Frequently Asked Questions
Preparation for law school
What should I study?
There is no particular major or curriculum that is required for admission to or success in law school, and we find that a student body with backgrounds in a variety of disciplines adds depth and breadth to the classroom dialogue. As a result, an entering class at Michigan Law typically includes 65 or 70 different majors, and the student body as a whole represents about 100. The majors perennially most common in our entering classes are political science, history, economics, English, psychology, and philosophy; some atypical majors that we think provide particularly good training for law school are computer science, mathematics, engineering, and hard sciences, which disciplines make up about 20 percent of the class; classics, seen relatively rarely, is also an excellent foundation for legal study. But pursuing a particular major simply because you think it will give you an advantage in the law school admissions process is an exercise in futility, since you are less likely to perform well in a major that doesn’t engage you. We recommend, therefore, that you study subjects that are interesting to you. Because we seek curricula that are both broad and deep, we also recommend that you take challenging courses in whatever is your chosen core field, and that you branch out and test yourself in areas outside your comfort zone. Classes that give you experience with close reading of texts, detailed analysis, logical reasoning, and extensive writing are always helpful.
From what schools does the University of Michigan Law School accept students?
We accept students from a wide variety of undergraduate schools, with almost 250 distinct institutions represented in the student body. While the strength of an undergraduate institution is certainly a factor we consider in the admissions process, our commitment to maintaining the excellence of our student body does not limit the wide range of educational institutions from which our students hale. There most assuredly is no accredited school whose graduates we would be simply unwilling to admit. (And for the record, contrary to popular belief/persistent and intractable rumor, students who attended the University of Michigan for their undergraduate studies are not at any disadvantage over students from other schools. Go Blue!)
Details
Details
In what activities should I participate? What groups should I join?
As with majors, we have no preconceived list of "best extracurriculars." You should pursue the areas that interest you. So, while as a general matter we like to see some evidence of involvement and engagement in something outside one's studies or employment, we have no particular preference for the type of activity. In preparing your application, bear in mind that it is helpful if you give us some sense of the nature and extent of your involvement; further, if the name of a group or organization is a little mysterious to the uninitiated, it might be helpful to describe briefly the mission or purpose.
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LSAT
How does the University of Michigan Law School handle multiple LSAT scores?
The LSDAS report for an applicant who has sat for the LSAT more than once will show every score or cancellation, as well as the average score. The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight. We do, however, consider the average score as well, because data provided by the Law School Admissions Council suggests that it has the greatest predictive utility. If you have a significant disparity between scores (six or more points), it would be very helpful to address any explanation for the difference in an optional essay or addendum.
What is the median LSAT score for accepted students?
We do not use an admissions formula or index system when we evaluate applicants, nor is there a floor below which we will not consider a candidate. That said, the University of Michigan Law School is very selective, and the LSAT is an important -- though not dispositive -- factor in our consideration of an applicant. The median LSAT score for the 2007 entering class is 169 (97 th percentile) and the 25th and 75th percentiles for the class are 167 and 170, respectively. Bear in mind that there is no statistically significant difference within plus or minus three points of any particular LSAT score.
When should I take the LSAT?
There is no mandatory time to take the LSAT but conventional wisdom is that the June exam prior to the year in which you wish to begin law school will allow you optimal amount of time for preparing your application. You should keep in mind that we cannot begin to review your application until it is complete, which requires a valid score report. We will accept score reports from tests as early as June 2002 for applicants beginning study in 2008. Applicants who take the LSAT in February 2008 and do not have other score reports will likely be at a disadvantage because their score reports will not be available until early March, which is late in the admissions season.
Applicants applying under our binding Early Decision Program must take the LSAT by October.
How does the Admissions Committee view canceled LSAT scores?
While one canceled score will not raise any red flags in an application evaluation, a pattern of canceled scores may cause some concern. It can be helpful if you provide an explanation for your cancellations, but that is not required.
What if I don't feel ready to take the LSAT?
In general, law school admissions offices operate on a rolling basis, meaning that application files are reviewed in the order of their completion (although we don't necessarily reach a decision on an application in the order in which it is read; some decisions simply take longer than others). This means that there is usually some advantage to applying earlier in the process (when more seats remain to be filled) rather than later. It is also true, though, that it is to your advantage to have the highest possible score on the LSAT - so you shouldn't take the test until you're ready for it. If you're considering the February LSAT in connection with an application for the same year, bear in mind that the score will not be available until early March, meaning that the file will not be ready for review until sometime after that - putting the applicant at a disadvantage in the admissions process, as we will have already filled the majority of available seats. Bottom-line, each individual applicant will need to take these competing considerations (application timing versus getting the optimal score) into account for him- or herself. Consider, though, that you can always reapply in a future year and overcome the disadvantage of a late application, but you cannot erase a low LSAT score.
