How To Get Into Nyu Law

Yes! NYU Law is ranked as one of the top ten law schools in the United States. It offers a diverse and extensive curriculum to its students to prepare them for their legal careers.

How to Get Into NYU Law School: The Ultimate Guide

How hard is it to get into NYU Law School? Learn the NYU Law School acceptance rate and admissions requirements, plus essays examples that work

Introduction

As a top seven law school nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York University School of Law provides its students with an outstanding legal education in the midst of one of New York City’s most culturally-relevant neighborhoods. This combination makes the NYU experience incredibly unique for legal education.

NYU School of Law has something for everyone. From international law and criminal law, to tax law and business/corporate law, NYU offers some of the best programs of study of any law school. Even if you are not sure of what you want to want to do, it is hard to go wrong by attending NYU. It is one of the best law schools for those looking to enter private practice, especially if you are interested in getting a lucrative job in Big Law after you graduate. NYU also caters to those who are interested in working in service of the public interest at a nonprofit, in government, or as a law clerk for a judge. NYU offers significant resources to public interest students, including various funding and scholarship programs, a special office dedicated solely to serving public interest students, and a generous loan repayment program for graduates who spend part of their careers working in eligible public interest jobs.

In this post, we will cover much of what you need to know about how to get into NYU School of Law, including admissions statistics, application requirements, and some tips on how to best approach the essay portion of your application.

NYU School of Law programs

NYU offers several degree options to its students. The vast majority of its students pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is the traditional degree associated with going to law school in the United States. NYU also offers a one-year Master of Laws (LL.M.), which is most often pursued by lawyers who received their law degrees outside of the United States and J.D. graduates who are looking to specialize in a particular area of the law. Lastly, students at NYU can pursue a Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.), which prepares students for careers in legal scholarship.

In addition, NYU School of Law also has numerous joint or dual degree programs available to students interested in pursuing interdisciplinary studies, including the popular J.D./M.B.A. program with NYU Stern School of Business.

NYU School of Law admission statistics

With a 2021 first-year J.D. class size of 484 students, NYU is one of the larger top-tier law schools. However, with 104 full-time faculty, 353 courses to choose from in 16 different areas of study, and more than 40 clinics and externships offered, NYU provides a rich academic experience to its students.

NYU School of Law provides a robust picture of its incoming classes. NYU’s first year J.D. class for the Fall of 2021 looks like this:

• Demographics:
  • Students of Color: 41%
  • Women: 57%
  • Out of college one to four years: 68%
  • Out of college five or more years: 11%
  • 25th percentile: 3.73
  • 50th percentile: 3.86
  • 75th percentile: 3.93
  • 25th percentile: 170/180
  • 50th percentile: 172/180
  • 75th percentile: 174/180

  As you can see, gaining admission to NYU School of Law is no small task. To put some of these numbers into perspective, NYU is tied for second with Stanford and the University of Chicago amongst all law schools in terms highest median LSAT score. Given this high bar, you should definitely spend a lot of time preparing for the LSAT to ensure you get the best score possible. While a high LSAT score alone will not guarantee admission, and students with “low” scores can still gain admission, you should aim for a score in the 170s.

  If you are still an undergraduate, you should study hard and try to get the best grades you can. All else being equal, having a high GPA/LSAT combination improves your chances of admission.

  If you are already out of college or are preparing to take time off between college and law school, you should focus on gaining as much experience as possible. As mentioned above, NYU reports that 68% of its current first-year class was out of college for at least one year prior to matriculating at NYU.

