Application Procedures
Application Timetable
Application Form
Reactivating Applications
Auditors
Transfer Applicants
Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)
Visiting Students
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to entering law school
- Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within the past five years (June 2003 or later)
- Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
In addition, you must submit:
- The completed and signed application for admission.
- Two letters of recommendation, to be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service. We prefer that these letters be from college professors who can attest to your ability to enter a rigorous academic program. If you have been out of school for some time, letters from employers may be helpful. The letter of recommendation service is included in your LSDAS registration subscription. The letter will be copied and sent along with your LSDAS report. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined in the 2007-2008 LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book. Be sure to fill out and give each letter writer a letter of recommendation form from the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book.
- A personal statement. We are interested particularly in learning about your motivation and preparation for the study of law as well as any circumstances that you believe relevant to the evaluation of your credentials.
- The $75 non-refundable application fee.
- Official transcripts of all collegiate, graduate and professional study directly to the LSDAS. Once LSDAS has received transcripts and LSAT scores, it can generate a report when we request one.
While we initially consider your undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and LSAT score, several other factors influence our evaluation of your application. These include:
- The college attended and the academic rigor of the program of study.
- The pattern of your academic performance. For example, a poor start in college may be offset by substantially improved academic performance.
- We may place less consideration on your LSAT score if you have achieved exceptional academic success as an undergraduate despite a history of low standardized test scores.
- Other positive factors include employment experience and professional achievements; original research undertakings; graduate education; or evidence of academic and professional success despite social, economic or cultural disadvantage.
- We believe that a diverse student body adds depth and breadth to the law school educational experience. Therefore, we are committed to selecting a class that is widely representative on the basis of age, gender, academic background, race, geography, interests, social and economic backgrounds and other factors.
If any of the factors described above are relevant to your application, particularly as they may have affected your educational record, you should discuss these in your application for admission and send supporting documentation when appropriate. Detailed statistics regarding the credentials of the law school's applicant pool are available in the Boston College Law School section of The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools, published by the Law School Admission Council.
We accept applications from mid-September through March 1 for the following August's entering class. Because we have a rolling admissions process and begin reviewing completed files long before the application deadline, we urge you to submit your application well before the March 1 deadline and to take the LSAT no later than December.
With the exception of candidates applying for the early notification program, the admissions committee will begin to review completed files in January. Depending on when your file is complete, you can expect to receive a decision within four to eight weeks. Although the committee endeavors to make comparable decisions throughout the cycle, the fact that an application is completed early may favorably affect its chances.
Early Notification Program
For applicants whose applications are submitted by November 1, with the personal statement and fee, and whose files are complete, with both recommendations and LSDAS report, by November 21, 2007, we shall send an admission decision by December 14, 2007. Should you be admitted to the law school, it is a non-binding decision and you would not be required to submit a tuition deposit earlier than mid-April. If you wish to apply to the early notification program, please indicate so on the application for admission.
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS COUNCIL (LSAC)
The LSAC is a helpful resource for law students who need information or assistance in taking the LSAT, selecting a law school, or applying online. The LSACD is available for ordering through their website, and includes a number of law school applications and other information. There is also a web version available for immediate download. This service costs approximately $54. For more information, visit the LSAC website at www.lsac.org.
Acceptance Deposit
To hold a place in the class, accepted applicants must pay a $200 deposit by the date indicated in the letter of acceptance. A second deposit of $400 is due on June 1. These amounts will be credited toward the first-semester tuition.
If you applied for admission to Boston College Law School in the prior year, you may reactivate your application by submitting a new application for admission, a new personal statement, an updated LSDAS report (regardless of whether you retook the LSAT) and the application fee of $75. You should indicate clearly what additional information (e.g., letters of recommendation, an additional LSAT score) will be provided.
A limited number of applicants, usually members of the bar, who do not wish to study for a degree but who desire to enroll in specific courses may be admitted as auditors. Auditors must prepare regular assignments and participate in classroom discussions. They are not required to take examinations but may elect to do so. Normally, credit will not be certified for auditing. Auditors are charged tuition at the credit-hour rate.
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