If I got a low score the first time, should I retake the LSAT?
If your score was significantly different from your practice tests (and you are confident that you were accurately timing yourself), and if you can identify something in particular that might have negatively affected your score the first time (you didn't prepare; you were sick; there was a marching band outside the exam site; et cetera), you should seriously consider retaking the test. Otherwise, though, it is likely that a second score will not be a substantial improvement; the vast majority of people who retake the LSAT get a score that is only a couple of points higher. It would probably make more sense for you to put your energy into making sure the other elements of your application are the best that they can be. Some matters to take into account when considering taking the test again: there is no statistically significant difference within plus or minus three points of any particular LSAT score, so small differences are unlikely to be viewed as important by an admissions committee; multiple scores are averaged, and although we also consider the highest score, we also consider the average score; and, most horrifyingly, there is always the possibility that you will receive a lower score on a subsequent test. Finally, while chilling with some LSAC psychometricians recently, we learned that the whole concept of regression to the mean would counsel against a retake for those who scored a 165 or above - at least in the absence of some pretty strong evidence that a retake would result in substantial improvement.
I have a learning disability that I believe would allow me to receive extra time on the LSAT. Should I apply for accommodation? Will my file be evaluated differently if I have an accommodated test score?
If you think you may be entitled to accommodation on the LSAT, you should certainly apply to the Law School Admissions Council; forms are available on the LSAC's Web site.
You should apply for accommodation irrespective of whether the accommodation you seek is extra time for a learning disability or some adaptation for a physical disability - but it is the former circumstance that tends to cause applicants concern that accommodation will reflect negatively on them in the application process. Please be assured that this certainly will not be the case at Michigan Law. We treat all LSAT scores, whether accommodated or not, in the same way: as one element, albeit an important one, in an array of many factors in a complicated assessment process. If you are entitled to accommodation and do not utilize it, it is likely that your score will be negatively affected; while we would take into account any contextual information you provide about why the score may not be predictive for you, you would nonetheless be better off simply to have a more favorable score in the first instance. For a detailed FAQ on the subject of accommodated testing, visit the LSAC's Web site.
If you apply for accommodation but the LSAC does not grant it, we would encourage you to provide us with any information that you think would allow us to more accurately gauge your score. For example, if you received accommodation at your undergraduate institution, or if you have a history of receiving low scores on standardized tests and outperforming those indicators, you should let us know that.
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Application
How do I request an application and viewbook?
You may request a hard (paper) copy of our application and accompanying viewbook through www.Embark.com; at our Web site; by e-mail to law.jd.admissions@umich.edu; or by calling the Admissions Office at 734.764.0537. There are also several online application options, discussed below, or you may fill out and print a PDF version of the application (without a viewbook, but with our attempt at helpful commentary) from our Web site.
How should I send in my application?
We have no preference from among the various available application forms. You may use the hard paper copy in our application viewbook, filling it out in pen or by typewriter; the same form is also available on our Web site in PDF format, which you can fill out on the screen and print. (You may want to take a look at the PDF irrespective of which form you use, as it contains some insider tips for particular questions.) Either of those should be mailed to us at the Admissions Office (726 Oakland Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104). Alternatively, you can apply online and submit your application electronically via www.Embark.com. Finally, we’re also happy to receive applications that have been prepared using the Law School Admission Council’s LSACD or LSACD on the Web products, as well as the LSAC individual e-app, all of which can be submitted electronically.
Is it helpful to send multiple copies of my application to make sure you receive it?
No, please don't send more than one copy; we've never lost one yet. If you are afraid something is amiss, please just send an email, and we'll look into it.
What supporting materials need to be submitted with my application?
We need a completed application (that is, the filled-out form along with answers to our questions about your work and outside activities), the LSDAS report from LSAC (with transcripts and LSAT scores, and recommendation(s) if using the LSDAS Recommender Service), personal statement, optional essays (if any), recommendation(s) (if sending directly to school), and application fee ($60). Note: one recommendation is required, but three are suggested.
When should I apply?
We begin accepting applications for first-year admission -- both summer and fall -- on September 1, although we are not able to begin reviewing applications until early November. Due to our rolling admissions process, it is to your benefit to apply as early in the season as you comfortably are able. The application deadline is February 15.
Early Decision applications (binding, for summer start only) must be completed by November 15; all application components, including letters of recommendation and the LSDAS report must be received by the Admissions Office in advance of that date. We suggest that all necessary materials be submitted by about November 1, as it can take up to two weeks for the Law School to receive LSDAS reports as well as applications submitted via LSACD. The Law School will send a decision no later than December 15.
Applications for transfer students will be accepted between May 1 and July 21.