  In deciding how to spend your interim years, know that there is no right way to go about it. The decision with what to do with your time is yours alone. That said, here are a few things to consider when charting out your path:

  • Gain experience to improve your resume. Depending on which area of law you are interested in, you may find relevant volunteer or internship opportunities in your community. For example, if you’re interested in immigration law and live in the NYC area, volunteering with the New York Immigration Coalition would provide experience in a field you could later pursue at NYU Law and explore in a personal statement.
  • Learn about the law and dive into particular topics and fields of study that you may want to explore once school starts. Take the initiative to broaden your knowledge of the legal profession. Even taking EdX courses on different legal topics can show commitment, motivation, and self-discipline—all of which are required to be successful in law school
  • Become more well-rounded. NYU Law loves seeing multi-talented candidates with diverse interests. Consider joining a debate club or a language meetup in your area. If you play a musical instrument, perhaps a jazz jam session can help you explore your talents.

  NYU School of Law application

  To apply to NYU Law, you first need to sign up for the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which you can access online via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). You will submit your entire application online through LSAC.

  NYU has two tracks for J.D. admissions: Regular Admission and Early Decision. Both tracks use the same application, but Early Decision has a separate timeline.

  Applications for both tracks traditionally open at the beginning of September. For Regular Decision, you have until February 15 to submit your application. However, NYU notifies admitted students on a rolling basis, so you should try to turn your application in as soon as possible to have the best chance of getting admitted. If you submit your materials on the February 15 application deadline, you should hear back from NYU by late April.

  NYU School of Law’s Early Decision process works a lot like the traditional college Early Decision process you may be familiar with. By applying Early Decision, you are committing yourself to attending NYU if you are admitted. After receiving your acceptance letter, you must decline any acceptances from other law schools and also withdraw any pending applications. Failure to take these actions will result in NYU revoking its offer of admission, so think carefully about whether Early Decision is right for you. Applicants that do not receive an Early Decision acceptance may have their applications moved into the Regular Decision pool or rejected entirely.

  To apply Early Decision, you must submit your application by November 15. NYU sends out its Early Decision by late December. If you would like to be considered as an Early Decision candidate, NYU requires you to complete and submit its Early Decision Contract. This can be done in the application prior to submitting it, or if you have already submitted your application, you may also complete the contract and email it to [email protected], prior to the closing of the application window.

  If you are interested in applying to one of NYU’s public interest scholarship programs, it is important to keep track of the special deadlines. As of now, NYU requires all scholarship applicants for the current admissions cycle to submit their completed applications and CAS law school reports by January 1. In addition, scholarship applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2022.

  For more detailed information about the application process, click here for NYU’s FAQ page.

  Regardless of whether you apply Regular Admission or Early Decision, you will need to submit the following materials:

  • The application form along with an $85 application fee.
  • A résumé.
  • LSAT/GRE scores.
    • NYU now accepts a GRE score in lieu of an LSAT score. While you can apply with either a LSAT score or a GRE score, if you take the LSAT, law schools can see that, even if you prefer to put forward your GRE score.
    • NYU accepts LSAT scores from test administrations that occurred up to five years before the application date. For example, a score from the June 2017 LSAT is the oldest LSAT score that students applying in the 2022 cycle are allowed to use.
    • To apply Early Decision, you must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October. All other applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than January.
    • CAS report.
    • Two recommendation letters.
      • If you are currently in school or recently graduated (within two years of your application to law school), both letters should be from faculty from your school. If you have been out of school longer than two years, only one letter needs to be academic.
      • Mandatory: law school personal statement. NYU provides applicants with discretion regarding the length and content of the personal statement. However, we suggest that you try to keep your personal statement to two pages, single-spaced, 11 or 12-pt font.
      • Optional: law school diversity statement. No length requirements given. We will discuss how to write this type of essay later in the guide.
      • Optional: additional information, if relevant. This includes statements of strong interest in attending NYU and explanations of undergraduate and/or LSAT/GRE performance.

      NYU School of Law essay tips

      In this section, we will discuss how to approach writing essays for your application to NYU School of Law. We will also show you some full-length essay examples from admitted students so that you can get a sense for how you can approach this process. Keep in mind that there are many approaches you can take to writing high-quality essays. We will highlight some things that successful applicants often have in their essays, but it is important to tailor our advice to your specific situation.

