Application Instructions

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Application Instructions INSTRUCTIONS: PENN STATE LAW If you have any questions regarding admissions and/or financial aid, please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at 1.800.840.1122 or visit our website: www.law.psu.edu

Please provide all information requested. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. While the admissions office attempts to notify candidates whose files are incomplete, it is ultimately the candidate's responsibility to assure timely completion of his/her application.

NEW BUILDINGS Lewis Katz Building The Lewis Katz Building in University Park, Pennsylvania opened its doors to students at Penn State Law for the start of classes January, 2009. The $60 million Lewis Katz Building is designed for modern education and reflects the serious academic nature of the study of law, with a state-of-the-art library, classrooms, and gathering spaces that enhance students' opportunities for learning, discussion, and debate. Carlisle Building The recently completed Carlisle facility opened its doors to students for the start of classes January, 2010. Lewis Katz Hall, the centerpiece of the Carlisle facility, features state-of-the-art classrooms, a new courtroom/auditorium, an exterior courtyard, and an environmentally friendly vegetated green roof. Renovated Trickett Hall houses the law school's unified H. Laddie Montague Jr. Law Library and boasts a reading room that overlooks the green roof.

CITIZENSHIP U.S. Citizen (either by birth in the U.S. or through naturalization) U.S. Permanent Resident (a.k.a. immigrant; resident alien, green card holder), Asylee, or Refugee Neither U.S. citizen nor U.S. permanent resident

ETHNICITY (to be completed by U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents) Federal law requires that institutions of higher education gather the following information regarding the ethnicity and race of their students. Your individual information will be kept strickly confidential. The law only requires institutions to report aggregate totals for each category. The standard Federal Government ethnicity and racial definitions are described below: Ethnicity Definitions Hispanic/Latino (Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin) Race Definitions White (an individual having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa) Black or African American (an individual having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa) Asian (an individual having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam) American Indian or Alaska Native (an individual having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America [including Central America], and who maintains a tribal affiliation or community attachment) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (an individual having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands)

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APPLICATION FEE A $60 nonrefundable application fee is required. Credit card submission of payment is required.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES A current résumé and/or addenda to address any previous employment, professional experiences and extracurricular activities, skills and/or interests is required for your application to be considered complete and should be uploaded with your application. Any changes to your application or additional documents that you would like to include after submission of your application must be forwarded as email attachments to [email protected].

PERSONAL STATEMENT(S) A personal statement is required to complete your application. The statement should address: factors that have been significant in your development and identity; experiences or circumstances that may distinguish you from other candidates; or any special achievements or accomplishments. You should feel free to discuss a topic or topics of your choice. Please limit your submission to two pages of double-spaced type.

A brief second statement outlining your specific interest in Penn State Law is preferred, but not required.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Penn State Law requires two letters of recommendation submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service (LOR) to complete your application. If you graduated from your undergraduate institution within the last two years or are still in the process of earning your undergraduate degree, at least one recommendation from an academic instructor is preferred. Professional recommendations are also welcome. Penn State Law will accept evaluations, but prefers letters of recommendation. Any additional recommendations sent after submission of your application may be submitted through LSAC or sent as email attachments to [email protected]

CHARACTER AND FITNESS All applicants should note that there are character, fitness and other qualifications for admission to the bar. All applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the jurisdictions in which she or he intends to practice. More information about bar exams and bar examiners in various states can be found at www.NCBEX.org. Admission to Penn State Law does not guarantee admission to any bar.

INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN-EDUCATED APPLICANTS Penn State Law requires that your foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. If you completed any postsecondary work outside the US (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the foreign work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service registration fee. An International Credential Evaluation will be completed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your Credential Assembly Service Law School Report.

If English is not your first language, or you received your degree from a foreign institution, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if they have received a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution in a country where English is both the language of instruction and the only official or native language.

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To submit a TOEFL score, you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and request that your TOEFL score be sent to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code for the Credential Assembly Service is 8395. Your score will be included in the International Credential Evaluation document that will be included in your law school report.

IELTS score reports should be sent electronically to the Law School Admission Council.

