Home / Students / Graduate & Professional Schools / Law School / Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What major should I select if I wish to attend law school? 
    • There is no required major to attend law school. Pick a major that interests and challenges you. 
  • What types of courses should I take to prepare for law school? 
    • Students should take courses that help develop skills necessary for law school including: writing, communication, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning. 
    • Here are some recommended courses at UC Santa Cruz that can help develop these skills and prepare you for law school (but are not limited to):
    • Student's College's Core Course 
    • PHIL 9: Intro to Logic
    • PHIL 11: Intro to Philosophy
    • COWL 12: Public Speaking 
    • COWL 110: Introduction to Mock Trial 
    • STEV 50A/B : Careers in Law 
    • LGST 10: Intro to the Legal Process 
    • WRIT 2: Rhetoric and Inquiry 
  • How important is a good GPA? 
    • VERY. The top two factors for admission are your GPA and LSAT score. Your GPA is only composed of courses taken for your undergraduate degree. Any graduate courses taken will be looked at, but not counted towards your GPA in your application. 
  • Should I take courses for a Pass/Not Pass (P/NP)? 
    • Whenever possible, take graded courses. Do not take any major required course P/NP. While a "P" has no effect on your CAS (Credential Assembly Service) GPA, a "NP" counts as an "F" and is calculated into your GPA as a zero!  
  • Why is my CAS (Credential Assembly Service) GPA different from my UCSC GPA? 
    • CAS created a standardized format to calculating GPA. For example, as noted above, a "NP" counts as a 0 for your CAS GPA. As well, an A+ is given a value of 4.3, whereas at UC Santa Cruz an A+ is 4.0. This your CAS GPA might be slightly different from your UCSC GPA. To learn more about GPA conversion, visit the LSAC website. 
  • How important is having a Legal Internship prior to applying to Law School? 
    • Internships are not required prior to applying to Law School, however, they are recommended for the purpose of having experience (especially if you want to go to a top ranked school). 
  • What are the Pros/Cons of taking a gap year?
    • Pro: More time to study for the LSAT, gain more relevant experiences, and work on your application
    • Cons: Not a time to relax, rather the opposite. One must work just as hard as in college if not harder. The gap should be intended to impress the admissions representatives. 
  • What is a rolling basis application? 
    • Sometimes law schools allow a wide time frame for students to submit their applications. The application period usually starts in early September and lasts up to early February (on average). Submit ASAP if your school is rolling for potentially more financial aid. 
  • When is the best time to apply? 
    • Apply as early as possible. Spots fill up and the first batch of admission decisions come out around December. Financial aid may decrease the longer a student waits as awards are given out early. This does not mean that you should apply through a binding early decision period, unless this school is your number one choice.
  • What is Early Action vs. Early Decision? 
    • Early Action and Early Decision programs usually require a significantly earlier application deadline than for regular decision (RD) applicants. In turn, schools usually guarantee a decision (accept/deny/waitlist/hold) for these applicants earlier in the cycle as well.
    • There is one significant difference between the two options, however. Early Action is a non-binding application which simply guarantees a response by a certain date; Early Decision, however, requires that the applicant agree to a binding commitment to the school, guaranteeing that, if accepted, the applicant will withdraw all other applications and matriculate to the school in the following school year.