Want to find out how to get into Penn Law?
You’re in the right place.
Today, I’ll show you how to create a strategic, impactful application that will help you stand out and get accepted into Penn Law.
Ready to find out more? Let’s go.
What programs does Penn Law offer?
Before we discuss how to get into Penn Law, let’s talk about the programs available.
They are:
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Master in Law (ML)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Masters in Comparative Law (LLCM)
- Doctor of Juridical Science Program (SJD)
Penn Law also offers joint degrees and international programs.
And if you can’t find the exact program you want, you can even create your own ad hoc joint degree.
Today, we’ll be focusing on JD admissions.
So, what kind of scores do you need to get in? I’ll tell you next.
What GPA do you need for Penn Law?
The most recent GPAs among Penn Law students are:
- 75th percentile: 3.99
- 50th percentile: 3.93
- 25th percentile: 3.77
In other words, a 3.99 GPA is high, while a 3.77 is low. A 3.93 is average.
And what about LSAT scores?
What LSAT score do you need for Penn Law?
The latest LSAT scores are:
- 75th percentile: 174
- 50th percentile: 172
- 25th percentile: 168
The average LSAT score is 172, with 174 being high and 168 being low.
But if your scores aren’t this high, don’t panic.
How do I know?
Because I did exactly that.
Seriously! I figured out how to get into Penn Law even with lower scores and received a scholarship.
Want to find out how to get into Penn Law the way I did?
I’ll share my strategy in a bit. But first, let’s talk about the application process.
How do you get into Penn Law?
Here are the application requirements for Penn Law:
- $80 application fee
- Transcripts
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School report
- Standardized test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- Personal statement
Let’s go over these in more detail.
Application and transcript
In addition to a completed application with an electronic signature, you’ll also need to submit the $80 application fee and transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate work you’ve completed.
Credential Assembly Service Law School report
Penn Law also requires your CAS report. This includes your:
- LSAT score
- LSAT writing samples
- Transcripts
- Undergraduate academic summary
- Letters of recommendation
In other words, it covers everything Penn Law needs to know about you as a potential law student.
Standardized test scores
When it comes to your test scores, Penn Law accepts approved LSAT, GRE, or GMAT scores from the last five years.
So, if you’re here to find out how to get into Penn Law in the fall of 2025, you can submit scores received between June 2019 and February 28, 2025 (as long as your application is submitted by March 1).
It’s worth keeping in mind that every score will be included as part of your application.
So, if you took a test more than once and saw a significant difference in scores, it might be worth writing an addendum to explain why this happened (but we’ll discuss this more later).
Personal statement
Now, my personal statement made all the difference.
My scores weren’t in line with Penn Law’s median score.
But it didn’t matter.
Why?
Because I wrote a powerful personal statement that got me noticed by the admissions team.
So, let’s dive into how to get into Penn Law with a great personal statement.
First off, your story should be powerful and show how you will contribute to Penn Law and the legal profession.
That’s a lot to fit into a two-page document (which is the length that Penn Law recommends).
So you’ll want to keep it simple!
Tell a story that’s focused on one theme, demonstrates your critical thinking skills, and clearly explains why you want to go to law school.
Here are a few brainstorming questions to help you find your topic:
- What sets you apart?
- What’s something that someone wouldn’t know about you from your application?
- What do you want to accomplish as a lawyer?
- What are your unique skills or talents?
I recommend you don’t tell stories about:
- Historical or political events
- Athletics
- Study abroad experiences
- High school events
But remember, there’s no need to panic about your personal statement. I’ve created a few resources to help you:
Coming up: Letters of recommendation and your law school resume.
Two letters of recommendation
Penn Law requires you to submit at least two letters of recommendation, but they accept up to four.
My advice?
Submit three.
It’s a great way to show the admissions team a well-rounded view of you as a person and student.
Now, when it comes to who to ask…
The admissions committee is looking for letters that comment on your intellectual, analytical, and written abilities.
That means they want to hear from your teachers or advisors.
However, if you’ve been out of school for several years – or just can’t ask a teacher – they also accept letters from employers or colleagues.
Still stuck? I’ll help you figure out who to ask in this guide (hint: it’s NOT your friends or family).
Law school resume
Now, I see way too many applicants who look at their law school resume as a technical part of their application.
The thing is this isn’t your typical resume.
Instead, it’s a powerful way to stand out and highlight your work ethic, writing and analytical skills, leadership, and more.
So, how do you write it?
It should be one to two pages and highlight:
- Work experience
- Extracurricular activities
- Volunteer experience
- Education
- Academic awards
With that in mind, I recommend using the following headers:
- Education
- Professional Experience and/or Employment
- Activities
- Community Engagement
- Publications
- Accomplishments
- Skills/Interests
Learn more about your law school resume (including why it matters) in this guide.
Optional essay
Finally, if there’s any information you couldn’t include in your personal statement, an optional essay might be your best bet.
