The 3+3 Guaranteed Conditional Admission Program to Albany Law School
Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from Adelphi University/Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School
The 3+3 Guaranteed Conditional Admission Program provides for early entrance to a career in law. Founded over 160 years ago Albany Law School is the oldest independent law school in all of North America. Located in Albany, NY, the state capitol, numerous governors, state and Supreme Court justices, and even a president have attended this highly regarded school of law.
Students admitted into the “3+3” program will be guaranteed admission to Albany Law School after their junior year provided they have satisfied the criteria specified for remaining in the program. After satisfactory completion of the first year at Albany Law School, students will transfer credit from Albany Law to Adelphi and receive their baccalaureate degree. After satisfactory completion of the remaining academic requirements at Albany Law, students will receive their law degree.
Admission to the Program
For each freshman class, a designated number of students – not to exceed 10 – will be selected to enroll in the program. Selections will occur at two time periods: (1) Prior to the start of the freshman year and (2) after the freshman year. A proportion of the yearly allotment for each entry class to Albany Law will be selected during the spring semester preceding initial enrollment in the freshman year. The remaining number of students will be selected after completion of the freshman year. All students requesting admission to the program must select one of the baccalaureate programs at Adelphi.
Admission Criteria
a. Admission Criteria Prior to the Freshman Year: Students desiring to enter the program must be superior prospects in the views of the admissions offices of both schools. Each student must obtain a minimum score of 550 on the Reading Comprehension and a minimum score of 550 on the Mathematical Analysis sections of the SAT or ACT equivalent and have a weighted grade-point high school average of at least 3.40 achieved in a rigorous high school curriculum. All applicants must submit an essay to a predetermined question designed to provide information on motivation and quality of writing.
b. Admission Criteria after the Freshman Year: Students must satisfy the same criteria as outlined in 4a above. In addition, students must have earned at Adelphi (1) a 3.2 cumulative average and (2) a minimum of 27 graduation credits.
Selection Process
a. Adelphi applications will be reviewed by the admissions office. Selections will be based on the criteria listed above. If sufficient qualified students apply at each annual selection, Adelphi will designate a maximum of twice the quota number of students to be referred to Albany Law.
b. Albany Law will review the applications of those students selected by Adelphi. In accordance with the criteria indicated above, the final students for the program will be selected. In addition, Albany Law will indicate those other students from this pool who would be acceptable to the program if space permits.
c. Adelphi will notify those students selected for the program and those students rejected.
d. A ranked “waiting list” will be established by Adelphi consisting of the names of those applicants which Albany Law indicated would be acceptable if space permits. If attrition occurs, vacancies would be filled from this list.
e. Identical selection procedures would occur at both admission dates – before and after the freshman year.
Criteria for Remaining in the Program
a. At the end of the freshman year, students must have earned a minimum of 27 graduation credits with a 3.2 cumulative average. Failure to meet these criteria will result in the student being moved to the bottom of the waiting list.
b. At the end of the sophomore year, students must have earned a minimum of 56 graduation credits with a 3.2 cumulative average. Failure to meet these criteria will result in the student being moved to the bottom of the waiting list.
c. At the end of the junior year, students must have:
- completed at least 90 graduation credits
- earned a 3.3 cumulative average
- satisfied all required course requirements of their baccalaureate program including all courses in their major and General Education courses.
- achieved a one time or average score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) that is no lower than the median LSAT score for the prior year’s entering class at Albany Law
Failure to meet c1 or c2 above will result in the student being dropped from the program. Students lacking either one or two courses to satisfy criteria c3 above may be given the summer session following their junior year to complete these courses.
d. Students satisfying c1 through c4 above will be guaranteed admission to Albany Law for the Fall term following their junior year.
Award of the Baccalaureate Degree
a. During the spring of their junior year, students will formally apply for “Permission to Study at Another Institution” (Albany Law School) for the following year.
b. Courses completed with a passing grade during the first year at Albany Law will transfer to Adelphi as elective credit.
c. Upon receipt of official transcripts from Albany Law, transfer credit will be activated.
d. Upon receipt of sufficient acceptable elective credit (see 7b above) the student will be awarded the Baccalaureate Degree by Adelphi.
Tuition and Fees
Students will pay tuition and fees to Adelphi for the first three years (full time matriculation) and shall be deemed students at Adelphi during those years and to Albany Law for the three years which comprise the law school curriculum and shall be deemed students of Albany Law during those years. Adelphi and Albany Law will provide guidance regarding student finances including loans for each three year period, respectively.