Early Decision Law School Applicants: Think out of the Box

Early decision - for the right student - can be a part of a dynamic admission strategy when applying to law school this cycle. To fe fair, there really is quite a bit to balance when applicants make this decision. Past articles such as “Pros and Cons of Applying Early Decision to Law School” do a great job of spelling out the broad strokes of why an early decision may or may not be a best fit. However, in my recent work with clients I am finding that the current law school admissions climate is bringing more nuance to the discussion on Early Decision.

One factor is the law school market it self. This year admissions are up close to 1.5% which in my line of business is a significant up tick. There are several reasons for the positive swing but for law school students the outlook is favorable because it means that schools are under a bit of pressure to deliver a class size that meets set goals.

This reality is especially promising for students with mismatched LSAT scores and GPAs. It’s during times and under circumstances like these that I have been able to help more law school applicants with lower LSAT scores or GPA’s than their target or dream schools would ordinarily admit.

One strategy for clients with below median LSAT or GPA’s it to take advantage of Early Decision in order to secure a seat at a school that may shut its doors to the same applicant later in the cycle. While this may mean less merit scholarship, sometimes the decision makes sense for a student that would not otherwise have been admitted to a law school so highly ranked. In some instances a student may forego reduced tuition in exchange for the employment statistics that come with higher ranked institutions.

All things considered, the current admissions market is favoring a more diverse pool of applicants. Thus, if your application has some inherent weaknesses early decision may be in your best interest.

Contributed by: Crystal Ridgley

Crystal Ridgley is a law school admission expert specializing in admission solutions for applicants facing challenges with GPA, LSAT or Character and Fitness.

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