Penn Law gives you four topics to choose from:
- How your background or experiences will enhance the school’s diversity
- What defines you and how your goals and values match Penn Law’s core strengths
- What you find valuable or challenging about a collaborative environment
- Why your academic record or test scores don’t reflect your ability
You can answer as many as you’d like, but each essay is limited to one double-spaced page.
I’ll share the best tips for writing an optional essay in the next section.
Top tips on Penn Law optional essay
Here’s what to keep in mind as you sit down to write your optional essay:
- Be strategic and choose your topic wisely: Make sure you take time to select your essay prompt. Instead of choosing a topic that you’ve already covered in your personal statement or elsewhere in your application, select one that presents new information and showcases a different facet of your background or goals.
- Write concisely: While there’s no word limit, there is a limit of one page – which means you need to make your point quickly and effectively. Avoid any unnecessary details or repetitive language. Put simply: every word you write should add value to your narrative.
- Proofread: After you’ve finished your essay, read it – and then reread it! Meticulous proofreading is essential because errors can easily distract from your message. They can even suggest to the admissions team that you don’t pay attention to detail.
- Be authentic: Instead of writing what you think the admissions team wants to hear, be yourself! Write with your own voice and share experiences that speak to your journey and reasons for attending law school. That’s what makes an essay engaging and memorable.
We’ve just talked about how to get into Penn Law – now, let’s talk about who gets in.
Penn Law admissions statistics
Here are the latest admissions statistics for Penn Law.
Acceptance rate
It’s well known that Penn Law is incredibly selective.
In fact, in 2023, the acceptance rate was just 9.88%, making it one of America’s most competitive law schools.
Let’s take a quick look at acceptance rates over the years:
| Year | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 9.88% |
| 2022 | 9.74% |
| 2021 | 9.39% |
| 2020 | 14.30% |
| 2019 | 14.51% |
Rankings
You may be wondering, “Why is Penn Law so selective?”
In short, it’s because it’s consistently named a T-14 law school and is considered a top 10 school by the US News and World Report.
It’s ranked alongside some of the best law schools in the country, including Harvard, Duke, and the University of Virginia.
But with such a low acceptance rate, who gets in? I’ll tell you next.
Who gets into Penn Law
- 50% are women
- 49% are students of color
- 28% identify as LGBTQ+
- The average age is 24
- 7% have advanced degrees
- 73% have been out of college for one or more years
- 45% are first-generation college or professional school students
- 24% majored in a STEM subject
Keep reading to find out how much it costs to attend Penn Law.
Penn Law tuition fee and financial aid
Before factoring in costs like food and housing, Penn Law tuition is $74,688.
But don’t panic – financial aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans.
In fact, 54% of students are receiving grants and scholarships.
One of the most important things to know about how to get into Penn Law is when your application is due. So let’s cover that now.
Penn Law application deadlines
Remember, Penn Law admissions are done on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply, the better.
Here are the dates to keep in mind:
| Applications open | September 1 |
| Early decision application deadline | November 15 or January 7 |
| LSAC report for early decision deadline | December 1 or January 15 |
| Standardized tests | February 28 |
| Regular decision application deadline | March 1 |
| FAFSA application | Early January |
Speaking of scores…
What happens if you score lower than you’d like?
How do you get into Penn Law with lower GPA or LSAT scores?
Here’s the good news:
It’s okay if your LSAT or GPA scores aren’t higher than the averages. You actually have more breathing room than you realize.
Remember: a high GPA is 3.99, an average GPA is 3.93, and a low GPA is 3.77.
And when it comes to LSAT scores, 174 is high, 172 is average, and 168 is low.
In short, you just need a score within reach of the averages.
It’s also worth noting that Penn Law takes a holistic approach to admissions.
That means the admissions team considers every facet of your academic history, including grades, coursework, essays, letters of recommendation, and experience.
And, when it comes to scores, the team doesn’t use “matrices or indexes when evaluating applicant files and has no statistical cut-offs for review.”
That said, there are a few things you can do in the face of lower scores.
Retake the LSAT
There’s no shame in retaking the LSAT hoping to improve your score.
However…
While you can take it up to three times in a single testing year, I don’t recommend this.
That’s because you’ll have to explain why you took it so many times.
Read more: How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT? Does Retaking Hurt You?
Take the GRE
The LSAT isn’t the only option – Penn Law also accepts the GRE. So if you don’t want to retake the LSAT, you can go down this route instead.
Create a strong application
Lastly, your absolute best bet on how to get into Penn Law with lower scores?
Creating the best application you can.
It should speak to your abilities, dreams, and why you’ll be a great addition to Penn Law’s community.
So be as strategic as possible when writing your personal statement, asking for letters of recommendation, and crafting your law school resume.
What’s next?
And that’s how to get into Penn Law!
It’s a competitive process, but as you can see, it is possible.
If you want to create an application that stands out and proves you’re the right person for Penn Law, I’m here to help.
Find out what it’s like to work with me here.
Read more:
The Top Law School Admission Statistics
Law School Requirements and Prerequisites
