Rachel Wagner '03 took the LSAT last June, but decided to defer her application, in part because of "the almost unprecedented level of competition."
The recent economic recession led more students to take the LSAT last October than ever before, Rebecca Ross, assistant director of Career Services, told The Daily Princetonian earlier this month.
"When the economy is soft like it is right now," said Paul Hassen, assistant director of public affairs for the American Council of Education, "very often what happens is enrollment in grad schools increases as people look for alternatives to improve themselves."
Student response to the stiff competition has been mixed.
Dan Hantman '03 said he knew this year would be hard, but every year has been competitive.
"I knew that's what I wanted to do, so I was going to give it my best shot," Hantman said.
Wagner would like to spend next year working as a legal assistant in a district attorney's office, or traveling. She hopes to make a more informed decision about law school in a less competitive environment this coming fall, but is aware of the precarious state of the economy.
"With the way the economy has been going, my prospects of getting in where I'd like to go may have gotten worse, not better," Wagner said.
The slump in the job market may also be to blame.
The University of Chicago's newspaper reported that the university's law school had seen a 20 percent increase in applications for the second consecutive year and said this might be influenced by economic factors.
And while students may think the extra education will give them an advantage, the job market has gotten tighter yet.
"Many speculate that nationwide increases in law school applications . . . has caused many professionals to seek advanced degrees for the sake of staying competitive," reported The University of Chicago newspaper.
Other law schools have not noticed an increase in applicants this year. The Harvard Law School website reads, "We expect a volume of applications in line with recent years for the class entering in September 2003."
The websites for Yale Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School do not offer any information about the anticipated number of applicants for the Class of 2007.
Princeton's Career Services website includes a section entitled "Preparing for Law School" that helps students decide if law school is right for them and guides students through the application process. One subheading of the section includes the statement, "The decision to study law is one that you want to make only after solid self-assessment and occupational research. A 'default' decision — made just because the job market may be in a downturn — is the weakest of all rationales."
The consequences of a rise in applications and increased competition — its effect on average LSAT scores and GPAs for law schools, among other things — is yet to be determined.
Hassen predicted the increase in applications for further education would not be limited to law schools.
"I think you'll also find that medical school will be up, as will applications to grad school in general," Hassen said.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.