Pre-law students say that their biggest concerns about their first year
of law school are academic and financial, according to a June 2015
Kaplan Test Prep survey of 466 pre-law students.* As they put together
their law school applications at a time when the number of LSAT® takers
is noticeably on the rise, here’s what prospective students are thinking
about most when it comes to their first year (1L) experience:
-
Achieving High Grades: Understanding how academically intense
the 1L experience can be, nearly 9 out of 10 (89%) pre-law students
surveyed said they are concerned about achieving high grades.
-
Maintaining a Healthy Work/Life Balance: Students’ first year
is considered to be the most rigorous of the three-years long law
school experience because of the many exams and reading. With that in
mind, 82% of surveyed students said maintaining a healthy work/life
balance was a concern.
-
Debt: With tuition at many law schools topping $40,000 a year
and the job market for lawyers still struggling to return to healthy
levels, more than three-quarters (76%) of pre-law students surveyed
said that taking on large debt is a concern.
-
Securing a Summer Internship: Securing a summer internship,
which can lead to post-graduation jobs, is an extremely competitive
process, which may explain why 73% are concerned about this aspect of
being a 1L. The critical piece to secure a summer internship: high
grades.
-
Fitting In: Whether due to confidence in their social skills or
indifference to being socially accepted, just 38% of pre-law students
said that fitting in socially was a first year concern.
“Your first year of law school is undoubtedly your most important. It’s
the start of what will hopefully be a rewarding three year experience,
and when you earn the grades that are most determinate in launching a
successful legal career,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of
pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The fact that pre-law students are
concerned about achieving everything from high grades to covering
tuition is an appropriate and natural response to the real challenges
that await them.”
*The e-survey was conducted in June 2015 of 466 pre-law law students
who prepared for the LSAT with Kaplan Test Prep. The LSAT is a trademark
of the Law School Admission Council, which is not affiliated with this
survey or Kaplan Test Prep.
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com)
is a premier provider of educational and career services for
individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the
world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of
online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital
products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests,
including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate
school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys,
physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and
graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, Kaplan operates
new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide
immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job
market and prepare participants for hire.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Graham Holdings
Company (NYSE:GHC)
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150722005431/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2015