Law Early Admissions Program (LEAP)
Law Early Admissions Program (LEAP) is a 3+3 or 4+3 cooperative express admissions program which allows qualified students to complete core requirements, earn a bachelor's degree at Elizabethtown College and gain automatic acceptance to Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Duquesne University School of Law, Widener University Delaware Law School, or Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Depending on a student’s major and academic goals, this program can function as a 3+3 or 4+3 B.A./B.S./J.D. program. Only high school students applying to Elizabethtown College will be admitted to the program.
Application Deadline: March 15
To be admitted to LEAP, students must:
- Apply to Elizabethtown College and indicate your interest in LEAP by checking the box on your Elizabethtown College or Common Application
- Connect with Admissions to learn more about LEAP (optional)
- Achieve a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher (or its equivalent)
- Possess a minimum SAT score of 1200 or ACT of 25*
*Standardized Tests are optional with no penalty for those who choose not to submit.
Once admitted to LEAP, students must maintain good standing in the program by complying with all academic, ethics and character requirements established by Elizabethtown College.
LEAP students pursuing the 3+3 course of study only may apply to one law school at a time. Applications to participating law schools as part of the 3+3 program should be considered binding, early-decision applications.
Your Path to an Accelerated Career
Apply for LEAP by March 15 by checking the box on your Elizabethtown College admissions application.
Meet with your pre-law advisor to devise a schedule to complete the 3+3 or 4+3 program.
Maintain good academic standing. Ensure that you achieve a GPA of 3.5 by the time you apply to law school.
Take the LSAT by December of your final year at Elizabethtown College. Students must meet the LSAT requirements established by Drexel University, Duquesne University or Widener University.
Apply to one of Elizabethtown College’s partnering law schools including Drexel University, Duquesne University, or Widener University.
Begin law school. When enrolled in the 3+3 program, the first year of law school fulfills your fourth year of undergraduate credits.
Applying to Our Cooperative Programs
LEAP with Duquesne University School of Law
- complete 96 or more undergraduate credits, including all major and core courses, before enrolling in law school courses.
- earn a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5, as determined by the Law School Admission Council.
- meet the ethics and character requirements of Duquesne University School of Law.
- earn a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score at least in the 60th percentile on the present LSAT. It is assumed that the LEAP student will take the LSAT no later than December of the student's third year (for 3+3 students) or fourth year (for 4+3 students). However, by written request to Duquesne University School of Law, a student may defer taking the LSAT until the spring of his/her third or fourth year.
- complete a satisfactory in-person interview with the dean of admissions at Duquesne University School of Law.
- comply with all application, seat deposit and other deadlines established by Duquesne University School of Law.
At their sole discretion, Duquesne University School of Law may admit students who do not meet all of the above requirements. Students pursuing the 3+3 track will receive their bachelor's degree upon the successful completion of all first year courses at Duquesne University.
LEAP with Widener University Delaware Law School or Widener University Commonwealth Law School
- complete 96 or more undergraduate credits, including all major and core courses, before enrolling in law school courses.
- maintain Elizabethtown College residency for a minimum of three years (six semesters) before entering law school, and students must earn 30 of their last 60 undergraduate credits from Elizabethtown College.
- earn a cumulative undergraduate GPA that ranks in the top 50th percentile of the class, as calculated by the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service.
- take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than December of the student’s junior year (for the 3+3 track) or December of the student’s senior year (for the 4+3 track).
- score at or above the 50th percentile on the LSAT.
- meet the ethics and character requirements of Widener University Law Schools.
- comply with all application, seat deposit, and other deadlines established by Widener University Law Schools. Students must apply no later than April 1 of the year in which they plan to attend a Widener University Law School.
Students pursuing the 3+3 track will receive their bachelor's degree upon the successful completion of all first year courses at Widener University.
LEAP with Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
- complete 96 or more undergraduate credits, including all major and core courses, before enrolling in law school courses.
- maintain Elizabethtown College residency for a minimum of three years (six semesters) before entering law school, and students must earn 30 of their last 60 undergraduate credits from Elizabethtown College.
- attain a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.5 from Elizabethtown College and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 as calculated by the Law School Admission Council.
- take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than December of the student’s junior year (for the 3+3 track) or December of the student’s senior year (for the 4+3 track).
- score at least the median LSAT score for students who matriculate into the Thomas R. Kline School of Law in the class immediately preceding the student’s acceptance to LEAP.
- meet the ethics and character requirements of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
- comply with all application, seat deposit and other deadlines established by the Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Students pursuing the 3+3 track must apply by December 1 of their third year at Elizabethtown College, and students pursuing the 4+3 track must apply by December 1 of their fourth year at Elizabethtown College.
Students pursuing the 3+3 track will receive their bachelor's degree upon the successful completion of all first-year courses at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law.