Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 7

Client Case Study: Karla

First-Generation Latina applicant accepted to USC Price School Master of Public Policy program with full-tuition scholarship

Karla knew that she wanted to take her career to the next level. She’d risen from the ranks of Teach for America to become a college access director at a nonprofit in the Bay Area. She knew she needed some quantitative skills along the way to a graduate degree, and initially came to The Art of Applying® in November 2017, just two months before the deadline for the MBA programs she thought would be the right fit. 

She got waitlisted to just one of the schools she applied to, and could have given up on her grad school dream. But she had some powerful insights during that first application process, some on her own, and some through her work with The Art of Applying®. As she recalls, changing the letters MBA to MPP on her essay made her goals make so much more sense. 

And guess what happened? She got accepted everywhere she wanted to go, including the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, where she’s now attending with a full ride scholarship. 

“I didn’t give up,” she reports proudly. “Part of me very well could have been, ‘forget this, it’s not gonna work out for me. I’ll apply to something maybe easier to get into’ … I could have very well gone to a lower-ranked MBA or MPP program. I think it feels good that I didn’t lose persistence and that I took time, because I think sometimes our own timelines get in our way.”

So while a 2018 entry into an MBA program wasn’t in Karla’s plan, a 2019 entry into an MPP program most definitely was. 

Start Date: November 2017 | End Date: May 2018

Applicant Information

LatinaFirst-generation American and first-generation college studentSchool: University of ChicagoGPA: 3.6GMAT: 550GRE: 310

Acceptances

University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public PolicyUniversity of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public PolicyUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public PolicyUCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Scholarships & Fellowships

University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy Full tuition scholarship

Attending

USC Price School

Notable Quotes

“So when I heard about The Art of Applying®, I felt like I needed that expertise about admissions, because honestly, I was the first in my friend and family group to pursue those degrees … so for me it was really a matter of finding a thought partner. I think I had been talking about the MPP and MBA with lots of friends and family and no one could really encourage me or give me actually helpful advice. So I think that was a huge thing for me: finding someone that could actually look at my materials, look at my test scores, look at all of that for me and actually explain … I’ve done a lot of informational interviewing, but I think I really needed that support.”

“I’ve always been a really strong writer, but what I really needed was someone to help me connect the dots.” 

“I needed that time to take the advice I had gotten and really do something with it.”

“I think [the Breakthrough Call] was going to be more like a sales pitch, but I come from the counseling background … and felt like it was counseling. At that point, I was like super stressed and frustrated and ready to give up, and so having someone hear me out who wasn’t biased … was the most helpful thing for me, processing out loud [to determine] where I was in the path and what that could mean.” 

“It was an investment that actually paid off in the end, because if you really think about it, applying with all of your ducks in order is going to mean maybe better scholarships in the end. So, for me, investing in the front end was more helpful than having to figure out how to finance my intuition on the back end.”

“There were lots of ups and downs, like I mentioned. I was honestly super depressed after I got denied across the board, but I think for me, it feels good now. I didn’t give up. Part of me very well could have been, ‘forget this, it’s not gonna work out for me. I’ll apply to something maybe easier to get into’ … I could have very well gone to a lower ranked MBA or MPP program. I think it feels good that I didn’t lose persistence and that I took time, because I think sometimes our own timelines like get in our way.”

Law School Junior Deferral Programs

If you’re among those highly motivated prospective students who are definitely going to law school, you might also have other exciting opportunities that you don’t want to pass up. This may lead you to wonder: can I complete my law school applications early and then do something else like a fellowship or public service project before I go?

The answer is: maybe, depending on the facts.

There are a couple of established junior deferral programs (JDPs) that specifically seek out undergraduate students in their junior year who are committed to attending a top law school and are eager to get through the admissions cycle but also want to defer their actual enrollment briefly to complete some other worthy, exciting academic or professional goal.

In this post, we’ll talk about how JDPs work, which law schools have them, and answer other FAQs like these:

What factors affect your eligibility for this kind of admissions program?How do pre-law advisors think you should prepare to get into a junior deferral program?What is the timeline for the JDP application cycle? What is the process like, and are the application deadlines different?

Let’s get started.

Do law schools let you defer admission?

In general, most law schools prefer not to defer their regular admissions process. Usually students who cannot attend when they are slated to start will need to reapply. The reapplication process is no guarantee, even for those who were previously admitted.

However, a few schools explicitly describe some exceptions.

For example, Yale Law School grants a limited number of one-year deferral periods. In some highly exceptional cases such as foreign academic scholarships or lengthier fellowships, YLS might grant two-year deferrals.

The University of Michigan Law School explicitly states that it will grant deferrals for applicants who will be completing Teach for America Corps or AmeriCorps service. Similarly, Cornell Law School grants two-year deferrals only for commitments such as fellowships or military or Peace Corps service.

Other schools grant deferrals to undergraduate students (and their international equivalents) on a case-by-case basis as described here by Boston University Law School, but this is rare. Such deferrals are nearly always limited to one year (see this mention by the University of California, Los Angeles.) Typically if you are granted a deferral you must submit a deposit and retract other law school applications as Stanford Law School and the University of California at Berkeley Law School require.

What is a junior deferral program (JDP)? Which law schools have a JDP? Are JDPs different depending on the law school?

A junior deferral program (JDP) is a binding law school admissions program that allows college juniors to apply to law school and wait to start law school after graduating from their undergraduate institutions through a deferral period. JDPs are designed for undergraduate students who want to experience other opportunities before attending law school, such as: gaining work experience, pursuing unique educational or professional opportunities, or volunteering.

JDPs generally share a few key features:

Early admissions. Students apply during their junior year of college (or the international equivalent).Deferral period. Typically a one- or two-year deferral, depending on the school and the student’s plans.Non-traditional work experience. After matriculation, students are encouraged to use the deferral period to gain diverse work experiences through internships or pursue meaningful opportunities such as serving in the Peace Corps, which can enrich their law school experience.

JDPs are beneficial for law schools because they attract highly qualified applicants who are likely to attend. The eligibility criteria for JDPs are the same as they are for students applying in their senior year during the regular application cycle. The one difference is that applicants don’t apply through the LSAC CAS credential service and instead send their standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and other materials directly to the school admissions office.

Some law schools that offer junior deferral programs include Harvard Law School (HLS), Columbia Law School (CLS), and George Washington University Law School (GW Law).

Harvard Law School’s Junior Deferral Program is open to college juniors or their international equivalent. It is highly competitive, so if you’re wondering how to get into the Harvard Law Junior Deferral Program, make sure you follow the guidelines to the letter.

The Harvard Law JDP application process includes:

An online application A law school resume [see how to craft a standout law school resume here]A statement of purpose and a statement of perspective [see how to write the perfect law school personal statement here]An LSAT or GRE score [check out this discussion of GRE vs LSAT: which one you should take for your law school application here]Undergraduate transcriptsTwo letters of recommendation [see law school letters of recommendation samples and tips here]A deferral plan

Columbia Law School offers the LEAD Fellowship Program to undergraduate students in their junior and senior year. During this two-year deferral period, applicants in the LEAD Fellowship Program are expected to be meaningfully employed full-time or engaged in a partnership, venture, fellowship, or graduate studies. Some successful LEAD fellows may be eligible to receive funding to enable them to advance their work during the deferral period.

The junior deferral program application process at CLS includes:

A completed and signed application formThree required essaysAn official undergraduate transcriptA law school resumeTwo academic/faculty letters of recommendationA Dean’s Certification, if needed (sent directly by your pre-law adviser)Any and all addenda the Character and Fitness application section requiresA project plan essay, if you want to be considered for a LEAD funding grant

George Washington University Law School (GW Law) offers the GW Junior Early Action Program. This program is slightly different than the other two described here in that it allows college juniors at GW to apply one year in advance to the law school without an LSAT score for deferred enrollment. Obviously this is a more limited program, for GW undergraduate students only.

What are the eligibility criteria for applying to a law school junior deferral program?

Eligibility criteria for applying to a law school junior deferral program or JDP typically include:

Academic standing and the right timing. You must be an undergraduate student in your junior year or the international equivalent. You must also be on track to graduate and finish all coursework that’s required by the following spring.Strong academic record. Both HLS and CLS also expect applicants to have demonstrated academic excellence and shown that they can excel as a law student. Letters of recommendation. Your letters of recommendation should be powerful, and you should have requested them well in advance. Application components. You must submit each piece of the application materials; both the HLS and CLS programs require multiple essays.Test scores. You must submit a GRE or LSAT score; both CLS and HLS accept both of these tests.Plan for your deferral period. You must provide a detailed plan for how you will use your deferral period, and it should be focused on achievement and service. For example, pursuing a fellowship, getting work experience at a law firm, serving in Teach for America or the Peace Corps, or starting a professional venture may all be seen as good uses of this time.How many letters of recommendation do junior deferral programs require?

Harvard Law School’s Junior Deferral Program requires two letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic source. You may submit one additional letter if it offers additional relevant perspective for the HLS admissions committee.

The junior deferral program at Columbia Law School requires two letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic source. Again, up to three may be submitted, if they are all highly relevant and persuasive.

More FAQs about Harvard Law School’s Junior Deferral Program

Here are answers to some more common questions about the JDP at Harvard Law:

How long can you defer Harvard Law School?

The junior deferral program at HLS offers a two-year deferral period. If you need to have more time than that, you can request it, but most applicants are limited to the two-year deferral period. If this timing doesn’t work out for you, consider reapplication later when you are ready to attend.

Does Harvard Law School offer a fee waiver of the CAS report?

No, the JDP doesn’t offer a fee waiver of the CAS report, because you don’t need a CAS report at all applying this way. As a junior deferral program applicant, you bypass LSAC and the CAS credential service entirely, and apply with your transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, essays, and other materials directly through the law school admissions office.

Will the committee accept an older standardized test score?

Just like any other applicant, your standardized test scores—whether they’re LSAT scores, GRE scores, or both—must be from the last five years. In fact, junior deferral program applicants like all others must submit all test scores from the past five years.

