Last year, South Carolina Law joined a growing list of schools that seek to make the admissions process more accessible to highly qualified and motivated students of all academic backgrounds by accepting the GRE and GMAT in addition to the LSAT for J.D. admissions.

Applicants may submit the GRE or GMAT in lieu of the LSAT if the test score is current (taken within five years) and valid. While the LSAT will remain the primary test if taken along with the GRE and/or GMAT, all current, valid scores must be reported to the law school for admission consideration.

In order to maintain high standards of excellence while better supporting diversity, South Carolina Law will expect GRE and GMAT percentile scores to be comparable to or higher than the School of Law's median percentile scores on the LSAT. The law school’s holistic admissions approach will continue to consider all influential factors including strength of undergraduate curriculum, graduate study, work or life experience, contributions to society, and other individual characteristics. South Carolina Law’s holistic approach will be enhanced by accepting the GRE and GMAT, in addition to the LSAT, allowing increasing access to a legal education that emphasizes a combination of classroom learning and practical experiences.

The Law School expects the majority of students in each entering class will be admitted with an LSAT score as a leading credential, but the School believes that accepting the GRE and GMAT will increase the applicant pool in breadth and diversity.  Accepting these tests will also reduce the cost of applying to multiple graduate programs for individuals who have taken the GRE and/or GMAT but may not have the time or funds to take the LSAT. This decision will accommodate students with broader interests and career backgrounds, like science, engineering, medicine, and technology, who wish to pursue a legal education.

The LSAT will be offered nine times per year starting in 2020, and free on-line test preparation is available through collaboration between the Law School Admission Council and the Khan Academy. The GRE is a computerized test that is offered year-round at more than 1,000 test centers in more than 160 countries. The GRE is taken by more than half a million people annually, measuring verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. These skills are reflective of success in law school and the legal practice.

To learn more, read the FAQ about alternative admissions tests.