Much like choosing a university or college to attend for four years, choosing a law school is a difficult process. And one that comes after the strenuous preparation and application processes that come before.
I’ve shared my experience with the LSAT and applying to law schools here, so today I’m gonna talk about how to choose the right school for you.
The hard part is over and now you’re waiting to hear back. Once you start getting decisions, color code your excel spreadsheet that I shared on this post. I used Gray for the schools where I was declined admission, Yellow for waitlist and Green for admitted. Eventually the gray rows were deleted but initially I kept them, personal preference.
If you get a scholarship, add a column for that and another calculating your tuition costs subtracting the scholarship, this gives you a better idea of what tuition costs per school. Also include deposit costs and deadlines on another column. This helps to really get a clear picture of what that school costs and any additional deadlines int the admissions process.
I applied in mid January initially, and early February for my second round of schools and I’m still waiting to hear back from one school so don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to hear back from any schools.
For reference, I applied January 10th to Vanderbilt and am still waiting on a decision, and on the same day I applied to the University of Tennessee and got accepted March 7th. Every school looks through applications at their own pace. I got waitlisted to the University of Miami and accepted before hearing back from Tennessee at all. So just be patient. And yes, I know it’s hard but it’s worth the wait, trust me!
As you start getting decisions, go updating and color coding your excel spreadsheet. If possible begin looking into visiting the schools you have been accepted and waitlisted too.
Go to Admitted Students Day/Weekend, join the class Facebook group, start chatting with fellow admitted students, researching the cities/towns, and asking faculty and staff any questions you may have about their school, programs, the area, etc.
The feeling you get when interacting with the school and the people at that school is very important. These will become the people you spend 95% of the next 3 years with, so make sure you feel welcome, warm and invited when you visit and speak to them.
I recommend visiting as many schools as you can, I visited 4 so you can get a dynamic and diverse look at different law schools and the environments at each one. Compare the atmosphere but also the people and the feeling you get at the school and also the city/town.
Also Admitted Students Day/Weekend is a valuable tool because they simulate a class for you and you tour the law school, led by a current 1L or 2L so this is your time to ask questions and scope out the place. Try to also tour the surrounding areas of campus if the law school is located/attached to a main undergrad campus. Check out the student union, and get info on places to eat, parking, study spots, on campus jobs, etc.
Ask what a day in the life is, see if that is something you see yourself doing. Ask about social events, and no I don’t mean bar hopping or clubbing, I mean events where students can let loose a little in a productive environment. See what students do to decompress, have fun and take a load off.
Explore the city/town, check out food hot spots, look at where people shop, do groceries and other basic necessities.
Take the time to do a preliminary apartment search. Google and asking current students is extremely helpful here. Also ask where other admitted students are looking at for apartments. Compare price ranges and the amenities you’re looking for and create a list of 3-5 places you want to look at in person. Get all the info so when you get home you can evaluate with your parents, partners or whoever you may be living with. Also find out about roommate matching/searching services by the school or an apartment complex.
Hang out with fellow admitted and/or current students outside of the events to scout for potential friends, mentors, hang out buddies, study partners, roommates, or a casual night out companion.
Once you have explored for the weekend and you’ve researched all the info they threw at you during the events, tours, and student panels, take a day or two to mull it over.
EDITED TO ADD: This may or may not be possible with the COVID situation and your preference on traveling so adjust this accordingly.
Create another excel spreadsheet with a budget. Include scholarships, rent, living expenses, etc. See why I said to tour apartments? It comes in handy.
Do this for all the apartments you’re looking at for each school. Now compare.
Pick a place to live at each school. Now begin to narrow down schools.
The best factor for this in my opinion is programs offered. Evaluate your interests and the school’s you’re looking at’s strengths and compare. Narrow it down to which school(s) best fit your educational pursuits.
Take a look at your budget for that school. Now look at what additional financial aid assistance you will need to attend that school and live in that city.
Factor that into your budget. If you still have more than one school at this point, it comes down to budget over program, at least for me. I only had one school left here.
I knew I was still waiting on 2 schools at this point, and was on 3 waitlists but after I visited the school and fell in love with the city and the people I met while there I knew which school was right for me.
I found an apartment, a few friends, a few hang out spots I loved, programs I was excited to be able to participate in and an environment that felt like home. That, is how you choose a school.
Yes, numbers and rankings and all that is important. Don’t neglect those employment rates, average debt and salaries post graduation, bar passage rates, etc. But look at the bigger picture. What can you give that school, aka your experience and diversity and interests etc AND what can the school give you. This is the most important consideration, I think. The opportunities, networking and connections you will gain and grow from during your time at that school AND BEYOND are key factors in choosing the right school.
At the end of the day you are investing in yourself. Your future, your career, your happiness. Make sure you choose a school you love and the rest will follow. If you love what you do, it will never feel like work, and the happier you are the more money you will make because your passion drives you.
After almost a year of embarking on this journey I have found my home for the next 3 years, and the law school that will jump start my future career as an attorney, if you follow your heart I know you will too.
EDITED TO ADD: After 2 years in law school, while I have shared in later posts that my experience in law school has been bumpy to say the least, I am confident that I made the right decision in choosing my school because of all the personal growth, friendships, learning lessons, opportunities and challenges I have had the pleasure and privilege of experiencing. I hope you get that at your school!
I cannot wait to start the next chapter of my life as a University of Tennessee Volunteer and attend UTK Law this August. See you soon, Knoxville!
Thanks for reading!
xo Kayla