Application Materials and Deadlines
How can I obtain an application?
What supporting materials need to be submitted with my application?
What are your application deadlines?
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Deadlines
When should I apply?
We began accepting applications for first-year admission as soon as our application becomes available (usually in August), although we will not begin reviewing applications until late October.
Due to our rolling admissions process, it is to your benefit to apply as early in the season as you comfortably are able. If you are applying for our regular decision admission program we recommend applying in November.
LSAT and Grade Point Average
When should I take the LSAT?
We advise students to sit for the LSAT only once they are prepared and ready for the test.
You should be aware that taking the June or October exams will allow you to apply to our Early Action Decision program. Also, if a problem arises during the June or October administration of the exam, you would have time to retake the LSAT and still meet our February 1 application deadline.
Do you accept the February LSAT for admission?
Yes; however, your application will be considered late and admission will be on a space available basis.
How does the Admissions Committee view a cancelled LSAT score?
A single cancelled score has no impact on the evaluation of an application but please feel free to explain the circumstances surrounding your cancellation.
What is the oldest LSAT score you will accept in order to apply for the Fall 2008 semester?
What is the median LSAT score?
The median LSAT score for the 2007 entering class was 167 and the median undergraduate GPA was 3.67.
If I got a low score the first time, should I retake the LSAT?
The decision to retake the LSAT is a complex and personal one. Factors we think an applicant should consider are:
Depending on your answers, you should think about retaking the test. LSAC has data which supports the view it is likely that a second score will not be a substantial improvement. Most people who retake the LSAT do not score higher than 1 to 2 points.
If I take the LSAT more than once, will you take the highest score or the average of the scores?
In general, Cornell Law’s policy is to take the higher score if it is at least 3 points higher than a prior score, but the Admissions Committee invites applicants to submit an addendum to their application explaining the different LSAT scores and why we should take the higher score.
Must I register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)?
Where do I find out about LSDAS and the LSAT?
Find out more about both by going to LSAC.
How important is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)?
The Admission Committee looks at a number of factors when making admissions decisions. Certainly, academic potential as measured by the LSAT and GPA play an important role in the admissions process.
We use more than numbers to evaluate our candidates. We also consider extracurricular and community activities, life experience, work background, and recommendations.
We subscribe to Cornell’s long-standing tradition of affirmative action and members of traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are encouraged to discuss their status where they think it relevant.
Is there a GPA or LSAT cut off?
No, there is no minimum GPA or LSAT.
Do Admissions Committee members examine transcripts?
Admission Committee members review every transcript and take into consideration factors that may have had an impact on an applicant’s grade point average. We strongly consider:
Do you take into account grades received in graduate school?
While grades received in graduate studies are not counted as part of your grade point average, we do review graduate school transcripts and take note of grades received. A strong graduate school record is generally viewed as a plus.
How does the Committee view pass/fail grades on transcripts?
The Committee considers the circumstances, including whether such courses were required or optional, how many and in which subjects pass/fails were earned, etc. Please include any narratives or course evaluations of these courses with your transcripts and applications if they are available.
How should I submit foreign transcripts?
If all undergraduate work was completed at institutions outside the United States (including its territories) and/or Canada, we require that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC J.D. Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
If you completed any postsecondary work outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and will be incorporated into your LSDAS report.
Exception: If you completed the foreign work through a study-abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript.
To use the J.D. Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online account with LSAC and follow the instructions to register for the service. Remember you must print out a Transcript Request Form and send it promptly to each institution that possesses a transcript for you. Foreign transcripts usually require more time to process than U.S. transcripts.
Questions about the J.D. Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215-968-1001 or lsacinfo@lsac.org.
Is a TOEFL score required for the JD program?
We do not require TOEFL scores for the JD application.
Personal Statement
What should I write about in my personal statement?
The topic of the personal statement is up to you. We suggest that you approach the personal statement as your opportunity to present personal information about yourself that you would discuss during an interview. Your statement will be evaluated for both content and construction, so write about something interesting and write about it well.
What length should my personal statement be?
We ask that you limit your statement to two pages, double spaced, using a font size that is comfortable to read (not less than 10 point).
What sort of information do you like to see in a personal statement?
Include with your application a personal statement that will give the Admissions Committee any information you believe relevant to the admissions decision that is not elicited elsewhere in the application.
The statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself; it may address your intellectual interests, significant accomplishments, obstacles overcome, personal or professional goals, educational achievements, or any way in which your perspective, viewpoint, or experiences will add to the richness of the educational environment of the School of Law.
Should I include a resume?
A resume is an excellent way to present an applicant’s working and extracurricular involvement. We especially recommend that you send a resume if you have had significant working experience. You may also include a short addendum describing any significant extracurricular or volunteer activities.
Does Cornell Law require a Dean's Certification with the application?
Yes, all applicants are required to submit a Dean's Certification.
Please submit the Dean's Certification to an official from your degree granting institution that has access to your disciplinary records. The Dean's Certification must be sent directly to Cornell Law School. You can not submit the Dean's Certification through the LSDAS service.
Letters of Recommendation
Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendations?
You should give faculty recommendation forms to two faculty members who can provide detailed comments about your academic abilities compared with those of other students who are applying to law schools. If you’re currently an undergraduate, the forms must be completed by faculty members who have taught you.
If you’ve graduated and been out of school for several years, you can ask an employer or other individual who knows your academic abilities to fill out the faculty recommendation forms.
Please bear in mind, however, that we’re interested primarily in the recommender’s judgment about your academic abilities and potential for success in the legal profession. Prelaw-committee composite letters or letters submitted separately from our form are acceptable.
How many letters are required?
Can I have those writing letters of recommendations send them directly to you?
We encourage you to submit letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service which allows you to send letters to the schools to which you apply. This service is included with your LSDAS subscription. If your recommender has a special relationship with Cornell Law School, you can still use the Letter of Recommendation Service; just designate which letters you want sent only to Cornell Law School.
Please note, if you submit your letters of recommendation via the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, your recommenders do not need to use or complete the Cornell Law School Letter of Recommendation forms.
Letters submitted through the LSAC Service are copied and sent to us along with your LSAT/LSDAS report. Updated reports are sent weekly if letters are received after your initial LSDAS report has been sent.
To use this service,
Letters also may be sent directly to us with your application for admission, or separately if your recommender prefers. If you do not use the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, follow the instructions for submitting a letter directly to the School of Law included with the application form.
If your college or university maintains a credentials service or a central file of letters of recommendation, those letters may be sent to the School of Law using the same process as for letters sent directly by the recommender.
