Transfer & Visiting Applicant Information

The best and brightest minds from around the world choose American University Washington College of Law because of its academic excellence, experiential education opportunities, and supportive law school community. Washington College of Law values the contributions of our transfer and visiting students and welcomes applicants for fall, spring, and summer admission.

Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at wcladmit@wcl.american.edu or call 202-274-4101.

Application Information

  • Transfer Early Action Fall Application (non-binding): March 15

  • Transfer/Visitor Fall Application: June 15

  • Transfer/Visitor Spring Application: December 1

  • Transfer Summer Application: May 1

  • Click here for the Visiting Summer Application.

Regular and Early Action Review:

To be eligible to apply: While applicants must complete a minimum of one year of course work at an ABA accredited law school in either a full-time or part-time program and be in good academic standing to be eligible to apply to transfer or visit, files can be reviewed in our Early Action Program after the completion of one semester.

An applicant who has completed four or more semesters of full-time or five or more semesters of part-time is ineligible to apply to transfer, but still eligible to apply to visit.

The number of credits transferred to American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) will vary. Transcripts are evaluated individually and each is compared with the AUWCL curriculum. Transfer students also must successfully complete a minimum of 43 credits at AUWCL.

If applying for the fall semester: All transfer applications for the fall semester should be filed by June 15. Applicants who have completed their fall semesters (full or part-time) and submit applications on or before March 15 will automatically be considered as Early Action Applicants. Those filing after March 15 and those not admitted based on Early Action review will be rolled over to the regular transfer pool.

Early Action admission is contingent on maintaining and certifying academic good standing and successful completion of all second semester courses.

  • Complete the electronic Transfer/Visitor application
  • Resume
  • Personal statement explaining why you are applying to transfer
  • One letter of recommendation from a law professor is required, and a maximum of two letters of recommendation are accepted. The letter(s) must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Please update your account at LSAC and indicate which letter you want sent to American University for this application year.
  • Official law school transcript showing all grades earned from all law schools attended up until the time of transfer. All early action applicants must submit a transcript for the fall semester and, thereafter, a transcript of the first year of legal studies. The transcript(s) should be sent directly from your law school to our admissions office. Final transcripts of applicants applying (excluding early action applicants) will be accepted after the application deadline but must be on file before the start of class.
  • Certification of your class standing and/or rank at your present law school (if available).
  • An official letter from your law school dean (or designate) stating that you are currently in good academic standing and unconditionally eligible to return to your present law school. The letter must be written after completion of the most current semester.
  • Transfer applicants need to make sure that there is not a hold on their LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report. Please call LSAC at (215)968-1001 or visit their web site at www.LSAC.org. to verify that your report is complete. Our Admissions Office will contact LSAC directly to request a copy of your CAS report upon receipt of your transfer application.
  • LSAC foreign transcript evaluation. LSDAS provides a JD credential assembly service for foreign educated candidates. The admissions office requires all applicants who received their undergraduate degree from a foreign institution to register for this service. A copy of the evaluation will be requested automatically by the admissions office upon receipt of your application. Information is posted online at www.LSAC.org.
  • Transcripts and the letter of good standing should be mailed directly from your current law school to
    American University Washington College of Law
    4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW
    Suite C201
    Washington, DC 20016


    If your school sends transcripts via an official electronic transcript service, email it to wcladmit@wcl.american.edu.

Fall and Spring Semester Visiting Applicants

  • Complete the electronic Transfer/Visitor application
  • Resume
  • Personal statement explaining why you are applying to visit.
  • One letter of recommendation from a law professor is required, and a maximum of two letters of recommendation are accepted. The letter(s) must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Please update your account at LSAC and indicate which letter you want sent to American University for this application year.
  • Official law school transcript showing all grades earned from all law schools attended up until the time you would like to visit. The transcript(s) should be sent directly from your law school to our admissions office.
  • Certification of your class standing and/or rank at your present law school (if available).
  • An official letter from your law school dean (or designate) stating that you are currently in good academic standing and unconditionally eligible to return to your present law school. The letter must be written after completion of the most current semester. The letter of good standing also needs to indicate that you have permission to visit, specify which semester(s) you can visit, and that you will receive credit for course work successfully completed at the Washington College of Law.
  • Transcripts and the letter of good standing should be mailed directly from your current law school to
    American University Washington College of Law
    4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW
    Suite C201
    Washington, DC 20016


    If your school sends transcripts via an official electronic transcript service, email it to wcladmit@wcl.american.edu.

Summer Visiting Applicants

Transfer and visiting students may apply for assistance to meet the cost of attending the American University Washington College of Law. Transfer students accepted for admission are eligible for aid offered by the Washington College of Law. Visiting students must seek assistance through their home institution.
Begin the process as early as possible.

Full-Time early action transfer applicants are eligible to apply for Washington College of Law Need-Based Grants by March 1.

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal loan support. The deadline for priority consideration is March 1. The application may be filed online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. List American University, Title IV code 001434, so that your information will be forwarded for review.

  • Private and federal Grad PLUS loans are available to supplement Stafford loans and can be obtained from a variety of lenders. Lender information is available on our website at http://www.wcl.american.edu/finaid/alternativeloan.cfm. To ensure timely receipt of funds, file your application six to eight weeks prior to the start of the semester you plan to enroll.

Contact your home institution for financial aid application and deadline information. The home school policy determines whether aid can be made available for your study at the Washington College of Law. If aid is to be processed, the home institution will enter into a Consortium Agreement with American University. For additional information, contact:

Financial Aid Office
Phone: (202) 274-4040
Email: finaid@wcl.american.edu