Admissions Process

See also: Admission Information Request Form, Application Forms, Financing Your Education, Frequently-Asked Questions, 2007 Class Profile

General Information

The admissions process at George Mason University School of Law is very competitive and highly selective due to the volume of applications and the limited number of seats in the entering class. Members of the Admissions Committee and Admissions Officers review and consider each application for admission in its entirety. Two of the primary factors considered in the admissions process are performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and undergraduate grade point average.

Other factors that are considered include difficulty of undergraduate major, undergraduate institution, possession of advanced degrees, writing ability (as indicated in the LSAT writing sample and in the personal statement), recommendations, extracurricular activities, employment experience, demonstrated commitment to public and community service, leadership skills and experience, history of overcoming personal or professional challenges, other academic, personal and professional achievements, and George Mason University affiliations.

The criteria for admission to the part-time, evening program are the same as for admission to the full-time, day program. However, because the full-time program typically fills first, there may be an advantage in the admissions process if an applicant is able to accept admission into the evening program. Non-resident applicants receive the same consideration for admission as resident applicants.

Before applying for admission to law school, applicants are advised to investigate the requirements for admission to the practice of law in any jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Some state bars may require registration at the time of entry into law school. If an applicant has been a party to any criminal proceedings; been arrested, summoned, or charged with, or convicted of a crime; been confined to a mental, penal, or correctional institution; or undergone mental treatment, the applicant's ability to be admitted to the practice of law, even after successful completion of legal studies and graduation from law school may be severely limited in one or more jurisdictions.

Rolling Admissions and Early Decision Program

First-year students are admitted only in the fall semester. First-year students are not admitted in the spring semester or summer term. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, except for those decisions made under the Early Decision Program. Early decisions will be made no later than January 15, 2008. Applicants who apply but are not admitted on early decision will be considered in the regular admission process.

Click here to access information on the Early Decision Program and the Early Decision Agreement form.

Eligibility

To be eligible to matriculate, an applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association of the United States. Alternatively, applicants may present undergraduate work from an institution outside of the jurisdiction of one of the U.S. regional accrediting agencies. In such cases, applicants must have their degrees certified as equivalent to those acquired in an accredited institution. Applicants who must have their degrees certified may obtain information regarding certifying agencies from the Office of Admissions.

Application may be made during the final year of undergraduate study, and acceptance is contingent upon the applicant's being awarded a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.

All applicants must take the LSAT. In addition, applicants who have earned or who are in the final year of working towards their baccalaureate degrees at an institution accredited by one of the regional U.S. accrediting agencies must register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Applicants required to submit certification of their degrees must take the LSAT; however, they are not required to register with the LSDAS.

Applicants who have previously applied to the law school must submit a new, complete application package and application fee and must maintain a current registration with LSDAS. We cannot reuse previous application materials, including the LSAT/LSDAS Report.

Graduate International Student Information Form

Students seeking F-1 or J-1 immigration status must submit a Graduate International Student Information Form. Immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019) required for international students studying full time in the United States will not be issued until the student has completed the form (front and back) and returned it along with a copy of the indentification page of the passport and supporting documents to: George Mason University School of Law, Office of Admissions, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201, USA.

Download the Graduate International Student Information Form.

Application Procedure

Applicants for regular admission should submit their application as soon as possible after October 1, 2007. Applications are not evaluated until all required documents have been received. To be considered for admission to George Mason Law, applicants must provide the following five items on or before April 1, 2008:

1. Application

All applicants applying electronically via LSAC must transmit a completed application form that will be sent to the law school electronically and on paper. Please do not send us a paper copy of your electronically submitted application. George Mason Law has waived the application fee for those applicants applying electronically through LSAC.

The standard first-year application deadline is April 1, 2008. For guaranteed consideration, all application materials (items 1 through 5) should be received by George Mason Law on or before April 1. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.

2. LSAT/LSDAS Report

Applicants must register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) so that George Mason Law will receive a current Law School Report furnished by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Most colleges, universities and law schools make LSAT/LSDAS information and registration booklets available for pickup. Applicants also may contact LSAC/LSDAS directly at
215-968-1001 or through www.lsac.org.

The George Mason University School of Law LSDAS Recipient Code is 5827.

The Law School Report must reflect (a) all work done at undergraduate institutions, signifying that a baccalaureate degree has been or will be awarded before the start of the academic year for which admission is being sought and (b) the results of at least one Law School Admission Test (LSAT) taken within the period June 2003 through February 2008.