      Some general guidelines to keep in mind when writing your essays:

      • Focus on crafting the very best writing you can and make sure to proofread your essays for correct grammar and spelling. Since writing well is an incredibly important skill for lawyers, NYU’s admissions officers will absolutely be paying attention to how you write in addition to what you write.
      • Be sure to carefully follow essay instructions, including length guidelines. Going over a specified word limit will show you have trouble following directions, which is not a good sign for someone to looking to be a lawyer.

      Personal statement

      To simplify the process of applying to law school, we suggest writing a personal statement that can be tailored to each school that you apply to. Try to keep your essay to two pages, single spaced.

      Here are a few things we think you should keep in mind while writing your personal statement:

      • Make sure your personal statement touches on why you want to go to law school and highlights your commitment to practicing law in the future. While this might seem like a no-brainer, it is important not to lose sight of the purpose of your personal statement, which in this case, is to demonstrate why you should be a law student at NYU School of Law.
      • Provide a clear example of your skills or qualities that could translate to success in law school. Law students must be analytical, organized, meticulous, creative, resilient, have good time management skills, and be able to synthesize large amounts of information. Using your personal statement to tell a story that demonstrates that you possess one or more of these qualities and are thus prepared for the rigors of law school can be very effective.
      • Do not be afraid to use your personal statement to tell an interesting story. We like this approach, because it makes your personal statement enjoyable to read while also giving the reader a glimpse into your life story. Telling a personal story helps to humanize you to your reader, which can help them feel connected to your application.
      • Pay close attention to your essay structure. Avoid using long words and sentence structures. Each sentence should be succinct and clear. Also use good transitions between paragraphs so that your essay reads smoothly, and your reader is able to easily keep track of the key points you are trying to convey.

      Below is an example of what our student, Elan, wrote to get into NYU School of Law (Note: some identifying details have been changed to protect the writer’s privacy.):

      At the age of 4, I had presumptively decided to dedicate myself to law enforcement. I roamed my childhood home imitating my favorite detective, Columbo, convinced that I was closing in on bad guys. At age 7, when a rock was mysteriously thrown through the back windshield of my mother’s car in our south Atlanta neighborhood, I was the first to investigate and draw up the usual suspects. At age 13, I decided that I would pursue a career as a forensic profiler for the FBI. I dreamed of wearing a badge, like my hero Columbo, to signify my membership as a dutiful public servant. By this time, my mother and I had left Atlanta for a small, predominantly white town in Texas. At 17, I momentarily reconsidered my plans when I mentioned Rodney King in my senior English class, only to be met with silence by my peers, who had never heard of him. Perhaps their parents had not warned them about police violence as mine had. I briefly considered that their experiences with law enforcement, directly or indirectly, would always be different than mine. And still, despite my brief reservation, my commitment to federal law enforcement was unwavering.

      At age 19, my conceptions and career plans collapsed around me. Since moving to New York for college, I had attended numerous forums, lectures, and panels on the intersection of two issues I was intimately but naively familiar with—criminal justice and racial prejudice. My rural Texas hometown never discussed “mass incarceration,” “mandatory minimums,” or “stop-and- frisk.” I was not aware of how severely racial prejudice inundated the criminal justice system, and I panicked at the revelation that it was so powerful and institutionalized as to be written into law.

      Despite my childhood convictions, my conceptions of good and bad guys had changed. I had been conditioned to believe that the delineations were clear—those who executed the law and those who disobeyed it—the good and the bad. I discovered, however, that sometimes those with badges, shiny degrees, and high-ranking positions are the bad guys. Sometimes the bad guys have power, authority, wealth, and societal respect. They sometimes sit in boardrooms and county seats. They receive awards and accolades. They stand in court. They even become president.

