3-Year JD Admissions: How to Apply

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Getting Started

General Information

The admissions process at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School 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 review and consider each application for admission in its entirety. Two of the primary factors considered in the admissions process are performance on a standardized test, either the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), 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 personal statement and Mason statement), recommendations, extracurricular activities, employment experience, demonstrated commitment to public and community service, leadership skills, history of overcoming personal or professional challenges and other academic, personal and professional achievements.

Please note: The criteria for admission to the part-time Flex-JD program are the same as for admission to the full-time, day program. Applicants for both programs are considered in the same pool. Additionally, non-Virginia resident applicants receive the same consideration for admission as applicants who are residents of Virginia.

First-year students are admitted only in the fall semester and are not admitted in the spring semester or summer term.

Eligibility

To enroll at Scalia Law, applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Additionally, all applicants must submit either an LSAT or GRE score, which must be obtained within the past five years.

Application Procedure for JD Applicants

Applicants for regular admission may begin submitting applications on September 17. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.

The priority application deadline is March 1.

The regular application deadline is April 30.

Applications are not evaluated until all required documents have been received. For guaranteed consideration, all application materials (items 1 through 7, and 8 if applicable) should be received by Scalia Law on or before the application deadline. The following are the required application materials:

1. Application

Applicants must apply electronically through the Law School Admission Counsel (LSAC). Applicants who have previously applied to the Law School must submit a new, complete application package and must maintain a current registration with LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

Scalia Law has waived the application fee for all first-year JD applicants.

2. CAS Report with LSAT/GRE

Applicants must register with the LSAC CAS to ensure that Scalia Law receives a current Law School Report furnished by LSAC. Applicants may contact LSAC directly at 215-968-1001 or through the LSAC Website.

Applicants will need to use the CAS Recipient Code for Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University. The Code is 5827.

The CAS 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) if the applicant is applying with the LSAT, the CAS report must reflect the results of at least one LSAT taken within 5 years prior to the date of application submission.

The applicant has sole responsibility for meeting all 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. Scalia Law is not responsible for incomplete or missing reports and will not contact applicants about incomplete or missing reports.

TRANSCRIPTS within the CAS Report

Applicants must submit transcripts to LSAC from any post-secondary education they have attended since leaving high school. Applicants may apply during their final year of undergraduate study, in which case acceptance is contingent upon the applicant’s being awarded a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation at the law school (unless the student is participating in a 3+3 program).

If an applicant has completed post-secondary study outside of the U.S., the applicant must use the Credential Assembly Service for international transcript evaluation.

3. LSAT/GRE

All applicants must take either the LSAT or GRE. Applicants with both LSAT and GRE scores should submit LSAT scores only; in such cases, GRE scores will not be considered.

LSAT

To be considered for our priority deadline of March 1, an application must be complete by March 4. The latest LSAT accepted for our priority deadline is the February administration. For applicants who are applying under our regular deadline of April 30, the latest LSAT accepted is the April administration.

GRE

In order to have a complete application by our March 1 priority deadline, an applicant must take the GRE prior to February 5. For applicants who are applying under our regular deadline of April 30, the applicant must take the GRE prior to March 7. Applicants who take the GRE instead of the LSAT must have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send Scalia Law the GRE score. The ETS school code for Scalia Law is 2737. All applicants who apply with the GRE must subscribe and utilize the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

4. Personal Statement

The application requires submission of a personal statement not to exceed two pages, double-spaced. This is the opportunity for the applicant to provide the Admissions Committee with insights into himself/herself as an individual, over and above what is reflected in the other parts of the application. The thoughts and words of the personal statement must be uniquely those of the applicant. Apart from basic proofreading, no others may assist in the creation of the personal statement.

The applicant must submit the personal statement as an electronic document uploaded to the electronic application. Applicants should include their names at the top of the personal statement.

5. One Letter of Recommendation

Applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation, maximum two. Scalia Law requires that applicants use the LSAC CAS Letter of Recommendation Service and follow the CAS procedures.

6. Resume

Applicants must include an up-to-date resume. There are no format or content requirements, however, it should be a professional resume. Scalia Law does not have a page limit for the resume and so applicants should use their best judgement to decide the proper length.