The applicant has sole responsibility for meeting all of LSAC’s requirements. Failure to register properly, maintain registration throughout the admissions process, or provide transcripts and other related materials to LSAC can delay or prevent release of a report to a law school. George Mason Law is not responsible for incomplete or missing reports and will not contact applicants about incomplete or missing reports.

3. Personal Statement

The application requires submission of a personal statement not to exceed 500 words, double-spaced. The thoughts and words of the personal statement must be uniquely those of the applicant. With the exception of basic proofreading, no other(s) may assist in the creation of the personal statement.

You may submit your personal statement as an electronic document attached to your electronic application, or you may send it through regular mail. Please be sure to put your name and LSDAS L number on the personal statement.

Applicants for first-year admission who are also applying for the Levy Fellowship must, in addition to fulfilling all requirements for first-year applicants, provide a cover letter with the names of three references, a curriculum vitae, graduate school transcripts, and a copy of current research.

4. Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. George Mason Law strongly prefers that applicants use the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation Service, following LSDAS procedures. Any applicant who does not use the LSDAS Letter of Recommendation Service must (a) have their recommendations sent directly to George Mason Law and (b) use George Mason Law’s recommendation form.

Recommendations submitted directly to George Mason Law must be in a sealed envelope and bear the author’s signature across the sealed envelope flap.

5. Application for In-state Tuition (required only for applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition rates)

Applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition rates must complete and include the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates, which is found in the supplemental forms section of the application. This form must be printed and mailed separately; it does not transmit electronically. See Section 23-7.4, Code of Virginia, and registrar.gmu.edu/domicile regarding eligibility.

Admission of Transfer Applicants

George Mason University School of Law accepts a limited number of students with advanced standing. Admission of transfer students is highly selective, with most successful applicants ranking in the top twenty percent of their class at an ABA-approved law school. Transfer students must complete two years of study at George Mason Law. Transfer students are not eligible for joint degree programs, and scholarship assistance is not available. The deadline for applying for transfer admission for Fall 2008 is July 1, 2008.

Eligibility and Transfer Credit

Only students who have completed one year at an ABA-accredited law school will be eligible to apply for transfer admission. Students may apply for transfer in the fall semester only.
In general, transfer credits awarded may not exceed 28 units. Grades do not transfer. Transfer credit is given only for work that will be no more than five years old at the time of graduation. Courses in which a grade of less than C was earned are not considered for transfer credit. Transfer applicants who are offered admission will receive written notification of transfer credits awarded from the Records Office. The Records Office also advises accepted transfer students of the courses they will have to take at George Mason Law to complete their degrees.

How to Apply

Applicants seeking transfer admission must provide the following:

1. The transfer application form and $35 fee made payable to George Mason University.
2. A final, official transcript of law school grades for the entire first year.
3. A letter from the dean (or the dean’s designate) of the current law school certifying good academic standing and eligibility to continue.
4. A certification of class rank.
5. A personal statement (500 words or less) indicating your reasons for applying for transfer admission.
6. Two sealed letters of recommendation from law professors at your current law school.
7. A complete, unofficial copy of the LSAC Law School Report (including writing sample and transcripts), which the applicant can obtain from the registrar’s office at the law school from which he or she seeks to transfer. Please note that we will not request an applicant’s LSDAS Report from LSAC unless specifically directed by the applicant to do so in lieu of receiving an unofficial copy.
8. Resume is optional.
9. Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates, if eligible.

You may request that recommendations, certifications, and transcripts be sent directly to George Mason Law, or they may be sent to you with the sender’s signature across the sealed envelope flap. You may then send the unopened materials to us.

Visiting Law Students

The School of Law accepts a number of visiting students each semester, and for the summer term. Students interested in visiting status at the law school should contact the Admissions Office at (703) 993-8010 for information and an application or review the visiting student information and application forms.

Accepted Applicants

Applicants who have been accepted into the School of Law will receive a letter setting forth the conditions that must be met in order to reserve a seat in the entering class. Such conditions will include making nonrefundable seat deposits in the total sum of $750 by established deadlines, providing an Intent Form and Honor Code Certification, and ensuring that, prior to matriculation, the School of Law receives official transcripts from each institution at which any coursework was taken. If an accepted applicant fails to provide the seat deposits by the established deadlines, or to provide the Intent Form and Honor Code Certification, the applicant forfeits his seat in the entering class. Once forfeited, the seat will be offered to another applicant. This process continues until all available seats have been filled.

Admissions Inquiries

Applicants who have questions or who would like to visit the law school for a tour should contact the Admissions Office staff at (703) 993-8010. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information on tours, please see the list of admissions-related events.