      And the good guys—sometimes the good guys can be found in federal prison for minor drug possession or spending six years at Rikers Island awaiting trial for a crime for which they have not been proven guilty. They are sometimes sixteen-year-old boys in detention centers, who are considered “delinquent” because their teachers do not possess the cultural competency to understand that the violence they face at home and in their neighborhood causes them to act out in class. Sometimes they are fathers killed in dark stairwells because their skin color is inherently threatening. They are women who, by merely speaking up, threaten the power and authority of men and are thus considered “disobedient” or “noncompliant,” warranting a criminal penalty that will keep them subdued. They are the wrongly convicted who have lost years of their life, dignity, and sanity after being punished for crimes they did not commit. They are arrested for being too poor to afford the subway fare. They are subject to societal and legal ostracism because they have been labeled “undocumented,” “delinquent,” and “criminal.”

      At 19, I decided that I would not work for the FBI. I felt far more compelled to advocate for those who fall victim to a legal system that targets, marginalizes, and disenfranchises them. My current position in the Public Corruption Unit of the County District Attorney’s Office has allowed me the unique opportunity to witness how the system operates in practice so that I am ultimately equipped to challenge it. I am confident that my career trajectory will allow me to bring both attention and solutions to the various issues plaguing policing, prosecution, and incarceration. Not only will I give voice to these issues, drawing from my personal and professional experiences, but I intend to avidly defend those suppressed and overshadowed by abuses of authority.

      At age 23, I recognize the glaring contradiction in the understanding of justice I had as a girl. Distinctions of “good” and “bad” are not black and white, nor are they all encompassing, nor do they wholly quantify a person. That said, as these labels tend to traditionally exist in the criminal justice system, they often differ dramatically from the surface perception. They perpetuate a system that is deeply prejudicial and flawed. As it turns out, I spend every day at my job investigating and analyzing “bad guys,” just as I imagined when I was a little girl. Unfortunately, they are successfully posing as good ones.

      Some things we like about Elan’s personal statement:

      • Elan uses her essay to tell a story about how her childhood interest in law enforcement and desire to pursue a career in criminal justice evolved as she grew older. She details how specific experiences in her life provided nuance to her “simplistic” childhood worldview of criminal justice and complicated her understanding of the law. Through this narrative, she lets her reader know that she has a genuine interest in the law and helps the reader to imagine how she could fit in at law school given her interests.
      • Elan conveys her story through a well-structured, easy-to-follow narrative. The progression of her essay follows the chronological development of her views on law enforcement. In the end, she relates all of her development back to the views she held as a child, which really drives home how her thinking and understanding regarding the topic of her essay has developed.
      • Elan’s personal statement is bold. The topic she discusses is not an easy one, but she covers it very well. Her writing gives her readers a genuine look into who she is as a person, which could really help set her apart from applicants who write about more generic topics.

      Optional essays (Diversity Statement)

      Like most top law schools, NYU allows applicants to include optional essays with their application. These essays can cover topics not addressed in your personal statement that will help the admissions committee gain a better understanding of who you are as a person. We encourage all applicants to consider writing supplemental essays—especially what we like to refer to as diversity statements. These essays give you the chance to highlight what makes you unique and can cover a wide range of topics such as race, gender, sexuality, or particular interests that you have.

      If you are unsure if writing a diversity is the right thing for you to do, we suggest reading our guide to writing law school diversity statements and guide to law school admissions, which cover how to approach this decision.

      If you choose to write a diversity statement, here are a few things we think you should keep in mind:

      • Feel free to think big. Diversity includes more than the traditional concepts of race, gender, and sexuality. While there is nothing wrong with focusing on those areas, taking time to also highlight other areas of diversity could help set your essay apart from all of the others that admissions officers will read. Pursuing this strategy also opens up the diversity statement to those who might not qualify as “diverse” in one of the traditional areas. Some other examples of diversity include service in law enforcement or military, living with a chronic illness or disability, competing in sports professionally, or growing up in another country. We suggest that you attempt to write a diversity statement if at all possible.
      • Emphasize why diversity is important to you and how it will influence how you show up in the classroom and law school community. Law schools like applicants who will be engaged and active members of their student bodies. You can use your diversity statement to show your readers how the kind of impact you will have during your three years in school.
      • If you have an interest in the law (or think you have an interest) and tie it into your diversity essay, we recommend you do so. If you end up changing your mind once you get into the school of your choice, that is totally fine!

