Avoidable Application Errors

1. Unrealistically evaluating ones self
2. Applying too late
3. Not having a back-up school
4. Not following instructions
5. Pursuing an inadequate undergraduate curriculum
6. Getting weak recommendations
7. Writing a weak personal statement
8. Not completing your application
9. Not having alternatives
10. Completing generic application forms
11. Going to the wrong law school
12. Not considering cost

While it is true that predicting law school admission is rarely accurate and often dangerous, the student with a realistic evaluation of his or her skills and a sound application strategy has a much higher probability of admission.  An applicant with a grade point average below a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or an LSAT score below the 50th percentile (roughly 151) is at risk and must work harder at the process.  None-the-less, a prelaw student who does everything right and says his or her prayers at night might strike out because variables over which you have no control may intervene. In short the applicant must do everything in their power to avoid the following errors.

Remember all of these errors can be avoided. If you have questions about any of them, see the Pre Law Advisor.

1. Unrealistically evaluating ones self
It seems that many prelaw students fail to fully understand the statistical evidence presented to them by the LSAC, LSDAS, Transcripts, prelaw advisor, and others.  It is important to remember that the statistics convey essential information that not only applies to every applicant, but accurately predicts admission outcomes in most cases.  The prelaw student who ignores or believes that the statistics do not apply him or her does so at great risk.
 
When considering schools, always keep in mind how your qualifications stack up against the admissions pattern of the law schools to which you aspire. You will want to apply to schools where;
A. Literally everyone with your qualifications was admitted the previous year and where your scores are higher than the medians published; "these are safe schools”,
B. Almost everyone with your qualifications was admitted or where your qualifications roughly match up with the medians at that school; "these are target schools",
C. Only one in four or more applicants with your credentials were admitted (i.e. schools where your scores are lower than the medians the school projects). "These schools are a Long-shot."
Remember that most law schools provide detailed statistics on how many applicants with a certain LSAT score and GPA are accepted; much of that information (including medians, LSAT/GPA data grids and charts, and other statistics) are available in the Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools which can be ordered from Law Services or consulted at the Political Science and International Studies Department secretary's desk. In addition, data on how McDaniel College students have done in applying to law schools is available from the prelaw advisor. You can also discuss McDaniel College students’ admission record at individual law schools with the prelaw advisor.

Other sources of information include the following:
The particular school's admissions office
School representatives who visit campus
The Law School Forum in Washington DC or New York City
Talks with students and faculty members at a particular school (Many schools have formal programs in which students can take a tour of the campus and ask questions. Inquire at a school's admissions office).
The Phi Alpha Delta Library in Hill Hall 312
And, of course, the prelaw advisor
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2. Applying too late
The idea that applicants must apply early and not late is dictated by the fact that many law schools have rolling admissions. Law schools will not make decisions until a file is complete.  A complete file contains your application, your LSAT score, your LSDAS Report, your letters of recommendation, and your application fee. It must also arrive or be post marked before the deadline.
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3. Not having a backup school
Never put all of your eggs in one basket, have a backup school.  The backup school must be one where you are certain of being admitted and where you would matriculate. Law Services advises students that "even if you have top qualifications, you should apply to at least one safe, backup school.  These schools may also constitute your best chance of merit based financial aid. The prelaw advisor can assist you in determining which schools likely would constitute a legitimate "safe school."
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4. Not following instructions
Protect yourself, you want to make sure that every “t” has been crossed and every “I” dotted. Do not fill out their forms incorrectly and follow all the directions. Making this mistake can delay unnecessarily the processing of applications. You can make the registration process much smoother if you simply take the time to read and understand all of the information in the LSAT/LSDAS Information Book. If you have questions, you can always talk with the Pre Law Advisor or simply phone the numbers at Law Services listed in the booklet.
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5. Pursuing an inadequate undergraduate curriculum
Selecting a major is a very personal choice.  Law schools are as concerned with its choice as they are with its rigor. Your selection should demonstrate convincingly that you have been challenged and taught to think critically, logically, and reasonably.

