Penn Law School Admission Interview (cont'd)

Is there a difference in the acceptance rates of applicants under the Early Notification Option, those who apply in the regular round, and those who apply after March 1?

The acceptance rates of applicants applying via Early Notification are similar to the rates of those applying via regular decision. However, the acceptance rates of applicants who apply in late February, or after our deadline are significantly lower than other regular decision applicants.

When do you encourage applicants to apply?

Applicants should apply by mid to late January to provide themselves with the best chance for admission.

Are there any specific characteristics that you target in the applications to help you identify the 'best fit' candidates?

The Admissions Committee does take a holistic approach to reading every applicant's file. Below are 5 important qualities we are looking for among our candidates:

1. A strong academic record in a curriculum that is broad, challenging, and rigorous.

2. Intellectually ambitious or curious.

3. Thoughtful, in-depth written expression that is revealing of the person.

4. Committed and disciplined, as evidenced by academic, extra-curricular, community, or professional achievements.

5. That they will somehow uniquely contribute to the Penn Law community and to the legal profession based on their experiences, interests, and challenges or obstacles that they have overcome.

What percentage of your students have full-time work experience?

About 68 percent of our first year students have worked at least one year since graduating college.

What should these applicants most heavily emphasize in their work experience?

What is important to us with regard to work experience is the contribution the applicant made to the company or organization for which he or she was working, i.e., we are not looking for any particular type of work experience, but rather, we want to know how the applicant contributed, what he or she learned from the experience, and how he or she will use that experience to enrich the Penn community or legal profession. Every applicant should provide a clear and accurate resume with their application. We also encourage working applicants to provide at least one recommendation from a supervisor focusing on your employment experience.

How important is an applicant's LSAT score and what advice do you have for applicants who struggled with this exam?

Though an applicant's LSAT score is an important factor in the review process, it is not the deciding factor for the committee. Applicants who have struggled with their LSAT should be assured that Penn Law will consider many other factors during the review process.

What is Penn Law's policy regarding applicants who take the LSAT multiple times?

We will consider an applicant's highest LSAT score. However, if there is a significant difference between an applicant's highest and lowest LSAT score (more then 4 or 5 points) the applicant should address this discrepancy in an addendum to his or her application.

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