      Below, we have included a diversity statement from Anthony, who was also admitted to NYU School of Law (Note: some identifying details have been changed to protect the writer’s privacy.):

      My mother, her mother, and her three siblings all live within a half-hour’s drive of one another outside of Washington, D.C., and throughout my childhood, I saw my cousins and grandparents almost every day. My close-knit family was therefore very surprised that I did not take a job in the city after earning my graduate degree, but instead decided to work abroad. Just as I was the first and only person in my family to attend a predominantly white institution for college, I am the first to work internationally. They have all but given up on trying to convince me to stick around.

      At this point, I am used to being different. As I have pursued a career in foreign affairs, I have learned to grapple with and move past the challenges of being a Black American in spaces where others like me are few and far in between. I have been called a racial slur to my face more times abroad than I have been in the United States, but I still relish the opportunity to immerse myself in other cultures and societies. Similarly, while I was initially distracted and sometimes discouraged by being the only African American in meetings while working in the federal government, I eventually learned to block out those thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

      At times that self-consciousness reemerges as I question whether my aspiration to facilitate political stabilization in other conflict-affected countries is justified given the persistent institutional racism within my own. I was dispirited when learning of Trayvon Martin’s murder while I researched education policy in South Africa and of Philando Castile’s killing as I soaked in the beauty of Jerusalem’s Old City, for instance. Nevertheless, I am confident of the path to which I am called, and conquering my doubts has strengthened my conviction that fighting against injustice anywhere is guarding justice everywhere. Now, as I prepare to enter law school, I know my independence of thought and self-assurance in my calling will enable me to challenge common biases and assumptions, thereby helping others to better understand their own roles in promoting justice and peace.

      Some things we like about Anthony’s diversity statement:

      • Anthony uses his diversity statement to bring together how his career interests, life experiences, and racial background have intersected to shape his life. He highlights how these various manifestations of diversity of diversity have impacted who he is and how he will show up in the classroom, on campus, and in his broader life. This combination gives his reader a good picture of who he is and what sets him apart from other applicants.
      • Anthony’s essay is well-written. He gives his reader a peek into many sides of who he is in a very succinct manner. All of his sentences and paragraphs build upon each other to further his narrative. It is clear to the reader that Anthony is a skilled writer, which will help assure them that he is a good candidate for admission to law school.

      Final thoughts

      Getting accepted to New York University School of Law is no small feat. To increase your chances of getting admitted, make sure to follow these steps:

      1. Get the best grades and standardized test scores possible.

      2. Think deeply about why you want to go to law school.

      3. Communicate your desire to go to law school in your application essays in a thoughtful, creative way that highlights the quality of your writing and the unique experience, perspective, and set of skills that you will bring to NYU.

      THERE’S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS ALONE, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.

      How to Get Into NYU Law

      

      Known as “an intellectual powerhouse,” the New York University (NYU) Law School offers comprehensive legal education programs that assure graduates are well-prepared for their future law careers.

      Ranking as the seventh-best law school in the United States and the number one law school for corporate, criminal, international, and tax law, NYU Law has established quite a reputation for itself as one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States.

      If you’d like to join this top-tier university but don’t know where to start, this guide will explain the application process. Below we’ll discuss NYU Law School’s admission requirements and provide helpful tips to do well on your NYU application essays.

