1. Apply to 6-10 schools. Two -three schools should be "reach" schools where your chances of getting in are somewhat lower than 30-40% according to the data in the guide books. Another three schools should be in the middle range and include those where your chances are 40-60% of acceptance. You should also apply to two -three schools where you have a high liklihood of being accepted.These "safety" schools should be chosen carefully since you may find that you may need to enroll at one of them later. To assess your chances of getting in based on your LSAT and current GPA you should consult the guidebooks or you click here for the Boston College Locator which has an easy matrix to determine which schools will likely accept you with your credentials. The Locator does not include all schools but is still a valuable tool for getting an idea wher eyou may be competitive
2. Most law schools do not interview applicants though many will see you if you do come and provide a tour. However, little weight is put on the interview since the vast majority of applicants do not come, nor do the schools want them to come given the volume of applicants.
3.Most schools now have rolling admissions and will accept their most desireable applicants early. If you do not hear until March or April you are likely in the larger pool of "maybe's" and you may be in a "holding pattern" even until June as they see how their first choices decide where to go.If you are placed on a wait list or do not hear you should follow up with a call to confirm your status. Wait list applicants should send a letter indicating their interest and send any new information such as last terms grades, awards or honors since the application.
4. Many schools will continue to admit students over the summer as others drop out or accept other admission invitations. So do not assume that you have no chance of being admitted if you are on the wait list. Continue to stay in touch with the school. Some schools have evening divisions and you may ask if you can begin in that program and then move up to the day program if you do well. Some schools accept transfers and you may consider going to your safety school and applying as a transfer student in January or for the second year.
5. In choosing a law school to attend be aware of the cost. If no scholarship is offered remember that financial aid must be repaid. It may be worth considering law schools that are cheaper or offer more aid. However, be aware that it may pay to go to a much better law school and refuse aid to a weaker law school.This is because the starting salary at the better law school is so much higher,that your loans can be paid back quicker. All ABA approved law schools participate in the guranteed loan programs that allow eligible students to borrow aproximately $18,000 per year for graduate school.
6. Law schools put the majority of their emphasis on your GPA and LSAT scores, however, all complete files are read by one person in admissions at least and they will read your references, personal statement, and transcript and give appropriate weight to things such as strength and difficulty of major, quality of the undergraduate school, quality of the personal statement and enthusiasm for the applicant in the letters of reference. So when applying give strong consideration to who you choose to write references and prepare your file so as to make sure your strengths are known.