Will the law school hold my completed file for a future standardized test score?

No, the junior deferral program at HLS requires that you apply with either an LSAT score or a GRE score. Although you may be a year behind in school, the admissions committee expects to review a complete application, including standardized test scores from the past five years.

Can international students obtain financial aid?

Yes, Harvard Law offers financial assistance to international students based on need and treats international JDP applicants exactly the same for financial aid purposes.

Want some guidance through this competitive application process?

Have more questions about law school junior deferral programs, whether they might be right for you, or how to nail your application? Click here to book a Quick Call to see if our admissions consulting experts can help. We offer help with your law school personal statement, choosing which test to take, law school essay editing, and more.

GRE vs LSAT: Which One Should I Take For My Law School Application?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are both standardized tests that applicants consider taking when they are applying to law school or graduate programs. But which one is best for you depends on several factors—not least among them, your career goals and personal preferences.

In this post, we’re going to answer FAQs about both tests, compare them, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of both in the context of applying to law school. Let’s go!

What are the main differences between the GRE and LSAT exams?

The LSAT test is the traditional admissions exam for law school. It is accepted by all law schools in the US and Canada. It focuses on logical reasoning sections, which are important for legal studies.

The LSAT was only offered as a paper-based test with set test dates until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change on the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) who administers it. Now, test-takers can choose either the classic in-person format or proctored online options.

The GRE test is a general standardized exam that’s required for admission to most graduate programs. It tests verbal reasoning skills and includes a quant or math section.

The GRE has been computer-based for some years now. Overall, it offers more flexibility in terms of test dates and how many times you can retake it year-round.

Test-taking strategies differ for the LSAT vs GRE. The GRE is section-level adaptive, meaning that test-takers can preview questions, skip and return to them, and change their answers. None of this is allowed on the LSAT, except to the extent that you skip around on the paper version if time allows you to do that.

Test difficulty may feel different between the GRE vs LSAT for most test-takers. The LSAT verbal/reading comprehension sections in particular are more difficult to complete in the allotted time than the GRE verbal, except for very fast readers, and time is always the enemy on these tests.

School policies can differ with regard to the LSAT vs GRE. Certain schools weigh LSAT scores more heavily, but most schools that accept GRE scores weigh them equally.

Taking practice tests for both exams is the best way to determine which test is better suited to your abilities. In fact, you should take at least one of each kind of practice test before you start any formal GRE or LSAT prep to maximize your results and be sure you’ve made the right choice.

Which sections are common to both the GRE and LSAT exams?

Both the GRE and LSAT test reading comprehension. However, the LSAT also tests logical reasoning within these reading sections, while the GRE tests logic skills in a separate reasoning section. So while both tests have some logical reasoning on them, there are far more questions testing logical reasoning on the LSAT.

The writing section of both tests emphasize vocabulary. However, the LSAT argumentative writing sample is unscored, and serves as a demonstration of writing skills for law schools reviewing your application—in other words, LSAC submits this essay along with your other materials. The GRE analytical writing section tests analytical reasoning and writing skills and is scored, but not submitted to schools.

Another difference is how the writing sections of the tests work. The GRE writing section asks you to analyze an issue, while the LSAT writing section asks you to choose one of two options and argue in favor of it.

Quantitative reasoning sections are only present on the GRE. If math is not your strong suit, the LSAT may be a better test for you. However, if you are also interested in other graduate degree programs like business school, you might want to emphasize your broader quantitative reasoning abilities with the GRE.

Starting this year in 2024, the LSAT will no longer have a section with the often-dreaded logic games. This change was made to accommodate some test-takers with disabilities. Instead, the LSAT has added an additional logical reasoning section.

In summary:

The LSAT and GRE both feature 5 sections:

The GRE has 2 verbal reasoning sections, 2 quantitative reasoning sections, and 1 analytical writing section.The LSAT has 2 logical reasoning sections, 1 reading comprehension section, 1 unscored section that could be either logical reasoning or reading comprehension, and the single argumentative writing sample that is taken separately.Is the GRE harder than the LSAT?

Many law school applicants say the GRE is harder, while others insist the LSAT is a more difficult test. This should tell you that it’s really more about your own abilities and strengths. Here are some things to consider:

Are you a serious test prep person? If so, the GRE might feel easier, because it has more questions that can be studied for and memorized in advance compared to the LSAT which has more logic questions that demand that you work them out on the spot.

Are you a math-phobe or do you have trouble with data-analysis? If you, the LSAT might feel easier, because there’s no quantitative reasoning section.

Do you consistently run out of time taking tests? If so, the GRE might feel easier. There are more reading comprehension questions on the LSAT vs GRE, and they include some logical reasoning components. Overall, this takes more time for most people on test day. The GRE takes about 2 hours total, with the LSAT taking about 2.5 hours, plus the separate 35 minute essay section.

Do you have trouble studying and memorizing in advance? If so, the LSAT might seem easier to you. One reason is the heavy emphasis on vocabulary on the GRE vs LSAT. Many test-takers study hundreds or even thousands of vocabulary words during GRE test prep, so if this sounds like torture for you, consider taking the LSAT.

Do you have trouble focusing? If so, the GRE might feel easier to you for similar reasons. With fewer long, complicated reading comprehension questions on the GRE vs LSAT, it may be easier to hold your focus taking the GRE.

Remember, both tests are tough. The best way to know for sure which is easier for you is to decide on your target score ranges or percentiles for each one and then take some practice tests.

Which is more widely accepted for law school admissions: GRE or LSAT?

The LSAT. All law schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) accept the LSAT. According to ETS, the organization that administers the GRE, about half of ABA-accredited law schools offer the GRE as an option.

Do law schools prefer LSAT or GRE test scores?

There are 196 ABA-accredited law schools, and only about half of them require the LSAT. But do law school admissions officers have a preference in terms of GRE vs LSAT?

Obviously, if the school requires the LSAT, they’ve made their preference clear. If they take both the GRE and LSAT and weigh them both evenly, though, there is no reason to think they have a preference.

One potential gray area is schools who review both if you’ve taken them. But if they do review both tests without obviously attributing more weight to one, again, there is no reason to assume a preference.

Certain schools will import any LSAT scores you have even if you prefer the GRE, but won’t do the same thing if you prefer the LSAT but also have GRE scores. They allow GRE scores for test-takers who only have those scores, however. Can we infer that they prefer LSAT scores?

The best way to determine this is to look at the individual school’s information, including its rates of admittance for students who take the different tests. When you do that, remember that you need to compare not raw numbers, but the comparative number of admitted law students.

Also remember this: law schools are free to set their own rules. They need not accept anything but the LSAT if that’s their preference, so if they do accept the GRE, they have decided that it is a good measure of the ability of their potential students.

How many top law schools currently accept GRE scores?

Some of the top law schools based on rankings that accept GRE scores include:

Boston CollegeBoston University (for some students)Chicago-Kent College of LawColumbia Law SchoolCornell Law SchoolDuke University School of LawGeorgetown University Law CenterHarvard Law SchoolNew York University Law SchoolStanford Law SchoolUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of Pennsylvania Carey Law SchoolYale Law SchoolDoes Harvard law take the GRE or LSAT? What is a good LSAT score to get into Harvard Law?

Harvard Law School accepts either exam, and requires that you submit all valid scores from both exams if you’ve taken both. HLS also says they have no preference for either exam, and admits test-takers at about the same rate relative to the number of applications they receive.

A good LSAT score at Harvard is between 171 and 176. 171 is the 25th percentile score, with 176 resting at the 75th percentile.

Can I get into law school with just a GRE?

Yes, many students take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT and gain admittance to top law schools. For example, Yale Law School accepts both exams and states it has no preference between them. However, applicants with reportable LSAT scores may not submit GRE scores in their place.

Obviously, the key here is to carefully read the rules for each school you’re targeting.

Can I take the LSAT instead of the GRE for entry to a graduate program in the US?

Some grad school programs accept the LSAT in place of the GRE or GMAT, but this is less common than law schools that accept the GRE in lieu of the LSAT. The most likely programs involve policy or law.

What is the validity of GRE and LSAT scores?

Both test scores have a 5-year validity period. However, as with everything else, you should check your school’s specific instructions to make sure your test scores remain valid.

Final thoughts on GRE vs LSAT scores

No matter what you may hear, the bottom line is that only you can decide which of these tests will be most advantageous to you. It is almost certainly better to submit an impressive score on either the LSAT or GRE versus an average score from any test.

Do your homework, take a few practice tests, and then go with the test that makes the most sense to you.

Jump start your law school journey now

The Art of Applying admissions consulting team can help you with questions like this, and a lot more. Click here to book a Quick Call to see how we can help.

Crafting a Standout Resume for Law School

If you’re applying to law school, you’re probably spending a lot of time and energy on the application process—and maybe hoping to save yourself some effort where you can! We get it.

But trust us: your law school resume is not the place to cut corners. Don’t just attach whatever resume you’ve been using up until now to your law school application!

Each piece of your entire application should stand out, showing the admissions committee why you are not only going to make a great law student, but also why you’re a perfect fit for their school and its culture.

It may seem like a reach, but it’s really important to shape your entire application, including your law school resume, for your readers—in this case, the admissions officers from your target law schools.

In this post, we’ll cover FAQs about resumes for law school, including:

The dos and don’ts of what should be on a law school application resumeHow to write a law school resumeThe difference between writing a personal statement vs. resumeBest practices for tailoring resumes for top law schools and what top schools are looking for in law school resumesDifferences (if any) between law school resumes for different kinds of applicantsOur best advice for how to format a resume for law school applicationsSample resumes and resume templates

And a lot more. Let’s get started!

The dos and don’ts of what should be on a law school application resume

A law school resume should primarily include your contact information, educational background, highlighting your academic achievements, awards and honors, significant leadership roles, community service, or work experience. All of your details should be easy to read and understand, and presented in a professional, concise format.

And remember: never exaggerate on your resume, especially when you’re applying to law school. Tell the truth.

