You need to know what your law school of choice expects to find in your application packet before you prepare it. In many cases, a law school won't evaluate an application until it receives all the requested information. Most law schools, including Drake and the University of Iowa's College of Law, require you to send an application with the following: a personal statement, non-refundable application fee -- although, Drake waives the fee in certain cases -- undergraduate transcripts and Law School Admission Test scores.
Both schools require potential students to register with Credential Assembly Services, or CAS, which is a process that takes about three weeks. Iowa College of Law requires letters of recommendation, while Drake merely recommends you submit these documents.
It won't matter if your application packet is complete if you turn it in too late. Many law schools offer rolling admission, where students can apply at any time. However, law school admissions are extremely competitive and you won't know when the school fills all possible slots.
Drake sets April 1 of the year you wish to start law school as its priority application deadline. The institution strongly advises you to apply as early as possible because there's a better chance that the school has space available. Iowa College of Law begins accepting applications in September prior to your desired admission date. It continues to consider applicant's information until about March 1.
Every year, more students apply to law school than the school accepts. Many potential law school students ask themselves, "What are my chances of getting into this school?" That's why law schools frequently post the total number of applications and the number of accepted students on their websites and information packets.
Iowa College of Law estimates that 1,800 to 2,000 students apply to attend. Of that pool, only 200 students enter the law school every fall. Accepted applicants had a median grade point average of 3.59 and a median LSAT score of 161.
Drake Law School received around 1,150 applications in 2010, but only accepted 155 students.
You need to know what kind of financial commitment you're making before you apply to law school. Many students already have student loans from undergraduate school and getting a juris doctorate will only increase the debt. Law schools do their best to estimate students' tuition costs, including books and other sundries, but unexpected expenses are always possible.
Drake Law School estimates a law student's expenses at about $50,450 for tuition, books, living expenses and fees. The costs are about the same for students studying for their juris doctorate, master's of laws or their master's of jurisprudence. Iowa College of Law estimates out-of-state residents will pay $46,056 to obtain their juris doctorate and Iowa state residents will pay $26,348 in tuition and fees.