Should I reapply if I was denied in a previous admissions season?
Please be assured that your previous application does not place you at any disadvantage. You are on equal footing with all of the applicants in this admissions cycle. You must submit a new application and reregister with LSDAS, even if you are not retaking the LSAT. If you completed any additional coursework since your previous application, all official transcripts should be sent either to LSDAS or to our office. While we recommend that you submit a new personal statement and recommendations, we will be happy to consider any previous application materials submitted within the last two years. If you would like us to consider previously submitted materials, please note that in a cover letter with your application.
What should I write about in my personal statement/optional essays?
The personal statement is your chance to give a brief monologue to the file readers, so the topic is necessarily entirely up to you–only you can know what is most relevant about your background for purposes of admission to law school. Spend some time thinking about what it is that you would tell an admissions officer if you had ten minutes of undivided attention–perhaps you’d talk about what led you to law school, what you intend to do with your law degree, why you’d be an interesting person to have in the class, why you think you’re particularly well-suited to the study of law. Whatever topic you choose, your statement will be evaluated on both content and construction, so your goal should be to write about something interesting and write about it well. We also offer seven different optional essay topics, from which you can choose to write up to two additional essays, in order that our decision be based on as much information about you as possible. These essays are truly optional, and many people are admitted without submitting additional essays beyond the personal statement–at the same time, we often find that they add extremely helpful depth and perspective.
If I reveal something confidential in my application, how confidential will it really be?
During the admissions stage, the only people to see applications are members of the Admissions Office and the faculty committee, all of whom understand the importance of and are accustomed to keeping the contents of the files confidential. Unless you check the box of our application asking us not to, however, we will often pass on to particular student groups the names and contact information of admitted applicants who have self-identified as being potential members of those groups. Admitted applicants who self-identify as African American, therefore, may be contacted by the Black Law Students Alliance; admitted female applicants may be contacted by the Women Law Students Association; admitted BYU grads may be contacted by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society; and so on. One exception to this rule: if an admitted applicant comes out in his or her application, the Admissions Office will first e-mail him or her for permission before passing contact information onto the OutLaws, our LGBT student organization.
If you are admitted and matriculate, your application file will be transferred to the Records Office, and another set of eyes will have access to the materials. The privacy of current students, however, is protected under federal law by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.
Is a TOEFL score required for the JD program?
We do not require TOEFL scores for the JD application as the LSAT is an adequate measure of English proficiency.
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How does residency affect my chances of admission?
Michigan residency is a factor in admissions, but it is only a small part. We are a public, state-governed institution, but we are also highly selective. We are fortunate enough to receive so many highly qualified applicants from Michigan that our incoming classes are composed of approximately 20-25 percent in-state residents. Our office makes only preliminary determinations of residency based on the answers that you provide in your application and the guidelines given by the University; if you have questions about the residency guidelines or the reason you are being asked to submit a residency application, please contact the University of Michigan's Residency Classification Office, in person or by mail at 1210 LSA Building, 500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382, or by telephone at 734.764.1400. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
I know I'm a resident; why does your office think I'm not?
If you mark “yes” for residency on your application and we send you a letter telling you that you have to apply for residency, it doesn’t mean the Admissions Office thinks you’re not a resident. All it means is that something in your record has triggered, under preset criteria, a need for you to apply. We understand this can be frustrating for people who have no doubt that they are residents, but the Residency Classification Guidelines are complex and comprehensive and in order to ensure that they are fairly implemented, review of additional information by the experts in the Residency Classification Office is required in many cases—maybe because you have been employed outside the state within the last three years, or because you attended a college outside the state, or a host of other possibilities. The University’s Residency Classification Guidelines and an Application for Resident Classification can be found on the Web at http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/resreg.html, or you’re welcome to contact the Residency Classification Office with your questions, in person or by mail at 1210 LSA Building, 500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382, or by telephone at 734.764.1400. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Be assured that your application will not be held or delayed during the residency classification process. While you should apply for residency as soon as you can, we do not wait for the official determination if there is any chance that you could be considered a resident; we just give you the benefit of the doubt.
Not to sound like a broken record, but the residency rules are detailed and complex, and smart as we like to think we are, the Admissions Office simply isn’t qualified to give you an advisory opinion on the likelihood that you’re a resident. If you think it’s possible you are, you should certainly be in touch with the Residency Classification Office with your questions, in person or by mail at 1210 LSA Building, 500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382, or by telephone at 734.764.1400. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
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How many applications do you receive and what is the size of the incoming class?
We typically receive almost 6000 applications for an entering class target of about 360. Each entering class is divided into four equally sized sections, one of which begins in the summer. All first-year students have one core class divided into small sections of about 45 students; that small section is divided in half again for Legal Practice (the required legal writing and advocacy course), making that class about 22-23 students.
