Sending a Message: The Importance of the Admissions Interview to Reforming the Legal Profession

I don’t know if you’ve seen this article Malcolm Gladwell wrote about rankings in The New Yorker. US News law school rankings are based on LSAT and GPA, and a few other hard numbers. A large part of the ranking equation, however, is a peer review based on reputation. Gladwell uses that variable to show how self-fulfilling the rankings are-- #1 becomes #1 because others think of it as #1. Reputation is also a variable that Columbia can change. The administration and admissions committee clearly care about these numbers, so pitching changes to the admissions process as a way to improve rankings may be effective. Since interviews could be seen as a way to make the process more selective, that might help with reputation and prestige. Also, since law schools are being criticized in the media, Columbia has an opportunity to present itself as taking a leadership position in 21st century legal education. If interviews were introduced, that would be a news-worthy story. If Dean Schizer is also thinking about reforming the 1L education, which he may be judging from the email he wrote you-- tying these stories together would make a good story for him and for Columbia. An effectively handled PR campaign that frames Columbia as innovative, thoughtful, responsive, and responsible could affect its reputation and therefore ranking. These initiatives may also appeal to the dean as he thinks about his legacy.

-- SamanthaWishman - 28 Jun 2012