To use the Credential Assembly Service, log in to your online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001, or [email protected].

FINANCIAL AID APPLICANTS If you are applying for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form) available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Penn State's school code is: 003329. If you are applying for institutional grant aid, you must also complete the Penn State Law Financial Aid application, available after January 1 on our website, www.law.psu.edu. For those applicants who will use private loans, information regarding those lenders will be forwarded to admitted students during the mid- to late-spring. The deadline for submitting the FAFSA form and the Penn State Law Financial Aid Application is March 1, 2013.

CHECKLIST: FIRST-YEAR STUDENT APPLICATION

Did you remember to:

____ Complete and transmit your application by April 30, 2013; ____ Pay $60 application fee by credit card (if the fee has not been waived); ____ Include a Personal Statement; ____ Upload résumé; and ____ Upload required and optional supplementary documents/addenda?

Have you:

____ Requested letters of recommendation? (Letters of Recommendation must be sent through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.) ____ Requested official final transcript(s) from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools you attended and asked them to be sent to LSAC? ____ Arranged for payment for your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report?

____ Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at www.fafsa.ed.gov? FAFSA must be completed by March 1 for consideration for need-based aid. The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 4 of 18

____ Completed the Penn State Law Financial Aid Application, available from the Penn State Financial Aid web page, http:// law.psu.edu/financial_aid/need_based_grants after January 1? March 1 is the deadline for consideration for need-based aid.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Penn State Law Office of Admissions Email: [email protected]

Website: law.psu.edu

Telephone: (800) 840-1122 Fax: (814) 867-0405

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Biographical Prefix Date of birth First name Place of birth: City

Middle name Place of birth: Country

Last name Place of birth: State/Province Suffix Gender Previous (other) name

Preferred first name LSAC account number

Contact Information Current Address

Country Current mailing address good until date

Street address--line 1 Day phone Street address--line 2 Evening phone Street address--line 3

City State/province

Zip/postal code Permanent Address Country Permanent mailing address good until date Street address--line 1 Day phone Street address--line 2 Evening phone Street address--line 3 City State/province

Zip/postal code The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 6 of 18

Contact Information continued Other Contact Information Primary e-mail address

Secondary e-mail address

Permanent e-mail address Mobile phone The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law can send text messages to my mobile phone ____ Yes ____ No

Family Next of Kin/Emergency Contact Salutation Country

First (given) name Street address--line 1 Middle name/initial Street address--line 2

Last (family) name Street address--line 3 Relationship to applicant City

Telephone (include area code) State/province Zip/postal code

If you have any close relatives who have been students at this university, please provide the following information. Relative 1 Relative 2 ____ Law school ____ University ____ Law school ____ University

First (given) name First (given) name Middle name/initial Middle name/initial

Last (family) name Last (family) name Relationship to applicant Relationship to applicant School attended School attended

Start date (month/year) Start date (month/year) End date (month/year) End date (month/year)

Degree awarded Degree awarded The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 7 of 18

Family continued Parent/Guardian - 1 ____ Choose not to answer Country

____ Deceased Street address--line 1

First (given) name Street address--line 2 Middle name/initial Street address--line 3 Last (family) name City

Occupation State/province Highest level of education Zip/postal code

Parent/Guardian - 2 ____ Choose not to answer Country ____ Deceased Street address--line 1

First (given) name Street address--line 2 Middle name/initial Street address--line 3

Last (family) name City Occupation State/province

Highest level of education Zip/postal code

Demographics Citizenship Citizenship ____ Non-Resident Alien ____ Permanent Resident ____ US Citizen Country of citizenship

Visa type Visa/SEVIS number

Permanent resident number Permanent city Permanent state/province The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 8 of 18

Demographics continued Permanent country Native language Ethnicity Are you Hispanic or Latino ____ Yes ____ No What is your race? Select one or more races to indicate what you consider yourself to be. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian ____Aboriginal/Torres Strait Isl. Australian American Indian or Alaska Native ____American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian ____Asian Black or African American ____Black/African American Canadian Aboriginal ____Canadian Aboriginal Caucasian/White ____Caucasian/White Hispanic/Latino ____Hispanic/Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander ____Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Puerto Rican ____Puerto Rican Consent ____ Decline to respond The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 9 of 18