How long will it take for me to get a decision?
We often get semi-frantic e-mails and calls from people who are concerned that their applications are not complete, or that their failure already to have received a decision spells certain doom. In an effort to allay some of these fears, we provide this detailed guide to what goes on in the Admissions Office once we receive your application materials, and what you can expect in terms of timing.
First, when we receive any initial application materials from you, we immediately send you an e-mail letting you know we've received them. This e-mail does not mean that the application is complete, but it also doesn't mean it's not complete. It simply means we've received your initial materials. We then begin processing your application, which involves sending acknowledgments to recommenders; checking our files to see whether we have already received some submission from you or from your recommenders in advance of the actual application; requesting your LSDAS report; performing considerable, and time-consuming, data entry; arranging the materials in our file folders; and printing labels and comment sheets for the readers. This takes a fair amount of time for each individual file, of course, and it is not unusual for us to receive 150-200 applications a day, particularly in December and January.
Once we have received all your application materials, we mark a file as complete, and our Online Status Check registers the status change. Those files are parceled out to the various readers in the office, in accord with our internal assignment system. A file might receive a decision immediately, or may proceed to further review before a committee. And as a general matter, we are risk-averse, both about decisions to admit and decisions to deny, and do not like to proceed hastily. We take our responsibility of composing a top-notch class extremely seriously, and that is to your benefit; you can be assured your application materials are receiving a thorough review. We try to be sensitive to the stress law school applicants are under and we hope you will be patient with our efforts. For more information about how applications are reviewed, please refer to Dean Zearfoss's article, Admissions of a director.
I applied in September, and now it’s February, but I haven’t received an answer. What is going on??
You went to great lengths to apply early in our season, and now you’re disappointed–or, well, irritated–that you haven’t received an answer yet. We understand how you feel, but we nonetheless ask for your patience. Once you receive a letter telling you your file is complete, your application is reviewed within a week by a first reader, and is then sent on to a second reader–but even after getting two people’s input, we can’t always make a decision right away. Simply put, some decisions are more difficult than others. We routinely and frequently review the files of applicants for whom we couldn’t make an immediate decision, in an effort to balance our sensitivity to your stress levels–which, honestly, we are very aware of!–with our mission of making the best possible decisions.
Does the University of Michigan have an early decision program or rolling admission?
We have an Early Decision program for summer starters only; it is binding, which means that in applying, you agree to come should we make you an offer. We recommend that applicants to the Early Decision program submit their materials by November 1 in order for their files to be completed by our November 15 deadline; we will make all decisions by December 15. If an applicant is not admitted under Early Decision, his or her application will be rolled over into the regular decision pool. Last year, approximately half of the summer section was admitted as part of the Early Decision program.
In general, the Law School operates on a rolling admission process. Applicants are encouraged to apply and complete their files as early as possible, though admissions decisions are not always made in the same order applications were received. Some applicants may be accepted as early as late November and others may not hear until April.
How is my application evaluated?
Our comprehensive admissions process focuses on many elements in an application. We view our student body as one of our greatest assets, and our goal is to admit a group of students who, individually and collectively, are among the best applying to American law schools in a given year. We seek a mix of students with varying backgrounds and experiences, who will respect and learn from each other. Our most general measure is a composite of an applicant's LSAT score and undergraduate GPA and, as measured by those statistics, Michigan is among the handful of the most selective law schools in the country. However, each of these measures is far from definitive. Even the highest possible scores will not guarantee admission, and quite low scores will, likewise, not automatically result in a denial, as both circumstances may have dramatically offsetting considerations. We evaluate the strength of the personal statement and recommendations, the rigor of an applicant's undergraduate curriculum, significant work experience, significant life experiences and community involvement, among other things.
I have an LSAT of X, and a GPA of Y. What are my chances of admission?
Because we receive so many highly competitive applications and base our decisions on a wide variety of factors, it is very difficult to judge one applicant's chances of admission. Even if we have all of the relevant information for an applicant, admissions decisions are made within the context of the entire applicant pool. Last year, we received almost 6000 applications for 360 spots. The median LSAT score for the 2007 entering class was 169 and the 25th and 75th percentiles for the class are 167 and 170, respectively. The median GPA was 3.64 with the 25th and 75th percentiles falling at 3.49 and 3.8, respectively.
If you sent me an invitation to apply, am I more likely to be accepted?
We only send invitations to apply to those people who, through the information they provide to LSAC's Candidate Referral Service, seem like they would be competitive applicants. That said, of course, the only information we have available to us through the Candidate Referral Service is an applicant's LSAT, GPA, major, and undergraduate institution. However, we take many, many other things into account in our application review; in other words, an invitation to apply cannot amount to a guarantee of admission, because there is still much significant information we have yet to learn. That said, receiving an invitation does indicate a greater likelihood of admission; we admit about one-fifth of the overall pool, but more than half of the candidates who are in our fee-waiver category.
