The University of St. Thomas

Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

Financial Aid

Student Services/Miscellaneous

Curricular Programs

Admissions

  • What do I need to do to apply to UST Law?

Students should complete an application for admissions to the University of St. Thomas School of Law. A complete application includes: a complete and signed application form; the application fee of $50; the personal statement, and; a complete LSDAS report. A complete LSDAS report includes a minimum of two letters of recommendation, a copy of all transcripts from post-secondary institutions, and a reportable LSAT score.  

Apply online before December 31st, 2007, we will waive the $50 application fee.

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  • Does it matter whether I complete a paper application or the online application?

No, UST Law has no preference for a paper or online electronic application, and a favorable decision will not be based on the use of either application format. If you prefer paper, you can request an application through the Office of Admissions, or you can print out your own application.

For students who prefer to apply using an electronic application, you may apply on line through the LSAC. Due to the ease and speed in which we are able to download the online electronic application into our paperless review process, there may be some time-saving benefits to using the online electronic application. 

Apply online before December 31st, 2007, we will waive the $50 application fee.

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  • When is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply for entrance into the fall class is July 1. However, UST Law reviews applications on a rolling basis and students should apply as early as possible to increase the chance for favorable admissions and scholarship decisions. 

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  • What does it mean to review applications on a rolling basis?

Reviewing applications on a rolling basis means that applications are reviewed by the admissions committee in the order in which they are received in the admissions office and become complete. 

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  • How do I know when my application is complete?

The admissions office will notify you by letter when we have received your application. We will also request your LSDAS report so that your application can complete and be forwarded to the admissions committee for review. If the report is missing any of the required components, we will not send you notice of that fact. It is not unusual for components of the LSDAS report to have been submitted and waiting to be processed by Law Services. A follow-up report is sent to the admissions office whenever additional pieces of information are updated to the report.

However, if there are substantial problems with the LSDAS report that require candidate action, the admissions office will contact you so that you may correct the issue. Applicants to UST Law should check with Law Services to ensure that their LSDAS report contains a reportable LSAT score, at least two letters of recommendation, and all post-secondary institution transcripts. You should also feel free to contact the UST Law admissions office to check the status of your application.

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  • What is the latest date I can take the LSAT exam?

UST Law will accept an LSAT score from any of the dates that the exam is offered. However, you should keep the July 1 application deadline in mind if you intend to take the June LSAT just prior to the fall entrance date. Since we admit students and award scholarship on a rolling basis, late applicants to the program may find that there are no seats or scholarship remaining at that late date.

Finally, UST Law prefers that an LSAT score not be more than 3 years old, but at no time will accept an LSAT score that is more than 5 years old.

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  • If I call the Admissions Office and provide my LSAT score and GPA, can I find out whether or not it is likely I will receive an offer of admission?

No. The admissions staff cannot predict the likelihood of an applicants chance of being admitted based solely on their LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. UST Law and the admissions committee consider many factors in addition to the numerical indices when making a decision whether to admit a student to the class. We refer to this as mission fit.

If you have questions about the competitiveness of your LSAT score or GPA with regard to the entire applicant pool, we would be happy to visit with you. Please feel free to make an appointment with the admissions office.

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  • If I took the LSAT more than once, how do you review the scores?

UST Law will review all test scores submitted, but will consider the highest score when reviewing an applicant's file. 

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  • What are the minimum LSAT score and GPA that UST Law accepts?

UST Law does not use cut-off or minimum score requirements when making admissions decisions. The medians, 25th and 75th percentiles represent the profile of the previous entering class, and are intended to be used as a gauge to measure the competitiveness of your numerical indices. Moreover, all applicants should seek to enter the applicant pool as competitively as possible with regard to their LSAT score, their undergraduate GPA, and their mission fit.

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  • Do you have an early decision process?

UST Law does not have an "early" decision process. We do, however, encourage students to apply early in the process. The admissions office begins accepting applications as early as September 1, and the committee begins reviewing applications in early December. Once a file completes and enters the committee review process, it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for a decision to be reached. Those students who have submitted their application early in the process have an increased opportunity to be considered for admissions and scholarship.

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  • How do I obtain an application fee waiver?

UST Law grants application fee waivers on a strict need-basis only. Generally, applicants requesting a fee waiver who can show that they received fee waivers for the LSAT and LSDAS will be granted a fee waiver. All other applicants requesting a fee waiver should submit either:

A letter from your financial aid office if you are currently a student, or supporting documentation, such as a tax statement if you are not a student.

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  • May I submit more than two letters of recommendation?

Yes. UST Law requires a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. However, you may submit as many letters of recommendation as you deem valuable or beneficial to your application. Also, remember that LSDAS will accept four general letters of recommendation to be sent to every school to which you apply. Additional letters must be sent directly to the admissions office.

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  • What is the LSDAS?

