Georgetown Law - JD Admissions Information (Admissions)

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JD Admissions Information

Electronic Application

Choice of Application Process

Requirements

Foreign Educated Applicants

Early Assurance (GU Juniors Only)

Reapplying

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Georgetown University Law Center is proud of the diversity of its student body and encourages the expression of that diversity through a variety of activities and organizations. As a leading national law school, Georgetown traditionally has attracted students of demonstrated ability from every section of the country. The entering class in the fall of 2007 represents 205 colleges and universities and 46 states, as well as 13 foreign countries. Of the students matriculating, 44% were women and 27% were minority students. The Law Center welcomes applications from students with disabilities and endeavors to meet their special needs.

Visits

Every Fall, the Admissions staff travels across the country to meet prospective students. Dates for visits are posted on our website under the heading, We'd Like to Meet You. Applicants are also encouraged to visit the law school. From mid-November to March, Information Sessions are conducted, followed by a tour of the campus.

Evaluation Process

The Admissions Committee takes into consideration a number of factors in evaluating whether a candidate would be suitable for admission. These factors include whether the person is likely to succeed at Georgetown, would benefit from a legal education here, and could contribute to the Georgetown legal community. In making such determinations, the Committee focuses on a number of criteria and does not use numerical cut-offs. In addition to examining the applicant's LSAT score(s) and academic record, the Committee also considers the personal statement, letters of recommendations, choice of major, nature and difficulty of course selection, extracurricular activities, graduate work, contributions to the community and professional experience. The Law Center welcomes applications from students with disabilities and endeavors to meet their special needs.

In view of the large number of applicants and our rolling admissions process, candidates should complete their application as early as possible. After all required documentation has been submitted (only one letter of recommendation is required) and files are complete, they will be sent to the Committee. Applications will not be reviewed unless all required documentation has been received.

Note: When files are being reviewed by the Committee, they cannot be accessed by our Admissions staff.

Timetable

In order to allow the Admissions Office sufficient time to process all applications, candidates are urged to complete their files as early in the fall as possible. Applications for Fall 2008 may be submitted as early as September 25, 2007. As the Admissions Committee employs a rolling admissions system, it is to your advantage to complete your application as early as possible. Applications are considered beginning in November and candidates are notified as soon as decisions are reached, usually eight to twelve weeks after your file is complete with all supporting documentation. If your file is complete by February 1, you will receive a decision by April 15.

2007/2008 Admissions Timeline

September 25  First day J.D. applications accepted for Fall 2008

November 1    Transfer/Visiting students deadline for Spring 2008

                        Early Decision first deadline
                        (Application and fee due only)

November 30 Early Decision second deadline
                        (File must be complete with all required documentation)

February 1      Full-Time Division deadline

                        Public Interest Law Scholars deadline

                        Global Law Scholars deadline

March 1           Basic Financial Aid Form due

                        Part-Time Division deadline

March 15        Early Action Transfer deadline for Fall 2008

                        Early Assurance deadline (Georgetown Juniors Only)

June 15           Transfer/Visiting students deadline for Fall 2008

Status Check

Due to our volume, we have established an automatic status check feature on our website. The status check system allows the applicant to determine if their application has been received, if it is complete, and if a decision has been made. Note: Admissions decisions will be mailed; they will not be available on the status check website or by phone.

Electronic Application: Strongly Preferred Approach

The Law Center strongly encourages applicants to apply electronically. Because information submitted via electronic application is transferred directly to the Admissions Office computer database, electronic applications will be processed more rapidly than those submitted by non-electronic means.

Applicants who apply to the Law Center electronically can use either the "LSACD on the Web" electronic application system, or the Law Center's Online Application. The "LSACD on the Web" electronic application system is available on the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website at www.lsac.org.

Applicants applying electronically must pay the required application fee using a credit card. Those applicants who prefer to pay their application fee by check or money order, and those requesting a Georgetown University Law Center fee waiver should not apply using electronic means.

Applicants who prefer to complete a paper application may submit the application and supplementary forms available for download on our website at www.law.georgetown.edu/admissions.

Choice Of Application Process

Please select only one of the following options:

1) Early Decision (Binding)
The Early Decision process is designed for those who have already researched their law school options and are certain that the Law Center is their first choice of schools. This process allows such applicants a means of expressing to the Admissions Committee their commitment to attend the Law Center if admitted. Any candidates for whom receipt of institutional financial aid is a prerequisite for enrolling should apply under the Regular Action process (see below for details), rather than Early Decision.

Early Decision applications are the first reviewed in our rolling admissions process. Decision letters are mailed by December 14. To apply Early Decision, the Law Center must receive your application by November 1, and the application must be complete with all required documentation by November 30. Please be certain to check the "Early Decision" box on your application to indicate your intention to apply under this process and to sign the Early Decision Agreement Form. To meet the deadlines for Early Decision, you must have taken the LSAT by October 2007. Because offers of admission extended under the Early Decision process are binding, candidates may not apply to other law schools under similar Early Decision processes. However, if your application is deferred or denied, you are no longer bound by the Law Center's Early Decision commitment and are encouraged to proceed with your applications at other law schools.

