Admissions Decisions: How We Review Applications
Many highly qualified students will apply for the limited number of places in this program. The admissions process is structured to select a diverse group of students who will contribute as future leaders in the fields of law, medicine, and business to the University, to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to the nation. These contributions, of course, require outstanding scholarship. However, qualifications other than academic credentials are also important to leadership. Leaders in law, medicine, and business must be prepared to work in a wide variety of settings with individuals who come from a variety of disciplines which is why this program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to instruction. Exposure of our students to the perspectives of multiple disciplines is necessary to meet challenges that they will encounter as professionals in the future. Consequently, the admissions committee considers many factors in addition to academic achievement.
Our admission process follows and borrows from in large part that of professional schools at the University, such as the law school. First, applications are sorted by SAT scores and undergraduate grades to create a numerical index. We emphasize, however, that no admissions decision is based solely on academic credentials. Assessment of personal characteristics and achievements, the required essay, as well as letters of recommendation are also considered. There are two primary faculty readers for each file who review the students' credentials to the full admissions committee. The admissions faculty committee includes at least one faculty member who is a lawyer, a doctor, ethicist, and an MBA.
The faculty readers are instructed to assess each applicant according to not only the numerical index described above, but also to consider the strength of the applicant's curriculum, work experience, the nature and quality of any graduate level work or graduate admissions scores that the applicant may have on file as well as personal qualities displayed by the applicant. Based on this assessment, the admissions committee will rank the applications. At this stage, any identifying factors are blind to the Committee. Following this initial ranking, diversity and any hardship the applicant may have experienced are then considered by the Committee. Each committee member then votes on whether to admit, deny, or wait-list, the applicant. Those applicants who receive the most votes to admit will be admitted to the program. In the event that several applicants receive the same number of admit votes, the Admissions Committee will be asked to again consider each of these applicant and vote among these applicants as to which ones will be granted admission.
No quota is set for any classification of applicants, though an effort is made to assure an appropriate balance of students, meaning that there is no numerical advantage provided for any classification of applicants. Every application is considered on its own merits, recognizing that many applicants are qualified for a limited number of places.