Admissions Update

&QA

California Western’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid and Campus Diversity, Jorge García

When it comes to recruiting students to attend California Western, what are some of the challenges and triumphs?

Law schools have reported a 10% decrease in the applicant pool nationally, and a 13% decrease in our region, which has made an already challenging process even more difficult. That said, we have been successful in continuing to attract qualified applicants to our program. Our application volume has stayed consistent, which considering the national figures is a victory. I believe this is attributable to an enhanced marketing strategy. Additionally, while we were unable to meet applicants in person, we attended many more virtual recruitment events which allowed us to meet more applicants than in prior years.

What is our scholarship strategy, and do you see any changes to that in the future?

Our scholarship awarding strategy is similar to many other law programs. It is a merit-based process. Like all other law schools, we are trying to attract the strongest students possible. Yet, while academic indicators like LSAT score and undergraduate GPA are very important given their correlation to academic success and bar passage, our goal is to continue to diversify our student body and legal profession. We believe that true learning is the result of discourse that comes from students whose backgrounds differ. Therefore, our definition of merit is not limited to LSAT and GPA. It also includes overcoming challenging life experiences and socio-economic obstacles. We use our scholarship program to enhance the profile of our entering class.

What are some of the key strategies the admissions office is or will be implementing to attract top-notch students?

With the help from our marketing department, we have improved our marketing strategy to increase brand awareness and highlight the strengths of our law program. We continue to improve our messaging to ensure applicants are aware of what Cal Western has to offer. Further, support from donors who establish scholarships helps us attract to-notch students.

Are there any highlights you would like our alumni to know about when it comes to student recruitment and admissions?

I believe that we have successfully overcome the challenges the pandemic presented. The academic profile of our entering class has continued to improve every year and we continue to enroll one of the most diverse entering classes in the United States. That said, student recruitment and admissions require a team effort. Applicants want to know about students’ experience in and out of the classroom. They want to hear from our alumni and know that they will be supported once they graduate. They want to sit in on a class and experience what it is like to learn from our brilliant faculty. This type of team approach will help confirm the fact that Cal Western is a place where a student can receive a top-quality education, in a collegial and supportive environment, with the skill set to join the legal profession.

I am incredibly grateful for this dedicated, talented Admissions Team—Audrey Vasquez, Baran Bulkat ‘10, and Susan O’Dean-Sekeres