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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 07/27/23
USC Law School can help prepare you for a prosperous legal career. To learn more about how to get into this law school, read on!
USC Gould was Southern California’s first law school. It was founded in 1900 and has always been known as one of the most diverse schools in the nation. Since its early beginnings, it enrolled women and students of color and continues to admit the most diverse student population and international students.
USC also offers students unparalleled opportunities in one of the top legal markets in the country, Downtown LA. Additionally, this law school was one of the first pioneers of interdisciplinary legal education and clinical learning, both of which are heavily infused in their current legal programs!
But enough about how amazing USC Gould is, and more about how you can join it!
Let’s begin with the USC Law School acceptance rate, so you have a good understanding of how competitive this esteemed school really is. According to its recent entering class, only 745 out of 5,867 students were admitted to USC, meaning it has a low acceptance rate of about 12.7%.
Knowing the USC Law School acceptance rate, you may be wondering how to make it into this selective group. USC aims to enroll students that demonstrate outstanding academic and professional promise and can contribute to their community’s diversity.
To assess these traits, the committee requires the following application materials:
The first way to demonstrate your academic potential is to do well in your undergraduate studies. While law schools do not favor one major over another, they do expect students to pursue challenging courses from a range of disciplines. Choose a major you’re interested in and explore your academic interests!
Ensure you pursue courses that can develop your critical thinking, writing, reading, communication, and research skills, as you will use these skills everyday in law school. You will also be expected to maintain a GPA as close to 4.0 as possible to be considered a competitive applicant. The median GPA of previous students was 3.87.
USC is one of the growing number of law schools that gives students the option to write the LSAT or GRE. Review both tests to see which one will best reflect your abilities and intellect.
While students are given the chance to write the GRE, the majority still submit the LSAT, as it has been used for law school admissions for decades. The USC Law School LSAT score of past admitted applicants was 168, on average.
To achieve this score, it’s recommended students dedicate at least two to three months to their studies and rely on useful prep resources to aid them. While you can retake the LSAT if you do not achieve your target score, you should keep in mind that USC will review and consider all of your scores, not just your highest one.
Your personal statement is a critical part of your law school application. It is your opportunity to discuss who you are beyond the numbers and scores. USC is particularly interested in learning how your background led you to pursue law. You may discuss academic and/or non-academic experiences.
This statement should be two to three pages long. It should be clear, concise, and compelling! Do not simply list your greatest achievements, you will have the opportunity to do this on your resume. Instead, create a narrative where you’re the main character! Talk about your inspirations, life experiences, strengths, and aspirations.
Your resume should illustrate your volunteer commitments, employment history, extracurriculars, and the awards/honors you’ve received. It should not exceed two pages and each section must be organized chronologically, with your most recent experiences first.
USC Law School requires two letters of recommendation but will accept up to three. If you do choose to submit a third recommendation, ensure it shares different information than your other two.
The most influential recommendations are those written by professors that can attest to your academic potential and know you well enough to evaluate your performance.
Both of your recommendations should come from professors, but if you have been out of college for a while letters from employers will be accepted. These letters should focus on your oral and written communication skills, leadership abilities, and potential to succeed in the legal field.
When looking at the USC Law acceptance rate, the 12.7% of students that are admitted to this law school differ in their backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. USC is committed to admitting the most diverse students, which is why they allow applicants to submit diversity statements.
Examples of backgrounds that would enhance USC’s diversity include:
While these are the most common topics students write about when discussing their diversity, it is not a comprehensive list. If you feel you can contribute to USC’s diversity in other ways, ensure you share it with the committee!
The “why USC” statement allows you to discuss your interest in specific aspects of the JD program at USC. The committee asks that you do not relay details about the faculty, programs, or community, but focus more on yourself and what you plan on achieving through and with USC.
Your statement of interest should be no longer than one page, double-spaced. While this is an optional essay, you are highly encouraged to write one to further demonstrate your enthusiasm to join USC! Considering how low the USC Law School acceptance rate is, you should use every opportunity you have to bolster your application!
The final optional application material is an addendum. Your addendum can be used to address and provide context for weaker parts of your application, including a low GPA or LSAT score. Your addendum should be brief and to the point. Do not use it to elaborate on your personal statement.
Stick to the facts, take responsibility for the weakness, and only use an addendum if your explanation is legitimate. You should also write an addendum if there are large discrepancies in your LSAT scores.
Now that you know how to get into USC Law School, you may be curious to know how you match up with USC’s law students. Consider the profile of the entering 2022 class to gain a better understanding of USC’s student body:
Source: USC Law School
As you can see, the USC law community is diverse and academically talented!
To apply to USC Law, you’ll have to submit an application online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). As you gather all of your materials, mark your calendar with these dates to avoid any delays or missed deadlines:
Source: USC Law School
Students are admitted to USC on a rolling basis, so you’re highly encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible to have the best chances of acceptance.
Now that you know more about USC’s admission process and applicant expectations, you might be wondering if you should try your luck and apply to USC. Despite the intimidating acceptance rate and median scores, you should still apply to USC for a number of reasons:
While you will need to put in the effort and work to create and submit a competitive application to USC, this hard work will be well worth the rewards!
In this guide, we’ve gone over the USC Law School acceptance rate and important admissions statistics. For any remaining questions about this school, read on to find your answers.
While there is no minimum LSAT score requirement to be considered for admission at USC, successful students typically have scores between 165-169.
Yes! USC is one of the best law schools in the nation. USC Law provides a rigorous and challenging legal education, as well as access to a wealth of resources and opportunities. Its reputation, faculty, programs, and alumni network make it a top choice for many aspiring lawyers.
USC Law School is highly competitive. With a low acceptance rate of 12.7% and high score expectations, USC aims to admit only the most promising candidates.
Students should aim for a GPA in the range of 3.76-3.94 to be considered competitive applicants.
Ultimately, USC can offer you a great start in your legal journey. With its resources, faculty, and dedication to its students’ success, you’ll feel confident and excited to enter the legal field!
Keep the scores and requirements shared in this guide in mind as you begin your USC application to ensure you meet the admissions committee's rigorous standards and you give yourself the best chances of acceptance!
