Columbia Law School Application, Admission, Fees, and More
Columbia Law School is a highly competitive graduate college that sees over 7,000 applications each year. It’s a prestigious institution, ranked among the top five schools and a part of the Ivy League Columbia University. The admission process is holistic, with less than a quarter of applicants getting accepted.
Columbia Law School Admissions Review Process
Columbia Law School admissions committee looks at a student’s overall application rather than one aspect. When it comes to academics, the school is quite competitive. You will need a minimum LSAT of 171 (172+ is best) and a 3.7+ GPA. Beyond that, the committee in charge of admissions your potential contribution to the campus community.The admission council usually checks an individual’s background and experiences. It also checks for demonstrated qualities and will want to know how you have used your time, abilities, and energy. Qualities that matter to the admission officers include self-discipline, industriousness, motivation, sound character, and leadership.
Columbia Law School Acceptance Rate: What Are the Chances of Admission?
Columbia Law School acceptance rate is the lowest of the top five schools. Of the students who apply, about 21.3% get accepted. While the school is still highly selective, the acceptance rate is much higher than in previous years.
Columbia Law School Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
This school is ranked 4th on the USNWR best law schools list. It also has the second-highest LSAT median score of 171, two points shy of the top two schools. The university is number one in business/corporate law and contracts/commercial law categories.
Columbia Law School Application Prerequisites, Dates & Process
Columbia Law School application is available solely via the LSAC website. To be eligible for application to the three-year full-time Juris Doctorate program, you should have an undergraduate degree. The degree should be from a regionally accredited college as determined by LSAC.
If you have an LL.M. degree from overseas, you can apply for the first-year status. If you have an LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited college, you will still follow the set application process. When applying, you will need to submit essential documents such as:
If you have an LL.M. degree from overseas, you can apply for the first-year status. If you have an LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited college, you will still follow the set application process. When applying, you will need to submit essential documents such as:
- Your resume
- A personal statement (double-space formatting) and with sound grammar
- Academic and professional recommendation letters
- LSAT/GRE scores
- Undergraduate coursework (GPA record) Fee
Early decision application closes on November 15th. As for regular admission, the application period begins in September and closes in mid-February. A non-refundable application fee of $85 applies.
The Total Expected Charges
Columbia Law School cost totals about $80,171. The cost includes $$72,352 for tuition, $3,676 for student medical insurance, and $1,220 for health and related services. The amount also covers $1,062 for university services and support, $256 for student activity, and $105 for document fee (one-off).As for living expenses, you should budget approximately $12,608 for accommodation, $6,841 for food, and $4,800 for personal expenses. Financial aid is available and is given based on these standard figures.
Final Words
If you consider sending an application to this institution, this post is an excellent place to start gathering essential information. For further clarification, be sure to contact the school’s representatives. Having as much information as possible is key in ensuring you make the necessary preparations effectively.
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Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School (often referred to as Columbia Law or CLS) is a member of the Ivy League. Columbia Law is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious law schools in the world. Columbia Law is especially well known for its strength in corporate law and its placement power in the nation’s elite law firms. Columbia Law has produced many distinguished alumni, including US presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt; nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, numerous US Cabinet members and presidential advisers; US senators; governors; and more members of the Forbes 400 than any other law school in the world. Columbia Law School is renowned for the intellectual rigor of its curriculum and the pioneering scholarship of its faculty. The school’s students complete their training ready to engage with the world’s most challenging issues across borders.
Total students ~1.244
Status
Private
Established in
1858
Website
www.law.columbia.edu
Campus
Urban
Adress
New York, New York, United States
How to Apply
All Steps of the Application Process
It is obligatory to upload the transcripts of all the courses and institutions you have ever taken. You may upload the unofficial transcripts or your student copies. Further you must give the official transcript to the applying committee.
It is obligatory to upload your LSAC scores for LL.M applicants. LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) will forward a copy of your documents to CLS in a report that will automatically attach itself to your application. Students, who apply for the J.D program can submit either GRE or LSAC scores.
Applicants, who have received their degree in the United States, are not required to submit their TOEFL results.
You are supposed to submit an essay grounded on your experience. While there is no official page limit, a good guideline is two double-spaced pages, using readable fonts and margins. Your personal statement/essay should be a clear and concise example of your best writing.
Columbia requires two letters of recommendation to complete your application. Applicants with substantive work experience who are not recent graduates are strongly encouraged to submit one professional letter and at least one academic letter of recommendation.
You must upload your current resume with all your working experience and scientific research.
The nonrefundable application fee is 85$.
While CLS is unable to interview all candidates that submit an application for admission, some candidates may be contacted for interviews during the admissions process. Please note that CLS is unable to consider requests for interviews.
International Applicants
What International Applicants to Must Have
The admissions criteria applied in evaluating international applicants are the same as those for U.S. citizens. All application materials, including transcripts and recommendations, must be submitted online and in English.
You must upload the transcripts of all the institutions and courses that you have taken translated into English language when applying to CLS.
All applicants for LL.M program, except those who earned their first law degree in the United States, are required to submit a TOEFL score or request a waiver; waivers are generally only granted for applicants who completed their first law degree entirely in English in an English-speaking country. Applicants to the J.D. program are not required to take the TOEFL.
- - Personal Statement
- - Résumé
- - Fellowship application essays (if applicable)
- - All post-secondary transcripts and diplomas
- - Statement of rank (if official transcripts from your first law degree do not include your class rank)
- - Two letters of recommendation (preferably one from a law professor and one from a work supervisor)
- - TOEFL scores, if applicable
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