Admission with GRE & GMAT Scores
Beginning September 1, 2018, the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law began accepting GRE and GMAT scores in place of an LSAT score.
While the vast majority of our applicants will apply for admission using the LSAT score to meet our requirement for an admissions test score, South Carolina joined several other national law schools that accept the GRE and/or the GMAT as alternative admissions tests. We expect that acceptance of these alternative tests will broaden and diversify the applicant pool, while providing ample evidence upon which to evaluate applicants’ aptitude for the study of law. The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law offers 12 combination programs, allowing applicants to apply for several academic programs on the strength of one entrance test will save applicants time, effort and money. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) will remain the primary admission test, and the vast majority applicants will be admitted with an LSAT score.
Yes. All elements of the application must be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The completed application for admission, your academic transcript(s), letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, and other addenda you choose to submit as part of your application are processed by LSAC and delivered electronically to us through your CAS subscription service.
You must request that the appropriate testing entity send your scores to the University of South Carolina School of Law. Our GRE school code is 4157. For the GMAT, designate the University of South Carolina School of Law as a recipient of your score.
Yes. You must complete and submit the writing portion of your alternate test.
You must complete the questions on our application for admission that require you to indicate the tests (LSAT, GRE, or GMAT) for which you have valid scores. Your LSAT score(s) will be sent electronically to the School of Law as part of your CAS report.
No. If you have a valid LSAT score(s), a score on the GRE and/or GMAT will only be considered in addition to the LSAT score, not in place of a score. All valid LSAT scores are required to be submitted.
No. If you have taken the LSAT, your valid LSAT score(s) is the only test score you are required to submit. A valid LSAT score will be the primary score used in the admissions decision. Applicants who have also taken the GRE and/or the GMAT are encouraged to have their scores on these tests submitted to the University of South Carolina School of Law by the appropriate testing entity.
Yes. However, you will be required to report your cancelled LSAT score in your application for admission.
Both sections will be considered and respective scores averaged to represent a general percentile score.
The School of Law will follow the methodology established by the accreditation or evaluative entity when reporting scores on the LSAT and/or on alternative tests.
Admission with USC Now 2JD
The USC Now2JD program enables candidates who meet certain provisions to apply for admission without an LSAT score. This program is approved by the American Bar Association and is open to candidates whose bachelor's degree is, or will be, from a campus of the University of South Carolina. Admission is competitive and is not based on meeting the required credentials alone. Each element of the application file will be reviewed, and evidence of academic preparedness and professional promise will be evaluated.
- Candidates must have earned a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.60 or higher as reported by the Law School Admission Council's Credential Assembly Service.
- Candidates must provide evidence that they scored at or above the 85th percentile nationally on the SAT or ACT at the time the test was taken.
Eligible candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. It is the responsibility of the candidate to confirm through the Law Admissions Office that the program is still open before they apply. The ABA limits seats available to a percentage of each entering class. Once the enrollment commitments suggest that the entering class has reached this set percentage, the program will be closed.
Please call the Admissions Office at 803-777-6605 for more information or to verify that you are eligible to apply under the conditions of this special pilot admissions program. If you plan to apply to USC Law through the Now2JD program, please submit an additional addendum in your application stating your intentions. This will notify the admissions team of the need to waive the LSAT requirement.
This program is designed for candidates who have earned, or will earn, a bachelor’s degree from a campus of the University of South Carolina or seek to be enrolled in a graduate dual degree from the University of South Carolina. Candidates must have earned a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.60 or higher as reported by the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service. Candidates must provide evidence that they scored at or above the 85th percentile nationally (at the time the test was taken) on the SAT or ACT examination.
Collegeboard.org provides instructions for sending scores to University of South Carolina School of Law. To have your SAT score sent to the law school, use institutional code 9098.
You may access your score by creating an account at actstudent.org and clicking on “your test dates and scores” or by calling ACT at (319) 337-1313.
When requesting scores be sent to the University of South Carolina School of Law, please ensure that you submit ALL scores.
Review the Admissions Requirements webpage for more information regarding required application items.
Your application requirements and test scores may take a week or longer to be conveyed to the Admissions Office. Monitor your application status to see when your application is complete and in review with the Admissions Committee. Contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions regarding your application status.
Candidates with a valid LSAT score are ineligible for admission through Now 2JD. Admitted candidates who plan to accept the offer of admission must agree not to register for a future administration of the LSAT.
Yes. Candidates must apply to the law school at www.lsac.org following the law school's standard application process.
Yes. The American Bar Association, the accrediting agency for the School of Law, limits enrollment through this program. Once enrollment commitments suggest that the entering class has reached this set percentage, the program will be closed.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to confirm through the Law Admissions Office that the program is still open before they apply. Please call the Office of Admissions at (803) 777-6605 to confirm.
Eligible candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Depending on the timing of the application and future test dates, this could be possible. However, taking the LSAT after admission would disqualify a candidate for enrolling through the Now 2JD program.
Yes.
This occurrence will be handled on a case by case basis.
Candidates who are admitted through Now 2JD will be notified of any merit scholarship offer made to them before their deadline to accept or decline the offer of admission.
No. Candidates with a valid LSAT score are ineligible for the program. Admitted candidates who plan to accept the offer of admission must agree not to register for a future administration of the LSAT.
It is unlikely that another law school would accept an application to transfer from a candidate who does not have an LSAT score.
If you are eligible for another law school's alternative admissions program, you are welcome to apply for admission through that program and through Now 2JD.
Candidates who are admitted through Now 2JD will be notified of the deadline to accept or decline the offer of admission and agree to confirm their intent to enroll as outlined in the offer of admission. Candidates must agree to comply with pre-enrollment requirements of the law school, including the confirmation of residency status with the University. Since seats are limited, it is unlikely that requests for deferral of admission would be granted.