7. Mason Statement

The application requires submission of an additional statement not to exceed two pages, double-spaced, that discusses the applicant’s particular interest in Scalia Law.

8. 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 . This form (and supplemental documentation) is submitted online with your application. See Section 23-7.4, Code of Virginia, and Mason’s Office of the University Registrar Domicile Appeals page regarding eligibility.

9. Application for the Flex-JD Public Interest Discount (required only for applicants who are applying to the Flex-JD program and are employed full-time in a public interest field)

Applicants who believe they qualify for the Flex-JD Public Interest Discount must complete and include the Flex-JD Public Interest Discount Application. This form must be submitted online with your application. Students must have the Flex-JD Public Interest Discount Application on file before a decision is rendered. Flex-JD students cannot apply for the Public Interest Discount after a decision is rendered on their application.

Early Decision Application Options

Scalia Law has two early decision application options: the Scalia Law Scholars Program and the Early Decision Program. The early decision options are a great way for applicants to show that they are serious about attending Scalia Law specifically. The Admissions Committee sees the early decision applications as a positive part of an applicant’s file. Applicants should think carefully before applying to either early decision option. If an applicant is admitted under an early decision application, that admission is binding, and the student is required to withdraw his or her applications from all other law schools to which he or she has applied.

Scalia Law Scholars Program

The Scalia Law Scholars Program is a binding early decision option and students admitted through it will receive a full tuition scholarship. This program is designed for applicants who are confident that Scalia Law is their top choice and who have demonstrated exceptional academic and leadership qualities. Applicants to the Scalia Law Scholars Program must submit a signed Scalia Law Scholars Program Agreement .

Applicants who apply by January 15 and are complete by January 18 will receive a decision by February 5. Some applicants who are not admitted through the Scalia Law Scholars Program may be considered in the regular admission process. Other Scalia Law Scholars Program applicants may be informed that their application for admission has been denied and will not be evaluated again. Both full-time and part-time applicants are eligible to apply for the Scalia Law Scholars Program.

Early Decision Program

Our binding Early Decision Program is for applicants who are confident that Scalia Law is their top choice. Students applying through this program must submit an Early Decision Agreement. Applicants who apply to the Early Decision Program by January 15 and are complete by January 18 will receive a decision by February 5. For the application to be complete, the applicant must have taken the LSAT (or GRE) on or before the November test offering. Applicants who are not admitted through the Early Decision Program may be considered in the regular admission process. Other Early Decision applicants may be informed that their application for admission has been denied and will not be evaluated again.

Students may apply to both the Scalia Law Scholars Program and the Early Decision Program.

Character & Fitness: Law School and Beyond

The application to Scalia Law asks character and fitness questions.  Applicants should err on the side of full disclosure as failure to do so can have an adverse impact on admission to a Bar.  Admission to Scalia Law is not an indication of whether the school believes the applicant will be admitted to a state bar.

All applicants have an ongoing duty to disclose matters that arise after completing the application to the Admissions Office.  Applicants who are admitted and matriculate at Scalia Law must disclose matters to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Programs.  Omissions or failure to accurately disclose character and fitness matters may result in denial or delay of bar licensure.

Before applying for admission to law school, applicants are advised to investigate the requirements for admission to the bar association in any jurisdiction in which they intend to practice. Some state bars may require registration at the time of entry into law school. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Post Admission Information for International Applicants Seeking F-1 or J-1 Student Visas

To transfer F-1 immigration status, international applicants must first receive notification of acceptance to Scalia Law. International, admitted applicants must then submit the following forms and documents directly to George Mason University’s Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) (703-993-2970) as soon as possible:

Mail your forms to:
George Mason University
Office of International Programs and Services
4400 University Drive, MS 4C3
Fairfax, VA 22030 USA

Equal Opportunity Policy

George Mason University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment free from any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status or genetic information. George Mason University shall adhere to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity/affirmative action statutes and regulations.

For more information, see George Mason’s Non-Discrimination Policy (University Policy Number 1201) or contact the office of Compliance, Diversity and Ethics.