Here is a basic list of what to put on a law school resume:

An education section

This should include:

Your GPA from your undergrad years (and from grad school, if you went) but not high schoolThe name and location of your University, what degree you earned, and your major and minorYour graduation dateRelevant coursework, such as pre-law or political science coursesAcademic achievements, honors, and awards such as making the Dean’s List

A work experience section

This should include:

All relevant roles, including internshipsJob titles and company namesKey responsibilities, promotions, and accomplishments, especially those that demonstrate legal skills like analysis, communication, critical thinking, research, writing, or problem-solvingHighlight leadership roles you’ve held

A section with leadership and extracurricular activities

This should include:

Work you have done, and especially leadership positions you have taken, in student organizations, community service groups, or professional associationsRelevant volunteer work, outreach initiatives, and advocacy experienceAny significant contributions or achievements within these roles

A separate section with skills and abilities

This should include:

Any evidence of strong analytical and critical thinking skillsAny evidence of excellent written and verbal communication skillsAny evidence of research and legal writing abilitiesProficiency with relevant software (like Westlaw or Lexis/Nexis)Language fluency other than English (if applicable)Any relevant certifications such as business law or compliance certificatesCan I include part-time work on my law school application resume?

Yes, you should absolutely include part-time work experience on your law school resume. Law schools want to see a complete picture of your work experience, including part-time jobs and internships. These kinds of experiences demonstrate your ability to juggle many responsibilities and commitment to doing so while pursuing your education.

Of course, always be transparent about part-time status. If you want or need to clarify this, indicate that the role was part-time next to the job title.

How can I highlight my extracurricular activities on a law school resume?

Here are a few tips for putting your extracurricular activities in the best light for a law school admissions committee:

Prioritize activities that showcase your interest in law, like volunteer work with legal aid organizations, participating in mock trial competitions, or joining law-related student organizations.Emphasize leadership positions within clubs or community service organizations, as this demonstrates your ability to manage projects and motivate others.Don’t just list activities; describe specific actions you took and the positive outcomes achieved.Highlight skills like advocacy, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and research that you developed through your extracurriculars.Should I put my LSAT score or GPA on my law school resume? Does it matter how high my score is—and what is a good LSAT score in this context?

Unless the law school application specifically requests it, you don’t need to include your LSAT score in your law school resume. Each school you apply to will already get your LSAT score from the LSAC credential assembly service (CAS).

The don’t list: what not to put on a resume for law school

There are a few categories of things to keep out of your law school resume:

Irrelevant or unnecessary informationDuplicative informationRed flags

Obviously, red flags are the biggest things to avoid! But you want to avoid all of these kinds of information. Here’s what we mean.

Lots of details that you might have included on a standard professional resume are irrelevant to law school. For example, none of these should be on your law school resume:

Details about high school. These are just not relevant in most cases.An objective section. They know what your objective is: getting into law school! Leave this out.Technical skills from your professional life that don’t translate into legal work or law school.Personal details like your marital status, religion, or nationality.

Other information is duplicative, meaning that the admissions committee will get those details elsewhere:

References shouldn’t be in your resume, because when you’re applying to law school, letters of recommendation take their place.Similarly, your LSAT score will come from CAS, so don’t bother including it here, too.

Finally, red flags. Obviously, you don’t want any of these in your resume for law school!

Unsubstantiated claims or exaggerations will be viewed as a bad sign by admissions officers. Sometimes people get tempted, especially when they’re addressing gaps on a law school resume. But if you have gaps, just address them honestly. For example, just tell them you were laid off, or caring for family, or traveling—whatever really happened. You can provide more details in your personal statement if you need to.Bad formatting, typos, and other errors mark you as careless, or worse, an applicant that isn’t skilled enough to make the cut. No client wants someone making these kinds of errors in work that will affect their livelihood or future.How to write a law school resume

Now you have the basics of what should and shouldn’t be in this thing. So how do you actually go about writing it?

Here are some best practices for law school resumes that have been proven over time.

Keep the formatting simple. No flashy graphics, no weird fonts. Stick to words and Times New Roman. Remember, the legal profession is conservative overall.Be clear. Avoid confusing gaps and list the elements in each section in reverse chronological order (the most recent thing at the top).Use bullet points correctly. Bullets can really save space and make your resume easier to read, but only if you do them right:Keep them short—three lines or less for each one.More than three or four bullets are likely to get some skipped, so limit them to the best few for each section.No jargon, including legalese and Latin. Start each point with an action verb like “Led a team…”When you can, quantify your achievements, and give specific details.Make it readable. Even when you’re not using bullets, use short, simple sentences and action verbs rather than the passive voice. And always proofread your work!

Keep these tips for a standout law school resume in mind, and if you want more guidance, check out this article on how to write a law school resume.

What are the differences between the personal statement and the law school resume?

The main differences between a law school resume and a personal statement are the purpose, length, and focus.

The purpose of a law school resume is to provide an overview of your academic and professional history. The goal of a personal statement is to show who you are as a person and why you’re a great fit for the law school.

A resume for law school is usually one or two pages long, although some schools specify that they want one-pagers. Read those directions! A law school personal statement typically comes with a maximum word count attached to it, or a maximum number of pages. Most end up being around two to four pages long.

A law school resume focuses on your academic achievements, while a personal statement focuses on your experiences, your outlook, and what they say about you and your aptitude for legal study.

What are top law schools looking for in resumes from applicants?

Several top schools offer resources for writing a law school resume:

This Harvard Law School law school resume toolkit offers a video, blog posts, and details about the HLS requirements.Yale also offers some great resources, including resume advice and samples and a Yale podcast from law school admissions officers about law school resumes (Part One and Part Two)UPenn Law School offers these tips on how to convert a job resume to a law school resume.Boston University School of Law provides this legal resume handbook including sample resumes.

And if you’d like a little more information from a different source, check out this article on tailoring resumes for top law schools.

Law school application resumes for different kinds of applicants

Is there any difference between a law school resume for undergrads and resumes for other kinds of candidates? For example, if you’re a transfer student, should you do anything different? What if you’re a gap year applicant?

A law school resume for gap year applicants should address the year off honestly, and as constructively as possible. Try and fill your gap year with meaningful pursuits, and when you do, list them on your resume. But don’t exaggerate! If you do have large gaps of time, you can explain them in an addendum—the resume is not the place to do more than explain, with dates, what you were doing when.

A law school resume for transfer students will need to include an extra school in the education section. Don’t forget to list honors, academic achievements, and other relevant details. There is no need to indicate why you are attempting to transfer unless it is a particularly compelling reason. (Hint: a higher rank is not considered to be a good reason; the presence of a program or clinic at the target school that doesn’t exist where you are right now is.)

What is the best format for a law school resume?

At the very top, make sure you include all of your contact information. Do not include personal details or a photo unless the law school asks for those things.

Stick to the four separate sections we discussed above: education, work experience, leadership and extracurriculars, and skills and abilities. Each section should list things in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent school, job, extracurricular, or acquired skill is at the top.

How long should my law school resume be? Each school is different and may have its own rules—be sure to check the directions for each of your applications. But generally, one to two pages is right. Don’t mess with your formatting to fit into this length. Keep the margins about one inch, and use a standard 12-point font like Times New Roman.

Use bullet points where you can to pack more information into less space. Keep them easy to read and short. Start each point with an action verb if you can.

And remember, the most important step in making sure the formatting is right is proofreading. Don’t skip this, and if you know it’s not your strength, make sure someone else reads your resume. Many applicants get someone else to edit and proofread their personal statement, but then fail to give their law school resume the same treatment. This is a mistake!

Sample resumes and resume templates for law school

Here is a resource with law school resume templates and examples from SUNY Buffalo complete with commentary that can be useful.

And we’ve included a sample law school resume of our own here:

MIA VASQUEZ3624 W. 2nd Street • Los Angeles, CA 90018 • (323) 694-8394mvasquez14@ucla.edu

EDUCATION

University of California, Los Angeles, College of Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA B.A. International Relations, summa cum laude May 2024

Travel Study: Global Studies – The Global Governance of International Human Rights, The Hague, Netherlands

Coursework: History, politics, and governance of international human rights, June-August 2023

• Received research award

• Participated in bi-weekly community service activities working with local and international human rights advocacy groups

Los Angeles High School Los Angeles, CA

• Student Body Treasurer June 2020

• Student Advocates for Immigrants and Refugees, Founder and President

• Co-captain, Varsity Volleyball Team

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Dean’s List all four years at UCLA

• Winner, International Relations Society research award, May 2023

• Mortar Board National College Senior Honors Society 2023-2024

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jones Day Los Angeles, CA

Global Disputes Paralegal June 2023-present

• Provided hands-on practical support for attorneys and helped represent international clients

• Developed complex strategies for cross-border litigation and and produced briefings related to investigations for the representatives of the City of Los Angeles and California State

• Produced briefings and conducted client and expert interviews on behalf of clients and their litigation efforts

Global Disputes Legal Intern May-August 2022

• Heavily involved in trial preparation, conducting research, analyzing depositions, and drafting memoranda for trial attorneys

• Shadowed attorneys and attended depositions and trial proceedings

Mercy Bar and Grill, Los Angeles, CA

Food server and bartender June-August 2020, 2021

• Engaged with customers, helped plan events, and ensured the smooth function of the business

• Conducted safety and HR trainings for staff

Mujeres por Mujeres, Los Angeles, CA

Bilingual Communications Intern May-August 2019

• Assisted in fundraising initiatives, created and edited marketing collateral, conducted research, and developed communications scripts for celebrity volunteers, all in both English and Spanish

• Developed and oversaw new domestic violence initiative for recent immigrants and refugees in the US

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP

Alpha Phi Omega Society, Chi Chapter

Events Coordinator September 2022-May 2023

• Organized all social and community service events

• Controlled the $50,000 annual budget

• Mentored and advised younger members

International Affairs Student Organization, UCLA

Event Chairman September 2021-May 2022

• Organized academic panels, career talks, and social gatherings

• Managed administrative tasks for the entire organization pertaining to events and fundraising

UCLA Bruin Ambassadors

Tour Guide and Ambassador September 2020-May 2021

• Led guided campus tours for prospective UCLA students

• Conducted high school visits for prospective UCLA students throughout the Los Angeles area

• Represented UCLA with enthusiasm and served as a liaison in the Admissions Office

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND INTERESTS

• Fluent in Spanish

• Backpacked throughout South and Central America, including over part of the Darién Gap immigration route

• Avid volleyball player; science fiction enthusiast

Take your dream to the next level

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How to Write the Perfect Law School Personal Statement

So, you have your list of target law schools. You took the LSAT or GRE and lined up some references to write your letters of recommendation. You’ve ordered all of your transcripts and they’re sitting in the LSAC CAS, just ready to be sent out.