Bear in mind that it's very difficult, for you or for us, to estimate your chances of admission (and that, as they say in the stock market, past performance is not a guarantee of future results). Typically, about 40 percent of our applicant pool has numbers that are at or above our median scores for the previous year's incoming class, which is twice the number of people we can actually admit. Consider, too, that "the numbers" are merely a starting point for our evaluation of which candidates will make up the best possible entering class. If you want to increase your chances of admission, please take care with your application, and be sure to provide us with all the relevant information you can about your experiences, activities, and background and how you might be a good fit for our community.
If my numbers are above your medians and you don’t admit me, doesn't that mean that you're "yield protecting"? I.e., you didn't admit me because you're sure I wouldn't come?
Such questions deeply underestimate the confidence of this Admissions Office, which tends to assume that everyone who is admitted to Michigan Law will want to come to Michigan Law. OK, OK, we know -- not everyone comes, and people who are admitted to lots of other top law schools are the ones least likely to come. But if this yield-protection allegation were true, then we’d be implementing our nefarious plans very poorly; every year, the school with which we have the highest overlap for admitted candidates is Harvard. Bottom-line, we never deny someone because we think, by virtue of their LSAT and GPA, that they will be unlikely to accept our offer of admission. Most people with high numbers will be offered admission -- but it is also true that people with very strong numbers will often not be admitted. Like all top law schools, we simply receive far more applications from prospectives with high numbers than we could possibly admit -- and we look at many, many factors apart from the numbers. No matter how strong a candidate you are numerically, it is worth putting effort into your application to ensure that you are portraying yourself as well as possible.
How does residency affect my chances of admission?
Michigan residency is a factor in admissions, but it is only a small part. We are a public, state-governed institution, but we are also highly selective. We are fortunate enough to receive so many highly qualified applicants from Michigan that our incoming classes are composed of approximately 25 percent in-state residents. Our office only makes preliminary determinations of residency based on the answers that you provide in your application and the guidelines given by the University; if you have detailed questions about residency guidelines, please contact the University of Michigan's Residency Classification Office at 734.764.1400.
Does the Law School defer admission?
Yes, but deferrals of admission are harder to get than offers of admission and are granted solely at the discretion of the director of admissions. Considerations include your strength as a candidate relative to anticipated future applicant pools, and your reason for deferring. It is rare that we will grant a deferral for an endeavor that does not have a defined time limit.
Are interviews part of the admissions process? If not, why not?
While evaluative interviews are not a part of our process at Michigan, our admissions counselors are happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have about the Law School or the admissions process. We also occasionally contact applicants to get clarification about certain elements of an application. We choose not to interview because social science research suggests that interviews offer no information helpful to the decisionmaking process; further, anecdotal evidence suggest that many fantastic and talented people do not always make a great first impression, particularly if the meeting takes place under the stressful circumstances of an evaluative interview. Interviews also present opportunities for discrimination on the basis of academically irrelevant personal characteristics, which we would prefer to avoid. And, to tell the truth: Dean Zearfoss is a bit of a control freak and doesn't like the idea of delegating the interviews.
It is worth noting that typically, schools that do employ interviews do so not because it enhances their selection of candidates, but because it enhances their ability to select people who are committed to attending the institution. In other words, if you are willing to attend an interview, you are much more likely to attend the school if you are admitted.
What can I do on a visit to the Law School?
If you are planning a visit to the Law School, we would be happy to help arrange a tour or a class visit. Please contact us for a list of classes for which the professors have given permission to have visitors attend, as well as a list of scheduled tour times. In addition, the Admissions Office staff is available for appointments, and would be delighted to meet with you. The best time to visit the Law School is on a weekday when classes are in session. Although the Law School buildings are open on weekends, classes are not held and the Admissions staff is not in the office.
Does the University of Michigan Law School require a Dean's Certification?
We do not require a Dean's Certification with our first-year JD program application.
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Transfer Students
How do I apply as a transfer?
The University of Michigan Law School accepts transfer students for the fall semester only. Those applying for transfer must have completed the equivalent of the first year of law school (at least 28 credits). Transfer students do NOT have to register for the LSDAS service (although they may choose to). They must complete the application and have their current law school send us five things: A complete first year transcript; if that transcript does not include class rank, a letter indicating the applicant's class rank; the first page of the applicant's LSDAS report; a letter of good standing from the dean; and a letter of recommendation from a professor at their current law school. Please contact our office for a detailed checklist.
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Summer Starters
What are the advantages of starting in the summer?
