Valparaiso University School of Law (cont'd)
What is Valpo's
policy regarding applicants who take the LSAT multiple times? (i.e. look at the
highest score, most recent score, become concerned if they retake it numerous
times and don’t raise their score by at least X points)
All scores are averaged.
Are there any common mistakes that
applicants tend to make with their personal statements?
Too often applicants
will attempt to create one universal personal statement for all of their law
school applications. That shows, and does not make a positive impression. Or,
they cut and paste a personal statement, repeating back to a law school that
school's message from its promotional materials in an attempt to make the
statements appear to be school specific. For example, an applicant to Valpo may
state that they are looking for a small law school with a personal approach to
legal education. Then you see that they also applied to some of the largest law
schools in the country. That results in a lack of genuineness in the
statement. Pay attention to the purpose for which each school uses a personal
statement, and any particular questions asked to be covered in the statement.
This is your chance to introduce yourself and convince the admissions committee
that you are a most appropriate candidate for that particular school. We want
to know who you are, not that you read our web site.
In addition to the
J.D. and LL.M. degrees, Valparaiso also offers several J.D. dual degree options.
Which types of students most benefit from a joint-degree program in your opinion?
Any student who has a
specific career interest that would be best served by adding a Masters degree to
the J.D. should consider a dual degree. While we have certain established dual
degree offerings, our programs are extremely flexible and can be tailored to fit
most students' educational and career goals.
Describe how the
financial aid process works and what admitted students can expect in terms of
scholarships, assistantships, and loan guarantees.
Every admitted student
is considered for the full range of financial aid. Just about every law student
receives some form of aid. Scholarships range up to full tuition plus a $10,000
stipend. Scholarship funds are not unlimited, and it is to the applicant's best
interest to apply early, when the scholarship dollars are still available.
Other basic aid includes grants (based on demonstrated financial need) and loans
(both federal and private). The law school also offers summer public interest
grants and loan repayment assistance grants for students who elect to work in
public interest positions over the summer and after graduation.
How helpful do
applicants generally find a campus visit?
The campus visit is a
must. Not just here, but anywhere a student is seriously considering. It
frequently happens that a student's first-choice law school turns out to offer
an environment the applicant considers ill-suited for their personal needs.
Only through campus visits do you really get a feel for what a law school is
like and what sort of environment you will place yourself in for the next three
years. When you visit a school, you will leave with either a positive or
negative impression. Rely heavily on that impression in making your school
choice. You should not purchase a car before taking a test drive. Do not
select a law school you have not visited.
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