Law admissions dean discusses process

With a troubled job market, many undergraduates are facing the possibility of unemployment after graduation. Many students consider attending law school as one solution to their problem. However, Law School Admissions Dean Glen Glenn said law school is for people with real convictions last Thursday night. Focusing on the application process and financial areas of the University's Law School, Glenn spoke to a group of 40 prospective law school students in the High Rise East Rooftop Lounge. Glenn stressed the importance of earning a good grade point average and taking the LSAT seriously because they are the primary means of comparison between students from different universities. Currently, taking multiple LSATs does not work advantageously, he added. "It is imperative today that you take a preparatory course [for the LSAT]," he said. "You only want to take the exam once." The expected average LSAT score for University's Law School applicants in the coming year is 166, said Glenn. Aside from the quantitative requirements, the University's application has a personal statement section which requires applicants to write something about themselves and what leads them to pursue a career in law. As an example of an eye-catching personal statement, Glenn spoke of a booklet of pictures and autobiographical writing entitled "Water Colors" which he received. He added that University undegraduates have no advantage for admissions to the University Law School. "A GPA is a GPA," Glenn said. In addition, Glenn said law schools place a heavy financial burden on students. Although tuition for three years approaches $100,000, a law school graduate might not receive a salary of more than $28,000 after graduation. "You have to think, 'Is this an appropriate decision,'" Glenn said. The University Law School offers scholarships to students, however almost all of them are need-based scholarships. Only a few are merit-based scholarships. Glenn spoke about a program the Law School provides which gives public interest scholarships to outstanding applicants who are interested in going into public service. Applicants will be reviewed for a public service requirement before receiving the full tuition grant. Four Law School students who attended the meeting spoke personally about their law school experiences. "It's a very sobering experience," said third-year student Marta Guiterrez. "You may find yourself at the tail end [of the class]." Second-year student Kimberly Kelly spoke of the hard work and the pressures she experienced in her first year. "I'm feeling a lot better about law school this year than last year," she said. At the end of the forum, Glenn and the panelists all agreed that people should not enter law school unless they are absolutely sure law is for them. "I would not go to law school to find something to do or put off the real world," said second-year student Martin Rowley. Many audience members found the session very helpful. "I wanted to hear how hard it is," College sophomore Alan Promer said. "I thought it was really helpful," College junior Sue Lee said. "It got me to work a lot harder." Many said they saw the importance of a real interest in law before entering law school. "If you really don't want the ends you shouldn't go through the means," Wharton sophomore Margie Toy said.

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