JD Admissions

USF seeks to admit a diverse group of students who are among the most capable law students in the nation. We seek students who will work to promote the well-being of society, further the cause of justice domestically and abroad, and contribute to the common good.

At USF there is no formula to guarantee admission. Instead we consider multiple factors, including an applicant's undergraduate grade point average, LSAT score, undergraduate school, undergraduate course selection, and any graduate degrees. In addition, we consider past work experience, recommendations, community service, an applicant's overall potential to render significant contributions to the legal profession, and diversity.

Diversity is a core value of the law school, and, consistent with our mission, we aim to admit students from diverse backgrounds, including men and women of differing races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and ages as well as individuals with disabilities. Diversity enables students to learn from one another, promotes a variety of perspectives, and enhances empathy and critical engagement. In particular, the law school has a goal of providing meaningful representation of historically underrepresented minorities, such as African Americans and Latinos. We recognize that, by virtue of our nation's struggle with racial inequality, such students are both likely to have experiences of particular importance to the law school's mission and are less likely to be admitted in meaningful numbers on criteria that ignore those experiences. To help us assess these qualities, applicants may submit an optional essay on diversity.