LSDAS stands for the Law School Data Assembly Service, and is offered by LSAC, the Law School Admissions Council. LSAC is the same organization that administers the LSAT exam. LSDAS is a service offered as a convenience to both applicants and law schools, and serves as a clearinghouse for the information and data necessary for applying to law schools. Your LSAT exam score will be reported to law schools through this service.

It is also the mechanism that calculates all credits from all of your post- secondary institution transcripts into a cumulative GPA and compiles a complete record of your letters of recommendation. The LSDAS allows students to have one copy of transcripts and letters submitted on their behalf. A complete LSDAS report is then forwarded to the law schools at which you apply.

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  • Do I have to register for the LSDAS?

Yes. All students applying to UST Law must register with LSDAS. An LSDAS report will be the method through which your LSAT score, letters or recommendation and transcripts will be submitted to the law school for review.

To register for the LSDAS, please go to the Law School Admissions Council website. 

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  • Does UST Law consider the personal statement and letters of recommendation in the decision to award scholarship?

Yes. The personal statement and letters of recommendation are a valuable part of the admissions committee's review. The personal statement is used to evaluate mission fit, as well as displaying the writing skills necessary for being successful in law school. The letters of recommendation are useful in highlighting the characteristics, both academic and personal, that an applicant brings to the law school community.

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  • When will I be notified of the admissions decision?

Once a file completes and enters the committee review process, it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for a decision to be reached. At that time, applicants will be notified of the committee's decision regarding an offer of admission and possible scholarship award.

Applicants who have been denied or waitlisted will also receive a letter notifying them of the committee's decision in that same period of time.

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  • How do I check the status of my application?

Applicants may check on the status of their application by calling the admissions office at 651- 962-4895 or toll free at 800-328-6819. Status may also be checked via email by contacting us at lawschool@stthomas.edu.

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  • Does UST Law offer a conditional or provisional admission program?

UST Law does not currently offer a conditional or provisional admit program. We do, however, participate in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity and the Pre-Law Summer Institute summer programs. Students who are applying to or plan to participate in either of these programs should disclose that as part of their application.

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  • I plan to participate in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) / Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) program this summer. Will this be considered by the Admissions Committee?

Yes. An applicant's participation in the CLEO or PLSI program will be considered by the admissions committee, and should be disclosed as part of the original application. A decision from the admissions committee may be held pending evaluation of your participation and performance in the program.

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  • Does UST Law offer a part-time law program?

No. UST Law does not offer a part-time program; we are a full-time day program only. Although some upper division electives may be offered during the evening hours, students are required to commit to and carry a full load of coursework which will include day time classes.

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  • Does UST Law offer an L.L.M. program?

UST Law does not currently offer a masters of law (LLM) program, and only awards the Juris Doctor (JD). The J.D. is the first level of legal study in the United States, and is sufficient to sit for a bar examination to become a licensed attorney.

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  • I received a letter stating that I have been waitlisted. What does it mean to be waitlisted?

Waitlisted means that the admissions committee has completed review of your application, but has chosen not to make an offer of admission at this time and would like to hold the application for further review should there be seats available later in the admissions process. To be waitlisted is distinct from a denial, which means that the committee has reached a final determination on the application and will not review the file further for any openings in this year's entering class.

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  • I received a letter indicating that my application has been denied. Can I appeal the decision or request reconsideration?

No. Once an applicant has received a decision denying their application for this year's class, there is no ability to appeal that decision. Students are welcome to apply during a subsequent application season but should seriously evaluate the need to improve the strength of their application to be more competitive in a new applicant pool.  

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  • Is it possible to defer my decision of admission until next year?

UST Law accepts requests for deferment in writing. Should the request be approved, the deferral will be for one year. Applicants receiving scholarship and requesting to defer, will not be allowed to defer the scholarship. Instead, the applicant will be considered again for scholarship with the next year's applicant pool, and is not guaranteed a scholarship award.

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  • My degree is from a foreign institution, where should I send my transcripts?

If your undergraduate work was done outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada, then The University of St. Thomas School of Law School requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the LSDAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSDAS report.  For additional information, visit www.lsac.org

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  • How do I arrange a visit to the law school?

Applicants interested in visiting the law school may contact the admissions office at 651-962-4895 or lawschool@sthomas.edu. You should be prepared to provide the admissions staff with dates and times that are convenient for you to visit. We will make every effort to accommodate your visit and to arrange for you to meet with an admissions counselor, current students, and sit in on a class. 

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  • Can I sit in on a class?

Yes. You should contact the admissions office with dates and times that you are available to sit in on a class. Please remember that it is very important for you to be on the law school campus at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the class so that we may escort you to the class before the professor begins discussion. 

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  • Where should I park when visiting?

Visitors to campus should park in the campus parking ramp located just past the law school on 11th Street past Harmon Place. This is the only parking that the law school may validate.

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  • How much does it cost to attend UST Law?

Tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year at the University of St. Thomas School of Law is $28,565 based on an enrollment of 29 credit hours. Tuition is charged each semester at a rate of $985 per credit hour enrolled. Required fees for 2007-2008 total $267. This includes a Technology Fee of $142 and a Student Fee of $125.

