Given that UT Austin is ranked amongst the top 20 law schools in the country, it’s clear they uphold their promises by providing students with the resources and education to thrive in the legal world!
If you’d like to take advantage of what UT Austin Law School has to offer, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about UT Austin’s acceptance rate, admission requirements, tuition costs, and more!
Considering this law school is one of the best in the nation, it’s important to take a look at the UT Austin Law School acceptance rate to give yourself a realistic idea of your chances of gaining admission to this school.
Since UT Austin only accepts around 15% of its applicants, it’s highly competitive! Students must have stellar applications in order to stand a chance of getting into this prestigious school.
To guarantee you have a stellar application, you must set your target scores. Your GPA and LSAT score are the most important factors the admissions committee will consider in their decision, so you must have scores that will give you a competitive advantage.
Your LSAT score tells the admissions committee you are prepared for the rigors of law school and have the necessary skills to excel in it. Since UT Austin is a reputable law school, it has high expectations of its students.
Its median LSAT score is 170. To achieve this high score, you should dedicate at least three months to studying full-time for the LSAT and use resources that have proven to increase students’ scores.
For instance, several prep books can teach you fundamental LSAT test strategies. But why go it alone? The pros at Juris offer personalized LSAT prep to help you hit your target score in the most effective and efficient way possible.
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The UT Austin School of Law expects its students to have a high GPA to prove their academic potential. The average GPA of past admitted students is 3.8.
UT Austin knows that academic excellence isn’t the only trait that makes a great lawyer. As such, they require several other application materials to assess your candidacy.
As discussed, you’ll need to maintain a high GPA during your undergraduate degree in order to gain acceptance to UT Austin Law School.
While your GPA matters, your major doesn’t. Ensure you choose a major you have an interest in so you’re more likely to get the grades you need to achieve your target GPA.
If you choose a major that is non-writing intensive, taking electives that are will make you a stronger applicant. Good writing skills are essential to thrive in law school and a legal career.
We’ve established the LSAT score you should aim for when applying to UT Austin. However, if you feel the LSAT cannot accurately reflect your abilities, you have the option to write the GRE instead.
These tests assess different skills, so ensure you understand the differences between the two before making your decision! You should only write one, as any LSAT scores will automatically appear on your LSAC record. UT Austin will favor this score over your GRE.
UT Austin also requires you to submit a two-page personal statement to help the committee gain better insight into who you are as a person, not just as a student.
UT Austin recommends you use this statement to share your interests, background, and important experiences and aspects of your life that are otherwise not included on your application.
You should also mention how you came to your decision to pursue a legal education and take extra care to revise your work. The admissions team will also use your personal statement to assess your writing skills.
You’ll need to create a strong resume as part of your application. UT Austin asks that your resume does not exceed three pages, and includes all significant volunteer, work, extracurricular, and community service experience.
If you have any graduate work, degrees, honors, awards, or publications, you should also include these on your resume. Ensure you include the job descriptions, areas of responsibility, location, and dates of employment for all of the experiences on your resume.
Check out our eye-catching templates that take the stress out of resume writing!
To get a better sense of how you’re perceived by others, UT Austin requires its applicants to submit two letters of recommendation to LSAC. These letters should be written by professors who mentored you and can comment on your academic performance.
You may also include an optional statement of economic, social, and/or personal background with your application. Students should only include this statement if they have experienced challenges or unique circumstances that could increase the diversity and richness at UT Austin.
If your LSAT or GPA scores were lower than expected and you have a valid reason for it, you can use an addendum to explain these circumstances to the committee. Stick to the facts and ensure you explain how these scores are not indicative of your academic potential.
Considering the UT Austin Law School ranking, this law school’s tuition costs are surprisingly low. Residents can expect to pay around $36,429 for their first year of law school and slightly less for the subsequent years.
Non-residents can expect to pay $54,096 for their first year at UT Austin and $51,774 for the remaining years of their JD. Here is a detailed overview of the costs of attending UT Austin.
| Expenses | Texas Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $36,429 | $54,096 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Housing and Food | $17,270 | $17,270 |
| Transportation | $1,682 | $1,682 |
| Personal & Miscellaneous | $4,482 | $4,482 |
| Total Estimated Costs | $61,363 | $79,030 |
We’ve covered the GPA and LSAT scores you should aim for to maximize your chances of getting into UT Austin Law School. However, since the committee will look at more than just your scores, here are some tips on how to elevate the rest of your application:
If you have the perfect scores to be considered a competitive candidate, your personal statement can either solidify your candidacy or make the admissions committee second-guess it!
Do your best to make your personal statement unique by avoiding cliches and telling an intriguing story! Think about the experiences that led you down the legal path and center your personal statement around one that stands out the most.
You should also mention why you’d like to attend UT Austin in particular. UT Austin prides itself on its extensive clinical programs, collegial culture, and diverse community. Demonstrate your interest in these aspects of UT Austin and how you can contribute to them.
Ensure you also spend an adequate amount of time revising your personal statement to catch any spelling, grammar, or syntax mistakes that can make you seem like a careless applicant.
While you’re in your undergrad, you should try to get as much experience as you can working in the service sector.
During your legal career, you’ll be working with diverse populations of clients. Having considerable service experience with different communities demonstrates you are already developing the necessary interpersonal skills to do so effectively.
You must achieve a high test score because UT Austin Law School is competitive. Applicants must take the LSAT or GRE and have a valid score before the deadline. Texas Law considers all LSAT scores within five years, reporting the highest to the American Bar Association.
For the GRE, applicants should request scores from ETS within five years. This law school considers the highest cumulative GRE score, and the latest score must be valid at the time of application.
Typically, early decision admissions have a higher acceptance rate than regular decisions. If you’re convinced that UT Austin is the school you want to attend, consider applying for an early decision. Just keep in mind that early decisions are binding, so if you apply and get admitted, you must attend the school and rescind any other offers you might receive.
To make sure you’re fully prepared, use our law school checklist and maximize your chances of acceptance at UT Austin.
If you have any remaining questions about the UT Austin School of Law, read on to find your answers.
You should aim to achieve a score of 169 or higher on your LSAT to be considered an attractive applicant.
Past accepted applicants had a median GPA of 3.8. You should maintain a GPA in this range or higher to maximize your chances of admission.
No, UT Austin is not a T14 law school. However, it ranks 16th in the nation, meaning it is still a highly coveted law school.
Yes, UT Austin has an excellent law program that provides students with significant clinical experience to prepare them for the legal field. It also offers a rigorous curriculum taught by world-class professors who are dedicated to ensuring their students can explore their passions and succeed!
UT Austin is ranked as the number one school for its return on investment and has the best salary-to-debt ratio of any law school in the nation!
UT Austin only extends interviews to select students that they need more information on to make a final decision. These interviews are conducted virtually.
While getting into UT Austin will be challenging, the renowned education and support it will provide you will be well worth the hard work! As a high-ranking law school, UT Austin can offer you endless opportunities to ensure you have a prosperous legal career!
