Preparing for Law School
Law school admission is primarily based on two criteria: grade point average and the score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
The LSAT is a test to determine writing and reasoning ability. Although there is no college major that will best prepare a student for the LSAT, students with deductive reasoning skills score better than those who have not taken courses that develop these skills. When selecting an undergraduate major, students should consider their interests and talents, and choose a demanding major which will help develop the skills necessary for the study of law - analysis, reading, expression, and understanding of texts.
Good communications skills, verbal and written, are essential. Courses requiring writing, research, and analytical thinking subjected to rigorous faculty criticism are ideal.
An understanding of human institutions and values is also very helpful for the pre-law student. Courses in political science, history, social psychology and sociology help to develop this discipline. Students should also possess a thorough understanding of the history of the United States.
A lawyer must be able to draw reasonable conclusions from given premises and propositions. Training to develop this type of insight may be found in such courses as economics, mathematics, and philosophy.
Other factors which may be crucial in the application process are the quality of the applicant’s college or university, trends in grades, recommendations and extracurricular activities.
In recent years, Xavier graduates have been admitted into a number of law schools. These include: