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Earning a law degree is a big commitment of your time, energy, and money. And it’s tough from the very first step. Getting into law school requires organization and hard work, especially for those aiming for the top tier. So the sooner you can tackle the application process, the better.

Keep reading for an overview and timeline of how law school applications work.

Applying to Law School

When you’re figuring out how to go to law school, the application process alone can feel like quite a journey. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree, the law school application process involves preparing for and taking the LSAT, writing a personal statement, and securing letters of recommendation. With all that on your list, figuring out how to get into law school can feel like a bit of a maze.

After being accepted, you’ll need to pay for your education. This can also require some leg work, such as filling out the grad school FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or potentially applying for scholarships or private law school loans. Continue reading for a more detailed explanation on the law school application process.

Prep for the LSAT

The LSAT is the only test designed specifically for law school admission. Some law schools in the U.S accept other tests, but the LSAT is the only one accepted by all American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law schools. It generally takes students three hours to complete and is administered multiple times throughout the year, allowing you to choose a day and time that suits your schedule. Until August 2026, students can take the test online in a live remote-proctored environment or at a test centre. From August 2026, the LSAT will move toward in-center testing for almost all U.S. and international test takers, with limited exceptions for certain medical accommodations or extreme hardship in getting to a testing center.

At a minimum, LSAC recommends taking practice tests under the same time constraints allowed for the actual test. The results could give you some idea of your strengths and areas that need improvement. If you plan to take a practice test and/or sign up for classes, you will want to leave enough time before your LSAT test date.

Your LSAT score (which will range from 120 to 180) and your undergraduate GPA are fundamental for law school admission decisions. Schools consider other factors, but if your LSAT score and GPA are at or above the medians of a school, you have a good chance of being accepted. You can generally find this information on the college’s website.

Recommended: How to Study for the LSAT

LSAT Prep Timeline

You should typically submit your application, including your LSAT score, by November or December in order to be admitted the following fall. However, organizations such as Kaplan, a college admission services company that offers test preparation services and admissions resources, suggest factoring in the law school admissions cycle when selecting your testing date. They note that June, July, and September test dates are generally popular since they allow for plenty of time for students to receive scores.

Be sure to factor in your schedule and workload when deciding when you’ll take the LSAT. Taking the test in June will give you time to retake it if you aren’t happy with your score — but if you’re still in college, you’ll have to prepare while you’re busy with coursework.

If you take the test in October, you’ll have the summer to prepare and you can take the test again in December, if necessary. But your applications may be submitted later than other test takers, and some schools will already have started filling their seats. Some students may choose to take a year off between college and law school to prepare for the LSAT and work on their applications.

Test takers may want to look for some free prep materials online or may decide to sign up for paid online classes, in-person classes, or tutoring sessions.

Register for CAS

LSAC is a not-for-profit organization that offers services and programs to help students manage the law school application process. Creating an account at the LSAC.org website allows applicants to track their progress and manage deadlines as they connect with their selected schools.

CAS, which is provided by LSAC, is required by most ABA-approved law schools. For a fee (currently $45), CAS will generate a report containing your transcripts, LSAT scores, and letters of recommendation.

Submit Your Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation to CAS

Students must contact their college (or colleges) to have transcripts sent to CAS. They must also contact professors they believe will provide positive evaluations of their past and future performance and ask them to send recommendation letters to CAS. It’s a good idea to do this in July or August to allow time for them to be written.

You’ll only have to do this once. Then, when you apply to your chosen law schools, the schools can contact CAS and request a copy of your report.

Search for Law Schools

There are several factors that could affect your school choice. Just as with your undergraduate education, you may want to apply to a mix of “reach” schools, “safety” schools, and a few that land right in the middle.

But the application process can be pricey, so if you’re budgeting for college, you may want to narrow the field. When you’re deciding how many law schools to apply to, here are some things to consider:

•   Location: If you’re hoping to go to a top law school, you’re probably prepared to relocate. If not, you may want to start your search by thinking about where you’ll want to practice law someday. After all, you’ll be building a network with your fellow students, professors, and people you meet in the community.

•   Reputation: As you start your career, fellow attorneys (and potential employers) won’t know much about your skills. Instead, they’ll likely regard you as a “Duke grad” or a “Harvard man/woman,” and judge you by what they know about your law school. That doesn’t mean you have to go to a big, prestigious school, but you may want to look for a respected school.

•   Interests: By attending a school that offers classes that focus on the type of law you think you’ll want to practice (sports and entertainment, criminal, business, health care, etc.), you’ll likely be better prepared for your career. And you’ll probably have an opportunity to find mentors who could help you as a student and in the future.

•   Recruitment, tours, and alumni events: If you have the opportunity, you may want to attend a meet-and-greet event in order to touch base with recruiters, former students, and faculty who can fill you in on what law school and a law career have in store. You also may be able to get an idea if the campus and community are a good fit for you.

•   Let the schools find you: LSAC’s Candidate Referral Service allows law schools to search a database and recruit students based on certain characteristics (LSAT score, GPA, age, geographic background, etc.). Registration is free for anyone with an LSAC JD account.

Recommended: A Guide to Transferring Law Schools

Apply to Law Schools

After you’ve taken the LSAT, set up CAS, and squared away your letters of recommendation, you’ll need to start on your personal statement. LSAT scores and GPAs are important in law school applications, but a personal statement could also tip the balance in your favor. The goal of a personal statement is to explain to the admissions committee why you would be a valuable addition to their student body.

Start early so you have a chance to show your work to others. Advisors, teachers, parents, friends, and any grammar sticklers or professional writers or editors you know might help you fine-tune it. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd, so use your personal statement to explain what makes you, you. And if you’re applying to multiple schools, you may want to take the time to tailor your statement as needed.

When you have everything ready to go, you’ll have the option to apply to as many U.S. law schools as you like through your LSAC account. Make sure all the information on file is accurate and up to date and keep good records of every step in the process.

And be patient: Many schools practice rolling admissions, which means the earlier you get your application in, the sooner you’ll hear back. But there’s no set timetable, so you may have to wait a while.

How Will You Score?

It can be difficult to predict how you’ll score on the LSAT, but taking practice tests can be an indicator of how well you’ll perform on the day of the exam. The questions on the LSAT are all weighted equally and you won’t be penalized for incorrect answers. What matters is the number of questions you answer correctly.

Paying for Law School

Once you’ve cleared the hurdle of applying to law school, you might want to start considering ways to pay for law school. You may be familiar with the financial aid process from applying for undergraduate loans, but graduate students are also eligible for federal student aid.

The requirements of FAFSA are similar for grad students. The form allows you to request federal grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans. If you exhaust all other sources of funding and still have a gap to cover, you may want to look into graduate private student loans. They are generally considered after all other sources of financing have been exhausted because they don’t offer the same borrower protections (such as deferment options) as federal student loans.

Recommended: Smart Ways to Pay for Law School

The Takeaway

Applying to law school requires dedication, time, and preparation. Taking the time to understand the application process could help you get into law school. Plan out your LSAT study schedule so you are prepared for test day, think critically about which law schools are the best fit for your personal and professional goals, and don’t forget to devote enough time to writing, editing, and rewriting your personal statement.

Once you’ve gained admission, you’ll need to figure out how to pay for law school. Law students are eligible for scholarships, grants, and federal student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

FAQ

What is the LSAT?

The LSAT is the only test accepted by all ABA-accredited law schools in the US and Canada. It’s considered a key predictor of first-year law school performance.

How many letters of recommendation do most law schools require?

Most law schools require one to two letters of recommendation, while others allow three to four. Make sure you check the requirements of the schools you are applying to.

How can you pay for law school?

You can pay for law school by applying for scholarships, grants and federal student loans. You can also apply for private student loans, but these do not offer the same borrower protections as federal student loans.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.

Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Not all repayment options may be available for all loans. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is current as of 3/2/2026 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

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When Jennifer S. clocked in on her first day of work as a nurse at a major hospital, she remembers thinking, “I’ve got this.” And she did. Nursing school had prepared her well for working in the emergency room.

She felt less confident about navigating her finances, however. Jennifer had to balance her living expenses and long-term goals with $40,000 in student loans while earning $25 an hour.

She cooked meals at home and kept her expenses low. Jennifer also created a monthly nursing budget to help organize her finances. “I saw that I should start saving a little more during the second half of the month, when I usually had leftover money, in case I needed it for the next month’s bills,” she says.

In addition, Jennifer discovered ways she could make extra money. Consider this nursing budget example: She switched to overnight shifts, making an additional $7,000 a year. When a hurricane hit her state, she worked around the clock at the hospital for a week and earned roughly $6,000, which she put toward a down payment on a home. And she routinely picked up per diem and travel assignments.

Why You Need a Nursing Budget

It’s an interesting time to be a nurse. Staffing shortages and burnout worsened during the pandemic, and the nursing shortage is expected to continue to grow through 2035. The rising cost of higher education, including how to pay for nursing school, has resulted in a growing number of students graduating with debt.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, roughly 70% of nurses take out nursing student loans to pay for school, and the median student loan debt in the field is between $40,000 and $55,000.

On the plus side, staff shortages mean nurses have some leverage. The profession is in such high demand right now that some hospitals are offering incentives such as sign-on bonuses, flexible hours, and student loan repayment help.

And in general, nurses can earn a good salary. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a registered nurse in 2024 was $93,600, and the median income for a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse was $62,340. The median income for a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner — fields that typically require a master’s degree — was $132,050 per year. Nurses who are willing and able to take on additional shifts, work overnight, or accept lucrative travel assignments stand to make even more.

If you’re a new nurse who’s figuring out your finances, a nursing budget is a good place to start.

How to Budget as a Nurse

With tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of student loans to repay, it’s helpful for nurses to create a budget to manage their money, cover their living expenses, pay down the debt they owe, and plan for their financial future. Here’s how to do it:

•   Set financial goals. Think about your short-term and long-term aspirations. These might be targets such as saving $2,000 in your bank account, paying off your student loans, or investing a certain amount for retirement. Knowing what you’re working toward will help give you the motivation to get there.

•   Calculate your income. Look at your pay stubs to see how much you’re bringing home each month. That’s the amount you have to work with.

•   Determine your expenses. Pull out all your bills and add up how much you’re spending each month for rent, food, utilities, loan and credit card payments, and so on. Be sure to include “fun” expenses such as dining out, entertainment, and self-care costs.

•   Find a budgeting method that works for you. There are different types of techniques, such as the 50/30/20 rule, which divides your budget into different categories: 50% for essential expenses, such as rent, utilities, food, car payments, and debt payments; 30% for discretionary expenditures, such as eating out, travel, and shopping; and 20% for goals such as saving for a home, your child’s education, or retirement. There’s also the envelope budgeting system, where you put cash monthly into envelopes for each spending category, such as housing and food. Once the money in an envelope is gone, you’ll need to wait until the next month to spend in that category again or take money from another envelope. Explore the different methods and choose the one that works best for your lifestyle.

•   Review your budget regularly and update it as needed. Make adjustments as your situation changes. For instance, maybe your car breaks down, and you need extra money for emergency repairs. Or perhaps you get a raise that increases your income. Tweak your budget accordingly.

Common Financial Challenges for Nurses

As a nurse, you’ll face some unique money-related challenges. For example, you may have work expenses, such as purchasing a uniform, comfortable shoes, and certain tools to do your job. Many hospitals and clinics require you to buy your own stethoscope, for instance. And working long shifts or irregular hours may leave you with less time for cooking, so you end up spending more money on takeout.

In addition, as a nurse, you may decide to pursue an advanced degree, such as a master’s, to move up the ladder and earn more money. That could mean taking out graduate student loans to cover the cost of your continuing education, in addition to the loans you already have.

These financial challenges are all things to factor into your nurse budget so that you have a plan for paying them off.

Watch Your Spending

Even when you’re on a budget, it can be easy to fall into the habit of overspending because there are various ways to supplement your income as a nurse. “When I was doing travel assignments, I just kept working,” Jennifer says. “At the time, I didn’t realize it would stop, so I didn’t think to save as much as I could have.”

Lifestyle creep can be a common pitfall, especially when you start earning more money, says Brian Walsh, CFP, senior manager, financial planning for SoFi. Spending more on nonessentials as your income rises can potentially wreak havoc on your savings goals and financial health. That’s why budgeting for nurses is so important.

While you’re starting to establish your spending habits, Walsh recommends using cash or a debit card for purchases. Automate your finances whenever possible by doing things such as pre-scheduling bill payments.

Develop Your Savings Strategy

A sound savings plan can help you make progress toward your short- and long-term goals and provide a sense of security. Walsh suggests nurses set aside 20% of their income for retirement and other savings goals, such as building an emergency fund that can cover three to six months’ worth of your total living expenses. He recommends placing it in an easy-to-access vehicle, such as money market funds, short-term bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), or a high-yield savings account.

The remaining 80% of your income can go toward current living expenses, including monthly student loan payments.

Jennifer found success by adopting a set-it-and-forget-it approach to saving. “Whenever I worked a per diem shift, I got in the habit of putting $100 or $200 of every check into a savings account,” she says. Before long, she had a decent-sized nest egg and peace of mind.

Explore Different Investments

One simple way to build up savings is to contribute to your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, if one is available to you, and tap into a matching funds program. There’s a limit to how much you can contribute annually to one of these plans. In 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500, and if you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an extra $8,000, for a total contribution of $32,500.

If you don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, there are other ways to save for the future. “Start by figuring out what your targeted savings goal is,” Walsh says. If you’re going to save a few thousand dollars, you might consider a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Both can offer tax advantages.

Contributions made to a traditional IRA may be tax-deductible, and no taxes are due until you withdraw the money. Contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars, and you don’t pay taxes when you withdraw the funds as qualified distributions in retirement. However, there are limits on how much you can contribute each year and on your income. In 2026, you can contribute up to $7,500 to an IRA annually, with an additional $1,100 allowance for individuals aged 50 and over.

Ideally, Walsh says, you’re saving more than a few thousand dollars for retirement. If that’s the case, then a Simplified Employee Pension IRA (SEP IRA) may be worth considering. “Depending on how your employment status is set up, a SEP IRA could be a very good vehicle because the total contributions can be just like they are with an employer-sponsored plan, but you control how much to contribute, up to a limit,” he says. What’s more, contributions are tax-deductible (up to a limit), and you won’t pay taxes on growth until you withdraw the money when you retire.

Another option is a health savings account (HSA), which may be available if you have a high-deductible health plan. HSAs provide a triple tax benefit: Contributions reduce taxable income, earnings are tax-free, and money withdrawn for qualifying medical expenses is also tax-free.

Depending on your financial goals, you may also want to consider after-tax brokerage accounts. They offer no tax benefits but give you the flexibility to withdraw money at any time without being taxed or penalized.

Take Control of Your Student Loans

You have different priorities competing for a piece of your paycheck, and nursing school loans are one of them. You may need to start repaying loans six months after graduation, and options vary based on the type of loan you have.

If you have federal loans and need extra help making payments, you might look into a loan forgiveness program or an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which can lower monthly payments for eligible borrowers based on their income and household size.

If you’re struggling to make payments, you may qualify for student loan deferment or forbearance. Both options temporarily suspend your payments, but interest will continue to accrue and add to your total balance.

You could also explore the option of student loan forgiveness. There are a number of student loan forgiveness programs for nurses, such as the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program. If you work for a government or nonprofit organization, you could look into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to see if you qualify.

Chipping away at student loan debt can feel overwhelming. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a couple of different debt pay-off approaches you may want to consider. With the avalanche approach, you prioritize debt repayment based on interest rate, working from highest to lowest. With the snowball approach, you pay off the smallest balance first and then work your way up to the largest balance.

While both have their benefits, Walsh says he often sees greater success with the snowball approach. “Most people should start with paying off the smallest balance first because then they’ll see progress, and progress leads to persistence,” he explains. But, he adds, the right approach is the one you can stick with.

Consider Whether Student Loan Refinancing Is Right for You

When you choose refinancing, including medical professional refinancing, a private lender pays off your existing loans and issues you a new loan. This combines all of your loans into a single monthly bill, potentially reduces your monthly payments, and may give you a chance to lock in a lower interest rate than you’re currently paying. A quarter of a percentage point difference in an interest rate could translate into meaningful savings if you have a big loan balance, Walsh points out. However, keep in mind that you may pay more interest over the life of the loan if you refinance with an extended term.

A student loan refinancing calculator can help you determine how much refinancing might save you.

Still, refinancing your student loans may not be right for everyone. By choosing to refinance federal student loans, you could lose access to benefits and protections, such as federal loan forgiveness plans. Be sure to weigh all the options and decide what makes sense for you.

Recommended: Student Loan Refinancing Guide

The Takeaway

Nursing can be a rewarding career, with flexibility and opportunities to add to your income. However, as a new nurse, you’re likely trying to stretch your paycheck to cover student loan debt and everyday expenses. Fortunately, by using a few smart strategies, such as budgeting and saving, and exploring options such as refinancing, you can start to pay down your loans and reach your financial goals.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

FAQ

How can you effectively budget as a nurse?

You can effectively budget as a nurse by setting financial goals, calculating your income, determining your expenses, and finding a budgeting method that works for you. You should review your budget regularly and update it as needed.

How much of your income should you save?

As a nurse, you should consider setting aside 20% of your income for retirement and other savings, such as building an emergency fund that can cover three to six months’ worth of your total living expenses. You can place it in an easy-to-access vehicle, such as money market funds, a high-yield savings account, short-term bonds, or CDs.

What are the options to repay your student loans?

If you have federal loans and need extra help making payments, you could look into a loan forgiveness program or an income-driven repayment plan. If you’re struggling to make payments, you may qualify for student loan deferment or forbearance. You could also consider refinancing your federal student loans with a private lender, but that may mean losing access to certain benefits and protections that federal student loans provide.

Photo credit: iStock/FatCamera

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.