Vanderbilt Law Admissions Advice: G. Todd Morton on Applications, LSATs, Essays & Interviews

^{Last Updated: September 2026}

For prospective law students, understanding how admissions professionals evaluate an application can make the law school application process considerably less mysterious. In this Top-Law-Schools.com interview, G. Todd Morton, who served as Assistant Dean and Dean of Admissions for Vanderbilt University Law School, discusses how admissions officers evaluate candidates, how applicants can strengthen their applications, and what students should consider when deciding where to attend law school.

Although this interview was originally conducted in 2009, many of Morton's observations remain useful for applicants because they focus on enduring admissions principles: presenting a complete picture of yourself, understanding the role of academic credentials, writing an authentic personal statement, choosing knowledgeable recommenders, preparing thoughtfully for interviews, and evaluating whether a law school fits your goals.

Editor's Note: This is an archival interview that has been reorganized and updated for readability and evergreen value. Admissions procedures, LSAT policies, scholarship programs, tuition figures, employment statistics, class profiles, rankings, and other Vanderbilt-specific information discussed in the original interview reflect the period in which it was conducted. Applicants should verify all current requirements and policies directly with Vanderbilt University Law School.

Applicants looking for additional guidance can also review the Top-Law-Schools.com resources on law school personal statements and letters of recommendation for law school.

How Does Vanderbilt Law Evaluate Applications?

TLS: What does the admissions process consist of, and how is an application evaluated?

G. Todd Morton: Admissions decisions should be based on more than isolated numbers. The goal is to understand how applicants have used the educational and professional opportunities available to them, responded to challenges, contributed to organizations or communities, and developed characteristics that may help them succeed in law school and the legal profession.

That requires looking at an application as a whole.

Academic transcripts, for example, can be more informative when considered alongside the applicant's course selection, employment during college, extracurricular activities, recommendations, grade trends, and relevant personal circumstances.

The individual parts of an application can also reinforce one another. Academic performance, employment, leadership, community involvement, personal experiences, future goals, and written materials together create a more complete picture of the applicant.

Applicants should therefore avoid thinking of the application as a collection of unrelated boxes to check. Admissions readers are attempting to understand the candidate represented by all of those materials.

For another overview of holistic admissions considerations, applicants can read LawCrossing's guide to the law school admissions process.

How Important Are GPA and LSAT Scores?

TLS: How much do factors other than GPA and LSAT scores matter in an admissions decision?

G. Todd Morton: GPA and LSAT performance provide useful information, but they exist within a larger application.

Two candidates with similar numerical credentials can have very different academic and personal records. One applicant may have worked throughout college, another may have pursued an especially demanding course of study, and another may have overcome significant obstacles while maintaining strong academic performance.

Applicants may also bring meaningful professional experience, military service, community involvement, leadership, research, volunteer work, or extracurricular accomplishments.

Admissions readers should consider both what an applicant has done and how the applicant approached those experiences.

Experiences can demonstrate qualities such as:

Leadership
Initiative
Maturity
Persistence
Creativity
Teamwork
Commitment
Communication skills
Intellectual curiosity
Ability to overcome challenges

The broader lesson for applicants is that numbers matter, but the application should also communicate the qualities, experiences, and perspective behind those numbers.

LawCrossing provides additional discussion of this subject in its guide to how law schools determine whom to admit.

How Should Applicants Prepare for Law School?

TLS: What advice would you give students preparing to apply to law school?

G. Todd Morton: Prospective students should learn as much as possible about the schools they are considering.

If possible, visit campuses. Sit in on classes. Speak with current students. Learn about faculty members, academic programs, clinics, student organizations, career resources, the surrounding community, and the environment in which you would spend three important years.

Law schools may offer similar degrees, but the experiences they provide can differ significantly.

The relationship between a student and a law school is ultimately personal. Applicants should consider not only whether they can gain admission but whether a particular institution provides an environment where they are likely to learn, participate, and thrive.

