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Getting into Law School: The Myth of High Grades
A Persistent Perception
People who want to get into law school are often bombarded with statistics about law school admission. For the most part, these figures concentrate on GPAs and LSAT scores, with particular focus on how high a prospective student must score in order to gain admittance to a school of his choosing. Because of this, many tend to believe that the key to getting into law school is being incredibly intelligent and having the highest test scores.
Looking at law school admission as a whole, this is usually the case. After all, law school is famously - or infamously - known as a very cerebral exercise. It stands to reason that the people with the most powerful intellects, then, will be the primary candidates for admission.
The preceding sentence is very true - most law schools prefer people with high grades, those with LSAT scores of 175+ and GPAs above 3.75. In fact, the higher the numbers, the better. But academic records are not the only basis for admission, and many people tend to neglect all the other areas for the one - that is, people concentrate on the academics and ignore all the other factors that are relevant in getting into law school.
Forgetting the Grades...For Now
If you are serious about getting into law school, be aware that you will not be judged based on your academics alone. Universities like to look for people who are well-rounded, not those who are one-sided. Even if you have an all-consuming expertise or passion, you should still have time for extracurricular activities. So, while you should never let go of your primary passion (which might be law) you should still make time for other pursuits.
It doesn't really matter what extracurricular activity is involved - as long as it sheds light on what type of person you are. Past positions of leadership, for example, will often speak volumes about your capability - even if you don't speak a word. Your credibility increases in proportion to the leadership positions that you have held, as well as in proportion to the causes and organizations that you are affiliated with.
If you have not been involved in anything significant until now, do something about it. Start an environmental campaign. Participate in charity work. Get a summer internship in a well-known company. Contribute some articles to your local newspaper. Do something - anything - that will make you appear like an efficient, capable, and unique human being. In other words, try to stand out.
Also, be sure to demonstrate your communication skills. Lawyers are famous for being good speakers and writers. Therefore, if you aspire to be a lawyer, you should have the requisite skills. Admission committees know that people who are below-average in communications skill cannot become good lawyers. Whenever you get the chance, show off your speech or your writings to the relevant persons.
Remember: Your grades are an important factor when it comes to you getting to law school, but it is by no means the only one. Having leadership skills, being a good communicator, and being involved in your community are also significant factors. If you wish to get into the law school of your choice, cultivate all these areas, and you success in the field of law is virtually assured.
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