The University of Arizona law school will now accept GRE scores from applicants for its fall 2016 first-year class. In the past, the only standardized test the school’s admissions department accepted was the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Officials said the move comes after a study of UA law students demonstrated the GRE was as good a predictor of student success as the LSAT.
Marc Miller, the law schools’ Dean, said the goal is to increase student body diversity because the GRE is logistically more accessible. It can be taken any time of the year, as opposed to the LSAT, which is only offered four times a year.
"The larger a pool you have the more you can build a class with a range of skills, interests and backgrounds," said Miller. "In science, in engineering, in life experiences, in military and public service and so forth."
Officials within the American Bar Association’s accreditation and legal education department say the council is aware of the UA’s plan. In a statement, they said a school can do this if they can demonstrate a standardized test is a “valid and reliable” way of assessing student capability.