There’s no putting it off anymore: it’s time to focus on your law school personal statement.

For lots of people, this is the most intimidating piece of the law school application process, because there’s no obvious right way to do things. How can I make my law school personal statement stand out? What does a law school admissions committee want to see? How do I convince them that I’m going to be a great addition to the school?

Try to see this as your opportunity to shine. A good personal statement meets all of the requirements set in place by top law schools.The best personal statement showcases all of the ways that your personal experience sets you apart from other applicants as an asset to the legal profession and as a law student at your first choice schools in particular.

In this guide, we’re going to answer FAQs about writing law school essays, including how law school personal statements fit into the overall admissions process, what admissions officers want—and don’t want!—to see, how many pages a law school personal statement should have, and more.

Read on for our best law school personal statement advice!

How do personal statements fit into the law school application?

The law school personal statement is the most personal piece of the application process. This is where admissions officers get to learn more about who you are as a person and go deeper than your high school and undergrad transcripts, GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, and the work experience on your resume.

With a few exceptions, you don’t need to burn up words in your law school personal statement explaining the other parts of your application. Instead, let the entire package speak for itself and you. Don’t worry about selling the admissions committee on your LSAT score or other credentials here.

(One exception to this is when you’re submitting an addendum—which we’ll discuss more below.)

What are some tips for writing a good personal statement for law school?

Here are some of our best law school personal statement tips:

Focus on yourself. Sounds obvious, right? But often, people start their law school personal statement with a quote from a famous person, or a long story about someone who inspired them. The admissions officers are definitely not going to accept Herman Melville or your aunt, so don’t let them steal your spotlight!

Be real. Never just tell an admissions committee what you think they want to hear. It’s fine to look at samples so you understand the assignment. But always be honest, and never follow anyone else’s example too closely. The point is to stand out as a unique applicant, not as this year’s version of last year’s successful applicant.

Tell a juicy story. Read our post about juicy storytelling here. You may think that people on a law school admissions committee are somehow superhuman, but they’re not! You want to make sure you grab their attention in the first paragraph and keep it in your grasp until the end.

Know your school—each one of them. It might feel attractive to write just one law school personal statement and use it for every school, but it’s far wiser to weave the values, culture, and mission of the particular law school you’re applying to into your essay. You can write your basic core essay and then inject that kind of meaning into it for different schools.

Edit, proofread, and get another set of eyes on your essay if you can. The law school personal statement is not the place to leave typos or tracked changes. DO NOT turn in your first draft. This is your one chance to tell your story and shine amongst a sea of applicants. Don’t risk standing out as a careless applicant! If you need them, proofreading services and editing services can ensure you are error-free before you submit.

What should a law school personal statement include? What should the focus or topic be?

Ideally, a law school personal statement showcases the applicant’s writing and communication skills while revealing how their personal experiences have shaped them to date. It’s achieving these two very important things: offering a personal story, and doing so in a convincing and effective written format.

Whether or not the school is asking specifically for a diversity statement, the personal statement is a great place to highlight how your unique background has shaped your outlook and goals. Talk to the admissions committee about how you’ve faced adversity, overcome challenges, and benefitted from different points of view.

Write about a topic that is relevant, personal, and entirely unique to you. It’s a great idea to brainstorm a personal statement topic with one or more people who can give you honest, constructive feedback.

Your law school personal statement could focus on a character trait or quality you think defines you, an important piece of your background, a transformative life challenge or other experience, or whatever deeply motivates you. Don’t worry about whether your topic is entirely novel. If you write in your own voice and stay authentic and honest, your personal statement will be unique.

Many schools ask you to discuss initiatives and other specific activities, projects, or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to a particular public policy, legal issue, cause, or area of social justice. They want you to highlight your ability to take a proactive approach beyond mere academics, showcasing how you’ve actively addressed problems or initiated change within your field of interest or community. You could answer this kind of prompt talking about advocacy efforts, volunteer work, or taking a leadership role in extracurricular activities.

If you need to, most law schools allow you to include an addendum. This is the place where you can explain extenuating circumstances about other pieces of your application that won’t come out any other way.

For example, if you have a history of low test scores, especially based on learning disabilities or some related factor, let the admissions committee know that here. If your GPA during high school or college was low because you worked a lot, explain that here—and if possible, add what you learned from all of that work experience, even if it’s not related to the law.

Admissions officers want to see how you have grown and matured, and why you’re ready for law school now. The addendum can give them the “behind the scenes” view that helps explain the numbers.

Will you be a good lawyer? Tell them, and explain why

A huge piece of what law school admissions committees are looking for is who will make the best law student at their school, specifically—and who is most likely to go on to become a good lawyer under real world conditions. How can you show that you’re the one they’re looking for in a short essay?

Explain what attracts you to this career path. Why do you want to pursue a law degree? How do you see yourself engaging in advocacy during your legal career? If you have honest, deeply thought out answers to these questions, admissions officers want to hear them.

For example, it’s a great idea to show why the Juris Doctorate is the next step for you rather than some other graduate school degree. The legal field is mostly a nuts and bolts, practical profession. Why is it what you want to do?

Not so good: “I see law school as the next logical step in my educational career.”Okay: “I want to pursue my Juris Doctorate next because I see the legal system as the most actionable place to focus social change efforts to benefit people with disabilities.”Better: “Studying social work I found my passion advocating for people with disabilities, and now I aim to affect real change for my clients as an attorney and policymaker.

Describe the qualities about you that will help you thrive in law school and the legal profession. The personal statement is the place to talk about your analytical and critical thinking skills, and how a law degree will help you put them to work.

For example, it’s great to mention the public policy you care about, but why do you need a JD to work in your interest area? Tell the committee why.

Not so good: “I am dedicated to public service and this is what motivates me to attend law school.”Okay: “I want to pursue a career in public service and to me, legal advocacy is among the most practical expressions of this kind of service.”Better: “As a law student I hope to learn while serving needy clients as a student volunteer, and further my career goal of delivering direct services in court that benefit the public.”

(Now, it’s not necessary to dive off the high platform into a long, dull discussion of the law, or heavily detailed career goals about which firm you want to work at in this statement. But it’s important to show why you want to go to law school and earn the JD specifically.)

Your reasons for going to law school should be at the heart of your personal statement.

What to avoid in law school personal statements

There are plenty of things to avoid in your personal statement, too. Here are some basic law school personal statement don’ts:

Don’t cite silly or trite reasons you’ll be a good lawyer. Like to argue with everyone around you? Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean you’ll be a great lawyer—and might mean you’ll be a law student that’s difficult to be around.

Don’t just restate all of your resume points or credentials. The admissions committee already has the rest of your application. Don’t waste time just listing every single high school extracurricular activity, the fact that you speak intermediate Spanish, your LSAT score, or your undergrad GPA. (The exception is if you’re including an addendum, but as stated above, that adds new information and doesn’t merely restate everything.)

Don’t name drop. Did your dad or some other family member attend the same school or donate a wing to the law library? Don’t talk about that in your personal statement. It is inauthentic and can even be seen as unethical in the law school admissions process.

Don’t use Latin phrases, legalese, or other jargon. Stick to American English and check your work. There is a high risk that you are misusing these kinds of phrases, first of all, and second, this just comes across as arrogant and phony for the most part.

Don’t leave typos, formatting errors, or tracked changes. We said it elsewhere, but it bears repeating: edit and proofread your work. It helps to have another person help you, too. The first time you read through the essay, you probably won’t catch everything—and since it’s your work, there are errors that may remain “invisible” to you, but will stand out to someone else. Don’t hesitate to use an editing service or something similar for this.

Can I include personal anecdotes in my law school personal statement?

Yes, as mentioned elsewhere, your personal story is important to this essay. But this is not your “Call me Ishmael moment.” In other words, don’t try and cram your entire life story and every detail of your psyche into a couple of pages.

Be selective. Choose a personal experience with special resonance that can help admissions officers see why you are there, and what you have to offer.

Keep it appropriate. Just because you’re telling your own personal anecdotes doesn’t mean you should take the TMI route. Revealing too much, either from a “too many words” or a “wow, that was way too much intimate personal information” perspective, is not ideal.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tell very personal stories. For example, if a history of abuse has shaped your educational and career trajectory, this can be a great topic to focus on. It just means you should use your judgment and aim to grab the committee’s attention, and not to shock or titillate them.

How long should a personal statement be in law school?

This varies from school to school, but most top schools based on rankings and reputation aim for around two pages. For example:

Harvard Law School asks for one to two pages.Yale Law School asks for two pages. (And see our discussion of the Yale 250-word essay here.)While there is no official page limit for Columbia Law School, the committee suggests that two pages should be sufficient.Similar to CLS, Stanford Law School has no official limit but suggests that two pages is ideal.UPenn Law School also suggests a length of two pages. New York University Law School has a stricter limit of no more than 500 words.

Always follow the specific instructions of your target schools!

Can you provide successful law school personal statement examples?

Yes—but only our clients have access to our full catalog of materials! We have law school personal statements that helped a range of Wild Card applicants succeed, right from their undergraduate years, as non-traditional applicants who were a little older than average, with some different experiences, and as transfer students.

This is a grad school and law school admissions consulting service, so how did you go about writing your law school personal statement?