Once admitted, students should also avoid feeling that they need to spend the months before law school trying to teach themselves the first-year curriculum. Arriving rested, curious, and prepared to immerse yourself in a new academic environment can be more useful.

For a broader preparation guide, see LawCrossing's Ultimate Guide to Preparing for Law School.

How Should Students Choose the Right Law School?

TLS: What should an admitted applicant examine when deciding which law school to attend?

G. Todd Morton: Fit should be a major consideration.

There is no universally perfect law school. A school that offers an outstanding environment for one student may not be the best match for another student's goals, personality, finances, geographic interests, or professional ambitions.

Applicants should identify the factors that genuinely matter to them.

Academic programs and concentrations
Faculty accessibility
Clinics and experiential learning
School culture
Geographic location
Career placement
Alumni network
Class size
Student organizations
Cost and financial aid
Employment objectives
Personal and family considerations

Rankings may be one source of information, but they should not substitute for careful research into the actual experience and opportunities a particular law school offers.

How Should Applicants Think About Multiple LSAT Scores?

TLS: How does Vanderbilt view multiple LSAT scores?

G. Todd Morton: The LSAT provides useful standardized information, but it should not be interpreted as a perfect or complete measurement of someone's potential for success in law school.

When reviewing multiple scores, admissions readers can examine them in the context of the overall application. Significant differences between scores may encourage a closer examination of the applicant's academic record and other information to understand which result is most representative.

The larger principle is important: an LSAT score is one component of an application, not the applicant's entire identity.

Historical Note: Testing, reporting, and law school disclosure policies have changed since this interview was originally conducted. Applicants with multiple LSAT scores should consult current LSAC guidance and the admissions policies of the schools to which they are applying.

When Should an Applicant Write an Addendum?

TLS: When should applicants submit an addendum explaining a low GPA, LSAT score, or another part of their application?

G. Todd Morton: If there is information that genuinely helps admissions readers understand an academic result or another part of the application, applicants may provide that context.

An effective addendum should clarify rather than excuse.

The applicant's goal should be to give the reader relevant information needed to interpret something that might otherwise be misunderstood.

For example, circumstances affecting a semester of grades, an unusual interruption in education, significant work obligations, or another specific event might warrant explanation.

Generally, applicants should keep such explanations focused and factual rather than turning them into additional personal statements.

What Is the Purpose of a Law School Interview?

TLS: Why are interviews useful in law school admissions, and how should applicants prepare?

G. Todd Morton: An interview gives applicants an opportunity to demonstrate qualities that cannot always be captured through transcripts and test scores.

Those qualities may include:

Communication skills
Maturity
Professionalism
Listening ability
Judgment
Intellectual engagement
Interpersonal skills
Commitment
Interest in the institution

The interview also works in the other direction. Applicants can use the conversation to learn more about the school.

Rather than approaching an interview as a test filled with hidden correct answers, applicants should think about the most important things they want an interviewer—and ultimately an admissions committee—to understand about them.

Review your application beforehand. Be prepared to discuss your experiences, your reasons for pursuing legal education, and what interests you about the school.

Bringing or reviewing your resume can also help you organize your thoughts.

Students preparing for future legal interviews may also find LawCrossing's law school and law student interview resources useful.

Does Applying Early Improve Your Chances?

TLS: Can applying early help an applicant, particularly someone whose numerical credentials are below a school's medians?

G. Todd Morton: The admissions process should be designed to give applications fair consideration regardless of when they arrive within the permitted application period.

However, admissions is also a process of comparing applicants while managing a limited number of available seats. Earlier in an admissions cycle, schools naturally have more offers available than they do near the end.

That does not necessarily mean that an early application will receive a different evaluation. Schools may deliberately delay or stage decisions so that applicants arriving later in the cycle can still receive meaningful consideration.

