<p>I am getting ready to start applying to schools this fall, but the whole application process seems so daunting. I am aware that I need to register for the LSDAS and I need to have my undergrad transcripts and letters of recommendation sent to LSAC. LSAC sends all that information such as LSAT scores, undergrad transcripts, and letters of recommendation to the schools you apply to, but what I don't understand is, how does the LSAC know which schools you actually applied to? Do you also do your application to each law school through LSAC? I was under the impression that I should just go to the law school's website directly and print out the application, and send it in the mail along with my personal statement and resume, and LSAC takes care of the rest. Do I inform the LSAC of which schools I applied to? Any help would be appreciated, this all seems so stressful to me, making sure everything gets sent right.</p>
<p>Good news: you can relax!</p>
<p>I also found the process pretty daunting, mainly because it was so different than other application processes and I didn't find the instructions very clear (or existent, as the case sometimes was). But the whole thing is actually VERY very easy. Over the course of the next few months, as your non-law school bound friends are trying to put together and mail out separate packets for each of their grad school applications, you'll be so grateful for LSDAS :)</p>
<p>LSAC has all/most (not positive) of the applications on its website. I believe that all/most (again, not positive, but it'll be clear) schools accept applications online, and most prefer it (some only accept them that way). You just find the list of online applications (available after you register for LSDAS), click whatever school you want to apply to, and start fillin' in the blanks. The website also has a Common Information form which you can just fill out once and then it will automatically input name/DOB/address/etc. into all of your applications...saves you some busy-work. You can save your progress and come back to any application at any time before it's submitted. The site also keeps track of which applications you have in progress, which you have completed, and which you've submitted. Your LSDAS reports won't be sent until you've submitted an application and paid for the report (in other words, they won't be sent out to every school whose application you click on, or even complete...you'll give your consent before anything is finalized). The LSAC website also keeps track of your documents and applications so that you can see when LSAC or a school receives and processes different pieces of info.</p>
<p>One piece of info that I wish I'd understood from the get-go: If you send updated info to LSAC (an updated transcript or whatever), they'll send an updated report (or this piece of it...whatever) to all of your schools without charging you again. In my case, one of my recommendation writers submitted her recommendation pretty late in the game, and I thought that if I applied before her rec had been received and processed (which I finally did, out of necessity), it would be left out of my LSDAS report. But nope, they just sent it along after the fact. So while you'll want to send your application in as few pieces as possible, don't panic if you run into a situation like that.</p>
<p>The process will go roughly like this (insert "take LSAT" somewhere at the beginning):</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Print off the transcript request form from LSAC. Submit it to your college through whatever process is generally required to request transcripts.</p></li>
<li><p>Decide how you want to have your letters of recommendation submitted (you can have certain writers target their letters to specific schools, or you can have them just write general letters that will go to all schools). Check on info like how many LORs each of your schools requires/prefers/accepts (letters are sent out in the order that they're received, so if you have 3 recommendations but your first choice school only accepts 2, make sure to set things up so that your two 'favorite' writers submit their letters before the third). All of this info--descriptions of your options, individual schools' policies, etc.--can be found on the LSAC website.</p></li>
<li><p>Print out the letter of recommendation forms from LSAC and give them to your writers (do whatever you think is polite or necessary...for example, you might put the form inside of a stamped and ready-addressed envelope, or include a resume or copy of your personal statement).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>[The earlier that you do all of the above, the better, because then LSAC will have your info and you won't have to wait anxiously for them to process everything while deadlines draw near.]</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Fill out the common information form on LSAC. Not imperative, but helpful.</p></li>
<li><p>Pick a school to apply to. Open the application on the LSAC website and get to work! Note that you may have to download something to display the applications, but don't worry, it's pretty quick and easy (life will be a bit easier for you if you can do all of your applications on the same computer). Check to see whether you'll need to fill out any supplementary forms, because sometimes you'll have to submit these to another office (I had one school that required a Dean's Certification, for example).</p></li>
<li><p>Attach any necessary forms (resume, personal statement, addenda).</p></li>
<li><p>From here on out, just follow the directions...they'll be clear. You'll have to review the application (no matter how tedious this seems, DO IT!), submit it, and pay. Most schools will allow you to pay by credit card through LSAC, but some will require you to mail them a check. Also, most schools will allow you to sign your application electronically, or they'll take electronic submission in place of your signature, but some will require you to mail in your signature. This should all be made clear on the application itself.</p></li>
<li><p>Review your 'shopping cart' and stuff to make sure that you've purchased an LSDAS report for every application. They'll email you confirmations and you'll also be able to make sure that each school requests/receives the info.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>You can apply to each school at a separate time or submit them all at once...no difference. Do make sure that you <em>OPEN EACH APPLICATION</em> early to check deadlines (two schools that I applied to had the wrong deadline listed on LSAC's little info summary page...the first page you'll see when you choose a school to apply to, but not part of the actual application).</p>
<p>I'm sure I have a few little steps mixed up or forgotten, but that should be the gist of things. It probably still sounds a little daunting, but it will make sense once you start playing with it. For now, the important part is just to register and to start sending in your paperwork (transcripts and LORs. Also, note that by "for now," I mean "within the next few months," ideally). I assume you've registered for LSDAS already (if you haven't, do so soon...no point in waiting if you're going to apply this fall), so start exploring the relevant areas of the website. I think that applications generally become available in September and submittable in October, but I'm sure it varies by school. </p>
<p>Sorry to give you so much more info than you really asked for, but I definitely sympathize with your situation. As much as I appreciated LSAC/LSDAS late in the application game, I really felt left in the dark during the early stages! Worry not...it becomes clear, easy, and incredibly convenient (relative to other grad application processes).</p>
<p>Also, quick apology for the fact that I used LSAC/LSDAS rather interchangeably throughout the above. I'm pretty sure it's inconsequential.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>No need to apologize...thanks so much for the very informative response..I'm already starting to feel more relaxed about this process. The LSDAS seems like a really great thing that makes this process easier for everyone.</p>