Graduate & Professional School

What is Graduate School?

• An advanced program of study focused on a particular academic discipline or profession.
• Traditionally considered “academic,” meaning programs are centered on generating original research in a particular discipline.
• Can also be “professional,” meaning that programs are centered on developing skills and knowledge for a specific profession, or a combination of both.

How is Graduate School Different from Undergraduate Education?

Compared to undergraduate studies, graduate school is a more concentrated course of study including higher expectations for the quality and quantity of your academic work.

In graduate school you will have:

• focused studies in a specific discipline with fewer elective possibilities
• rigorous evaluation of your work by professors and peers
• smaller classes with much student interaction
• work experience via internships, teaching, or production of original research is often required

What Graduate Degrees are Available?

Graduate degrees are available in almost any subject and come in three levels: Master, Specialist, and Doctorate. Depending on the graduate school/program and degree level you desire, your program requirements and length will vary.

• Master’s degrees are offered in many fields of study. Some are designed to lead to a doctoral degree while others are the “terminal” degree for a profession (e.g., Master of Library Science or Master of Business Administration). For full-time students, completing a master’s degree usually takes 2 years.
• Specialist degrees are usually earned in addition to a master’s degree and will require additional coursework, training, or internship experience. This type of degree usually prepares students for professional certification or licensing requirements (e.g. Ed.S. for school principal).
• Doctoral (Ph.D.) or Professional (Doctoral) degrees (MD or JD) are the highest degrees possible. PhD’s require the creation of new knowledge via independent research – be it basic or applied. Including the time it takes to write and defend a dissertation, this degree may take anywhere from 5-10 years to complete. MD’s & JD’s: Specific schools/programs and training is needed to receive these degrees.

Information from UC Berkeley, Career Center

Where to Find Graduate School Information

Consult sites such as these for researching graduate and professional schools and other appropriate information

• Peterson’s Graduate Schools
• Princeton Review Graduate School Search
• Gradschools.com
• US News, Best Graduate Schools
• University of California Graduate Degree Programs
• California Colleges and Universities
• Financing Your Graduate Education, articles on Idealist website
• Peterson’s Graduate Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Financial Aid for Graduate and Professional Students (PDF)
• Samvid Scholars Graduate Scholarships for students interested in Social Impact/Social Change

How Do I Choose a Graduate School?

• Reputation of the Faculty: What are their academic degrees/credentials and research specialties? What is the student/faculty ratio? Look at faculty websites, if available.
• Quality of the Program: This is measured by many different factors, many of which are mentioned below. You may choose to look at graduate school rankings to help you assess a program’s quality; however, the rankings may be based on criteria that are different from your own. What’s more, many scholars, deans, and advisors question the validity of such rankings.
• Financial Costs: What are the opportunities for fellowships, assistantships or scholarships? What other sources of financial aid are available?
• Admission Requirements: GPA, test scores, undergraduate coursework, specific entrance exams, etc.
• Available Course Offerings: Are courses you need to fulfill degree requirements frequently offered? Will the course offerings help you meet your professional or educational goals?
• Employment: Where are graduates of the program working, and how much are they earning?
• Facilities: Consider the quality of on-site facilities such as libraries, computer labs, and research facilities.
• Geographic location: Will studying in a particular location help you meet personal or professional goals?
• Student Life: Consider the diversity of students, student organizations, housing, and campus support services.

Information from UC Berkeley Career Services

Admissions Requirements and Essentials

• Official Transcripts
• Graduate Admissions Tests:
  GRE (Graduate Records Examination)
  LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
  MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
  GMAT (Graduate Business School)
  CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
  CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers)
• Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose. Visit the Writing Center first for assistance with a personal statement or statement of purpose. Always follow the writing prompts given by the graduate school found in the admission packet.
• Letters of recommendation: Ask early and give info to faculty about you. Always ask: “Can you give me a strong letter of recommendation?”
• CVs and Resumes, include if part of the admission packet
• Writing samples for Ph.D. schools/programs or others that are research-based

FREE Graduate School Admissions Practice Tests

Often hosted at The Claremont Colleges, students can sign-up for a free practice test (e.g. GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.). Watch for sign-up opportunities in Handshake.