      

      Programs Offered

      Offering a diverse curriculum, NYU Law has various law programs for students interested in legal education:

      • JD Program: This is a traditional three-year Juris Doctor degree
      • JD Dual Degrees: Students can combine their JD with various other programs, including a Master of Laws (LLM) in the specialty they would like to practice, a Master of Arts (MA), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Public Administration (MPA), a Master of Urban Planning (MUP), or a Master of Social Work (MSW)
      • LLM Programs: NYU Law offers graduate LLM programs for students wishing to specialize in a certain type of law
      • JSD Program: This program allows students to complete an advanced Doctor of Juridical Science

      Once you’ve decided which program is best for you, the next step is to figure out how to apply.

      NYU Law School Requirements

      

      To apply to NYU Law School, candidates, including LLM applicants, must submit the following required materials:

      • A Baccalaureate Degree
      • Application Form
      • Standardized Test Scores: You are required to take either theLaw School Admission Test (LSAT)or GRE.
      • Credential Assembly Service (CAS): This summarizes all of your undergraduate academic work and transcripts.
      • Two Letters of Recommendation
      • Personal Statement
      • Resume
      • Supplemental Information: This is optional but can be an opportunity to provide insight into your application; you can explain discrepancies like multiple LSAT scores, or unusual circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

      In addition to these materials, JSD applicants must also submit:

      • A sample research paper: This can be a published paper, a research paper written for seminar credit, or a paper written for your application to this program
      • A proposal of study: You must submit a dissertation of 3,000 words or fewer to state the research questions you would like to explore, review current literature in the field, identify the contributions this research will make, state your methods of conducting research, and list any difficulties you may encounter.

      As you can tell, a lot is required from you during the application process! To avoid stressing over each component, try gathering these requirements well before applications begin. For instance, many students complete their LSAT while still in their undergraduate program!

      NYU Law GPA: What You Need

      As a prestigious school, the NYU Law School GPA requirements are quite high. While NYU Law does not specify a minimum GPA, they tell prospective students to view their 2021 class profile to find the NYU Law average GPA. The range of these applicants’ GPAs was 3.73 to 3.93.

      NYU Law School LSAT: What You Need

      Similar to the GPA requirements, the NYU Law average LSAT scores are high. The 2021 class profile shows admitted applicants had scores in the range of 170-174! Considering the highest LSAT score one can achieve is 180, these NYU Law LSAT scores are both impressive and daunting.

      Applicants should create a comprehensive study schedule for this test and ensure they understand how to answer the different sections of the test.

      There are also resources available to help you get to these high percentile ranks. Juris Education offers comprehensive LSAT prep and can help you get the LSAT score you need; they’ve helped 100% of their students increase their LSAT scores!

      NYU GRE Requirements

      Students who do not want to write the LSAT may write the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) instead (but cannot submit both). The GRE measures the overall academic readiness of students for graduate schools, like law school.

      The average NYU GRE score is around 328. GRE scores are often compared to LSAT scores and can be converted using the GRE Law School Comparison tool provided by ETS, the administrators of the exam. A score of 328 on the GRE converts to an LSAT score of about 169.

      Letters of Recommendation

      NYU requires all students to submit two letters of recommendation as part of the admission process. These letters are submitted directly to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

      Prospective students should have at least one academic letter from a faculty member and one from a supervisor if relevant. NYU mainly requires these letters to be written by people who can “attest to your ability to succeed in a rigorous law school program.”

      Resume

      It might sound strange to attach a resume to your application, but NYU Law uses these resumes to gain insight into your experiences, interests, and skills. This resume should be one to two pages and list your post-high school education and work experience.

      With the expectation that NYU Law students have great multitasking and time-management skills, if you have any three-month period where you were not employed or in school, NYU asks you to detail why on this resume.

      NYU Law Essays

      Don’t let the GPA and test score requirements for NYU Law prevent you from applying!

      NYU specifically states they consider applicants “beyond the numbers” and look at students on the whole. This is where the personal statements and application essays come in; these written pieces are essential components of the admission process and require the utmost care.

