Wabash Career Guide

junior year. Take it by September at the latest. Studies have shown that scores tend to be higher for those test dates, and you can also then begin finalizing your application materials earlier. Law schools like early applications and your chances for admission may be increased if you apply early-decision.

Admissions Essays, Application Materials, Resume To apply to all law schools, you’ll need to go to www.lsac.org and register for LSDAS, the Law School Data Assembly Service. You are required to register with the LSDAS service, which requires a fee. For those students with a financial hardship, there is a fee waiver program detailed on the website. The LSDAS service allows you to manage your application materials online. Your actual application and essay will make a huge impact on admissions decisions, especially if you are a borderline candidate with regard to your grades and LSAT. Your admissions essays should be well-planned, written perfectly, and be interesting and creative. Admissions counselors read literally hundreds of essays, and you can bore them to tears with “I want to be a lawyer because I love the legal TV show ….” See www.gradschooltips.com for good examples as well. Your application should be filled out completely and neatly and your answers must be completely honest. The reader will make assumptions about you based on your application ‘presentation’. Make sure those assumptions are positive. You will need a resume as well. To get started on a resume, see our Resume Guide in this booklet and have yours critiqued by Career Services.

References You will normally need 3-5 written references with each application. References may include professors, work supervisors, and sometimes even personal references.

The application materials will usually specify the requirements.

Make sure to choose your references carefully and ask in advance if the writer will act as a positive reference for you. These reference letters may be ‘closed’, meaning that you will have no access to what the letter writer says. Be sure to provide your references with a copy of your resume, a copy of your application, and any other supporting materials they may like.

Schedule a meeting with each reference to talk with them concerning your interests, goals, and qualifications. The best reference letters are those that are personalized, highlighting actual 68