For over a century, Michigan has been rare among elite schools in allowing one-quarter of each entering class to begin their studies in June rather than September. Past summer starters overwhelmingly report that the summer start was a valuable and enjoyable educational experience, and created a special opportunity to form close-knit, lasting relationships with sectionmates.
Many summer starters find that the relatively laid-back climate of the Law School during the summer months does much to alleviate the pressure and the stress of starting a new program. With only a small number of students in residence, the faculty and facilities of the school are even more accessible and members of the summer section get to know each other quickly, and study groups form easily.
Summer starters have a slightly lighter beginning load -- two doctrinal courses -- than do the fall-starters, who begin with three doctrinal courses. A summer start also increases personal and professional flexibility during the last two years of law school. The summer start permits acceleration of law school graduation by a full semester; most summer starters choose this option, while others take off a semester to graduate in May, or attend 7 semesters in order to pursue additional legal or interdisciplinary coursework.
How does being a summer starter help or hurt my career prospects?
By the time that a summer starter would begin a summer internship with a law firm or public service employer, the student will have had three semesters of law school, which means that they are already halfway through their legal education. Students should communicate this to employers, as many employers will consider this quite beneficial.
There is no disadvantage to being a summer starter with regard to interviewing and hiring schedules. Law firms and other legal employers are typically first in contact with first-year law students after December 1, and the fact that a summer starter is already in his or her second semester with a full semester of grades is by no means a negative.
The other distinction for summer starters is the fact that most will graduate in December and will sit for the February bar exam. After that, many will take advantage of the time they have to do a short-term, post-graduate internship with a nonprofit, either in the States or abroad (Michigan Law School students may obtain a Bates Fellowship, which funds work/study abroad). Others may use the time to travel. And still others will decide to start working in March, rather than wait until September when most new associates begin their jobs.
Should I apply through the Early Decision Plan?
The Early Decision program is designed for applicants who have considered their law school options carefully and who are confident that the University of Michigan Law School is their clear first choice. In return for the Law School's commitment to give an Early Decision applicant a decision by mid-December, the applicant must commit, at the time of application, to attend the Law School if admitted under the Early Decision program, and to withdraw and/or not initiate applications at other law schools. The Early Decision program at Michigan is limited to those applicants wishing to begin in the summer term: the Early Decision option will advantage summer-start candidates by enabling them to begin planning a few months earlier for the late May starting date.
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Financial Aid
Complete Financial Aid FAQs are also available.
What is the tuition at the University of Michigan Law School?
The tuition and fees for the 2007-2008 academic year are $38,950 for Michigan residents and $41,950 for nonresidents. Please note that estimated living expenses are approximately $15,000.
What sort of financial aid is available for law students?
Financial aid for law school is a combination of loans and grants. The Office of Financial Aid administers grants and loans on the basis of financial need; the Admissions Office administers requests for grants on the basis of academic merit. In the 2007 entering class, 80 percent of students received some form of grant, ranging from $5,000 to full tuition plus a stipend, with an average grant award of $13,000 to $15,000. 37 percent of first-year students received grants based on financial need; 35 percent received grants based on academic merit; 7 percent received a combination.
How do I apply for need-based financial aid?
Applicants should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and the Need Access form, as well as submitting their tax returns and those of their parents if they have been declared a dependent for any of the last five years. Detailed information about applying for financial aid is available or you may contact the Financial Aid Office by e-mail at lawfinaid@umich.edu or by telephone at 734.764.5289.
How should I apply for merit-based aid?
Most merit-based aid is distributed by the Admissions Office without the need for the applicant to make an inquiry. If, however, you have received a significant merit grant from another top law school but have not received any offering from Michigan, we would welcome your contacting us by e-mail. Please be aware that we may communicate with other law schools in order to verify the information you provide.
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Student Life
Do a lot of Law Students come straight from their undergraduate institutions?
About two-thirds of the 1L class spent one or more years off before enrolling in Law School.
What was the average age of the 1L class?
The mean age of our entering class is 24.1 and about two-thirds have taken a year or more off following undergrad.
Where do law students live?
Michigan Law students have numerous on-campus and off-campus housing options. Approximately 260 students, including about half of the first year class, choose to live on-campus in the Lawyers Club virtual tour, which is a part of the Law Quadrangle. The Lawyers Club provides a furnished room and a 13-meal-a-week board plan. All Lawyers Club rooms have a private bedroom with restroom and shower facilities common to a floor; there are no kitchenettes and no resident parking, however. Another on-campus option is our graduate and family housing on North Campus - called Northwood Community Apartments virtual tour - which is just a short, free bus ride away from the law school.