Preparing for Graduate School: Four-Year Plan  

By Charlie Yates, ’15, Pitzer College

First Year: Explore

• Have fun and experience college!
• Take a fair amount of introductory courses
• Talk to professors during office hours
• Check out Career Services, fellowship websites, academic clubs, etc.

Second Year: Assess

• Think about which courses interest you more than others
• Take a research methods course (most natural science/social science majors require them)
• Talk to professors about helping with potential research projects
• Go to 5C talks and presentations from outside lecturers and actively build a scholarly network
• Plan to do research over the summer…on or off-campus

Third Year: Experience

• Continue working on your major requirements
• Start doing research with professors
• Again, plan to do research over the summer, especially if you did not do it during the summer after sophomore year.
• Talk to advisors and mentors about going to graduate school
• Start looking at graduate schools and programs of interest
• Register/study for standardized tests (ex. GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT)

Third/Fourth Summer: Decide

• Try to take standardized tests (entrance exam)
• Make a list of potential graduate schools
• Start researching each program’s requirements for application and deadlines
• Check out program applications
• Look into potential graduate school fellowships

Fourth Year: Complete

• Solidify list of graduate schools and programs
• Obtain letters of recommendation
• Take standardized tests (again if needed)
• Complete applications and submit them
• Look into funding sources for graduate school

General Tips

• Most field groups have a “graduate advisor,” so seek them out
• Research schools and programs, talk to professors re: schools and programs, and research faculty at schools and programs.
• Mantra for everything: “I will start early!” Start in junior year, if possible.
• Try to attend professional conferences related to your area of interest and off-campus presentations (usually you can get a student discount).
• Set aside time to study for graduate school entrance exams, and take the exam before Oct. of your senior year.
• Continuously work on your Resume or CV
• Take a thesis course, a senior capstone project, or an independent study
• Think about personal statements, but always tailor them to the specific school
• Talk to office assistants and professors ahead of time to get a feel for the specific program
• Build rapport with professors and ask for strong letters of recommendation only
• Applications: Get them in early.
• But don’t forget…you can always apply again at a later time!

Welcome to Pitzer College’s Pre-Law Advising. Whether you are considering a career in law, preparing for the LSAT or applying to law school, we are here to help.

Getting Started 

As a student of the liberal arts attending Pitzer College and the greater Claremont Colleges, you receive excellent academic preparation to pursue a career in law. Students often ask if there is a certain major that law schools look more favorably upon during the admission process. The American Bar Association and its 203 accredited and approved law schools do not require nor recommend any particular undergraduate major for those preparing for law school.  

An important determinant for law school is your grade point average. It is best to select a major with courses of interest that you find intellectually stimulating. Through your undergraduate course work, focus on the following core skills recommended by the American Bar Association: 

• Analytic and Problem-Solving
• Critical Reading
• Writing and Editing
• Oral Communication and Listening Abilities
• Research

Peer Networking

Pitzer Law Society

For more information visit the American Bar Association’s Pre-Law: Preparing for Law School page and LSAC's How to Apply for JD Programs

Refer to the Pre-law FAQs Handout (DOC)

Appointments

Meet with our pre-law advisor, Ro W. Lee, Esq. For quick questions he can be emailed at Rowoon_Lee@pitzer.edu.  

Schedule an Appointment

Preparing for Law School

Explore 

• Discover Law 
• HG.org, Legal Resources

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Resources 

• Diversity in Law School: Why it Matters, Discover Law (LSAC) 
• LatinoJustice (Formerly PRLDEF) Latino Justice works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. 
• Undocumented/DACA Law School Resources
  • Immigrants Rising
  • Law School Financial Resources
  • Dreamer Fund  
• LGBTQ+ Bar/Lavender Law and Annual Conference 
• National Black Pre-Law Conference  
• CLEO Pre-Law Programs
  • Road To Law School (RTLS) seminar aims to provide Freshman an overview of the key components of the law school application process. 
  • Sophomore Super Saturdays pre-law seminars are designed for Sophomore college students. Juniors may be admitted on a space available basis. The seminars aim to help students further develop logical reasoning, reading comprehension and writing skills – the skills needed to become a competitive law school applicant. 
  • Juniors Jumpstart LSAT seminars aim to help participants understand the importance of systematic and timely preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). 
  • Pre-Law Summer Institute and other CLEO programs can be found on this page. 

