If I decide to apply for Early Decision Admission, will this increase my chances of being admitted?
Applicants who decide to apply for Early Decision Admission will not have a greater probability of being admitted nor will applicants who want to apply under Regular Decision Admission be at a disadvantage in the admissions process. The same standards and criteria will be used to evaluate all applicants, whether the application is filed Early or under Regular Decision Admissions. The advantage to those applying early is the possibility of receiving a final decision much earlier in the process. By holding a portion of the Early Decision applicants for review with the pool of Regular Decision applicants, we ensure that neither group is advantaged or disadvantaged.
How does an applicant determine his or her status as a resident or nonresident?
Generally, an applicant must reside and establish a domicile in the state of Texas for a period of one year prior to enrolling as a student. The University's Residency Officer, not the Law School, makes determinations of residency status. Questions concerning a candidate's classification as a resident or as a nonresident should be addressed to Residency Officer, Graduate and International Admissions Center, The University of Texas, P.O. Box 7608, Austin, TX 78713-7608; telephone: (512) 475-7408.
Is it true that the Law School only admits 35% of its students from out of state?
No, the Law School may matriculate no more than 35% non-resident students. However, each year the Law School extends offers of admission to several hundred non-resident applicants.
If I call the admissions office and give my undergraduate GPA and LSAT over the phone, can I get a picture of the chances of my being offered admission?
No. The staff cannot make a meaningful prediction because they are not involved in the decision making process. All admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. In addition to undergraduate GPA and LSAT score, a number of other criteria are taken into account when reviewing an application. Factors considered by the Admissions Committee are described in the Admissions Bulletin.
If I register with LSDAS immediately, my LSDAS report will not include my fall semester grades, and I hope to raise my overall grade point average this semester. Would it be possible for me to delay my LSDAS registration so that my report will include seventh semester grades?
We recommend against delaying registration with LSDAS. If you complete additional coursework and want it to be considered by the Law School, please have an updated transcript sent to Law School Admission Council (LSAC). This additional semester's work will be incorporated into your file with LSAC. The LSAC will then forward an updated transcript report to the Law School, and we will update your applicant file with the new report.
How do I know when my application is complete? Will you notify me?
No, we will not notify you. Your LSAC Activity Update will be helpful in this matter. Your application becomes complete upon receipt of your LSDAS report, if all mandatory attachments have been submitted. We will notify you of mandatory attachments that are missing. We will, however, send you a confirmation email letting you know when your application has been processed provided you have included your email address in your application.
If I take the LSAT more than once, which score does UT use?
Candidates with multiple LSAT scores will be evaluated using all reported scores. However, the Law School will no longer solely consider an applicant’s average score in the admissions review process. The ABA recently revised its survey reporting requirements; all law schools are being asked to report an applicant’s highest LSAT score.
Does the Law School have any provisional admission or part-time student programs?
No. With the exception of a few students enrolled under the extended first year program, the Law School admits students only for full-time enrollment beginning in the fall.
If my application for admission is denied, can I appeal that decision, or can I request a reconsideration?
Within 30 days of the date of denial, you may petition for reconsideration by submitting a letter addressed to the Assistant Dean for Admissions indicating your reasons. Reconsideration requests will only be considered if there is some significant, additional information that was not available at the time of your original application. The Committee's initial decision will have been based upon all factors, academic and nonacademic, included in your application. In those rare instances in which the petition is granted, the usual result is that the candidate is placed on a waiting list. The number of offers of admission expected to produce the desired entering class probably will have been made by the time your petition is considered.
I applied for early decision but I received a letter saying that I have been held over for further consideration. Have I been deferred?
No, you have not been deferred. When reviewing early decision applicants, the admissions committee has three options: 1. offer admission, 2. deny admission, or 3. "hold" the applicant for further review with the general admission applicant pool. The first two options are final decisions, whereas the third is an interim decision which may delay an applicant's receiving a final decision until April. A deferral is an option exercised by an applicant who has been admitted but wishes to defer enrollment until another year. Deferrals are granted on a case by case basis.
I hope to enroll in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) program this summer. Will my performance in the CLEO program be considered by the Admissions Committee?
Candidates who are applying to CLEO should indicate this on page 1 of the Application for Admission. The Admissions Committee will take this into consideration when evaluating the file. Some decisions on CLEO candidates may be held pending evaluation of your CLEO performance. For further information regarding the CLEO program, write: Council on Legal Education Opportunity, 740 15th Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005; telephone: (202) 662-8630.
If I am admitted this year but cannot attend for some reason, can I defer my admission to next year's entering class?
You may request, in writing, a deferral for one year. However, we can give no assurance that your request will be granted. Each request will be considered on its own merits. Extensions of more than one year are rarely granted. However, a request for deferral because of service in Teach for America will be granted automatically for up to two years.
What steps will I have to take if I want to be admitted to the Texas Bar after graduating from the Law School?
Students who intend to obtain a license to practice law in the state of Texas must file a Declaration of Intention to Study Law by October 1 of their first semester in the Law School. This is a requirement of the Supreme Court of Texas. There is a filing fee of $190 if the Declaration is filed on time; however if a Declaration is filed in person or is postmarked after the timely filing deadlines, a $150 late fee will be imposed. In addition, students intending to take the Texas Bar Examination will be required to provide a copy of their Law School application along with the Declaration.
Where do I send my foreign transcripts?
Any applicant who completed his/her undergraduate work at a foreign institution should register for the LSAT only through The Law School Admissions Council. Official foreign transcripts should be sent to the Law School directly from the educational institution producing the document. The applicant must complete the Application for Evaluation of Foreign Credentials, which is available online under Admission Forms, or it can be obtained by contacting the Law School Admissions Office directly. Once the Law School receives the official transcripts from the foreign institutions, as well as the Application for Evaluation of Foreign Credentials and the nonrefundable $75 evaluation fee from the applicant, The University of Texas Graduate and International Admissions Office will produce an evaluation of those transcripts for the Law School. If you completed your undergraduate education in the United States but have graduate work from foreign institutions, you should register with LSDAS and send your undergraduate transcripts through that service. Then you should instruct any foreign institutions attended to send all official transcripts to the Law School directly. If you plan to use the JD-CAS you must register with the LSDAS. There is no need to pay the additional $75 evaluation fee if you are using the LSDAS JD-CAS.
Does the University of Texas School of Law offer interviews?
The Law School has a limited interview program. Our program is specifically designed for applicants who have new and/or additional information to convey outside of the information presented in their application. To this end, the format of the interview is atypical. Rather than being asked a series of questions by the interviewer and then being evaluated on the basis of your answers, you will be expected to make a 15 minute presentation and prepare a 15 minute writing sample. The interview is a chance for you to present compelling information about yourself, rather than an opportunity for “face time.”
