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The University of Southern California School of Law (Gould)
Admissions and Tuition: Students recently admitted to USC report that the school has a fairly standard, yet highly selective, admissions process. Like other elite law schools, USC places primary focus on an applicant’s LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. USC’s 2006 entering class boasted an LSAT score of 165 at the 25th percentile and 167 at the 75th percentile, and GPAs of 3.46 at the 25th percentile and 3.72 at the 75th percentile. In order to be competitive in the school’s admissions process, applicants should have numbers that fall within, if not above, these ranges. Hope is not lost, however, for applicants with numbers not quite this high, as the school goes about granting acceptances mindful of its claim of being the ‘most diverse of the nation’s top law schools’. Applicants who are able to demonstrate that they can bring diversity to the University of Southern California Law School, be it ethnic diversity or diversity in experience, can improve their chances of acceptance by eloquently presenting this diversity in the vital personal statement. Given that USC’s entering classes consist of just 200 seats, applicants, especially those with numbers at the school’s medians or below, should send their applications as early as possible to maximize their chances at acceptance. All in all, the school receives nearly 7,000 applications in a typical year, usually granting about 1,500 acceptances, of which about 200 decide to attend. It bears mention here that recent applicants to USC have been highly impressed with way the school conducts its admissions process. The admissions office is said to be highly accessible and friendly, and constant updates and information sent by the school are said to have made the admissions process a more pleasant experience than usual. Examples include letters of admission that are personally signed by the Dean of Admissions. Like several other elite law schools, USC’s yearly tuition has recently passed the $40,000 mark, and currently stands at $41,118. Given the school’s prime location near downtown Los Angeles, students generally face nearly $60,000 in total yearly expenses when the cost of living is considered. However, USC certainly does its part in lightening this load for students, as it is known to be especially liberal in granting scholarships to accepted applicants. As always, applicants who send their applications early in the cycle maximize their chances of receiving one of these sizeable scholarships. A cheaper alternative for California residents is archrival UCLA Law School, which has in-state tuition around $28,000 and out-of-state tuition for just over $37,000. UCLA Law School also allows non-residents to get residency in one year, thus those looking at USC Law School should also consider applying to UCLA Law School.
Academic excellence is the norm at USC, as at other elite law schools. The school is home to several highly-esteemed and influential legal scholars and is widely considered to offer one of the finest legal educations in the country. USC takes pride in its various interdisciplinary research centers, which offer students the opportunity to expand their focus and ‘understand how diverse forces shape the law and how the law shapes other fields’, among which are the fields of philosophy, international relations and history. Also of interest, USC has attempted to make the most of its location and proximity to the world of entertainment by establishing a new entertainment law practicum. Although workload at the school is said to be rigorous, and even ‘horrendous’, students generally feel that the refreshingly small size of each entering class creates an intimate and friendly atmosphere in classrooms, helping to ease the burden. Typical first-year sections contain approximately 70 students, a number significantly lower than at other elite law schools, whose sections are usually filled by at least 100 students. Perhaps partly because of these relatively small sections, ‘cutthroat’ competition at USC is said to be nonexistent, as students seem to be prepared to help each other in whatever way possible. Like at most other law schools, students will have to pass standard required courses during their first year and part of their second year, but are otherwise free to choose from nearly 100 course titles to round out their legal education. Quality of Life: As one recent graduate puts it: “Come on, it’s L.A.!” Given the school’s location in the heart of Los Angeles and its ‘postcard weather’, the quality of life is bound to be excellent. Students enjoy the school’s beautiful campus and also speak highly of the friendly atmosphere at USC. Weekly bar reviews allow students to experience the nightlife of Los Angeles and to pay a visit to the city’s many famous bars and clubs. Facilities at the law school are not often praised, but all of USC’s many facilities are available and closely accessible to law students, as the law school is located on the school’s main campus. Because on-campus housing for law students is very limited, students must search off-campus for apartments, but the school does attempt to assist students in this search with its roommate referral program, which allows students to find and contact classmates also looking for a place to live. The South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, in which USC is located, has gained an undesirable reputation due to its crime-rate in the 90’s, but recent students and graduates have opined that the neighborhood has improved dramatically. Though still not the most suitable location for late-night strolls due to safety concerns, the surrounding neighborhoods of USC is no longer a huge negative for students. Employment prospects and Bar Passage: USC’s job placement in the West has been described as ‘golden’ by a recent graduate. Most of USC’s graduates, and especially those graduating in the top half of their class, have no trouble securing employment at the finest law firms in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. Most of the top law firms from throughout the nation recruit on-campus at USC, though some students have expressed concern that a relatively small minority of each class secure employment through on-campus recruitment. Although the school is highly regarded throughout the nation, its job placement in the East is not nearly as strong as its job placement in the West, a fact that applicants with hopes of practicing law in the East coast should keep in mind. Nevertheless, 96% of USC’s typical graduating class is employed 9 months after graduation, the majority having accepted positions in private law firms. For those in this private sector, first year salaries are $135,000 at the median. For the vast majority of University of Southern California Law School graduates, the bar exam is passed on the first try, as the average bar passage for the top five states in which graduates sit for the exam is 90%.
The University of Southern California Law School offers select applicants the opportunity to study law in an intimate atmosphere tucked away in the heart of bustling Los Angeles. Any qualified applicant hoping to secure employment in the West should give USC serious consideration. Students interested in law school at USC should also consider UCLA Law School due to its lower tuition, particularly for California residents. Contact Information: University of Southern California Law School
Quick Reference: U.S. News 2008 Ranking: 16th |
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Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California School of Law (Gould) has earned a reputation as one of the finest law schools on the West coast. The school’s beautiful campus, small class size and friendly atmosphere make for an enjoyable stay at the law school, while its reputable faculty ensures that students receive a first-rate legal education. For qualified applicants wishing to study and work in Los Angeles, and the West coast in general, USC is certainly among the stronger options to consider. 
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