How to Apply
Our superior faculty, diverse and exceptionally talented
student body our outstanding clinical programs, our renowned
public service program — all combine to provide a rich and
engaging legal education.
Admissions and Financial Aid How to Apply
The student body is the foundation of the law school experience. At Penn Law, your Applications may be submitted as follows:
classmates will challenge you, teach you, and sustain you in what is one of the most LSAC online application which may be found at www.lsac.org
diverse and collaborative learning environments of any top law school.
Deadlines
Each year, Penn Law enrolls a select class of 240-250 students who are academically
gifted, professionally accomplished, intellectually curious, and culturally and Early Decision (Binding)
geographically diverse, expecting them to make great contributions to our profession November 1 – application must be received
and the world. Our students come from all over the country, from several foreign November 15 – application must be complete
countries, and from more than 200 undergraduate institutions. They come from a December 31 – decisions will be sent
broad spectrum of academic, professional, ideological, and economic backgrounds. *Note, we accept the October LSAT for Early Decision
Over 65 percent of our students have had at least one year of work experience prior
to attending law school, more than a third identify as students of color, and typically Regular Notification:**
12 percent or more hold an advanced degree. This breathtaking diversity inspires a
February 15 – Application must be received
cross-fertilization of ideas and initiatives which make the Penn Law education
**Note, decisions are made on a rolling basis.
intellectually rewarding and professionally transformative.
Application Requirements
We welcome your interest in becoming part of this extraordinary community.
Applicants for admission to Penn Law must hold a bachelor’s degree, take the Law
School Admission Test (LSAT), and register with the Law School Data Assembly
Service (LSDAS). Applicants must also submit two letters of recommendation,
preferably from academic instructors; however, if you have been out of school for a
number of years you may submit letters from employers or other individuals who can
Renée C. Post
evaluate your potential for success in a rigorous law program. Finally, applicants
Associate Dean
must write a personal statement on a topic of their choice. The personal statement is
Admissions and Financial Aid
your interview on paper. You may wish to describe aspects of your background and
interests – intellectual, personal or professional – and how you will uniquely
contribute to the Penn Law community and/or the legal profession.
How to Apply
The application fee is $75.00; applicants for whom the fee will pose a financial Transfer and Visiting Student Admission
burden may apply for a fee waiver as part of the application process.
We welcome applications from current law students who wish to transfer to Penn Law
Detailed information and instructions regarding each of the application requirements or who wish to visit for up to one year at Penn Law. Applicants for transfer or visiting
and the LSAC/LSDAS may be found on the website at www.law.upenn.edu student admission must be in good standing at a law school that is accredited by the
American Bar Association and a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Standards for Admission Detailed information and instructions regarding transfer and visiting student admission
may be found on our website at www.law.upenn.edu
Admission to Penn Law is highly selective. Each year we receive approximately 5,800
applications for the 250 seats in the entering class. Our selection process is designed Financing Your Legal Education
to ensure that each candidate is evaluated in terms of his or her academic promise
and potential contribution to the intellectual life of the Law School and to the legal Student Budget* (2008 – 2009)
profession. Tuition and Fees $44,330
Room and Board 12,090
The Admissions Committee considers numerous factors – both academic and Books 1,150
nonacademic – to achieve our goal of enrolling a class that is highly accomplished Health Insurance 2,600
and diverse. There is no pre-law educational requirement or even a specific Miscellaneous 2,480
recommended course of study for admission to Penn Law. Strength of character, Total $62,650
breadth of knowledge, and intellectual maturity constitute the base upon which our *Students who earn a joint degree or certificate will also incur a nominal administrative fee.
legal education builds. As such, Penn Law seeks to enroll individuals who have
demonstrated outstanding academic success, who are intellectually curious, and who At Penn Law we are committed to guiding our applicants through the financial aid
possess superior writing, oral communication, and analytical skills. We also seek process and to helping our students develop a sound financial plan for their legal
individuals who will positively contribute to the Penn Law community, and ultimately, education. We provide generous financial assistance to deserving students through
to the legal profession, based on their diverse backgrounds, their personal and a variety of grants, scholarships, and low interest loans. Importantly, admission
professional experiences, service and leadership, and any challenges or obstacles decisions at Penn Law are made without regard to an applicant’s financial need.
that they may have overcome. Therefore, financial aid applications are reviewed only after a student has been
admitted. Following is an overview of the types of aid that are available to our
Importantly, the Admissions Committee bases its decisions on all material submitted students. Detailed information regarding financial aid and scholarships, as well as
with each application. While undergraduate grade point average and LSAT score are instructions for applying, may be found on our website at www.law.upenn.edu
significant factors, they are not decisive factors. There is no minimum LSAT or GPA
below which a candidate will not be considered.
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“Ensuring that we have the ability to transfer our skills from the classroom to the
courtroom and beyond is truly what made Penn Law unique and why I felt so lucky
to be there, learning from some of the most amazing legal minds in the country,
alongside classmates that I know will go on to achieve great things.”
