Getting into one of the top law schools is quite difficult, but not impossible. Because of the competitiveness of this field, law school admission committees must evaluate potential law school candidates to ensure they will excel as students and professionals.
Law School Criteria
While there are a number of factors that are considered before a college will accept you, the first two criteria looked at are your LSAT (Law School Admission Test) score and your undergraduate GPA (Grade Point Average).
It is important to understand that a high LSAT score is not a guarantee that you will be accepted. If you succeed in passing these criteria, you will then be asked to complete a number of other admission requirements. These may include, but are not limited to:
- personal essay
- interviews
- recommendations
Beyond this, there are even more factors the committee may be considering before they will accept applicants. These could include, but are not limited to:
- specific work experience
- academic background
- ethnic or cultural background
These criteria are generally considered so the school can create a diverse academic atmosphere, which can create a more challenging environment filled with many different points of views. They will likely rely on your personal essay and excellent oral interviews to collect this information.
LSAT Scores for Top Law Schools
Do you think you have what it takes to get your foot into the door of any of the top ten law schools? It won’t be easy. But if you are willing to go the extra mile, then you just might have a shot! So, what does it take to make the cut?
Here is a list of the top schools along with the average LSAT score and GPA.
| School | Location | Average LSAT | Average GPA |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 173 | 3.9 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 173 | 3.89 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 170 | 3.85 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 171 | 3.87 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 172 | 3.72 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 170 | 3.86 |
| University of California Berkeley (Boalt) | Berkeley, CA | 167 | 3.79 |
| New York University | New York, NY | 172 | 3.71 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 170 | 3.86 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 169 | 3.76 |
The scores for the LSAT range from 120 to 180. It is based on the number of questions you get correct (raw score) and is then converted to a special scale. The median score for the test is 150. Anything above 160 is considered to be a good LSAT score; however, 160 will not make the cut of the top schools. It is important to know what your admission goals are before you take the test. This will help you know how much time you need to put into preparing. Many prepare for this grueling test by taking LSAT prep classes like those provided by getprepped.com.
Bottom Line
If you intend on attending a top rated law school, you will need to work extremely hard. Even then, it might not be enough. Aside from your LSAT score and GPA, you will also need to pass a number of other criteria. But who knows? You may have the qualities your dream school is looking for. It all starts with the LSAT, so happy studying!