Taking the LSAT is no longer a requisite for going to law school — at least Harvard Law School. On Wednesday, Harvard Law announced a pilot program that will allow applicants for the class of 2018 to submit their scores from either the LSAT or the GRE.
The change is intended to make legal education more accessible, and to alleviate costs associated with preparation and test-taking. The LSAT is only held four times a year, while the GRE is offered "frequently throughout the year and in numerous locations around the world," Harvard said. Moreover, Harvard noted the GRE has been shown to be a "valid predictor of first-year academic performance in law school."
Harvard isn't the first law school to make this change. The University of Arizona College of Law was the first to do so last year, and two other schools have since begun allowing applicants to submit GRE scores. However, because of Harvard Law's prestigious reputation — it's tied with Stanford University for No. 2 in the nation — its decision "could upend the admissions process for legal education," The Washington Post reported.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Will other schools follow? Probably," said Kyle McEntee, executive director of Law School Transparency. He suggested many law schools have already been contemplating the change, as "schools across the board have been struggling with applications — not only applicants, but the quality of applicants."
-
September 1 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
ABC News to pay $15M in Trump defamation suitSpeed Read The lawsuit stemmed from George Stephanopoulos' on-air assertion that Trump was found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments lawSpeed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security lawSpeed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitutionspeed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidenceSpeed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulationsSpeed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriageSpeed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
