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The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) has long been the traditional gateway for aspiring law students, but today, a growing number of law schools, accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), are broadening their admission criteria by accepting Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. This shift contributes to greater diversity within the legal profession.

In this blog, we’ll unravel the GRE vs. LSAT showdown. Discover what each test covers, plus, we’ll spill the beans on the costs, helping you pick the perfect admission test to match your goals.

In this blog:

  1. GRE vs LSAT: What sets them apart?
  2. Why does the GRE matter for law school admissions?
  3. List of law colleges that accept GRE
  4. FAQs
  5. Final thoughts…

GRE vs LSAT: What sets them apart?

FEATURES GRE LSAT
Test Format Computer-adaptive format Online, remote proctored mode
Duration 1 hour 58 minutes 3 hours 30 minutes
Name of Sections  Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Writing sample and Variable section
Test Offered Can be taken five times per year, with a minimum of 21 days between tests Five times within the current reportable score period. A total of seven times over a lifetime.
Test Fees INR 18,304 INR 3999 for each session
Acceptance Recognized by 94 law schools Accepted widely in the majority of U.S. law schools.

Suggested Read: Top 5 Reasons to Take the GRE Exam

Why does the GRE matter for law school admissions? 

Law, a vast and impactful realm, touches our lives daily. It offers a multitude of opportunities for specialisation, where one can become a barrister, solicitor, attorney, or lawyer. Beyond the courtroom, they can explore roles as clerks, paralegals, investigators, and accountants, or even venture into the dynamic world of stockbroking.

Now, let’s talk about the GRE. This test isn’t just about numbers and words; it’s your ticket to honing analytical skills crucial for fields like law. It delves into arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, while also assessing your command of college-level language. But what makes the GRE truly shine is its knack for gauging your ability to think critically, analyse, and evaluate written information.

Suggested Read: Role Of GRE Scores In The Graduate School Admissions Process

For law schools and business programs that welcome GRE scores, your performance here, along with your academic record and supporting materials, plays a vital role in determining your suitability for the rigours of graduate-level studies. So, if you’re eyeing law schools that accept good GRE scores, don’t forget to review their specific requirements.

Suggested Read: Is GRE Quantitative Reasoning Hard?

List of law colleges that accept GRE

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the leading law schools that consider good GRE scores for admission:

Universities GRE Scores Required Tuition Fee (avg)
Yale University 332 $69,100/year
Stanford University 328 $64,350/year
Harvard University 320 $70,420/year
Columbia University 329 $82,460/year
University of Chicago 328 $73,185/year
New York University 328 $73,210/year

Other law colleges that accept GRE scores for admission:

  1. Albany Law School
  2. American University Washington College of Law
  3. Belmont University College of Law
  4. Boston University School of Law
  5. Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
  6. Brooklyn Law School
  7. California Western School of Law
  8. Charleston School of Law
  9. Cornell Law School
  10. Drake University Law School
  11. Duke University School of Law
  12. Faulkner Law School
  13. Florida International University College of Law
  14. Fordham University School of Law
  15. Georgetown University Law Center
  16. Golden Gate University School of Law
  17. Hofstra University – Maurice A. Deane School of Law
  18. Indiana University Maurer School of Law
  19. Kern County College of Law
  20. LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  21. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
  22. Massachusetts School of Law at Andover
  23. Monterey College of Law
  24. New England Law | Boston
  25. Northern Illinois University College of Law
  26. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
  27. Pennsylvania State University — Penn State Law
  28. San Luis Obispo College of Law
  29. Seattle University School of Law
  30. Southwestern Law School
  31. St. John’s University School of Law
  32. Texas A&M University School of Law
  33. University of Alabama School of Law
  34. University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
  35. University of Baltimore Law School
  36. University at Buffalo School of Law
  37. University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
  38. University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
  39. University of Chicago Law School
  40. University of Georgia School of Law
  41. University of Houston Law Center
  42. University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
  43. University of Miami School of Law
  44. University of New Hampshire School of Law
  45. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
  46. University of South Carolina School of Law
  47. University of Virginia School of Law
  48. Washington University School of Law
  49. West Virginia University College of Law
  50. Western State College of Law

Find more: Law Schools that Accept GRE Scores

FAQs

  • GRE vs LSAT: which should you take for law school?

Good GRE scores open doors to diverse graduate programs, while LSAT scores are preferred by law schools due to their accuracy in predicting success in legal education.

  • Is the GRE a common requirement for law schools?

Recently, GRE scores have gained significance in the context of law school admissions. You can easily find out how many institutions now request good GRE scores as part of their admission process.

  • Is taking both the GRE and LSAT for law school necessary?

Taking both exams isn’t obligatory. Nonetheless, achieving a strong GRE score can bolster your law school application, particularly if your LSAT score is on the lower side.

  • What qualifies as a good GRE score for law school?

A good GRE score for top law schools typically hovers around 328 overall, with quantitative and verbal reasoning scores falling within the range of 155 – 170, accompanied by analytical writing scores of 4.0.

Final thoughts…

Law schools have varying policies regarding GRE and LSAT application preferences, so it’s crucial to check your target school’s specific requirements. Nevertheless, it’s foreseeable that more U.S. law schools will embrace good GRE scores in the future.

If you’re unsure which test to choose, you can book a free consultation with our counsellors at Jamboree for guidance.

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