A student who fails to accomplish this goal has a much weaker application and has an uphill battle.  Do not do yourself a disservice; talk to your academic and prelaw advisors early and often.
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6. Getting weak recommendations
You should make sure that your letters of recommendation does not “gild the lily”, “damn with faint praise”, or attempt to put pressure on the admission committee by name dropping.  Ensure that your letters are substantive by providing your recommenders with detail information about you.  If you have written papers for the recommender include a copy with a brief resume to refresh the person’s memory and provide them with accurate titles, dates, and events.  Avoid getting letters from people who do not know you well.  Letters from faculty members and/or advisors are most credible.  Do not get letters from famous people unless you have worked with or taken courses with them.  These letters for the most part lack substance and can damage your application.

In short, you do not want your letters of recommendation to undercut their own credibility.

Last but not least, do not assume a letter has been written or sent, follow up with the recommender and online at LSAT.  In the final analysis this is your application and you are responsible for its completion.
 
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7. Writing a weak personal statement
The personal statement is your best chance to convince the admission committee that you are the best candidate for admission.  You want the committee to believe that you are highly motivated, enthusiastic, intelligent, confident, and most importantly prepared.  In short you want to include the following:

Make your background, life experience, or other significant accomplishment meaningful and interesting.

Discuss any serious obstacles you have overcome in your life to get where you are today. Never be shy about letting the committee know about how you have triumphed over adversity, especially if that adversity is real and identifiable.

Include:
Special interests
Specialized knowledge or ability
Honors and awards
Extracurricular activities
Leadership positions held
Military or government training or service including R.O.T.C..
Ethnic Diversity
Work or Community Volunteer Experience
Problems or inconsistencies in your records
Graduate work or additional study: law schools are be most interested in your undergraduate work,
Goals

You also want to provide the admission committee with information about you that it can not get anywhere else.  It is therefore not in your best interest to repeat information found elsewhere in your application unless you have a particular reason for doing so.  The personal statement can make the difference between admission and rejection.
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8. Not completing your application
Law Schools usually make it fairly clear that you are responsible for making certain that your application file is complete. It is best to assume nothing about the status of your application. Since schools often do not have enough time or staff to review continuously pending applications, it is up to you to check on the following:
Has your registrar sent your transcripts to the LSDAS?
Have you reviewed the status of your application six weeks after sending it?
Does the Letter of Recommendation service have all of your letters and have you designated which ones you want sent? Have you sent them?
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9. Not having alternatives
As Law Services notes, "Flexibility is a key word in the law school admissions process." For instance, "don't set your sights on only one law school and one plan of action." You should constantly reevaluate your prospects and have prepared alternatives.
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10. Completing generic application forms
While there is a movement to develop a uniform application to law schools, none is forthcoming.  Therefore, don't apply to a set of schools using the same prepared packet of materials. Study each law school's application and comply with its special questions and idiosyncratic format. It is your responsibility to make certain that your applications are addressing the unique requests of different admissions committees.

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11. Going to the wrong law school
Make certain that the law school at which you enroll is the "Right Law School for You." If a school at which you are admitted is not satisfactory to you after you have investigated, visited, and learned everything you can about it, don't feel that you must attend that school. There always is another application season.
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12. Not considering cost
The average debt of law school graduates in 2006 was just short of $100,000), exceeding the average starting salary. This concern is especially important and must be addressed by everyone interested in attending law school. Obviously, potential applicants must explore all options to keep costs low, but they should be realistic about what their debt will be and how they expect to eliminate it.

If you are considering public interest law or poverty law you may have to select a less costly law school.  Cost, however, need not be the sole or most important criteria.  Many law schools offer incentives for students interested in public interest law. Ask the law schools about financial aid and loan forgiveness programs.
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