This Is How to Pick the Right Safety School

It’s common knowledge that the best strategy for law school admissions is to apply to balanced target list of schools—from safety to reach law schools.

But how do you go about categorizing your list? And what qualifies as a good safety law school? Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach and contributor at US News, recently delved into safety law schools and offered a few tips on how applicants should choose.

WHAT IS A SAFETY SCHOOL?

Safety schools, as the name implies, are schools where your odds of admission are very high.

“Usually, this means that your LSAT score and GPA both exceed the school’s medians,” according to 7Sage Admissions, a law school admissions consultancy. “A school is super safe if your LSAT score and GPA both exceed the school’s seventy-fifth percentile—assuming, of course, that you don’t have any major character and fitness issues.”

Another benefit of safety schools? A higher chance at landing financial aid.

“You should consider applying to safeties even if you don’t intend to go to them because they may offer you scholarship money,” according to 7Sage Admissions. “It’s sometimes possible to turn an offer of aid from a lower-ranked school into an offer of aid from a higher-ranked school.”

PICKING THE RIGHT SAFETY SCHOOL

While safety schools may be at the bottom of your target list, experts stress the importance of choosing wisely. Kuris recommends considering location as one of the main criteria for picking a safety school.

“For safety schools, law school location should be a paramount consideration,” Kuris says. “Not only is it important to study in a city or region where you would be happy to spend three years, but law school location can impact where you practice.”

Additionally, Kuris recommends researching each law school’s strengths and offerings by digging through their websites.

“Law schools put a lot of effort into their online marketing, and snooping around a site can help you determine how good of a fit it is for you,” Kuris says. “Look for clinics and other programs that match your career goals.”

Sources: US News, 7Sage Admissions