We all did it a little differently!

Karla, our JD/LLM consultant, is ashamed to admit that she was pretty much winging it—but she nailed the part about being sincere and talking about how her life had shaped her ambitions and interest in the law, at least.

In fact, the one common thread here is letting your own unique voice and experiences shine through to reveal the one-of-a-kind contribution that you can make to even the top law schools you’re looking at.

Are you ready to see more?

Find out how The Art of Applying can help you take your law school journey to its best possible conclusion! Click here to book a Quick Call to find out how we can help.

Law School Letters of Recommendation: Samples and Tips

Although they may feel like an afterthought or a chore, law school letters of recommendation are actually really important. They offer the perspective of a third-party into your abilities, character, and potential fit for law school.

A law school letter of recommendation offers qualitative insights that go far beyond the numbers (your GPA and LSAT scores), and in a sea of figures, this kind of detailed information can sway admissions decisions—especially for a close call applicant. When your application is right on the cut-off line for admission at a particular school, the recommendation of someone who really knows what you’re capable of can differentiate you from other law school applicants with similar academic records, provide context for your successes and failures, and add depth to your application by highlighting your strengths and work ethic.
In this post, we’ll offer our own best advice for law school letters of recommendation, as well as tips from top schools, sample letters, other guidance, and answers to FAQs about this piece of the law school admissions process.

Top Tips for Law School Letters of Recommendation

There are a few best practices to keep in mind as you decide how to get the best letter of recommendation for law school that you can:

Choose the right person to write the letter. Who should you choose? They need to be able to emphasize a few different things.

They should be able to speak to the nature, depth, and length of your relationship, whether it is academic or professional.

Your letter writer must be able to provide specific examples of your intellectual abilities. For example, which would you rather have in your letter:

“Jane was always a great student. She got high grades in my class and was among my favorites.”

Or

“Jane took three courses with me in a two year period, and she was one of the top students I have come across in my career. Her academic work received the high grades you see on the transcript, but what you can’t see is that she was a strong collaborator with other students, and had superior communication skills that improved greatly over time. Her final project in the last course she took from me was one of the best I ever received. It earned a prestigious award from the university and was mentioned in the alumni magazine.”

For academic letters of recommendation, the writer should be able not only to talk about you, but to compare you and your performance to their peers. They should be able to dig into your research and writing skills, strengths in legal analysis and reasoning, and class participation.

A writer of a professional letter should explain situations where you demonstrated analytical skills, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, a strong work ethic, or decision-making that was effective and ethical.

Any letter writer should be able to get into your relevant extracurricular activities or hobbies, professional experiences, or volunteer work that showcase your potential as a future lawyer. They should also be able to specifically describe—with detailed, illustrative anecdotes—your character traits like reliability, integrity, and collaborative spirit. And ideally, any letter writer you choose should be able to express their confidence in your ability to thrive in law school and successfully contribute to the legal profession.

What do top schools want to see in a law school letter of recommendation?

Some of what top law schools want to see might surprise you! For example, law school letter of recommendation tips from Harvard emphasize that two well-chosen letters of recommendation are often better than three. And law school letter of recommendation tips from Yale repeatedly ask you to choose “substance over signature,” meaning that it is far more important to select a writer that knows you very well than one that is well-known to the public.

Some of the tips the top schools offer are more intuitive. For example, letter of recommendation tips from UPenn are in agreement with Harvard and Yale (and many others) on at least this point: it is important to start the LOR process early and give your writers plenty of time and all the details they need to get the job done.

What else do law school admissions committees want to see in your law school letters of recommendation?

It’s not that hard to imagine what law school admissions committees are concerned about. The admissions office of every law school tracks the successes and failures of each student that attends the school—and they are highly invested in student success.

This means they are looking for signs that an applicant can succeed at their school in every piece of the application, including law school letters of recommendation. Some schools provide their own recommendation form to ensure they get specific details from recommenders, but in every case the school is looking for reassurance that you won’t be one of the people who gets admitted but goes on to drop out—either because they hate law school or find it too challenging.

How does the law school letter of recommendation fit into the overall application process?

Law school letters of recommendation are a required part of nearly every application packet. Most law schools require either 2 or 3. The timing is different for each school’s admissions process, but you can expect that you’ll need them to be submitted at about the same time as the rest of your materials or soon thereafter.

Don’t delay this piece of the process!

What is LSAC and how does it work?

The Law School Admission Council or LSAC is a required part of applying to law school. A non-profit organization, LSAC manages the application process for nearly all law schools in the United States.

First, LSAC administers the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), although many schools also accept the GRE. LSAC also provides a centralized platform for submitting applications, transcripts, LSAT scores, personal statements and other essays, and letters of recommendation to multiple law schools through the LSAC credential assembly service (CAS) system.

Part of CAS, the LSAC letter of recommendation (LOR) service allows applicants to manage their letters of recommendation through their LSAC account. The user provides the contact information for each recommender, decides which letters to send to each law school they apply to based on their requirements.

How does the LSAC JD application process differ from the LSAC application process for LLMs and other law degrees?

Overall, the LSAC application process is similar for both JD and LLM applicants; both processes use the LSAC CAS to collect and distribute application materials to law schools, for example. But the specific requirements differ due to the distinct nature of the programs.

JD applicants typically need to take the LSAT or GRE, while LLM applicants usually do not. However, if the LLM applicant is international, they may be required to take an English proficiency exam. Also, LLM applicants must have an existing law degree and their academic record for that degree will receive a higher level of scrutiny than the undergraduate work of most JD applicants.

Finally, there are typically specific requirements for various LLM programs. For example, someone applying to a program for an LLM in taxation may need to demonstrate evidence of a specific interest in taxation or relevant professional experience.

Other FAQs about the LSAC system and letters of recommendationHow far in advance should you request a letter of recommendation for law school?

Ideally, request a law school letter of recommendation from your professor or other writer before the application cycle opens during the summer. You want to aim to give your recommender a few months if possible, but at least 4 to 6 weeks to comfortably write the letter without being under pressure. This ensures they have enough time to craft a thoughtful, detailed, personal recommendation.

Of course, things don’t always proceed in an optimal way, and you might not have as much time as you want! Just keep these tips in mind:

Always ask as early as you can. This is especially true if you need multiple letters from different professors. Don’t be timid about it; asking earlier is always better.Be considerate. Professors often have many recommendation requests, so be respectful of their schedules. Meet with them during office hours if possible.Give them everything they need up front in one convenient package. When asking, have your transcripts, resume, test scores, an explanation of your goals for law school, information about LOR requirements from your schools, and anything else they might need as writers ready for them to receive in an organized package.What is the ideal timeline for requesting and submitting letters of recommendation for law school applications?

LSAC recommends that you choose your recommenders 18 months before your 1L year would start. Other sources like the US News month by month guide say that you should be asking your writers about their letters of recommendation no later than September, the year before you’d be starting.

In reality, many law school applicants aren’t working this far ahead. But there’s no doubt that earlier is better when it comes to law school letters of recommendation.

How can my recommenders submit their letters to the LOR service? And should I get in touch with LSAC to confirm they got my letters of recommendation?

When you set up your LSAC application, you will need to provide contact information for each recommender. From your LSAC account, you can assign recommendations to each law school on your list based on their requirements. The system will only send the LORs  you assigned as part of your CAS report to the law schools you apply to.

Once you add a recommender, LSAC sends them an email with instructions on how to access the online submission portal and upload their letter. They can submit letters on paper or electronically, but letters sent by fax or regular email will not be accepted.

To submit letters of recommendation to the LSAC LOR service, your recommenders first log in to their LSAC account which they get access to through your application. From there they upload their letter electronically through a specific section on the LSAC website. If they prefer to submit a paper letter, they can download a recommendation form from the LSAC website, fill it out, and mail it in.

You do not need to contact LSAC to follow up on the receipt of your letters of recommendation as you can access your CAS report from your LSAC account. This shows you the status of all your submitted letters, including whether LSAC has received them.

More FAQs: Everything else you need to know about what a strong letter of recommendation looks like

Still have questions? Our clients do, and we help them work through them. The questions we typically hear about this are often focused on the substance of the letters:

What should my letters of recommendation say?What should a good law school recommendation letter cover?What is the ideal content of a law school letter of recommendation?

It’s really important to remember that these answers are a little different for each applicant. Every person has a unique path to law school, and the way you illustrate things like your work ethic and ability to thrive as a member of the legal profession is also unique.

Also remember, you’re not the writer of this letter! You’re the person selecting the writer. The best thing you can do is choose the best person to deliver specific examples of your intellectual abilities, analytical skills, and history of problem-solving—the optimal message about you.

The reason you as the applicant need to answer these kinds of questions about what is in your perfect letter is so you can assess who can speak to the details about you that schools need to hear. It’s about more than your academic work or writing skills (although those are important, too!).

It’s about whether you’re really a great fit for law school, this law school, specifically, being a lawyer, and the greater legal profession. Who do you know who can explain all this in a brief written statement?

That’s your assignment.

Below are some more answers to FAQs about what the best law school letters of recommendation look like—and as you read through these, think about who knows these stories about you and is willing to tell them.

What does a good letter of recommendation for law school look like?

Check out our law school letter of recommendation samples for inspiration:

Law school letters of recommendation template

[Letterhead or sender’s contact information]

[Opening paragraph should explain the purpose of the recommendation letter and the relationship between the writer and the applicant.]

[Body should speak to the traits discussed throughout this post. For each trait, the writer should provide supporting details and specific anecdotes.]

[Close by summing up and reiterating a strong recommendation]

[Sign and indicate position/title and place of employment]

Law school letter of recommendation sample one (from academic writer)

Dear Admissions Committee:

I enthusiastically recommend Frank Washington for admission to Yale Law School. I have known Frank for three years in my role as Dean of Students at State University and as his instructor in Honors Moot Court. Frank stands out among his peers in several ways.