2) Regular Decision
After the Early Decision deadline has passed, the Admissions Committee continues reviewing applications on a rolling basis, as applications are completed with all required supplemental information. Thus, even within the Regular Decision process, it is to your advantage to complete your application as early as possible.

The final application deadlines are February 1 for those applying to the Full-Time Division, and March 1 for applicants to the Part-Time Division. Candidates are notified as soon as decisions are reached, usually six to twelve weeks after your file is complete with all supporting documentation.

Requirements

1) Application For Admission

This is the basic document required to initiate an application. J.D. candidates may apply to be considered for admission to the Full-Time division, the Part-Time division, or Both. Applying to both divisions signifies to the Admissions Committee that you are equally willing to attend either the full-time or part-time program if offered admission to the Law Center. If the Admissions Committee approves your application, it will specify in your acceptance letter the division to which you are admitted.

Only in extraordinary circumstances will the Admissions Committee consider a request to change divisions once admission to a particular program is granted. Thus, those with a strong preference for attending on a full-time or part-time basis should apply only for their desired division.

2) Application Fee
Include the $80.00 application fee payable to Georgetown University Law Center with your application. Online applicants must use a credit card. Fee Waivers: The Fee Waiver Application Form should be enclosed with your application. Fee waivers are automatically granted to those who submit a copy of LSAC's fee waiver approval. Please note that fee waivers will not be accepted after March 1.

3) LSDAS/Transcripts
All applicants must register with Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) at the LSAC address given below. A transcript from each college or university attended must then be sent directly to LSDAS, not to the Law Center.

Law School Admissions
Council (LSAC)
Box 2000-R
Newtown, PA 18940
(215) 968-1001
www.lsac.org

lsacinfo@lsac.org

Candidates who have received their undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States must have your credentials sent to LSAC to be analyzed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org).

4) Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
All applicants for admission to Georgetown University Law Center are required to take the Law School Admission Test. All candidates must have taken the LSAT in or after June 2003. Although we will accept the February 2008 LSAT, taking an earlier exam is strongly encouraged. Further information can be obtained by contacting LSAC at the address above.

LSAC test dates:
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Saturday, February 2, 2008

5) Personal Statement
An applicant may write a double-spaced personal statement on any subject of importance that he or she feels will assist the Admissions Committee in its decision. There is no minimum/maximum length.

6) Resume
Prepare a resume describing: 1) schools attended, dates of attendance, and degree(s) awarded; 2) work experience, including employer, position, nature, of work and dates of employment; 3) extracurricular/community activities, including nature and length of involvement; and 4) scholastic honors including academic awards, scholarships or fellowships.

7) Recommendations
Only one letter of recommendation is required, although additional letters will be accepted.

Note: An application is considered "complete" after receipt of one recommendation and will be forwarded to the Committee.

If possible, recommendations should be completed by faculty members with personal knowledge of academic work. Recommendations from employers are also acceptable. We recommend that letters be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, included with your LSDAS Registration subscription. Individual letters sent directly to the Law Center are also accepted.

Early Assurance

The Early Assurance Program is designed to encourage top undergraduates
from Georgetown University to apply to the Law Center. The Program is for Juniors
currently enrolled at Georgetown University, and students in all majors are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by March 15 of your junior year. Early Assurance is designed to give students the freedom to pursue a less conventional curriculum during his or her senior year and is non-binding. For additional information on the Early Assurance Program, please contact the dean of your college.

Early Assurance applicants are exempt from taking the LSAT and registering with the LSDAS. Instead, please include an official transcript with at least five semesters of undergraduate grades. Early Assurance applicants must submit two recommendations, one of which must be the Early Assurance Dean's Certification Form. Competitive Early Assurance applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.8.

Foreign-Educated Applicants

Only applicants who will possess a U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent from a foreign institution prior to registration day are eligible for admission to the Law Center as candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor and any of the Joint Degree programs. Candidates who have either a) received their undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States or b) were directly enrolled at a foreign institution(s) and the total amount of work completed at all foreign institutions combined is the equivalent of more than one year of undergraduate study in the U.S., its territories, or Canada, are required to use the J.D. Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Please request that the appropriate documents (e.g., mark sheets, degree certifications, transcripts) be sent directly to LSAC from the institution(s) you attended to be analyzed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org).

Reapplying

Candidates who did not receive admission may choose to reapply for admission in a later year. Although it is highly likely that an applicant will receive the same decision in a subsequent year, in some cases, applicants do receive a different determination based upon additional information. Applicants who applied during the 2006-2007 admissions cycle should identify themselves using the "reapplicant" box on the admissions application.

Revised January 18, 2008 (bar)