. Steven Marietti, director of Kaplan Pre-law Programs, said half of all admissions officers surveyed said they have seen a decrease in the number of applicants in the past two years. Of this group, 79 percent said this decline did not make their particular law school’s admissions process any less competitive. “These results seem to contradict each other,” Marietti said. “Fewer applicants should mean less competition, but admissions officers are saying this isn’t the case.” The drop implies that the quality of the applicant pool has strengthened. Marietti said applicants are competing against peers with stronger applications. But he said a decrease in applicants statistically means students have a better chance of admittance compared to previous years. “What this means for students: If you’re interested in law school, it may be advantageous to apply now since your odds are statistically better,” Marietti said. “But the trends don’t represent an opportunity for students to become complacent because as our study implies, the caliber of the applicants is getting better.” Since 2004, the national number of law school applicants has continued to drop, according to the Law School Admission Council, the organization that administers and writes the LSAT. About 100,600 students applied to law school in 2004, while 95,800 students applied in 2005. In 2006, that number dropped by 7.4 percent. “This should make getting into law school less competitive,” Marietti said. “But the process still remains very competitive. And a program like the one at LSU, for example, will always be highly competitive no matter what the trends are.” Gina Bennette, executive director of Princeton Review in Baton Rouge, explained that it is usual for there to be fluctuations from year to year in students interested in pursuing a law degree. “Different social things occur that spur people to want to take the LSAT,” she said. “After Sept. 11, [2001], the number of law school applicants increased because there were more people wanting to be involved.” The Kaplan survey also reveals that 83 percent of admissions officers evaluate students on their highest single LSAT score, unlike the 71 percent who evaluated students using their average LSAT score this past year. Marietti explained an American Bar Association policy change causing the number of those who take the LSAT multiple times increase. This potentially helps students who need a second chance on the LSAT, which is the single most important factor in determining law school admissions – 66 percent, according to the Kaplan survey. “Students should understand, though, that law schools will still see all their LSAT scores despite this new trend in evaluation policy,” Marietti said. “Kaplan advises students to prepare for the LSAT and only take it once, unless it’s absolutely necessary.” Other findings from the survey caution students against “application killers,” with weak writing skills having a significant impact. Marietti said applicants can demonstrate their writing skills in two places: personal statements and the writing section of the LSAT. Although the writing section is not scored, Marietti said 75 percent of officers reported they always or sometimes evaluate applicants on this section. “What this says is that students should take the writing sample seriously, even though it’s not scored,” he said. “Many admissions officers do take it into account.” Almost 20 percent of respondents reported that a low GPA is the critical application determinant, while 12 percent of admissions officers said they specifically look at the quality of letters of recommendation. “So if an applicant’s GPA is not exactly where they think it should be, acing the LSAT becomes that much more important,” Marietti said. “And getting a letter of recommendation from a pre-law adviser or a law-related internship supervisor may add to their credibility as an applicant.”
—Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]