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What makes an applicant categorized as "nontraditional"? Is it certain number of years out of school or what?

K-JD, and probably up to including 1 or 2 years after undergrad before starting law school would count as "traditional." I don't think there is a hard and fast rule of what counts or not though.

I'm considered non-traditional because I am 43. I'm not sure if there are factors other than age considered. If your ethnicity is something other than white it seems you qualify for URM status which is a much better soft from what I have been reading.

nontraditional just means you're either a real-deal second career law school student or you're old. or both, like me. there's no appreciable bump for admissions, though significant work experience, especially in a particularly interesting field, can make some degree of difference (and help get you around minor irritations like admissions interviews). 2 extra points on the LSAT almost certainly counts for way more, though.

I tend to think it's just being old. "Old" for law school is probably anything over 30.

fliptrip wrote:I tend to think it's just being old. "Old" for law school is probably anything over 30.

Good god I feel ancient applying this cycle and I'm 31.

FWIW, I spoke to someone in an admissions office recently that said they classify a student as non-traditional if they have a gap between UG and law school, if they are married, if they have kids, etc. It was quite a broad definition. Being an older, non-traditional student has certainly not helped me this cycle. Your numbers still will determine your fate ultimately.

Badgers are pretty nontraditional (in law schools).

Capitol_Idea wrote:Badgers are pretty nontraditional (in law schools).

Now that would make for one hell of a PS.