For applicants, the practical lesson is not to rush an incomplete or poorly prepared application merely to submit it early. A strong, accurate application is more valuable than an early application filled with avoidable weaknesses.

At the same time, once your materials are ready, there is usually little benefit to unnecessarily delaying submission.

What Makes a Strong Law School Personal Statement?

TLS: What advice would you give applicants writing their law school personal statements?

G. Todd Morton: The personal statement gives applicants an opportunity to introduce themselves beyond the information conveyed through grades, scores, and a resume.

The strongest approach is to think carefully about what you want the admissions committee to understand about you, rather than trying to predict what you think admissions officers want to hear.

Applicants should aim to communicate rather than perform.

A strong personal statement can reveal experiences, motivations, interests, challenges, personal qualities, or events that shaped the applicant's path toward law school.

Authenticity, clarity, self-reflection, and careful writing are more important than attempting to manufacture an impressive story.

As a general principle: show the reader who you are rather than simply telling the reader which qualities you possess.

For detailed writing guidance, see the TLS Law School Personal Statements Advice guide and the collection of law school personal statement examples.

LawCrossing also offers advice on submitting law school essays and personal statements.

Should Applicants Write a Vanderbilt-Specific Personal Statement?

TLS: Could an applicant benefit from writing specifically about Vanderbilt instead of submitting a completely general personal statement?

G. Todd Morton: The primary purpose of the personal statement is to help admissions readers understand the applicant as a prospective law student.

At the same time, a thoughtful explanation of why Vanderbilt appeals to the applicant can provide useful information because the connection between a student and a particular school matters.

If applicants choose to discuss a school specifically, they should avoid generic praise that could apply to dozens of institutions.

Instead, they should identify genuine reasons the institution connects with their academic interests, professional goals, learning preferences, or desired community.

Applicants should always review the school's current application instructions before deciding whether school-specific information belongs in the main personal statement or in a separate supplemental essay.

What Personal Statement Mistakes Should Applicants Avoid?

TLS: Can a personal statement actually hurt an applicant?

G. Todd Morton: Yes. A personal statement can work against an applicant when it suggests poor judgment, weak communication, failure to follow instructions, or an inability to express ideas concisely.

Applicants should pay particular attention to requested length limits.

Writing far beyond a school's suggested length does not necessarily demonstrate that an applicant has more important things to say. It may instead suggest that the writer cannot identify, organize, and communicate the most relevant information.

Successful personal statements typically demonstrate:

Candor
Self-reflection
Attention to detail
Clear writing
Thoughtfulness
Professional judgment
Genuine engagement with the decision to attend law school

Applicants should carefully edit their essays before submission and ask trusted readers to review them for clarity, tone, grammar, and overall effectiveness.

The TLS Personal Statement Checklist provides additional guidance before submitting an essay.

Who Should Write Your Letters of Recommendation?

TLS: Is it better to have a recommendation from a famous or influential person who barely knows you, or from someone less prominent who knows you extremely well?

G. Todd Morton: The strongest recommendation usually comes from someone who knows the applicant well enough to provide meaningful observations.

A recommender should ideally be able to discuss characteristics such as:

Work ethic
Intellectual ability
Maturity
Honesty
Persistence
Creativity
Communication skills
Initiative
Analytical ability
Academic or professional growth

A prestigious title does not compensate for a letter containing little more than generic praise.

If a recommender knows very little about the applicant, the resulting letter may contribute almost nothing to the admissions committee's understanding of the candidate.

Applicants should therefore prioritize the quality and depth of the relationship over the status of the recommender.

For more guidance, see TLS's Law School Letters of Recommendation Advice.

Can a Weak Recommendation Hurt an Application?

TLS: Can recommendation letters hurt an applicant?

G. Todd Morton: Occasionally, yes.

A particularly concerning situation is a recommender who clearly indicates that they cannot provide a strong endorsement. Applicants should take hesitation seriously when asking someone to write on their behalf.

