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Each year, U.S. News & World Report explores U.S. colleges and universities to determine the top schools in the nation. Through their research of US schools, U.S. News & World Report prepares an annual "America's Best Graduate Schools" report. From this list, Law School Loans brings you the top 10 list for 2008.
This article reviews the law school category, and the criteria used to select the #1 school.
Criteria
Research conducted by U.S. News & World Report is based on peer assessments and then rated on a 5.0 scale. The demographics for these assessments include business leaders, legal peers, faculty, recruiters, and prior year graduate students. Typically, the top schools score 100% return on surveys.
In addition to ratings by professionals, U.S. News & World Report offers stats on the top schools, including GPA, GMAT score, the school's application acceptance rate, starting salaries, tuition, and other valuable information for the decision-making process of where to attend law school.
Top 10 Law Schools for 2008
1 - Yale University (CT)
2 - Harvard University (MA)
3 - Stanford University (CA)
4 - New York University
5 - Columbia University (NY)
6 - University of Chicago
7 - University of Pennsylvania
8 - University of California-Berkeley
9 - University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
10 - Duke University (NC)
Yale: #1
As the survey's top-ranked law school, Yale's core mission is training the next generation of leaders in law, the judiciary, academia, and public service. The educational program focuses on direct training under the guidance of a mentor, which is why the student-instructor ratio is so low at 7.3. If you have an interest in global law and public service and want personalized instruction and mentorship, Yale Law School is right for you.
Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Law School was one of the world's first law schools, growing out of an apprenticeship program located in the law offices of Seth Staples. Along with Samuel Hitchcock, Staples started the New Haven Law School in 1820, which became Yale Law School in 1824.
From that early foundation, Yale Law School accomplished its goal of world-class leadership in the 20th Century and is dedicated to continuing that tradition. Its continuing focus is to educate all students in public policy and the rules of law. Yale strives to develop political leaders as well as lawyers.
Statistics
Students attending Yale Law School are expected to participate in many programs outside of law. A student contemplating attending Yale Law School will want to consider the following statistics:
GPA: 3.83-3.97
LST Scores: 170-176
Acceptance rate: 6.8%
It is also worthwhile to note that nearly 100% of all Yale Law School graduates are hired within the first 9 months after graduation, with 94.5% holding jobs on the date of graduation.
Costs of Attendance
The approximate yearly cost of in-state and out-of-state tuition is $40,900 (2006 academic year). Room and board is estimated at $14,700, but this amount does not include costs of books, food, recreation, and other attendance expenses.
Yale offers financial aid to its graduate students in line with the federal student loan policy. For more information, visit http://www.law.yale.edu/admissions/Costs&FinancialAid.htm.
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