Education List ALL educational institutions attended. Institution type ____ High School ____ Undergraduate ____ Graduate ____ Law ____ Other Post Graduate Institution name

Major Country Start date State/Province End date

City Degree GPA Date degree granted Rank

Institution type ____ High School ____ Undergraduate ____ Graduate ____ Law ____ Other Post Graduate Institution name

Major Country Start date

State/Province End date City Degree

GPA Date degree granted Rank

Institution type ____ High School ____ Undergraduate ____ Graduate ____ Law ____ Other Post Graduate Institution name Major

Country Start date State/Province End date

City Degree GPA Date degree granted Rank The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 10 of 18

Education continued Institution type ____ High School ____ Undergraduate ____ Graduate ____ Law ____ Other Post Graduate Institution name

Major

Country Start date State/Province End date City Degree

GPA Date degree granted Rank

List the academic honors, awards, or other recognitions you have received and explain the reason(s) upon which awards were made.

Education - Part 2 Have you ever attended any law school? ____ Yes ____ No If you previously attended another law school, please provide the date of your withdrawal or dismissal.

Please explain the circumstances surrounding your withdrawal or dismissal from any previously attended law school(s). Please include an addendum in the "Attachments" section of this application if more space is needed for your explanation. The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 11 of 18

Education - Part 2 continued If your education in college or professional school was interrupted for one term or more for any reason, please explain the circumstances here. Please use an addendum if more space is needed for your explanation.

Employment List all employment including internships. Employment type ____ Full-time ____ Part-time ____ Internship ____ Unpaid Internship Employer

Position Country Hours per week State/Province Start date City

End date Reason for leaving

Employment type ____ Full-time ____ Part-time ____ Internship ____ Unpaid Internship Employer

Position Country Hours per week State/Province

Start date City End date Reason for leaving The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 12 of 18

Employment continued Employment type ____ Full-time ____ Part-time ____ Internship ____ Unpaid Internship Employer

Position Country

Hours per week State/Province Start date City End date

Reason for leaving

Employment type ____ Full-time ____ Part-time ____ Internship ____ Unpaid Internship Employer

Position Country Hours per week State/Province

Start date City End date

Reason for leaving

Total number of months full-time work experience.

List your extracurricular, community, or other activities in the order of their importance to you. Give a brief description of your involvement, including any special responsibilities or leadership positions held.

Military Have you served or are you now serving on full-time, active US military duty? ____ Yes ____ No The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 13 of 18

Military continued Date of entrance (month/year) Date of discharge (month/year)

Rank

Expected military reserve or National Guard status during law school

Branch Discharge type

Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces under less than honorable conditions? ____ Yes ____ No If you have been separated from any branch of the US armed forces under less than honorable conditions, explain the circumstances.

Standardized Testing LSAT Test Date Test Score

TOEFL Test Date Test Score The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 14 of 18

Standardized Testing continued IELTS Test Date Test Score

LOR Penn State Law requires two letters of recommendation submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service (LOR) to complete your application. If you graduated from your undergraduate institution within the last two years or are still in the process of earning your undergraduate degree, at least one recommendation from an academic instructor is preferred. Professional recommendations are also welcome. Penn State Law will accept evaluations, but prefers letters of recommendation. Any additional recommendations sent after submission of your application may be submitted through LSAC or sent as email attachments to [email protected]

Please list the name and title of your recommender:

Law School Interest What prompted you to apply to this law school? Internet Faculty/Alumni/Professional ____ Law school ____ Faculty/acquaintance ____ LSAC ____ Relative ____ ABA ____ Law school faculty member ____ Other ____ Admissions recruiter ____ University/college faculty member ____ Legal professional ____ Prelaw advisor The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 15 of 18

Law School Interest continued Publications Recruiting Events ____ Law school publication ____ LSAC Forum ____ ABA-LSAC Official Guide ____ Law school fair ____ Princeton Review ____ International forum ____ US News & World Report ____ Campus event ____ Other advertisement ____ Law school direct mail/e-mail ____ Current student

If you attended any events mentioned in the Recruiting Events section, please list them below:

Have you previously applied to this law school? ____ Yes ____ No If you applied previously, what year was the application for?