Other letters may not actively hurt an application but may simply offer little value because the recommender does not know the applicant well enough to provide specific observations.

Choose recommenders carefully and approach them early.

Once someone agrees to write for you, providing supporting information can be helpful. Depending on the circumstances, that might include:

Your resume
Transcript
Personal statement
Description of your goals
Relevant coursework or projects
Information about the programs to which you are applying

The goal is not to script the letter for the recommender, but to give that person enough context to write a specific and informed recommendation.

Does an Upward GPA Trend Matter?

TLS: Does an upward grade trend influence an admissions decision?

G. Todd Morton: An upward academic trend can provide useful information, particularly when the context strengthens its significance.

For example, improving grades may be especially meaningful if the applicant was simultaneously taking more difficult courses, assuming greater work responsibilities, or facing circumstances that provide additional context for the improvement.

Admissions committees can look beyond the cumulative GPA to understand the trajectory of an applicant's academic performance.

Applicants who believe their transcript requires explanation may consider whether a concise academic addendum would help admissions readers understand that record.

Does Undergraduate Prestige or Major Matter?

TLS: How do admissions readers view undergraduate institution, academic major, and educational background?

G. Todd Morton: The undergraduate institution provides context, but students from many different colleges and universities can be excellent candidates for law school.

Admissions readers may consider the academic resources available to a student, the opportunities the student pursued, the rigor of coursework, grading patterns, and the applicant's overall academic performance.

The same principle applies to undergraduate majors.

Rather than assuming that one particular major is automatically superior, admissions committees can evaluate what an applicant accomplished within the academic environment they selected.

Applicants should therefore concentrate on building a strong academic record, taking challenging courses when appropriate, developing their analytical and writing abilities, and making meaningful use of the opportunities available to them.

How Are Graduate Degrees Considered?

TLS: Does graduate education strengthen an application?

G. Todd Morton: Graduate study can add useful information to an application.

Graduate transcripts may provide additional evidence of academic ability, while graduate-level research and faculty relationships may lead to particularly substantive recommendations.

However, graduate and undergraduate grading systems can differ considerably, so admissions readers should interpret each academic record within its appropriate context.

A graduate degree should be viewed as another meaningful component of the applicant's broader academic and professional history rather than as a substitute for the undergraduate record.

What Should Applicants Do If They Are Waitlisted?

TLS: What can candidates do after being placed on a law school waitlist?

G. Todd Morton: Applicants should remain engaged with the admissions office while following the school's instructions carefully.

Useful steps can include:

Keeping contact information current
Responding promptly to communications
Expressing continued interest when appropriate
Providing significant application updates
Submitting permitted additional materials
Visiting the school if useful and feasible
Remaining realistic about whether you would accept an offer

Applicants should also recognize that waitlist activity is inherently difficult to predict.

Schools do not know exactly how many admitted students will enroll until deposits and withdrawals become clear. If a vacancy appears, an admissions office may need an answer from a waitlisted candidate quickly.

Historical Note: Waitlist procedures differ among law schools and can change from one admission cycle to another. Follow the current instructions issued by each school.

What Matters in a Transfer Application?

TLS: What factors are especially important when reviewing transfer candidates?

G. Todd Morton: Transfer applications differ from first-year applications because the student now has an actual law school academic record.

First-year law school performance can therefore become especially important.

Other considerations may include the applicant's reasons for transferring and information obtained through an interview or other application materials.

Applicants considering transferring should be able to articulate a genuine academic, professional, geographic, or personal reason for seeking another institution—not simply a desire to attend a school with a different ranking.

Historical Note: Transfer enrollment numbers and procedures discussed in the original interview reflected Vanderbilt's practices at that time. Applicants should consult Vanderbilt Law directly for current transfer requirements and statistics.

How Much Should Law School Rankings Matter?

TLS: How should prospective students think about rankings when comparing Vanderbilt with other highly ranked law schools?