As for off-campus housing, approximately two-thirds of our students live in apartments and houses, most within walking distance of the law school. The Off-Campus Housing Office has an extensive website that may be especially helpful if you are apartment hunting in Ann Arbor because it includes "real time" listings of apartments, rooms, coops, parking spaces, and a roommate matching service. It also includes maps and a list of landlords and management companies who have met certain criteria for inclusion. Popular neighborhoods close to campus include Angell, Bach, and Burns Park, which encompass Downtown, Kerrytown, the Old West Side, and the area south of the law school.
Law students also have the option of living at The Kent Inn House of Phi Delta Phi, known as the Phid House, which is very affordable and just a block from the law school. For more information, check out their website at www.phidhouse.org.
Are most Michigan Law students from the Midwest?
Our students come from all over the country and all over the world. As the chart demonstrates, only about 40 percent come from Michigan and the other 11 states that comprise the Midwest, and an almost equal number come from the East and the West Coasts.
What is Ann Arbor like?
Ann Arbor is an exciting and vibrant city of about 115,000. Because it is, in many respects, the quintessential "university town," it offers many businesses and services geared towards students' needs, therefore making it a great place to be a student. Yet Ann Arbor is also remarkably sophisticated, offering a plethora of cultural activities -- theatre, dance, popular and classical music, films -- as well as restaurants specializing in a wide variety of cuisines, innumerable coffee shops and bookstores. And, of course, the sports venues -- both college and professional -- are unsurpassed. Athletes, in addition to spectators, will also love what Ann Arbor can offer in terms of running, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and workout facilities. If you're moving to Ann Arbor with family, the city has great public schools as well as parks and an award-winning public library.
Some useful Web sites to introduce you to Ann Arbor are:
What about the weather?
It is our impression that, perhaps due to some fundamental geographic confusion, many people imagine the weather in Ann Arbor to be much worse than it actually is. Protestations from us, however, end up sounding a bit pathetic. So instead, we say judge for yourself -- here are two tables comparing the temperature and snowfall in Ann Arbor to that in other cities with which you may be familiar. And bear in mind: it's always a balmy 70 degrees in the library.
What time zone is Ann Arbor in?
We are at the western edge of the Eastern time zone, so we have the same time as our friends on the East Coast, but it is light for about an hour later in the evening.
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International Students
When evaluating essays from applicants from non-English speaking countries, do you give more leeway to the language quality of the essay, or do you apply the same standards as you would to the writing of a native speaker?
We do expect to see essentially an equivalent level of mastery of written English. We expect to see certain types of minor mistakes–e.g., problems with plurals – with non-native speakers, but in terms of overall skill level, we expect full fluency. Applying this standard is to the benefit of the applicant, in the big picture, because this is the level of skill an applicant will need in order to succeed here.
May a foreign applicant who does not write well in English use a professional editing service to edit for language and style?
We expect that essays are the work of the authors. It’s one thing to show them to a friend or two for input, but we definitely frown upon a professional service. This is true whether the applicant is a native speaker or not; all too often, U.S. natives will hire “admissions consultants” to actually pen their personal statements, and we view that too as a violation of our expectation that all the work is that of the applicant. And you’d be surprised: we are able to detect a lot of these professionally polished essays. We will often compare the writing style of the LSAT essay with that of the personal statement, for example, and when there’s a stark contrast, we’ll know why.
How does Michigan Law evaluate the undergraduate GPAs of international applicants from countries that have a different grading system than the United States? Will a foreign applicant be at a disadvantage if her college does not grade-inflate as much as some American undergraduate institutions might, especially if the foreign college does not rank its students? If the foreign college does rank its students, what percentile/rank do you typically look for, assuming there is not a strict cutoff for class rank?
Thanks to our LLM program (to which we admit almost exclusively foreign-trained lawyers), we have a great deal of institutional knowledge of the grading practices of various countries and colleges in those countries, and are able to evaluate transcripts with a great deal of nuance. Further, bear in mind that although some U.S. colleges do engage in a shocking degree of grade inflation, we get information about that from the Law School Admissions Council, and assess records from those schools accordingly; i.e., students from grade-inflating schools are not themselves at an advantage.
There is no cutoff for class rank, and we don’t target a particular performance; we evaluate the transcript with an eye toward the strength of the institution and the rigor of the curriculum. We also look at how long ago the grades were earned, and whether the applicant has, meanwhile, been compiling some interesting work experience or a graduate degree.
To what extent does the name recognition of one's undergraduate institution affect Michigan Law's admission decision? Presumably American law school admission officers are more familiar with the reputation and relative strengths of American colleges, and are less familiar with foreign colleges. Are you willing to admit students from foreign colleges that are less well-known internationally (but nevertheless well respected domestically)? What are some of the Chinese colleges from which you have admitted students in recent years?