First, he is an exceptional and engaged student. Frank is among the top 5% of the students I have taught and advised at SU. Last year, our team examined whether a proposed voter identification law disparately affected people of color, women, or other groups. Frank quickly spotted the broader constitutional, legal, and policy issues at stake and developed thorough, logical arguments for both sides. Although many of his peers relied on weaker policy arguments, Frank relied on the Supreme Court’s reasoning in previous voter identification and discrimination cases to show that a ruling for the respondent would essentially change the law significantly and lead to numerous challenges to election results. It was thrilling to see an undergraduate student understanding and excelling in the work of appellate advocacy.

Second, Frank is extraordinarily mature, introspective, and helpful. Since his freshman year, he has immersed himself in public service and professional legal experiences. As a result he has learned how to work effectively within both less professional, unstructured environments and larger, corporate settings. Frank always conducts himself professionally in either setting, regardless of those around him. He is also a mentor to underclassmen, both in his role as an officer in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and informally as a mentor to some of our younger debate students.

And speaking of Frank’s time on campus, I cannot overstate how highly I respect his leadership and service. I have always seen this as a continuation of his military service from before he was in college. He has stepped up to help run various student organizations including NSCS and our students’ pre-law group. One of his contributions in this regard was to hold pre-law “office hours” for underclassmen in NSCS to help ensure that students with an interest in studying law are on track to finish school and be ready to apply. He started this tradition and spent his time in office hours as a volunteer, sharing his knowledge and helping to build out this piece of NSCS for upperclassmen to continue to contribute to the organization. This is just one example of Frank’s service mentality, dedication to servant leadership, and serious approach to both success and the public.

Before my time as a Dean of Students, I served on the Admissions Committee, so I can appreciate how difficult it is to distinguish between good, great, and superior applicants in the pool. But let me assure you without any hesitation that Frank will be an excellent, dedicated student who will take full advantage of the resources YLS has to offer. He also has so much to contribute, especially to a school like Yale that is itself dedicated to leadership and service. I know Frank will be someone you’re proud to call an alum.

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out If you need any further information that will help you in the decision-making process.

Sincerely,

Mike Vargas

Dean of Students, State University

Law school letter of recommendation sample two (from professional writer)

I am happy to recommend Veda Pierce to Harvard Law School without reservation. I hired Veda personally over 8 years ago, and my relationship with her has evolved through various stages of her career as a consultant and essential team member. Over the years, what has stood out to me most about Veda is her exceptional ability to analyze complex, multi-faceted ethical challenges and to issue-spot and identify the core of the issue and propose solutions that worked for all stakeholders in highly sensitive, context-dependent situations. I know that Veda is now hoping to use these talents to solve legal problems for people in need. I know her abilities will ensure a successful trajectory of public service and make her an exceptional student at HLS.

During my time serving as VP of Communications and Marketing at Dark Horse Digital Assets, I hired Veda as an intern. During her first year she was my direct report. Veda quickly advanced far beyond her internship and we brought her on as a full-time position we created specifically for her. Veda’s nuanced analytical skills were particularly evident as she developed and implemented a sophisticated targeted digital communications program for us, speaking to potential new clients in a persuasive way that helped us grow the business and earn trust. Veda repeatedly demonstrated an ability to spot complex issues and identify practical, actionable solutions during this precarious time when the company was growing, further cementing her value to the team. Veda listened thoroughly and carefully to the concerns of each stakeholder, understood the risks and rewards of each step we were contemplating, and proposed solutions that were not just acceptable options, but were progressive and in support of the concerns and needs of our diverse team members across departments.

As a new employee at Dark Horse, Veda rapidly became a trusted member of our team. Today, she is a hard-working, reliable colleague who meets and exceeds deadlines without sacrificing innovation or quality. She inspires similar ambition in her direct reports while soothing their concerns and offering support for their challenges. This ability to build trust and lead with “soft” interpersonal finesse is invaluable in leadership at the C-suite level. As Veda prepares to start law school and a life pursuing justice for others, I am certain that she will excel—as a seasoned highly-skilled professional and an ethical, admirable person.

Veda’s ability to lead, work with, and generally treat others with care will permeate her relationships with other law students, contribute to a productive intellectual environment, and advance her legal career.

Veda has my strongest recommendation, without any reservation. Please feel free to contact me with any questions—I’m always eager to speak with anyone about Veda and her contributions to this organization.

Sincerely,

Holly Martins
Vice President, Communications and Marketing | Dark Horse Digital Assets

Law school letter of recommendation sample three (for transfer student)

Re: Letter of recommendation for Gilda Mundson, transfer applicant

Dear Admissions Committee:

Gilda Munson has asked me to write a recommendation letter on her behalf as she seeks to transfer from Syracuse University College of Law to Columbia Law School. While I will be sorry to see Gilda leave SU, I heartily support her candidacy to transfer and recommend her without reservation.

Gilda was a first-year student in my criminal law and criminal procedure courses in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. I have had ample time to interact with Gilda and observe her this year, both in and out of the classroom. If you accept her, you will gain a brilliant, engaging, and thoughtful student. In contrast to many of her peers, Gilda balances her responsibilities as a law student with her responsibilities as a mother. In spite of these challenges, she has achieved her current class rank of three—and I credit her seriousness, her strong work ethic, and her commitment to creating balance in her life as the reasons for this success.

Gilda is always prepared for debate, questions, and discussions in class. She is incredibly focused on her long-term goals, but also each smaller task at hand. Equally important, she is respectful of her classmates, including when their opinions differ from her own. She also graces the classroom with a curious mind, engaging personality, and quick wit. In other words, she is a model participant in my classroom—and of a caliber I have only rarely seen over my years teaching and in practice. Unsurprisingly, Gilda regularly seeks feedback on her written work and exams, even though she almost universally does well. She handles feedback and criticism gracefully and with gratitude.

Furthermore, despite her practical challenges with time, Gilda easily manages the rigorous law school environment. She is a strong writer with sharp legal reasoning abilities. I see a tremendously broad range of writing and analytical ability at SU College of Law, and Gilda is clearly at the top of my class and others. I have been here nearly ten years, and I would place her in the top 3% of students I’ve taught.

I spent years as a law school admissions professional prior to teaching. From the perspective of both an admissions committee member as well as a professor, I am confident in Gilda’s ability to succeed at any law school including CLS. Please, if you have any questions about this student, do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Rita DeSoto
Professor of Trial Practice
Syracuse University College of Law

How to write a letter of recommendation for law school

The short answer is: if you’re the applicant, don’t! You shouldn’t be writing your own letters of recommendation for law school. Why not write them and give those drafts to your recommenders?

First of all, letters written by applicants are easy to spot, and can be viewed as inauthentic. Technically there is nothing unethical about this practice since your writer is still reviewing the content—but this is really bad practice and frowned upon by law schools.

In fact, the preferred practice is to waive your right to review the letters so your references can be completely candid. This shows you have confidence in the relationship and the strength of your application.

What about specific questions in a letter? Can you offer guidance to your writer for prompts like, “Is there any other information about the applicant which you would like to share with admissions committees?”

You can, but you should also give them that space to just answer. Maybe they have their own ideas about other things they think people should know. You may be surprised by some of the things they mention, and why.

For example, I have seen a professor mention the creative design work of an applicant that was technically outside of their law school goals. He explained that he mentioned this work because he felt the applicant was creative, hard-working, and a real “go-getter” who went after and realized their goals.

That applicant got far more than they expected with this unconventional answer—and they certainly wouldn’t have thought about flagging those design activities in their own writing.

What are the guidelines for writing a letter of recommendation for law school?

Most law schools have their own specific guidelines for letters of recommendation, so be careful to provide those for your writers. If you need a different letter for different programs, make sure you’re clear about that.

In general, most LORs will touch on the same basic ideas that we’ve already covered. But you want to be sure your writer does answer any specific queries or touch on any unique points your school is asking about.

Just be honest about what you need.

How do I get strong letters? How and who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

To get the strongest letters, choose the best recommenders—those who know your work and potential very well. Make sure they have everything they need, including ample time and the specifics of each program you’re applying to. Tell them exactly what you need from them and let them decide if they can support your candidacy.

Here are some other tips for how to ask someone to write your law school letter of recommendation:

Ask in person if possible. When you’re asking, don’t be afraid to ask for a strong letter and explain why you need it. It’s easier for you to sense a reluctant recommender if you are there in person, and you don’t want that person writing for you!Remind them of the details. Especially if you were in a larger class or cohort, remind them when you took the class, where you sat, what you wrote about—things like that. They may feel embarrassed about forgetting the details, so make sure you don’t leave them hanging that way.Make it easy to decline. Along these same lines, don’t seem desperate or make your ask with a gift, for example. You want to avoid doing anything that guilts your potential writer or makes it feel harder to turn you down, because a reluctant writer won’t help you nearly as much as an enthusiastic writer.

And remember, don’t write your own letters of recommendation for law school.

And now, the dos and don’ts of who recommendation letter writers should be:Who should letters of recommendation be from for law school? Who do top law schools want to see?

Top law programs such as HLS and UC Berkeley like to see letters from people who know you and your work well—who are themselves good writers. Academic sources like professors are ideal, but supervisors at work, volunteer positions, or administrators who have had the chance to work closely with you can also do a great job.

Who should you ask to write a law school letter of recommendation?

Most top schools like to see at least one or two academic letters of recommendation. The writer of this type of letter doesn’t have to be a full professor; they can be a lecturer, adjunct, or teaching assistant who has a lot of experience with your academic work.

Can a letter of recommendation for law school come from an employer?

Yes, work supervisors and other professional associates can create a professional letter of recommendation for you. This is especially true for students who have been out of school for a substantial period of time.

Who should I avoid in choosing recommenders?

Top law schools all seem to agree: avoid letter writers who are family friends or family members.

And never choose a letter writer based on their status or title alone. First of all, this rarely, if ever, results in a strong letter of recommendation. Second, as HLS points out, it is obvious when the writer has only a passing knowledge of the applicant and was chosen for their “signature over substance.” Don’t do this.

And remember, pay attention to these signs you’ve chosen the wrong law school reference.