      NYU Law School Personal Statement

      As you consider how to get into NYU Law, you must also consider how to write an excellent and genuine personal statement.

      While NYU leaves the content and length of the statements to the applicants’ discretion, this statement should be around two pages , double-spaced, and in 12-point font. This comes out to roughly 600-650 words.

      Personal statements for LLM applicants must be 500 words or fewer. LLM applicants applying for a specialization in Legal Theory must also address their main field(s) of interest and some of the potential research questions or projects they’re interested in.

      As this personal statement replaces interviews, it is important applicants stand out and intrigue the admissions committee. This personal statement can set you apart from thousands of other applicants with similar scores and qualifications.

      Additionally, it is important this statement is meticulously written. Law students and lawyers are expected to have excellent written communication skills!

      1. Ask yourself why you want to go to law school
      2. Ask yourself why you want to go to NYU in particular
      3. Read through past students’ personal statements and ask yourself how you can stand out from them
      4. Be personal and focus on yourself
      5. Tell an interesting story where you are the main character

      What to Avoid In Your Personal Statements:

      Here is a list of things to avoid when writing your NYU Law School personal statement:

      Clichés: To make sure you stand out, don’t repeat the same cliches the admissions committee has heard countless times. This means you should avoid overusing quotes or opening lines. So, if you’ve begun your statement with “Gandhi once said…,” or “Since I was (insert absurdly young age) …” you’ll need to start over.

      Tip: Open your essay with part of a story, preferably the most interesting part. This will grab your readers’ attention, and you can spend the rest of the essay explaining the context and relevance of the story.

      Vagueness: Tying in to the first tip, you want to avoid making vague generalizations with little authentic meaning. For instance, don’t say you want to pursue law to change the world – be more specific! Pick a specific issue in the world that you are passionate about and focus on it.

      Reiterating Your Resume: You already have to submit a resume as part of the application process. Use this space to go beyond your resume and really focus on a unique experience that helped you grow.

      A Pity Party: While you may write about adversity you faced, how you grew because of it, and how it inspired your interest in law, make sure you don’t only focus on the negative aspects. You aren’t trying to gain sympathy but interest. You want to clearly demonstrate your perseverance and dedication, traits law school students need!

      Other NYU Law Essays

      NYU offers applicants the opportunity to write optional essays to supplement their applications. While these essays are not part of the NYU Law School requirements, they are worth considering.

      Like the personal statements, these essays can showcase your abilities, talents, and interest, which can help you become a more attractive candidate.

      Diversity Statement

      This essay allows applicants to highlight their unique perspectives and understanding of the world. Many students that write diversity statements focus on their race, sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity. However, these are not the only forms of diversity applicants can write about.

      If there is any factor that makes you a non-traditional applicant, you can write about it! Take overcoming great adversity, a career change, being a mature student, or even having a unique hobby as an example.

      This statement should be short, about one page, double-spaced, and written in 12-point font.

      Addendum

      This optional essay allows applicants to discuss reasons for any weaknesses in their application. NYU specifies that these must be legitimate reasons, not excuses. Some reasons to write an addendum are:

      • A long gap in your resume or education
      • Academic misconduct
      • A criminal record
      • A lower LSAT score but high GPA
      • A very low grade or withdrawal from a course
      • A poor semester in an otherwise good year
      • A low GPA
      • Financial circumstances that caused a lower GPA due to less time for education

      It is important to note that, unlike your personal statement, this addendum should not evoke emotion or contain arguments. It must focus solely on reason and facts and clearly and candidly explain your circumstances.

      If there are no obvious weaknesses in your application, you shouldn’t write an addendum. Don’t use this essay as extra space to boast about your accomplishments or go into further detail about your personal statement.

      NYU JD Admission Statistics

      To give you a better idea of how to get into NYU Law School, here are some NYU Law School Admissions statistics and the NYU Law entering class profile.

