MELP Admissions

Our Master of Environmental Law and Policy applicants demonstrate strong academics and excellent written skills. Program options include a year (12 months) of full-time study, a summers-only format, or up to five years of part-time study.

Students may enroll in the MELP program on a full-time, part-time (up to 5 years), or summers-only basis. We evaluate each applicant by examining the whole person, and we admit students without consideration of their financial need.

VLS offers half - to - full tuition scholarships to exceptional MELP candidates each year. In addition to a strong academic record, recipients will demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship and public service. There is no separate application process; all admitted candidates will be given full consideration. Scholarship recipients will be notified by April 1.

Test Scores and Academic Record

Test scores are now optional for MELP applicants. If you wish to have GRE, LSAT or GMAT scores considered as part of the application, please have score reports forwarded to the Admissions Office.

One of the most important MELP admissions criteria is the undergraduate academic record. We consider the undergraduate record from a number of perspectives: quality of the undergraduate institution; nature and rigor of the curriculum; performance compared to that of other students from the same school; grade trend from freshman to senior year; and length of time intervening between receipt of degree and application to Vermont Law School. Many of our applicants have completed graduate work. We look favorably upon this if the quality of work exceeds the minimum standards required for the graduate program.

Education

We believe an excellent general education to be more important for the study of environmental law and policy than specialized study in environmental fields. Just as there are many different roads to the acquisition of an inquiring, disciplined, and cultivated mind, so there are different ways to acquire a valuable foundation for the study of environmental law. Perhaps of greatest importance is the acquisition of the habit of precision, fluency, and economy in speaking and writing.

We give no preference to college majors in environmental studies, science, management, or other concentrations traditionally associated with environmental issues. What we seek are programs that give students an opportunity to analyze critically, and think creatively. We require that applicants hold a bachelor’s degree at the time of enrollment.

Recommendations

We require two letters of recommendation. We seek thoughtful, substantive recommendations that speak specifically to and from personal knowledge of your academic potential and relevant personal qualities. We prefer at least one recommendation from a college or graduate school professor, although we understand that is not possible if you have been out of college for some time. In that case, ask someone who knows your work in your profession or in your community to write on your behalf. We want to know about your intellectual ability, character, determination, professional and community achievements, your potential for contributions to the environmental community and community-at-large, and how you compare to other students the writer has known. Recommenders may mail their recommendations to the Office of Admissions.

Work Experience, Community Service and Extracurricular Activities

Most of our applicants have had work experience, be it in permanent positions or in part-time work in college. We look upon your employment history as indicative of your ambition and persistence.

We hope to enroll students who will use their education and skills to administer and improve environmental policy. Thus we look favorably on applicants who demonstrate, through participation in civic, charitable, volunteer, and other activities, a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

We recommend that applicants give us a brief description of their extracurricular activities to round out their application. These activities provide some insight for the Admissions Committee which might be helpful in the decision-making process.

Admissions Questions

Please contact the Admissions Office if you have questions about admissions or programs.
Toll free: (888)277-5985
Phone: (802)831-1239
Email: admiss@vermontlaw.edu