Can a letter of recommendation from a law school alumnus improve my application?

Remember that old saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”? Well, the opposite is true when it comes to law school letters of recommendation. In other words, if you do have a potential recommender who is an alum, their specific knowledge of the school might be helpful—but only if they also know you well enough to be a stellar recommendation writer on their own.

Have they observed you personally over time? Can they speak to your hard work, intellectual abilities, and analytical skills? Do they have specific stories and details to share about how you would make a great law student and contribute as a member of this law school’s community?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then you’ve found a good recommender! But don’t choose someone merely because they’re an alum.

How many letters of recommendation are needed for law school?

The number of letters each law school requires varies, but most schools ask for two and some will allow up to five. 2 or 3 is average for most law schools.

Can I submit more letters of recommendation than a law school requires? Is 4 letters of recommendation too many?

Follow the guidelines each law school sets. Some schools such as the University of Chicago will accept up to 4 letters—but do not submit more than the school states that it will accept. More is not always better, and if you submit more letters and some are weak, that can weaken the application overall.

Are LLM letters of recommendation any different than those for JD applicants?

Law school letters of recommendation are very similar for both JD and LLM applicants. The LSAC process for LLMs is very similar, and letters are still handled by the LOR service in the CAS.

LLM letters of recommendation should explain any details of why you are a great fit for the specific LLM program and area of study you’ve chosen.

Ready to take the next step?

Do you have more questions about law school letters of recommendation or want help with your LORs? Click here to book a Quick Call to see if we can help.

Personal Statement Checklist

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How to get Last-Minute Help with Your Harvard Kennedy School Application

Introduction: Final Hours Strategies for Your HKS Application

The Harvard Kennedy School application deadline is Friday, December 1, 2023 at 12 pm ET.

As the application deadline nears, you might feel the pressure. The Art of Applying Academy offers vital support and resources right up to the deadline, ensuring your application stands out.

Harvard Kennedy School Application Essay Advice

Our rush editing and coaching calls are sold out.

However, you can still benefit tremendously by joining The Art of Applying Academy���even the same day of the deadline.

Learn from past successful applicants. Inside of The Art of Applying Academy, I provide a small collection of sample essays for Harvard Kennedy School, a sample policy school resume template, a recommender packet template, and a sample Harvard Kennedy School letter of recommendation.

Watch call recordings of group coaching calls to learn as other applicants get their essays edited.

Watch short, recorded video lessons created by Kaneisha that cover the most common essay types.

Tackle Application Overwhelm and Imposter SyndromeYou are not alone in feeling discouraged.

Inside of The Art of Applying Academy, I’ve created four short videos to help you deal with feelings of overwhelm, procrastination, and imposter syndrome so that you can pause, take a breath, and move forward in your application process.

Direct Access to Personalized AdviceAsk Kaneisha Questions in our WhatsApp Group

Between now and the Harvard Kennedy School deadline, I’m available in a dedicated WhatsApp group for Academy members, offering tailored advice and answering your pressing questions.

Conclusion: Maximizing Your HKS Application ImpactEssential Steps for Your Harvard Kennedy School Application Success

Leverage these final hours effectively with The Art of Applying Academy. From personalized advice to alumni insights, you have the tools to enhance your HKS application and showcase your potential.

Next Steps to Get Help TODAY with your Harvard Kennedy School application Join the Academy: Sign up for The Art of Applying Academy for instant access to resources.

and then once you have joined the Academy…
Watch Coaching Calls: Review past group coaching call recordings for valuable essay editing insights.
Study Kaneisha���s Lessons: Dive into Kaneisha’s video lessons on common essay types.
Manage Stress: Watch videos on tackling overwhelm and imposter syndrome.
Ask Questions in WhatsApp: Use the dedicated WhatsApp group to get direct answers from Kaneisha.
Final Application Review: Apply your new knowledge for a thorough last check of your application.
Stay Motivated: Keep focused and positive in these crucial final hours.

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Harvard MPH: FAQ + Application Tips

Do you enjoy helping others in your community? Maybe you already get to do that as a doctor or nurse, but you want to have a greater impact, so you look into the Harvard MPH program.

Getting a master’s in public health can be a fantastic choice, especially from Harvard. Read on to learn more about the degree and if it’s the right option for you.

Is Harvard School of Public Health Good?

The Harvard University School of Public Health is tied for second place in the U.S. News Best Public Health Schools list. It offers multiple graduate degrees in public health at the master’s and doctoral levels.

These degrees can prepare students for careers in academia and research or professional practice. The Harvard MPH program specifically prepares students for careers outside of academia.

You can choose the degree program that makes the most sense for you based on your experience and future goals. The school brings in experts across disciplines to help you learn as much as you can about public health.

What Is Harvard School of Public Health Known For?

The Harvard School of Public Health is known for its public health activism. Faculty members have worked as both teachers and researchers in the field for as long as the school has existed.

Students get to work with educators and scientists to develop new, original ideas. The school helps students learn how to change public policies and practices in healthcare. It also has a focus on improving the behaviors of individuals.

This school is known for producing the next generation of health leaders. As a student, you’ll learn from current experts in the field.

How Do You Get Into the Harvard MPH Program?

The requirements to get into the Harvard MPH program vary based on the specific degree track. Harvard offers a 45-credit MPH, and it’s for more experienced professionals.

You’ll need to have a doctoral degree, such as an MD, DO, or PhD. Another option is to have a health-related master’s degree, such as an MSN or MSW. If that’s the case, you’ll also need to have two years of work experience in healthcare.

Students who’ve completed the primary clinical year in dental or medical school may also apply. The same is true of Harvard Law School 1L students.

Individuals with only a bachelor’s degree may also apply. However, these applicants will need at least five years of relevant health experience. If you have a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience working in the field, you can apply for the 65-credit Master of Public Health.

Depending on the specific field of study you select, you may need to meet other requirements. Also, except for recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you also need to submit test scores for the GRE, MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, or DAT.

How Do I Make My MPH Application Stand Out?

You can make your MPH application stand out by emphasizing your strengths and experience. It also helps to address any weaknesses, such as a low GPA. Using your application to explain those issues can help the school better understand your application.

If you’re applying based on work experience rather than degrees, include some examples of your work experience. Share what you’ve learned about public health through your job, volunteer opportunities, and similar experiences.

Is It Hard to Get Into Harvard MPH?

Getting into Harvard’s MPH program is easier than some applicants may think. The overall acceptance rate for Harvard University is about 3.24 percent. However, the acceptance rate for the MPH program is about 49 percent.

Now, what can make getting into the program hard is all of the requirements. You need to earn a high degree and/or obtain multiple years of work experience before you apply.

What Makes for a Good MPH Applicant?

A good MPH applicant will meet the eligibility requirements for the degree program. Whether you do so with a master’s or doctorate or through work experience doesn’t matter. If you don’t have a higher degree, you’ll at least need a bachelor’s degree.

You should also speak and write well in English. It’s important to have a strong quantitative and verbal aptitude.

Can I Get Into an MPH Program With a Low GPA?

The Harvard School of Public Health doesn’t list a specific GPA as an admission requirement. However, it will probably be more difficult to get into an MPH program with a low GPA.

For example, Harvard temporarily stopped requiring test scores for admission. The school probably placed more emphasis on good grades during that period.

What Is the Average undergraduate GPA for Harvard School of Public Health?

The average undergraduate GPA for Harvard Master of Public Health students is 3.65. Overall, the average GPA for Harvard students is around 3.8.

What Is a Good GPA for the MPH Program?

A good GPA for the MPH program is anything at or above the average. If you have between 3.65 and 4.0, your GPA might help you get into the program.

How Do You Write a Good MPH Personal Statement?

To write a good MPH personal statement, you should review Harvard’s requirements. According to the School of Public Health, you need to keep your statement to 600 words or less.

The statement should include the field of study you’re most interested in within MPH. Harvard offers degrees in epidemiology, global health, health policy, and more. You also want to cover how you’ve prepared professionally and academically for a public health career.

Finally, the statement needs to include your career plans upon graduation from Harvard.

After your Statement of Purpose and Objectives, you must add a separate section. The section can’t be longer than an additional 200 words. You should write about your work experience or courses you’ve taken and how those showcase your skills and quantitative preparation.

Does Harvard MPH Require the GRE?

In most normal academic application cycles, Harvard does require the GRE for admittance into the MPH program. Harvard paused this requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s expected to go back to normal starting with the 2024-2025 academic year program entry cycle.

The Harvard School of Public Health doesn’t explicitly state a minimum test score. However, the school does note that in the quantitative section, successful applicants usually score in at least the 60th percentile. That means you need to get at least a 157 on that section of the test.

What GRE score do I need for MPH?

How Much Does an MPH at Harvard Cost?

A Master of Public Health degree from Harvard costs $66,960 for the 45-credit program. You can also go through this degree only during the summer, but the total tuition will remain the same.

If you go through the 65-credit degree, the tuition costs $58,816 for a year as a full-time student. Part-time students will pay half of that, at $29,408 per year.

Harvard charges an $80 late registration fee. If you take longer to complete your studies than the stated time-to-degree, the school charges an extra $3,156 per semester or $6,312 per year regardless of full-time or part-time status.

Of course, you must also pay for any course materials, such as textbooks, as well as parking and library fees. You’ll need to view your Harvard account for the specific amount you’ll owe.

Is MPH Respected?

People with MPH degrees are respected. The field of public health is becoming more important than ever.

If you obtain an MPH, you’ll get to work with other doctors and scientists. Your job will be to help people and the public stay healthy.

Are MPH Programs Hard to Get Into?

Some MPH programs are quite competitive and are therefore difficult to get into. However, Harvard’s MPH program has a surprisingly high acceptance rate. It’s still lower than 50%, so not everyone will get in though.

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, have a good GPA, and do well on any standardized testing, you should have a good chance of getting in. Even if you don’t get into the Harvard MPH program, you can apply to other schools.

Be sure to consider your qualifications and the requirements of various programs. Then, you can apply to at least one “safe” school that you’re confident will accept you.

