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Home » Law Schools » Rankings and Profiles » Boston College Law SchoolEstablished in 1929, the Boston College Law School is among the most highly regarded law schools in New England, and enjoys a strong reputation nationwide. Students at Boston College Law School commend the school’s friendly atmosphere and great location, while the school continues to enjoy the company of Harvard and Boston University in forming a trinity of elite law schools in the Boston area. Boston College Law School - Admissions and Tuition As is the case with most other law schools, applicants to Boston College must begin the assessment of their odds of acceptance by weighing their LSAT score and undergraduate GPA against the numbers of recent entering classes. The most recent entering class at Boston College boasted LSAT scores of 163 and 167 at the 25th and 75th percentiles, respectively, and GPAs of 3.34 and 3.68 at those percentiles. Applicants should generally have numbers above the school’s 25th percentiles to have a good chance at acceptance, but the school emphasizes that it has no LSAT or GPA cutoffs in its admissions process. Further, recent admitted applicants opine that the school searches for qualified candidates with interesting and diverse backgrounds and experiences. Former applicants have also observed that Boston College places applicants on its waitlist liberally, and thus, it may be imperative for applicants to show continued interest in the school to maximize their chances of being accepted off of the waitlist. Because the school’s office of admissions takes pride in giving each application a thorough and personal consideration, applicants should ensure that their personal statement is orientated towards Boston College, and not a copy of a generic essay sent out to other law schools. Yearly tuition at Boston College Law School was close to the $40,000 mark for this year’s entering class. When the cost of room and board, books and other expenses are added to this figure, overall yearly expenses for Boston College students figure to be above $55,000. The school assists students in paying their expenses by providing grants to more than half of its students in a typical year. These grants, at the median, are about $18,000. 88% of the most recent graduating class of Boston College had taken out loans to pay for law school expenses, and graduates, on average came out with about $100,000 dollars in debt. Curriculum and Academics While solid in all areas of its academics, Boston College Law School houses noted specialties in environmental law, intellectual property law and tax law, and also boasts a reputable clinical training program. In their first year, students at Boston College enroll in the standard and predetermined set of 1L courses and are typically split into three 90-student sections. After passing first year requirements, students are left with three more courses in which they are required to enroll, and are otherwise free to choose from over 140 course titles to round out their law education. Students and graduates of Boston College Law School have expressed great admiration for the school’s faculty. Aside from the experience and expertise of the professors, students and graduates have been impressed by the accessibility of the faculty. Further, most graduates report having had no trouble in enrolling in desired courses with desired professors, who have shown a willingness to allow students to enroll in full courses. Students in their final year at the law school are given priority in enrolling in classes, ensuring that every student has an opportunity to enroll in a given class before graduation. It is certainly worth noting that Boston College Law School is known by some as the ‘Disneyland of law schools’. This moniker refers to the friendly atmosphere of the school, in contrast to other similarly ranked law schools known for their cutthroat competition. Students at Boston College are known for their willingness to share notes, outlines and briefs, and generally seem to be prepared to help each other as much as possible. Given the rigorous nature of law school academics, this camaraderie between students may help ease the burden for students of Boston College. Quality of Life A new, green and technologically advanced campus provides Boston College Law School students with a great place to study, while the school’s location in suburban Boston allows them to enjoy life in one of the most charming cities in America for three years. The law school is located near but not on the main campus of Boston College in an upscale area, and is said to be tremendously safe in all aspects. Because the law school does not offer housing to its students, students must search for apartments in the expensive Boston area. If this search for housing is commenced sufficiently early, students generally do not have trouble finding appropriate living arrangements. For students looking to unwind after bouts of studying, the bars, clubs and restaurants of the Boston area are easily accessible via public transportation. Overall, students and graduates of Boston College Law School report an enjoyable and memorable stay at the law school. Employment Prospects and Bar Passage Overall, graduates of Boston College Law School enjoy great job placement, as nearly 98% of students of the class of 2008 secured jobs within nine months of graduation. More than 65% of the school’s graduates accept jobs in the private sector in a typical year, while nearly 15% take on judicial clerkships. For those from the class of 2008 employed in the private sector, the median first year salary was an impressive $160,000. The alumni network and career resources of the school are said to be fully dedicated to maximizing opportunities for graduates, demonstrated by the fact that over 400 employers interviewed the school’s students in a recent year. Also, according to the school, about 45% of the school’s graduates accept jobs outside of the New England area, a figure that speaks to the school’s national reach. It should be noted that graduates of Boston College have expressed concern with the school’s ability to place graduates in top law firms outside of Boston. Some recent graduates have opined that to succeed in securing employment at such top law firms, and in order to receive adequate support from the school’s career services department, students should graduate in the top 10% of their class. The vast majority of Boston College Law School graduates succeed in passing the bar exam, as 90% of graduates taking the Massachusetts exam pass on their first attempt, compared to an 83% statewide rate. Synopsis Given the camaraderie between the school’s students and the accessibility of its faculty, Boston College Law School should be especially appealing to applicants fearful of cutthroat competition in law school. The school’s appeal increases when its several highly regarded specialties and desirable location in the Boston area are considered. Undoubtedly, Boston College Law School is among the best schools in the New England area, and should be near the top of the list for applicants wishing to attend law school in the area. Contact Information
Boston College Law School Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 26th |
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