Pre-Law Student Fellowships 

• Munger, Tolles & Olson Law Fellows Program in Los Angeles, CA – The MTO Fellows Program is a ten-month initiative aimed at preparing 25-40 aspiring diverse students for admission to and success in law school. The program seeks applicants from all backgrounds and strives to increase the diversity of the legal profession. All MTO Fellows will participate in the LSAT Preparation Course, monthly Saturday workshops (in downtown Los Angeles) and The Fellows Network, a strong network of law students, practicing attorneys and MTO alumni for on-site gatherings and other events.
• UCLA Law Fellows Program – Legal Scholars Programs – These programs are usually in conjunction with a law school (ex. UCLA Fellows Program), a city (ex. the City of Temecula) or a company (ex. Facebook) to support pre-law and the first year of law students.
• Legal Education Access Pipeline, a 9-month fellowship program – LEAP 

Applying to Law School 

We encourage students to apply early! Even with “rolling admissions,” law schools fill up quickly. Financial aid is often prioritized to those who apply early and can run out before the end of the application season. If you want a seat secured at a particular law school and the best possible financial assistance package, apply early! 

• Law School Application Timeline (DOC)
• Steps to Applying to Law School

LSAT  

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an integral part of law school admission that tests the skills necessary for success in the first year of law school. To learn more about the LSAT format, dates and fees visit LSAC.  

Prelaw students – the August 2024 LSAT exam will be updated to reflect the new format. For more information, review the information shared by LSAC here: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-changes-coming-august-2024
Last day to register for the August 2024 LSAT is on June 27th, 2024. 

Schedule a session with our prelaw advisor to discuss questions and receive guidance on your law school application procedures. 

Test Prep Resources: 

• Khan Academy 
• LSAC LawHub 
• Powerscore 
• TestMasters 
• Kaplan 
• Princeton Review 
• Blueprint 
• Magoosh 
• Free LSAT Test Prep Resources 

Essays 

Virtually every law school will ask you to submit a personal statement as part of your application. Following your LSAT score and GPA, the personal statement is the most important component of the application process.

Personal Statement 

• Nailing the Personal Statement Podcast   
• FAQs: Personal Statement  

Diversity Statements in Applications 

• A Guide to the Law School Diversity Statement 
• How to Write an Amazing Law School Diversity Statement

How to Choose a Law School?

Selecting the right law schools to apply to involves research and introspection. While a school’s reputation can be important, it’s easy to rely solely on their rankings. We recommended that you gather information about both law schools and yourself to arrive at your own criteria and help you make an informed decision.

Gathering Information

• Attend
  • Pre-Law Workshops,
  • Panel Discussions.
  • LSAC sponsored Law School Forum in Los Angeles or other metropolitan cities in the fall to speak with law school representatives about the application process, the LSAT, financial aid, diversity and the legal profession.
• Use LSAC Law School Links, to research law schools and program specifics
• Conduct informational interviews by calling or visiting law schools. Most all schools will have a representative who is currently in law school or who just graduated to talk with all potential law school applicants.
• Network with other Pre-Law students and legal professionals by attending events hosted by Pre-Law organizations such as the Los Angeles Bar Association, For People of Color, Inc. and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).

Factors to consider.

• Divide your chosen schools into 3 categories: Dream schools vs. Target schools vs. Safety Schools
• Financial Considerations
• Location – Where would you like to start your practice? Is weather a factor for you? Do you need to be near your family?
• Campus facilities (housing, library, classrooms)
• Faculty (legal training, areas of interest, accessibility, diversity)
• Academic programs (clinical opportunities, joint degree offerings, study abroad options)

Comparing Schools

Check out Standard 509 Reports, plus Employment Outcomes and Bar Passage Outcomes

• The American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education, has up to date reports on all ABA approved schools. The reports include data about tuition and fees, living expenses, GPA and LSAT scores, and grants and scholarships which can help you compare law schools before applying.
• Review the California State Bar Association website. A very interesting site with bar pass rates for ABA and non-ABA accredited schools in and out of the State.

Paying for Law School

• LSAC, Paying for Law School
• AccessLex/Max Pre-Law, Resources for Students

*Timeline and Choosing a Law School, et.al, UC Berkley, 2019