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Financial Aid

  • When should I file the FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be filed anytime after January 1, 2007. The FAFSA should be filed after you complete your taxes, but preferably no later than April 1, 2007.

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  • How do I apply for need based financial aid through the law school?

Need based financial aid is awarded through the FAFSA process. UST Law does not award scholarships solely on the basis of need, and does not require a separate application for scholarship consideration.

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  • What is the Federal Code for the University of St. Thomas School of Law?

Our code is 002345. When completing the FAFSA form, you will be required to enter UST Law's federal school code.  

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  • How do I choose a bank for my student loans?

The University of St. Thomas Office of Student Financial Services provides a list of lenders you may search. Additionally, information regarding choosing a lender for your student loans will be provided to you once confirmation of an award has been received by the Associate Director of Financial Aid for Graduate and Law Programs.

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    Student Services/Miscellaneous

    • Do you have on campus housing?

    No. The University of St. Thomas School of Law does not provide on-campus housing for law and graduate students. However, the cities and suburbs of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area comprise a vibrant and dynamic location for students to live. Whether a student is interested in urban or residential living, city scapes or park views, the Twin Cities has a neighborhood and style of living right for each person.

    While students have the option of living throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, many of our current students choose to live near the law school situated on our downtown Minneapolis campus or near the main campus in St. Paul. However, housing costs can vary greatly throughout the metropolitan area depending on a number of factors like location, size, and number of roommates.

    If you have questions or need assistance regarding housing in the Twin Cities, please contact Grace Magill-Cuerden at glmagillcuer@stthomas.edu or by phone at 651-962-4895.

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    • What does housing cost in the Twin Cities?

    Housing costs can vary greatly throughout the metropolitan area depending on a number of factors like location, size and number of roommates. UST Law currently provides for an allowance of $840 per month for housing in your annual budget which covers the nine academic months of law school per year. We encourage students to make every effort to keep housing costs within the budgeted amount by looking for student discounts, getting a roommate, or avoiding luxury apartment complexes that offer no discount. 

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    • I do not know anyone in the Twin Cities, but would like a roommate. How do I go about finding one?

    If you would like help finding a roommate, contact Grace Magill-Cuerden at glmagillcuer@stthomas.edu. Grace will make every effort to assist you in finding another law student that is compatible to share your living space. You can reach Grace at 651-962-4895 in the Admissions office.

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    • Do you have a career services office?

    Yes. We have a Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO). UST Law believes that this is distinct from a simple career services office in that our career professionals help you prepare over the duration of your law school experience to become a legal professional. The CPDO staff helps each student define and focus on their specific career goals, and helps the student utilize the relevant tools at their disposal.

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    • Where exactly is the University of St. Thomas School of Law located?

    The law school is located on our downtown Minneapolis campus, situated on 11th Street between LaSalle Avenue and Harmon Place.

    Visitors to campus should park in the campus parking ramp located just past the law school on 11th Street past Harmon Place if they would like to have their parking validated.

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    • How much does parking cost for UST Law students?

    Law students who choose to park in the downtown Minneapolis campus parking ramp currently pay $230 per semester. This fee allows students to park all day, every day and allows for unlimited entrance and exit from the ramp. Students also have the ability to park on the St. Paul campus with this permit.

    Alternately, students may choose to park on the St. Paul campus for a reduced fee and ride the free shuttle between campuses. However, students with a St. Paul campus permit are not allowed to park in the Minneapolis campus parking ramp, and must pay the day parking rate to do so.

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    Curricular Programs

    • What concentrations or specializations does UST Law offer?

    The University of St. Thomas School of Law offers a broad curriculum based on the social justice emphasis of our mission, and takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law. Therefore, we do not indicate any of our curricula as a specialty or concentration area and instead, encourage each student to choose electives that will best prepare them for their career in law.

    Unlike in undergraduate studies, students are not required to declare a major. Law students typically take courses based on their specific interests in an area of law, or dabble across a wide array of coursework allowing them to develop a broader understanding of the general body of law. In fact, lawyers gain their true "expertise" in a particular area of the law throughout the duration of their career. Additionally, lawyers are frequently required to change the focus of their law practice and develop another range of knowledge without returning to law school.

    Finally, it is important to note that UST Law offers much of the same coursework often classified as part of a specialization or concentration. For students interested in knowing more about the courses offered at the University of St. Thomas School of Law or how they match up with a particular concentration, please review our course descriptions.

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    • Does UST Law offer joint degrees?

    Yes. UST Law offers five specific joint degrees. For specific questions, please contact the admissions office or Professor Scott Taylor at 651-962-4975.

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    • What is the Mentor Program?

    The Mentor Externship is an intergenerational fellowship of inquiry and support to assist in the formation of the student who is becoming an attorney. The program pairs students with a practitioner from the Twin Cities and participates in a number of "experiences" that expose the student to the real life tasks of attorneys.

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