—Holly Fernandez Lynch L’06/M.Bioethics ’06. Hometown: Albany, NY
B.A. 2003 University of Pennsylvania. Fellow, Harvard Law School’s Petrie Flom Center for Health Law Policy.
Current Position: Associate, Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology Group, Hogan and Hartson, Washington, D.C..
Applying for Financial Aid Toll Public Interest Scholarships and Loan Repayment Assistance
Eligibility for need-based aid or grants is determined from financial information Penn Law, committed to promoting the pursuit of public interest careers, has
provided by the applicant, the applicant’s parent(s), and if applicable, the applicant’s developed the Toll Public Interest Scholars Program for select incoming students
spouse. Applicants for financial aid are required to submit the Free Application and the Toll Repayment Assistance Program (TollRap) for graduates.
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Need Access Application. You may submit
the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Need Access application is The Toll Public Interest Scholars Program combines financial support (full
available at www.NeedAccess.org tuition for the first year and two-thirds tuition for the second and third years)
and a challenging academic program for highly accomplished students seeking
If you are interested in applying for need-based aid, complete the aforementioned academic training and practical experience in public interest law. Scholars are
financial aid forms as early as possible so that your financial aid analysis can be selected on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to public service, their
completed soon after you have been admitted. We strongly recommend that all academic record, and their potential for leadership in the legal community.
applicants submit these forms by March 1 even if they have not yet received an
offer of admission. TollRap offers generous repayment assistance, on an annual basis, to Penn Law
graduates working in public service careers. The amount of assistance is based on
Merit Scholarships a formula that considers the applicant’s annual income and law school debt.
Penn Law awards merit scholarships to a select number of students based primarily Loans
on their academic achievements and intellectual ambition, but also based on
nonacademic factors such as leadership, service, and professional or life experiences. In addition to the aforementioned grants and scholarships, there are a variety of
All applicants who are admitted to the Law School are considered for our merit federal and private loans for which students may be eligible. Students admitted to
scholarships. Although there is not a separate application for merit scholarships, Penn Law will receive information on the various loans for which they may apply
applicants who are nominated by the Admissions Committee may be asked to and will work directly with the Law School financial aid staff in completing this
complete an interview or to submit an essay for particular scholarships. Scholarship process.
nominees and recipients are notified on a rolling basis between January and
late April.
Levy Scholars Program Full tuition 1L, two-thirds 2L and 3L
Silverman-Rodin Scholarship Full tuition 1L, half tuition 2L
James Wilson Scholarship $60,000 – $75,000 over three years
Dean’s Scholarship $15,000 – $60,000 over three years
Penn Law Profile
Student Profile – Class of 2011* Career Planning & Professionalism
Applicants 5,829 Penn Law students are recruited nationally
Enrolled 249 and internationally by close to 500 employers
Women 50% each year. Our graduates are working in
Students of Color 34% the following fields and geographic regions:
Average Age 24
Directly from College 32% Business & Industry 2-4%
Advanced Degrees 10% Public Interest and Government 4-8%
Judicial Clerkship 15-22%
LSAT GPA Private Practice 65-82%
75th Percentile 171 3.88 Academia 1-2%
25th Percentile 166 3.47
Location
Distribution New England 3-6%
This year’s class includes students from 32 New York City 35-50%
states, the District of Columbia, 12 foreign Philadelphia 15-20%
countries (Canada, China, England, Hungary, California & West Coast 8-10%
Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Rwanda, South Korea, Washington, D.C. 8-10%
Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela), Southeast 3-6%
and 88 colleges and universities. Chicago & Midwest 2-4%
Texas & Southwest 1-2%
Faculty 2007-2008 Mountain 1-2%
71 full-time teaching International 1-3%
68 adjunct or lecturer
77% with advanced degrees Private Sector Salaries – Recent Graduates
49% with PhD or equivalent Range: $72,500 to $250,000
Over a third hold secondary Median: $135,000
appointments at Penn
Public Sector Salaries – Recent Graduates
Faculty-Student Ratio: 12 to 1
Range: $35,000 to $59,700
Median: $50,000
* As of August 14, 2008
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Visiting Penn Law
We encourage you to visit the campus, tour the Law School,
and observe first year classes. Please check our website or
contact us for information session schedules.
University of Pennsylvania Law School
3400 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
Admissions: 215.898.7400
Financial Aid: 215.898.7743
Fax: 215.898.9606
Admissions Email: admissions@law.upenn.edu
Financial Aid Email: finaid@law.upenn.edu
Office of Graduate Programs
Telephone: 215.898.0407
Fax: 215.898.6979
Email: gradadmissions@law.upenn.edu
http://www.law.upenn.edu
University of Pennsylvania Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania
does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a
Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran in the administration of educational policies, programs, or activities; admissions policies; scholarship and loan
awards; athletic, or other University administered programs or employment. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to: Executive
Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, 3600 Chestnut Street, Sansom Place East Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106.
215.898.6993 (voice) or 215.898.7803 (TDD). www.upenn.edu/affirm-action.
The University of Pennsylvania must reserve the right to make changes affecting policies, fees, curricula, or any other matters announced in this
publication or on its website.