      You can compare your own scores against this NYU Law profile to gain better insight into your likelihood of gaining admission. However, remember not to base your decision solely on this profile! Your supplementary essays can compensate for lower GPAs or test scores.

      

      Employment Statistics

      Considering a full-time academic year at NYU Law costs $73,414, it is worth mentioning the impressive employment statistics of NYU graduates.

      

      NYU Law School Acceptance Rate

      Based on its high admission scores and prestigious reputation, you’re probably assuming NYU is extremely difficult to get into. While it is a very competitive school, the NYU Law acceptance rate is surprisingly high at approximately 16%!

      While this rate is still quite low, it is much higher than other elite schools’ acceptance rates. For instance, Yale Law’s acceptance rate is 9.72%, Stanford’s is 10.48%, and Harvard comes in at the lowest at only 6.8%.

      NYU Law Early Decision Acceptance Rate

      While NYU does not release acceptance rates for their Early Decision (ED) program, they stress ED applicants are held to the same standards as regular decision applicants and do not benefit from a significant advantage.

      However, you may have a slightly better chance of acceptance because you’ll be competing with fewer applicants and may also be considered the second time around with the regular applicants!

      To be an early applicant, you must complete your application by November 15 th . The regular deadline is February 15 th .

      How Hard is it to Get into NYU Law?

      To put it bluntly – it is very difficult. However, it has promising acceptance rates and looks at applicants’ experiences and interests rather than just their scores, giving diverse students a fair chance of getting into NYU Law.

      NYU Law School Application Deadline & Process

      The following is a timeline of the NYU Law School application deadlines:

      Date	What’s Due
      September 1st	The online application opens
      October	The last month for early admission applicants to take the LSAT or GRE
      November 15th	The NYU Law early decision deadline when applications should be filed and completed for early consideration
      December	Early admission applicants will get their decision notifications
      January	The last month for regular admission applicants to take the LSAT or GRE
      February 15th	Deadline for regular applicants to file and complete their application
      April	Regular admission applicants will get their decision notifications

      To ensure you get into NYU Law on time, you’ll want to make note of these important dates!

      How to Get Into NYU Law: FAQs

      If you still have questions about getting into NYU Law, read on to find the answers!

      1. Does NYU Have a Good Law Program?

      Yes! NYU Law is ranked as one of the top ten law schools in the United States. It offers a diverse and extensive curriculum to its students to prepare them for their legal careers.

      2. What LSAT Score Do I Need for NYU?

      The LSAT score range for the admitted 2021 applicants was 170-174. Interested applicants should aim to score within this range or be willing to provide a legitimate explanation for significantly lower LSAT scores in the optional addendum essay.

      3. What GPA is Required for NYU Law?

      The GPA range for the admitted 2021 applicants was 3.73 – 3.93. Interested applicants should aim to maintain a GPA within this range or be willing to provide a legitimate explanation for a significantly lower GPA in the optional addendum essay.

      4. Does NYU Conduct Interviews As Part of the Application Process?

      No, they use personal statements instead of interviews.

      5. Do Students Require Undergraduate Prerequisites to Be Admitted to NYU Law?

      No, but the committee appreciates students that have taken courses in a broad range of categories, some of which are analytical and others that are more reading and research-based.

      6. If I Take the LSAT Multiple Times, Which Score Will the Committee Consider?

      The committee requires the submission of all LSAT scores. If an applicant wants the committee to consider a score aberrant, they must write about why in the optional addendum essay.

      Law School In the Big Apple: A Summary

      After going over how to get into NYU Law, its admission requirements, and how hard it is to gain admission, hopefully, you feel less overwhelmed about the application process.

      NYU Law, situated in the big apple, truly holds up to this nickname as one of the country’s biggest and best institutions. Gaining admission to this prestigious school will thoroughly prepare you for your legal career and give you the right resources and experience to excel!