The newest students at Chapman University’s Dale E. Fowler School of Law are the most diverse class in the law school’s history.

They also are among the most highly qualified, with a median LSAT score of 157 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.42, key measures of student preparedness that are rising at Fowler year after year.

“The Fowler School of Law is experiencing great momentum, and our impressive group of first-year students arrives alongside news of the recent recognition we received from the ABA and PreLaw Magazine,” Dean Matt Parlow said, referring to a seventh-place finish in the inaugural American Bar Association Competitions Championship and a No. 23 national ranking for practical training by PreLaw Magazine.

“Our practice-ready education — and the personalized support we provide — distinguishes us among law schools, and we look forward to helping all of our students pursue their goals, achieve success in the legal profession, and make an impact in their communities,” Parlow said.

The 153 students in the Class of 2021 represent 58 undergraduate institutions and 40 academic majors. They hail from 11 states and five foreign countries, and speak 13 languages: Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Hebrew, Romanian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.

About 48 percent of the students come from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and 29 percent were the first generation in their families to graduate from college.

Women make up 58 percent of the class, with 42 percent men. The students are even diverse in age: They range from 21 to 54. (The average age is 25.)

Their resumes include experience as varied as serving as a city council member, a White House intern, a university professor and playing professional soccer.

After three years of study together, they’ll share one of the additional benefits of attending Fowler: a comprehensive bar preparation program, with rigorous review courses, extensive practice tests and detailed instructor feedback.

Display image at top/The Fall 2018 entering class with Dean Matt Parlow and University Trustee Wylie Aitken, a member of the Fowler School of Law Board of Advisors.