Admissions FAQ

How do I apply and is there an application fee?

Applicants must apply online through LSAC. All 1L application fees have been waived.

What is the application deadline?

The regular application deadline for fall admission is March 1. The law school has a rolling admissions process, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

When may I submit my application?

Applicants may submit their applications after September 1.

Does GW Law have a rolling admissions process?

Yes. Our regular admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will begin making decisions in November and will continue until every applicant has a final decision.

How long after I submit my application should I expect to receive a decision?

GW Law tries to get decisions for the regular admissions process out as quickly as possible. Applicants should expect to receive a decision from the Law School within eight weeks of the date on which their files are complete.

Are my chances of gaining admission better if I apply to the part-time (evening) program rather than to the full-time program?

No. GW Law admission standards are the same for both the full-time and the part-time programs. An applicant should apply to the program in which he or she prefers to enroll.

If I start law school in the part-time program, may I transfer to the full-time program at some point and still complete my degree in a total of three years?

Yes. Students who complete their first semester as part-time students may transfer to the full-time program after the first semester or first year with the permission of the Dean of Students. Those students will continue to take their classes in the evening during the second semester of the first year, but will carry a full-time course load during the second semester. Those students will then take a 4-credit course during the summer to make up the credits they missed in the first semester of first year. At the start of the second year, those students will be full-time students and may take their classes in the day or evening. Students who transfer from the part-time program to the full-time program after the first semester (and who take a 4-credit summer course) may complete their degrees in a total of three years.

What if I am on GW Law’s waitlist? What can I do to increase my chances of gaining admission?

Each year we invite a number of strong applicants to be on our wait list. Please note that we do not rank our wait list. If and when we are able to make offers of admission to wait-listed applicants, we will review the entire list before making any final decisions.

If you are on our wait list and would like to add something to your file (for example, your last semester college grades, a work promotion, receipt of an award or honor, an additional recommendation, etc.), you certainly may do so. We will consider all information in your file when the time comes for us to review our wait list.

If I am on the waitlist, when can I expect to receive a final decision?

We do our best to make decisions on wait-listed applicants as soon as we can. However, applicants should understand that some wait-listed candidates may not receive a final decision until July or August.

What are the requirements for admission?

Please visit our admission requirements page for full details.

My undergraduate GPA is lower than it should be. Will GW Law consider only the GPA in my major or only the GPA for my last two years of college when I was doing better?

The academic record, as summarized by the cumulative GPA, is an important factor in our review process. We will, however, note an upward trend in your performance and certainly will consider any factors that influenced your performance in the semesters in which it was not at a level illustrative of your capabilities. You should include an addendum with your application explaining what happened in one or more semesters in which your performance was particularly poor.

Although I did not do as well as I should have in my undergraduate degree program, I did very well in my master’s degree program. Will GW Law consider my graduate GPA rather than my undergraduate GPA?

We certainly will consider any graduate work you have completed in our evaluation process. However, the graduate GPA is not as important to us as the undergraduate GPA.

My LSAT or GPA is lower than the GW Law median LSAT or median GPA. Do I have any chance of gaining admission or will my low LSAT score/GPA take me out of the running?

The law school reviews each application in its entirety. We do not make any decisions based solely upon LSAT score or solely upon GPA. Every year, GW Law admits some applicants who have both LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs below our medians. If your numbers are not very high, be sure that you make the other portions of your application as strong as possible.

If I take the LSAT more than once, will GW Law consider the high score or the average score?

We will consider each of your LSAT scores if you take the test more than once, but will give greater weight to the highest score.

I just don't do well on standardized tests. Should I explain this in my personal statement?

No. Your personal statement should be positive and should provide information that will help the admissions committee to understand what you will bring to our community and to the practice of law. It is your chance to tell us about yourself and to provide information that is not included in other parts of your application. If you want to explain something negative on your record, whether it is a low LSAT score or a weak undergraduate performance, we suggest that you do so in a short addendum.

Does GW Law require letters of recommendation?

Yes. We require at least one letter of recommendation and will accept up to three. Letters should be submitted through the Credential Assembly Service.

Does GW Law prefer that letters of recommendation or evaluations be submitted through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)?

Yes. We prefer that applicants submit their letters of recommendation through LSAC. However, if recommenders wish to send individual letters to GW Law, we will accept them.

May I take a tour of GW Law?

Yes!  Please visit our Tours webpage.

Does GW Law have on-campus housing for law students?

On-campus housing is not currently available for law students. However, students have an array of off-campus housing options.  Housing options vary throughout neighborhoods in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. By surveying GW Law students about where they live, VeryApt has created a housing guide that may be a great resource for you.  The guide describes neighborhoods and specific buildings throughout the DC area.  In addition, we encourage you to explore the University's Off Campus Student Affairs site for guidance on conducting your off-campus housing search.  

If I am admitted, may I defer my admission to the next year?

Perhaps. We consider requests for deferral on a case-by-case basis. We will consider your reasons for seeking a deferral and let you know our decision within one or two weeks of receipt of your request. We generally grant one-year deferrals, although we will grant two-year deferrals in some special cases (e.g., individuals who are called to military duty or who choose to participate in Teach for America or the Peace Corps).

Does the University Offer Joint Degree Programs for JD Candidates?

Yes, for JD candidates, GW offers joint degree programs with five other schools within the University.

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Joefred presenting to a group at the Health Law rollout event