OCU LAW - Application In Review

WHAT THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE SEEKS

Oklahoma City University School of Law

The law professors and admissions officers who review your application to OCU LAW seek serious, hard-working, motivated, students who value education, who have clear reasons for pursuing an advanced degree, and who have a record of academic excellence, strong analytical and writing skills, and who possess a clear commitment to the values and ethics of the legal profession.

Reviewers learn this information by reviewing your prior academic transcripts to discover the types of courses you chose to take, your performance in courses that demand strong analytical and writing skills, and your willingness to be engaged in challenging courses.

Such skills may also be discerned in well-crafted, detailed letters of recommendation from prior professors or employers who are able to give specific examples of your ability to be engaged in research, solve problems, read and comprehend complex, technical text while simultaneously being able to offer insights into your personality, work ethic, and motivations. While you may have family friends, spiritual leaders, or even know attorneys who can attest to your character or desire to attend law school -- it is important to remember that such recommendations do not hold as much weight as a letter that can provide both a character reference as well as the specific information about the skills you will bring to the classroom environment.

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is another tool that reviewers use when evaluating your level of preparation for law school. The LSAT was designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others. The LSAT also requires the completion of a writing assignment and this sample of your ability to respond persuasively to a question in a test environment -- and to write clearly and concisely is a key element in evaluating your application. Preparing for the LSAT is important and your performance on this test is carefully considered by reviewers when evaluating your application.

Personal statements provide you with an opportunity to offer examples and meaningful information about your personal motivations, ambitions, and commitment to education. It can present insights into your ethics and values, and is in many senses, your opportunity to "interview" with the committee. When you begin your personal statement, you might envision yourself in a job interview when the interviewers ask you to "tell us a little about yourself" -- just remember that what they are really asking is for information about yourself that justifies why they should hire you. In the case of a law school application, we want to know why, when there are so many applicants vying for a seat in the class, you are the best candidate for admission.

OCU LAW also requires that you submit a résumé with your application. This is your opportunity to provide us with information about experiences that attest to your professional skills or that speak to your leadership within or service to your community. Use this document, rather than your personal statement to provide us with a chronological look at what you have accomplished.

Finally, if there are factors within your application that may cause a reviewer to question your potential for success in law school (below average performance on the LSAT or problematic grades), you are encouraged to provide a supplemental addendum to your application. Reserve your personal statement to provide a positive statement about your strengths, motivations, and experiences. Instead, use a supplemental addendum to offer specific, factual information that will enable faculty to better evaluate your grades or LSAT.

Many applicants ask if there is anything else they can do. Applicants for Fall 2008 are invited to submit an optional Values Statement and to schedule a personal interview with an admissions professional. For more information about these options, please review the Application Instructions.

We encourage you to visit campus or attend one of our Open Houses for prospective students. For personal application coaching and advice about preparing your application, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment by telephone or in person with one of our admission professionals.