G. Todd Morton: Rankings provide only a limited amount of information about an institution.

Students choosing a law school should examine a broader set of factors, including faculty, academic opportunities, culture, location, career outcomes, alumni networks, experiential programs, financial considerations, and personal goals.

Small numerical differences in a ranking do not necessarily represent meaningful differences in educational quality or determine whether one institution is a better fit for a particular student.

Applicants should use rankings as one data point among many rather than allowing a ranking position to make the decision for them.

What Distinguished Vanderbilt Law?

TLS: What did students particularly enjoy about Vanderbilt Law?

G. Todd Morton: Vanderbilt's appeal came from the combination of its academic environment, faculty, curriculum, experiential opportunities, student culture, university setting, career resources, and Nashville location.

For prospective students, the broader lesson is that evaluating a law school means looking at the complete experience rather than focusing exclusively on one metric.

Ask how the pieces work together.

Consider what studying there would actually look like from day to day and whether those circumstances align with the type of legal education you want.

Because programs, faculty, employment resources, and other institutional characteristics evolve, applicants considering Vanderbilt today should consult current information supplied by the law school.

What About Scholarships, Debt, and Employment Outcomes?

The original interview included detailed discussions of scholarships, tuition, borrowing, employment outcomes, alumni reach, and the legal employment environment prevailing when the interview was conducted.

Those figures should now be viewed as historical information rather than current guidance.

Prospective law students should always research current:

Tuition and fees
Estimated cost of attendance
Scholarships and grants
Scholarship renewal conditions
Median student debt
Employment outcomes
Bar passage data
Geographic placement
Clerkship placement
Public-interest opportunities
Loan repayment programs

Comparing these factors can be just as important as comparing admissions statistics.

Applicants should rely on current disclosures from the law school, the American Bar Association, LSAC, and other authoritative sources when making financial decisions.

G. Todd Morton's Advice for Future Law Students

TLS: What final advice would you offer applicants?

G. Todd Morton: Law school represents a substantial investment of time, energy, and money, so applicants should approach the decision thoughtfully.

The admissions process is not only about convincing a school to admit you.

It is also an opportunity to learn more about legal education, explore the profession, identify your goals, and understand what you want from your education and eventual career.

Applicants who use the process for genuine self-reflection may enter law school with a clearer sense of purpose and a stronger understanding of the opportunities they want to pursue.

Key Takeaways for Law School Applicants

Treat your application as a complete story. GPA and LSAT scores matter, but admissions readers may also consider experiences, accomplishments, recommendations, essays, and personal context.
Do not try to manufacture the “perfect” applicant. Present your actual experiences and explain their significance.
Use the personal statement to reveal something meaningful about yourself. Avoid simply rewriting your resume.
Select recommenders who genuinely know you. Specific observations are usually more useful than an impressive title.
Prepare for interviews thoughtfully. Know what you want the interviewer to understand about you and what you want to learn about the school.
Research schools beyond rankings. Consider academics, employment outcomes, location, cost, culture, and personal fit.
Provide context when necessary. A concise addendum can help explain unusual circumstances without becoming an excuse.
Take financial considerations seriously. Compare current tuition, scholarships, debt, and employment data before committing.
Use the admissions process for self-assessment. Understanding why you want a legal education can help both during admissions and throughout law school.

Related Law School Admissions Resources

Top-Law-Schools.com

LawCrossing

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Vanderbilt Interview Discussion — Applicant discussion of Vanderbilt Law interviews and interview questions.
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Should the Personal Statement Address “Why Law School?” — Discussion of whether applicants should explain their motivation for attending law school.
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This interview was originally published by Top-Law-Schools.com in 2009. It has been reorganized and editorially updated to improve readability and preserve the enduring admissions guidance contained in G. Todd Morton's responses. Historical statistics and school-specific policies should not be interpreted as current Vanderbilt University Law School information.