It’s no secret that New York City is a booming hub of business and finance. But it is also home to some very prestigious and reputable law schools. Thousands of people aspire to attend these top law schools each year. Graduating from a top law school can provide extremely lucrative career opportunities for high performing students.
There is a lot to consider before choosing a law school, so we’ve compiled some details on five of the top-ranked law schools in NYC.
- New York University School of Law
New York University Law School, aka NYU Law, is known throughout the world as a top law school. It’s consistently at the top of many National and World rankings for a variety of criteria. It molds its students to have a leadership mindset with its revolutionary principles. NYU accepts only 34% of its applicants, making it a highly competitive institution. Its accolades justify the higher than average cost of tuition. The median undergraduate statistics for GPA are 3.78 and the LSAT is 169.
- Columbia University Law School
Columbia University has a fantastic reputation and rich history as a top institution. Considering their 2018 acceptance rate of 16.7%, it’s not an easy school to get into. Keep in mind, top-law schools come with a hefty cost and can be quite expensive. This makes it very important to acquire scholarships to help with the cost of tuition. The median LSAT scores at Columbia in 2018 were 172, while the average GPA was 3.75.
- New York Law School
With 180 faculty members and a student to faculty ratio of 9.3:1, students get plenty of help from their instructors. The school is quite competitive, with an acceptance rate of 55%. New York Law School statistics for GPA and LSAT are as follows…
- GPA: 75th percentile 58
- GPA: 25th percentile 13
- LSAT: 75th percentile 155
- LSAT: 25th percentile 150
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of La
This is the school of Law at Yeshiva University, Manhattan. Despite being a relatively newer school founded in 1976, it has become quite popular and has an excellent ranking. This somewhat modest but competitive school accepted around 40% of the applications received in 2018. It is a tad more expensive than other law schools in NYC. Other significant numbers to keep in mind are GPA 25th-75th percentile 3.15-3.62, LSAT 25th-75th percentile 156-161. Their statistics for GPA and LSAT are as follows…
- GPA: 75th percentile 71
- GPA: 25th percentile 24
- LSAT: 75th percentile 162
- LSAT: 25th percentile 157
- City University of New York School of Law
CUNY School of Law was founded in 1983 and is in Long Island City. In 2017 it ranked #38 in Acceptance rate with rate of 44.8%. It is known as a top public interest law school in the United States. CUNY statistics for GPA and LSAT are as follows…
- GPA: 75th percentile 58
- GPA: 25th percentile 01
- LSAT: 75th percentile 158
- LSAT: 25th percentile 150
The importance of the LSAT when considering a top law school
As you may have read, it’s not easy to get accepted to top law schools. Most acceptance rates are under 50%, meaning many applications are denied. A strong LSAT score can make the difference between acceptance and denial. A confident LSAT score for a top law school is 170 or higher. Achieving a 170+ LSAT score is not only beneficial for acceptance but can also help you acquire bigger scholarships to help with tuition. Since the cost of tuition to top law schools is quite expensive, these scholarships can make an enormous impact on your journey.
About the LSAT
The LSAT is designed to gauge your skills and ability to study and practice law. Your LSAT score matters greatly as it is a big determinant for acceptance into a top law school. It’s a strong indicator of how one could perform in law school and on the bar exam. That’s why LSAT preparation is so important. Whether you self-study, attend LSAT courses or get one-on-one help from an LSAT Tutor, you’ll need a strong LSAT score to attend top law schools.
Preparing for the LSAT
Proper preparation is the biggest factor for scoring high on the LSAT. Review test samples and work through the questions in detail. Avoid model tests as it is better to practice with actual prep tests. If you struggle with self-studying, working with an LSAT tutor can optimize the study process and provide better results in a shorter period. Experienced LSAT Tutors can adapt the study schedule and tailor the preparation to your learning style.
LSAT Study Schedule
Having a well-organized and effective LSAT study schedule can be the difference between an average score and a high score. You should first determine which areas of the test are the most troublesome for you. You’ll want to focus on the sections that can provide the best score increase. Determination, persistence and accountability will be paramount when studying for the LSAT. Always keep your goal score in mind and focus on the long-term rewards of achieving a high LSAT score.