|
|
 |
|
2006-07 Law School Applicants
The following is a timetable with guidelines and suggested deadlines. Missing one of the steps will
not disqualify you from consideration by law schools. It may, however,
present significant timing problems for the Cabot House Pre-Law Committee.
If you stay on the timetable, the Committee makes the commitment to
get your House Letter and other recommendations to the law schools on
a timely basis. If you cannot meet these guidelines, it will be your
responsibility to establish a workable schedule. Your materials may
be delayed to the detriment of your application package.
April – September, 2006
Choices
- Think about whether to apply to law school. Talk with your resident and non-resident tutors about whether law school is the correct choice for you.
LSAT
- Prepare for the LSAT, either through self-study with practice tests or enrollment in a preparation course.
- Arrange to take the LSAT on Saturday, September 30, 2006 (Tuesday, October 3, 2006 for Saturday Sabbath observers); Saturday, December 2, 2006 (Monday, December 4, 2006 for Saturday Sabbath observers); Saturday, February 7, 2006 (Monday, February 12, 2007 for Sabbath observers). Register for the LSAT at least 1 month in advance to avoid late fees and to get your first choice test center. (See www.lsac.org for more information.)
LSDAS (Transcripts and Recommendations)
- Register with LSDAS at www.lsac.org. You will eventually ask the
registrar to send your transcript to LSDAS to be converted into a standardized
form. LSDAS will also serve as a repository for your recommendations,
which will be sent to them through the Resident Dean’s Office.
Your House letter of recommendation will go straight from the House
Office to the law schools you specify by snail mail.
Recommendations
- Think about whom you wish to ask for letters of recommendation (most schools require
two). Talk with your resident and non-resident tutors about strategies
for choosing and dealing with recommenders. Request a letter and
submit a waiver form to your recommenders as soon as you are ready (the
Resident Dean’s Office will maintain a file of all recommendations).
Personal Statement
- Start to consider topics for your personal statement. Talk with your resident and non-resident tutors to start brainstorming good topics.
Applications
- Request application packets from schools and read them carefully. Applications will be available from most schools in August or September.
September – October, 2006
Cabot House Procedures
- Complete the Personal Information Form and give 2 copies to Susan Bourneuf (5-8744) and one to your pre-law tutor by October 9th. Also, please give Susan a signed copy of the Academic File Release Form.
Transcripts
- Request that the Registrar's Office send directly to LSDAS an official copy of your most recent transcript. Do the same for any other colleges or graduate schools you have attended.
Recommendations
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty members or teaching fellows if you have not already done so. Inform writers of the November 6th deadline, and remember to provide the waiver form as well. Give your recommenders ample time to make this deadline.
- Follow up with all of your recommenders.
Personal Statement
- Select a topic and complete a draft of your personal statement.
Applications
- Complete the objective portions of the law school applications.
By November 6, 2006
(If you complete all
of these steps sooner, we will be able to process your house letter
sooner.)
Cabot House Procedures
- Give Susan Bourneuf
addressed business-sized envelopes (approx. 4.25" x 10").
Each envelope should have the full address of the law school to which
you are applying. Put one 39 cent stamp on each envelope. Leave the
return address blank.
- Give Susan Bourneuf
one large envelope (approx. 9” x 12”) addressed to LSDAS. Some schools
require a Dean's Certification Form. If the school does require one,
please fill out your part, and also put it into the envelope.
Susan will send all your supporting letters of recommendation in the
large envelope to LSDAS.
Recommendations
- All recommendations should have been received in the Resident Dean’s Office.
- Request that your
House letter be completed by your Pre-law Tutor. Your Pre-law Tutor
will require at least 7 days to complete the letter. The Pre-law Committee
and Resident Dean will then require an additional 7 days for review
before the letter is mailed. The Pre-law Tutor will not complete the
House letter until all faculty recommendations are in.
November, 2006
Final Steps
- Finalize your personal statement.
- Send your application materials to law schools, either electronically through LSDAS or by
snail mail. Make sure to abide by the format requested by each
individual law school.
January – June, 2006
Financial Aid
- Research law school financial aid, including FAFSA and Need Access or other forms that may
be required by schools to which you apply. Find out the details
of any Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) that schools might
offer. Research scholarships for law school.
Choices
- Schools will reply
with a variety of decisions, including acceptance, waitlist, hold, reserve,
rejection. Come talk to your resident and non-resident tutors
about how to deal with these decisions or how to choose among options.
- If you are considering deferral from law school, come talk to your resident and non-resident
tutors about this option.
By June 30, 2007
Reporting
- Please tell your Pre-Law Tutor and the Office of the Resident Dean the school you decide to attend.
|