Which Field of Public Health Is in Demand?

Multiple public health jobs are in demand. When it comes to what you can do with an MPH degree, epidemiology is probably in demand the most. In this field, you study how a disease spreads and how to stop it.

You can work on applied public health and work for the government. Another option is to focus on the research side and work for a university. This career is expected to grow by about 26% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average job growth.

Biostatisticians are also in demand. This is primarily a research-based career because you run studies and review the results. You’ll be responsible for presenting your findings to other healthcare professionals, and you can design clinical trials.

In this career, you can work for universities, the government, or other agencies. If you’re good with numbers, becoming a biostatistician could be a good choice.

What Is the Salary After MPH?

After earning your MPH, the salary you can expect to make depends on the specific career path you pursue. For example, epidemiologists make just under $79,000 per year. The average biostatistician can expect to make around $95,000 in a year.

Other public health careers pay more than that, such as the role of a medical and health services manager, which can earn you $118,000 annually. Public health nurses make about $80,000 per year, while community health workers make roughly $46,000.

The exact salary you can expect also depends on other factors. First, you have to consider your current work experience and other degrees you have. You should also think about where in the country you live and the average income for that city or state.

Final Thoughts

The Harvard MPH program is a well-respected degree program. It’s an excellent choice for current healthcare professionals looking to gain new experiences or grow their careers.

Be sure to consider the admission requirements and eligibility criteria. Then, consider the different MPH fields of study as well as the cost of the degree.

All of that information can help you decide if you should apply to the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Executive Masters vs. EMBA

The economy is changing, and now is the time to retool. If you’ve been in the workforce for a while and are considering business school, you may be wondering how a regular Masters degree differs from an Executive Masters degree. Our consultants at The Art of Applying® are here to help!

What is the difference between a Masters and an Executive Masters?

The key difference between a Masters and an Executive Masters is the extent to which these degrees cater to mid-career professionals. Most applicants to Executive Masters programs plan to continue working while they pursue their degree. 

By contrast, many Masters programs in the United States — especially in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math)— prioritize academic research.

What is the “executive” in an Executive Masters? Is an Executive MBA (EMBA) equivalent to a Masters?

Masters degrees come in types. They are all more or less academically equivalent, but they offer different learning experiences and career outcomes.

The term “executive” connotes leadership in business, the nonprofit world, and the public sector. That is broadly true of most English-speaking countries. In the context of an Executive Masters program, it also means you have the flexibility to continue working while you complete your degree.

An Executive MBA is a type of MBA. Unlike a field-specific Masters program (for example, a Master of Science in Finance), an MBA is a general Masters in Business Administration. Therefore, an Executive MBA is a type of MBA designed for mid-career professionals. Most people who pursue an EMBA have managerial experience.  

Many of our clients earned their MBA from elite business schools like Wharton, which offers the same curriculum for MBA and Executive MBA candidates. 

At any given school, the difference between an MBA and an Executive MBA program often depends on admissions criteria. Some programs require more years of work experience than others. We are here to help you determine which option is best for you.

Some of the most popular executive programs in business for experienced executives among our clients are the Wharton EMBA, MIT Sloan Fellows MBA, LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy, and Stanford MSx.

Many of our clients also apply to the Harvard Kennedy School Mid-Career MPA.

Who should pursue an Executive MBA?  

Anyone with managerial experience who values leading and learning should consider applying to an EMBA program. This includes international professionals, US permanent residents, and eligible DREAMers.

How long does an Executive Masters take? 

Most Executive Masters degrees take two years to complete. The exact requirements vary depending on the school and program, but most Executive Masters programs offer some degree of built-in flexibility. Students can often tailor the curriculum to their needs.

What is the average age of an EMBA candidate?

Most EMBA candidates are in their late 30s and 40s, whereas many MBA candidates are in their 20s. While these statistics may seem daunting, EMBA programs are designed for mid-career professionals. 

Many applicants in this life stage have personal obligations, which means that the built-in flexibility of the EMBA curriculum also serves nursing or parenting students. It’s all about finding the right program and making it work for you!

Who is qualified for an EMBA? How can an EMBA advance your career?

The best EMBA programs in the country can expect applicants to have 10-15 years of professional work experience. This differs from comparable MBA programs, which often only require 2-8 years in the workforce. EMBA applicants are also more likely to have managerial experience than many of their MBA counterparts.

With an EMBA in hand, you will be a more knowledgeable leader. You will also be able to apply what you learn in real time, since the EMBA curriculum allows you to continue working while you enhance your leadership skills.

How important is GPA when applying to EMBA programs? 

As with any academic undertaking, the admissions criteria for EMBA programs vary by school. Most requirements are available online. If you are serious about applying, we recommend that you do your research and begin preparing your materials early.

Most EMBA programs will request:previous transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, if applicable)your resume2-3 recommendation lettersthe GMAT, GRE, or EAat least one personal statementDo you need to take the GMAT to apply to EMBA programs?

Admissions decisions are usually holistic, but elite EMBA programs seek applicants with a high GPA and a competitive GMAT, GRE, or EA score. 

Our admissions consultants at The Art of Applying® offer personalized coaching to help you navigate these particular requirements.

Is an EMBA better than an MBA? Is an Executive MBA worth the investment?

This one is tricky! In principle, an EMBA program is of the same caliber as a traditional MBA program. The difference is that EMBA programs allow their students to continue working, and many EMBA applicants have more work experience than their MBA peers.

The caveat is that not all programs are created equal. This is true if we compare two EMBA or two MBA programs to each other. For the comparison to be accurate, then, we need to be sure that we are comparing elite EMBA programs with their MBA peers. 

You should also find out how your degree title will appear on your transcript. An EMBA from Wharton is academically equivalent to their traditional MBA. The differences between these two programs lie in their admissions requirements and curricular structure. However, there are some programs out there that simply want your money. We are here to help you read past the marketing and choose the right program for you.

An EMBA from the right school is well worth the investment. Many of our clients have successfully applied to and earned degrees from the country’s current top-five business schools: the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, and of course Harvard Business School.

Is a Masters in Executive Leadership worth the investment?

Masters programs in Executive Leadership vary in quality, so prospective applicants are advised to research similar degrees. In addition to MBA and EMBA programs, or other types of Executive Masters degrees, prospective applicants to Executive Leadership programs should consider pursuing a Mid-Career Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from a competitive institution like the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

Is there an ideal age to begin an Executive MBA? Is 40 too old? What about 50?

We estimate that the typical EMBA applicant is about 38. However, don’t be discouraged if you are older than 38. Business schools, like the private sector, recognize the value of diversity. That includes age, although there may be benefits to pursuing an EMBA before seeking senior leadership roles in your organization.

Can you fail out of an EMBA program?

Unfortunately, yes you can fail out of an EMBA program. It is always possible to fail out of an academic program. Although business school can be a major investment, paying tuition expenses does not immediately correlate with an earned degree. Success in an EMBA program requires a combination of time, discipline, and work-life balance.

If you are concerned about your performance in your Masters program, you should speak to your professor during office hours, attend any TA office hours and study sessions available, ask your classmates for help, consider getting a tutor, and rule out any conditions that may be affecting your learning such as ADHD or dyslexia.

How competitive are EMBA programs? 

The most competitive EMBA programs — like the Wharton EMBA — are direct equivalents of their traditional MBA counterparts. Although the national demographics of MBA programs are changing, Black (7% of Wharton’s 2024 MBA Class) and Latinx applicants (5% of Wharton’s 2024 MBA Class) remain significantly underrepresented at elite business schools.

Our consultants at The Art of Applying® value your life experiences. We are here to help you tell your story, to help you capitalize on your strengths, and to help you enhance your application.

What are the benefits of an EMBA program?

The benefits of elite EMBA programs are comparable to those of elite MBA programs. Here’s a fun fact: Chicago Booth was the first university to launch an EMBA program back in 1943. Since then, the concept has exploded in popularity!

An EMBA offers flexibility for mid-career managers, parenting students, and others who may not otherwise be able to return to school. Most programs offer night classes, Saturday courses, or hybrid learning opportunities.

With so many options and a rapidly changing economy, now is the best time to apply for an EMBA.

What types of graduate degrees do CEOs have? Do most CEOs have EMBAs?

Most CEOs still hold a traditional MBA, though that may soon change with the rising popularity of EMBA programs. Both degrees prepare business leaders for senior leadership roles.

Some CEOs in select industries like law or medicine also hold technical degrees in their fields. (In the United States, those degrees are respectively known as the J.D. and M.D.) And many PhD candidates in the sciences are now combining their doctoral research with an MBA to excel in the private sector.

Can you pursue a PhD after earning an EMBA?

Yes, although it makes more sense to pursue a joint MBA/PhD. You can read more about how that works in our blog post about joint PhD/MBA programs.

What can you do with a MA in Executive Leadership?

An MA (Master of Arts) or MS (Master of Science) in Executive Leadership prepares graduates to hold senior leadership roles in major corporations, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector. 

However, prospective applicants to these programs are strongly advised to consider alternatives like an MPA (Masters in Public Administration). Many of the country’s best MPA programs are housed in elite institutions, but not all of them. We are here to help you find the right program for your needs.

Most graduates of EMBA programs secure important and influential leadership roles within the private sector. They value built-in flexibility that EMBA programs can offer, and they are keen to apply their new knowledge.

How can The Art of Applying® help me prepare a competitive MBA or EMBA application?

Our admissions consultants at The Art of Applying® have been coaching MBA, Mid-Career MPA applicants, and EMBA applicants since our founding. Whether you’ve finalized your list of programs or are in the earlier stages of the process, we are here to advise you on every step of the process.

Final Thoughts

With so many opportunities for graduate education available, it’s important to understand your options. While the MBA remains highly respected, the built-in flexibility of the EMBA caters to mid-career professionals. Prospective applicants may also consider alternatives, like an Executive Masters or Mid-Career MPA.Want to learn more about how we can help? Complete your Applicant Profile to explore working with us today.

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