The 3+3 Program provides a fast track to a career in law, allowing you to join the legal profession one year earlier. After three years of undergraduate study, you do not return to RU for a senior year; rather, you enter George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School as a full-time, first year law student. The program will save you one year’s worth of tuition and time.
What type of student should participate in the 3+3 program?
Because the 3+3 program provides a fast track to law school in six, rather then seven, years, participating students should be highly motivated to achieve academically. Many participants will come into their undergraduate study in possession of advanced credits that make it easier for them to complete their core curriculum and major specific courses in the shortened time frame. Additionally, because the average age of a law student is between 24-26, and many possess advanced degrees or already work in professional settings, it is recommended that applicants feel confident about their skill-set and demonstrate a high level of maturity.
How do I apply to participate in the program?
Once admitted to Radford University as an undergraduate, if interested in the 3+3 program, you complete a Program Participation Form indicating your interest in the accelerated program. The form does not obligate you to complete the 3+3 program or to attend Scalia Law; it simply starts the process.
What criteria must be met for me to continue in the program once I have matriculated at the undergraduate college?
You must select a major at RU that can be completed within three years. In other words, you must be able to complete all core curriculum and major courses by the conclusion of your third year of study at the undergraduate level.
Also, to be competitive, you should maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA during your studies because you will need that minimum GPA to gain admission to the law school.
You must take the LSAT in June of your second year of undergraduate work or in October or December of your third year of undergraduate work. You must obtain a score equal to or exceeding the median LSAT of the preceding year for Scalia Law’s entering students. See the Profile of the Entering Class from last year on GMU Law's website.
You must submit your law school application no later than January 1 of the year in which you want to matriculate into the law school, and then participate in an interview with admissions staff at the law school.
What undergraduate program is the best fit?
GMU Law does not require any specific course of study or background in particular subjects. You should pursue subjects in which you have an interest. Frequently, it helps law students to be able to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, so you may want to consider some courses that finesse those skills. Many law students report that philosophy and logic courses help them on their LSAT.
If I have questions, to whom do I speak?
Once you decide to participate in the program, you are required to work closely with your undergraduate advisor to be sure you are on track in terms of your major and core curricular requirements. If you have questions about law school and/or the law school application process, you are strongly encouraged to contact RU's Prelaw Advisor (Dr. Allyson Yankle) and the Associate Dean & Director of Admissions for the law school. The law school admissions staff is always available to answer your questions. In fact, they will be on the main campus once each semester for an general information session and for individual meetings with you as needed.
How many students can participate in the program each year?
Currently there are no minimum or maximum number of students per year. We seek to enroll all students who are qualified and sincerely interested in this accelerated program.
What happens once I have submitted my complete application to the law school?
The law school takes a holistic approach to review of law school applications, so we will be looking not only at your GPA and LSAT, but at the courses you have taken and your grade trends, your major, your personal statement, your resume, you recommendations, and your Mason Statement. Assuming you have met the requirements for the program related to your undergraduate coursework, minimum g.p.a. and LSAT, we will immediately schedule your interview. After the interview, you will receive an expedited – 1 week - decision on your application to the law school.
If admitted to the law school, what happens my undergradute senior year/law school first year?
Once you gain admission to the law school, rather than return to the undergraduate campus for a “senior year,” you will become a full-time first year law student, a “1L”, graduate student at George Mason University’s Arlington campus. You will follow the usual course of study for full-time first year law students.
Upon successful completion of your first year of law study, the credits earned will be counted toward the JD degree and as elective credits sufficient to complete RU's requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Your first year law grades will not be included with your RU grades in calculating your undergraduate grade point average.
If, for whatever reason, you elect to withdraw from the law program or if you fail to complete successfully the first year of law school, you may return without reapplication to RU for completion of your bachelor’s degree.
Once I begin law school, what happens to my financial aid package?
Students participating in a 3+3 Program may apply for financial aid. If deemed eligible to receive financial aid, during the first three years of the program, students work with the RU financial aid office and will receive financial assistance in the amounts appropriate for an undergraduate student. Once the student is officially accepted in the law school, the student will receive financial aid at the graduate aid levels and will work with the law school’s financial aid office.
Once you begin law school, you will be a professional student at George Mason, and you will pay the tuition and fees of the law school.
Is there on-campus housing for law students?
There is no on-campus housing for law students. Most students do live within walking distance of the school (although some commute in from their family homes outside of Arlington). Most students live with at least one roommate. We do help first year students find roommates by offering a housing survey, the response to which are shared with all incoming students seeking roommates.
Once I have elected to participate in the 3+3 program, must I attend Scalia law?
The answer to this question is “no.” Participating in the program can benefit you,
but your election to participate does not obligate to you attend Scalia Law. You may
decide to complete your four years of undergraduate education at your undergraduate
institution and go onto to another law school, take a job, or pursue some other course
of higher education; the choice is yours.
Radford University has two partnership agreements with Appalachian School of Law: an accelerated dual degree program and a preferential admission program.
Accelerated dual degree program
The Accelerated Dual Degree Program provides a fast track to a career in law, allowing you to join the legal profession one year earlier. After three years of undergraduate study, you do not return to RU for a senior year; rather, you enter Appalachian School of Law as a full-time, first year law student. The program will save you one year’s worth of tuition and time.
What criteria must be met to continue to be accepted into the 3+3 program?
Because the program is on an accelerated track, students should start planning at the start of their first year on campus. Part of this planning involves steps that the student should take to ensure they are ready to apply by the fall semester of their third year.
First and second years:
Third year:
If you meet all requirements of the program related to your coursework, GPA, and LSAT score, you will have an interview with admissions staff.
If admitted to the law school, what happens my undergraduate senior year/law school first year?
Students are under no obligation to attend Appalachian School of Law after they complete the application or they are accepted. Students can decide to complete your four years of undergraduate education at your undergraduate institution and go onto to another law school, take a job, or pursue some other course of higher education; the choice is yours.
If you decide to attend law school, rather than return to the undergraduate campus for a “senior year,” you will become a full-time first year law student, a “1L”, at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. You will follow the usual course of study for full-time first year law students.
Upon successful completion of your first year of law study, the credits earned will be counted toward the JD degree and as elective credits sufficient to complete RU's requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Your first year law grades will not be included with your RU grades in calculating your undergraduate grade point average.
If, for whatever reason, you elect to withdraw from the law program or if you fail to complete successfully the first year of law school, you may return without reapplication to RU for completion of your bachelor’s degree.
Preferential admission program
Radford University students interested in attending Appalachian School of Law may receive preferential admission if they apply by January 1st of the calendar year they plan on enrolling in law school. To qualify for preferential admission status, Radford University students should: