The Decision Process
Overview of Process
Admission to the School of Law is competitive and applicants with the strongest records are given priority. Admissions decisions are based on all the information revealed during a careful and thorough consideration of an applicant's entire admissions file. No applicant is granted or denied admission exclusively on the basis of an LSAT score or grade point average. Every applicant's file is individually assessed on the basis of both quantifiable and qualitative criteria.
Applications for admission are examined with the goals of:
- Assessing the overall competitive strength of the applicant's record as compared with all other applicants within that applicant's pool.
- Achieving a class that, as a whole, will have depth in quality, richness of background, wide variety of experience, breadth of perspective and substantial diversity of viewpoint. Such factors contribute positively to the attainment of a stimulating educational environment at Carolina Law and are essential to educational excellence.
Assessment Factors
Assessment factors that influence whether an applicant will be offered admission include, but are not limited to, consideration of the applicant's personal statement, essays, letters of recommendation and the following inter-related areas:
Applicant's academic background, preparation and likelihood of success
The quantifiable data and qualitative information regarding the applicant's acquired academic skills are evaluated by considering grades; college attended; major; undergraduate and graduate degrees earned; courses taken; class rank; trend or development in grades or academic program; activities; work or service experience during and after college; LSAT score; graduate work; and the development of strong reading, writing, analytical abilities and other skills particularly important to successful law study.
Likelihood of contribution to educational environment
The applicant's ability to make a contribution to the diversity of viewpoints and perspectives among the students is evaluated by consideration of:
- factors that contribute to diversity of viewpoint and perspective. These factors would include an applicant's perspectives as expressed in materials submitted with the application; educational, economic, social and family background; geographic or regional origin; disability or handicap; ethnic identification or race, veteran status, gender and age.
- the applicant's ability to interact with diverse types of people.
- the applicant's personal experiences, characteristics and life circumstances that have informed and shaped his or her perspectives.
Applicant's motivation, effort and desire
The level of the applicant's motivation, effort and desire to study law and be a successful member of the legal profession is evaluated by considering an applicant's special interest or special preparation for studying the law or participating in the legal profession, and an applicant's experience of having to overcome adversity, disadvantage or discrimination.
Likelihood of contribution to the legal profession
The applicant's potential to make a contribution to the legal profession and to society is evaluated by consideration of the applicant's maturity; leadership potential; evidence of good character, including assessment of the likelihood that the applicant will be an ethical and honest citizen and member of the legal profession; interest in helping the legal profession improve the quality and availability of legal services for all people, entities, and institutions in society that need access to quality legal services; and special skills or knowledge the applicant would bring to the practice of law or other professional use of his or her legal education.
In evaluating undergraduate achievement, substantial amounts of credit earned in various mechanical or technical courses, correspondence courses, military service, practical or studio arts and music performance courses may be excluded.
Application Processing, Acceptance and Enrollment
You will be notified by email once your application has been received by the law school, and in the weeks following, your application will be processed. During this phase, the admissions office will make sure your application is complete and prepare it for review. You will be notified by email when your application is considered complete and ready for review. If your application is incomplete, you will also be notified by email and given the chance to supply missing materials. Please be assured that the admissions office is working diligently to process your application; we request your patience and ask that you do not phone or email the office to inquire about the status of your application.
The decision process begins after the new year with notification to applicants whose credentials fall within the clear admission or denial categories. All decisions will be mailed. Those applications falling in the middle range are held for later decision. By late April, the class is generally filled, and a wait list is established. Admissions from the wait list generally occur when a vacancy is created by a withdrawal from an incoming student. Applicants accepting an offer of admission are required to make a non-refundable deposit of $350.00, which will be credited towards the first semester's tuition. Beginning students are admitted only once a year to the fall semester.
Important Residency Note:
Because each year 75 percent of entering students are legal residents of the State of North Carolina, an applicant's residency status must be determined first before a final admission decision can be made. All applicants claiming North Carolina residency status must complete the short North Carolina Residency Form. If after review of your short Residency Form it appears that more information is needed, a long North Carolina Residency Form will need to be completed. Please be aware that having to review a long Residency Form to determine your residency status will delay your final admission decision. Below is a list of situations that can cause the Office of Admissions to request you to fill out a long Residency Form. This list is by no means exhaustive:
- currently attending school (undergraduate or graduate) outside North Carolina
- currently working outside North Carolina
- currently living outside North Carolina
- relocated to North Carolina within the past three years
Deferred Admission
Applications are accepted, and admission granted, for the current year only, except in extraordinary circumstances. Accepted applicants may request a one-year deferment by submitting to the assistant dean for Admissions a statement detailing reasons for requesting the deferment. Deferments are approved on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to equality of educational opportunity. The University does not discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or sexual orientation. The Dean of Students (01 Steele Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-5100 or 919.966.4042) has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the University's non-discrimination policies.