We certainly do evaluate the caliber of the undergraduate institution, and consider the applicant’s record in light of the strength of the school. But as mentioned above, we have perhaps more in-house knowledge about a wide variety of international institutions than do many law schools. For Chinese universities, those that we have the most experience with are Peking University, Tsinghua University, East China University of Politics and Law, and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). We also have current Chinese students from Tongji University, Fudan University, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Renmin University, Beijing University, and University of Science and Technology of China and Shanghai International Studies.
For countries other than China, here is a small sampling of some of the universities from which we see a significant number of applications (a list derived not from actually searching the data, mind you, but merely searching our collective memory banks–so we are likely to be missing some!):
Argentina: University of Buenos Aires; Pontifical University of Argentina
Chile, Peru, Brazil: the Pontifical Universities in the respective capitals (Santiago, Lima); in Brazil Sao Paulo as well as Rio de Janeiro
Japan: Tokyo U., Kyoto U., Keio U., Waseda U., Chuo U., Hitotsubashi U.
Korea: Seoul National University, Ewha Women’s
Taiwan: Taiwan National University
Thailand: Thammassat U., Chulalongkorn U.
Philippines: U. of the Philippines; Ateneo di Manila U.
Switzerland: U. of Zurich, U. of St. Gallen
Austria: U. of Vienna, U. of St. Gallen
Czech Rep.: U. of Prague and Masaryk U. in Brno
Italy: “La Sapienza” U. in Rome
France: “La Sorbonne” (aka “Paris I”), Paris-Assas (aka “Paris II), any of the Ecoles Superieures (”Sciences Po”)
And finally, in addition to all these, here are the international universities not otherwise listed above from which we have currently enrolled students: Kazakh-American University; McGill University; Nanyang Tech Univ.; Univ. Degli Studi Bologna; University of British Columbia; University of Utrecht; Yonsei University, Korea University, American University Bulgaria, American University of Sharjah, and University College Dublin.
For a foreign applicant who, following an undergraduate degree from overseas, has completed a graduate degree in the U.S., will her graduate GPA from the U.S. institution be given more weight than her undergraduate GPA from abroad?
We don’t have a formula, so I can’t say that it will be given more weight than the undergraduate record – but it will certainly play an important role in the evaluation.
If an applicant has already earned an LLB from abroad and is applying to your JD program, would you prefer that she explain in her essay why she needs another first law degree (instead of the LLM), or would you treat her application no differently than applications from students who majored in a subject other than law? What if the applicant has already earned both an LLB and an LLM from elsewhere?
For the first scenario, we wouldn’t at all be surprised to see someone seeking a JD rather than an LLM; the two degrees have very different purposes and functions. If someone has already earned an LLM in the U.S., however, it would be useful (though not mandatory, by any means) to include a discussion of what additional value the JD will provide.
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, do you favor those who majored/minored in English over those who have not received a rigorous training in the English language? What if the applicant has completed a graduate degree in an English-speaking country?
We definitely expect all our JDs, including those for whom English is not the native language, to be fluent in English; to that end, being able to demonstrate significant English language background will be helpful. Majoring, however, is certainly not necessary. Any level of schooling in an English-speaking country would be a helpful indicator of English preparation but again, it’s not necessary. Often we see students who have worked for U.S. companies or firms, albeit in another country, and that too can be a good way to indicate strong English proficiency.
Will a recommendation letter from a professor who does not write well in English hurt my chances?
It definitely won’t hurt you – we won’t attribute your professor’s relative lack of English ability to you! – but it simply won’t be a weight in your favor. If we have trouble understanding the letter, we will most likely simply ignore it. So long as you have one strong letter of recommendation from someone who is able to communicate easily in English, you need not be concerned.
Currently, what percentage of the applications you receive is from international students, i.e., those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, regardless of where they attended college? Do you expect this number to rise in the next few years? Will Michigan admit more international students in response, or is there a somewhat fixed number of seats allocated to international students?
Right now, we have a relatively small number of applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent legal residents of the U.S. – about 300 a year, out of about 5500, or about 5 percent of our pool. But even though it’s small, that’s about a 100 percent increase since 2000, and we anticipate a continuing upward trend. We have no fixed number of seats allocated to international students; the number we admit will depend on the quality of the international pool, taken in the context of the quality of the pool overall. Our goal is to admit the best law school applicants in the world in any given year, so as the pool grows and improves, the number we admit will grow as well.
What are some of the most common mistakes you see in applications from China or other countries? What other suggestions and advice do you have for international applicants?
The biggest hurdle for the international applicant is often the personal statement. We really look for something personal; not something secret or scandalous, but something that only you could have written, and something that really gives us insight into what you would be like to have in the student body. U.S. culture likely trains U.S. folks to do this relatively easily, while it’s a bit more of an uncomfortable exercise for people from many other cultures.