College of Law > Admission & Aid > JD Admission > Prospective Student FAQ

Prospective Student FAQ

Your LSAT or GRE score is important in the admissions process, but it is only one factor among many factors that are considered by the Admission Committee. While our median LSAT score for the Fall 2023 class is 157, we do not have a "cut-off" or minimum score for admission. The Committee will thoroughly review your entire application. Additional important factors in the decision are your undergraduate academic record, personal statement, academic recommendations, work experience, extracurricular activities, diversity and potential for leadership.

Applications for admission become available in September. You should submit your application as soon as possible. We have a "rolling admissions" process and review applications as soon as they are completed. It is to your advantage to apply as early as possible, while the majority of seats are available. Because scholarships are also awarded on a rolling basis, it is important to apply early, before funds are exhausted.
No. First year students are admitted only for the fall semester. We do not have a first-year spring class.
The College of Law offers full and part-time curriculum options. In the part-time program, classes are conducted on weekday evenings beginning at 5:50 p.m. Part-time students typically attend classes four days per week. Part-time students who remain in the part-time program typically graduate in four years. Part-time students may transfer to the full-time program after the completion of the first year of study.
The Admissions Committee will review your application only when it is complete, including the application form, fee, LSAC CAS report, letter of recommendation, and personal statement. Once your file is complete you should receive a decision in approximately 3-4 weeks. The possible decisions are Accept, Waitlist and Deny.

We encourage applicants to frequently check their application status online. Applicants receive an email with their application status. Please check your spam/junk email folder before reaching out to the Office of Law Admissions at lawinfo@depaul.edu.

You must complete our transfer application for admission and indicate the semester for which you are applying. You will need a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at your law school as well as a letter indicating that you are in good standing and eligible to return. Particular weight is given to a transfer applicant's performance at their law school. Favorable letters of recommendation from law faculty are also important. We require, as most law schools do, that transfer applicants complete one year at another institution before enrolling at DePaul. While a transcript showing spring grades generally is required to review the application, the Admissions Committee may make an exception and grant a conditional admission based upon the applicant’s strong academic performance in the fall semester. More Transfer Student FAQs
Yes. All students must have completed all requirements to receive a four-year undergraduate degree prior to matriculating at the law school.
The Admissions Committee does not give points or weights to the various components of the application. The Committee makes a decision after reviewing the entire application. A strong personal statement or outstanding letter of recommendation can have a significant impact on the decision.
We require one letter of recommendation and will accept up to four. The Committee prefers letters of recommendation from college professors and academic deans. If, however, you are not able to obtain an academic letter, you may have your supervisor, or someone else in a position to evaluate your abilities, write a letter. The best letters emphasize the applicant's intellectual abilities, writing skills, motivation and other attributes that will contribute to the student's success in law school. Although we only require one letter of recommendation and can accept up to four, most applicants submit two or three.
We require that you submit your letter(s) of recommendation to LSAC. The letter(s) will then be forwarded to all law schools to which you have applied along with your LSAT score and CAS report.
No. All students admitted into the JD program are admitted as regular students.

You should take the LSAT or GRE approximately one year before you intend to begin law school. For example, if you plan to begin law school in Fall 2024, you should plan to take the test in October 2023 or possibly November 2023. Taking the February administration in the same year you are seeking admission (2024) will put you at a disadvantage in the admissions process.

Yes. The American Bar Association requires that all applicants to ABA-accredited law schools take a valid and reliable test.

Although the Admissions Committee will see all scores from tests taken within the last five years, the Committee will generally use the "high score" in evaluating your application for admission. Applicants with significant discrepancy among test scores may wish to provide a brief explanation for the discrepancy.

We do not endorse any particular commercial LSAT test preparation courses. While many applicants find these courses to be helpful in their preparation, they are expensive. You can also prepare for the exam by purchasing test preparation materials and studying on your own. If you do, it is critical that you be disciplined and take a number of practice tests under exam conditions. You can purchase preparation materials directly from LSAC by visiting http://www.LSAC.org.

We do not have the resources to offer evaluative interviews to the 2,000 applicants who apply for admission each year. Any information that you would convey in a personal interview should be conveyed in your personal statement. We do, however, encourage applicants to attend one of our small group information sessions. You can schedule a visit by registering to attend a vitual information session online.

Decisions of the Admissions Committee are final and the Committee will not consider appeals. You may, however, reapply for admission in the next year.
No. When the Committee decides to deny admission to a full-time applicant, the Committee, at that time, also considers the applicant for the part-time program.

All students admitted to the law school are automatically considered for available scholarships. Students who receive a scholarship award are notified in their acceptance letter. Our scholarships range from a few thousand dollars per year up to forty thousand dollars per year. Most of our scholarships are based on achievements and are awarded primarily based upon undergraduate academic performance and LSAT score.

We also award a limited number of diversity-based scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to students who contribute to our diversity and who have financial need. At DePaul, we define diversity broadly. While it includes ethnic and racial diversity, it also includes geographic diversity, socio-economic status, experience, interests and a number of other factors.

Typically, once our office receives all required application materials, an application will be marked as complete and will be sent to the Admissions Committee for review. However, if you have indicated a future LSAT or GRE registration in your application, we will automatically hold your application for review until we receive your score. If you would like the hold to be removed and your application to be reviewed based on the existing LSAT or GRE score(s) on file, please send an email to lawinfo@depaul.edu

Please note that all admissions decisions, including scholarships awards, are final. The Admissions Committee will not re-consider an admission decision, including scholarship award, due to a newly submitted LSAT or GRE score later in the application cycle. You may, however, reapply for admission in the next year. 

Yes, we currently accept the LSAT Flex in addition to the traditional LSAT for the foreseeable future. For registration deadlines and test dates, please visit LSAC website.