Were you offered admission? ____ Yes ____ No Are you applying, or have you applied, to other law schools? If so, please list them.

Areas of Interest Joint Degree Programs: ____ Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) ____ M.B.A.-Smeal College of Business ____ M.S./Ph.D. Forest Resources-Coll.of Ag. ____ M.Ed./M.A./M./Ph.D./D.Ed.-College of Edu ____ M.S. (HR/Employment Relations) ____ M.S./ M.E.P.C.-Env. Pollution Control ____ M.S.I.S. (Information Systems) ____ M.P.A. (Public Administration) The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 16 of 18

Areas of Interest continued Specialized Fields of Study: ____ Advocacy and Litigation ____ Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation ____ Business Law ____ Constitutional and Administrative Law ____ Energy Law and Policy ____ International and Transnational Law ____ Labor and Employment Law ____ Land Use and Environmental Law ____ Public Interest Law ____ Science and Technology Law

Clinic and Externships: ____ Arts Sports and Entertainment Law Clinic ____ Center for Immigrants' Rights ____ Children's Advocacy Clinic ____ Civil Rights Appellate Clinic ____ Community Law Clinic ____ Family Law Clinic ____ Int'l. Sustainable Devel. Projects ____ Rural Economic Development Clinic ____ Federal Government Externships ____ State Government Externships ____ Public Interest/Non-Profit Externship ____ Semester in Washington, DC ____ Semester in Harrisburg ____ International Justice Externship The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 17 of 18

Areas of Interest continued In addition to the items indicated in questions 1, 2, and 3 of this section, please list any other areas of study or programs offered at Penn State Law in which you have a particular interest.

Disclosure Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime or infraction other than a minor traffic violation by any law enforcement agency, civil or administrative agency, or any other agency? Please note, although a conviction may have been sealed or expunged from the record by an order of the court, it nevertheless must be disclosed in your answer to this question.If you answered "yes" to this question, any and all details surrounding these circumstances must be disclosed in an addendum to this question using the corresponding document in the "Attachments" section of this application. ____ Yes ____ No Have you ever been subject to any disciplinary action, placed on academic probation, dismissed, suspended, expelled, asked to withdraw for academic reasons, or been subject to any action for misconduct or honor code violation at any school, college, university, or graduate/professional school, or is any such action pending or expected to be brought against you? If you answered "yes" to this question, any and all details surrounding these circumstances must be disclosed in an addendum to this question using the corresponding document in the "Attachments" section of this application.

____ Yes ____ No The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law Application Page 18 of 18

Disclosure continued Are there criminal charges pending or expected to be brought against you by any law enforcement agency, civil or administrative agency, or any other agency? Please note, although a conviction may have been sealed or expunged from the record by an order of the court, it nevertheless must be disclosed in your answer to this question. If you answered "yes" to this question, any and all details surrounding these circumstances must be disclosed in an addendum to this question using the corresponding document in the "Attachments" section of this application. ____ Yes ____ No Have you ever been subject to any sanctions for or findings of professional misconduct (e.g., debarment by a state, federal, or other agency; any form or professional discipline or license restriction or surrender; an admission or determination that you have committed research or professional misconduct)? If you answered "yes" to this question, any and all details surrounding these circumstances must be disclosed in an addendum to this question using the corresponding document in the "Attachments" section of this application. ____ Yes ____ No

Certification By checking this box, I certify that this application is complete and accurate upon submission. ____ I affirm and agree.

I will inform Penn State Law of any occurrences subsequent to the date of this application that would change the answers to any of the questions asked on this application. ____ I affirm and agree.

I understand that any omission, misstatement, or inaccuracy in this application or any supporting materials submitted by me, whenever discovered, may result in the withdrawal of an admissions decision and/or the voiding of my registration, in which event, I will receive no credit for any attendance at the law school. ____ I affirm and agree.