Expected debt upon graduation, political party affiliation, and drinking frequency
In addition to the standard information reported in this year’s “Toronto 2L Recruit Demographic Survey Results,” Ultra Vires shares data beyond what one would typically find in a law school admissions brochure. This year, 60 students participated in the anonymous demographics survey of the 2L class. Although the sample size is relatively small compared to the class size, it is consistent with previous years’ sample sizes.
Education and Work History
Survey respondents come from diverse educational and work backgrounds. The most common undergraduate degree held by survey respondents was in political science or international studies, followed closely by STEM.
Most survey respondents had an LSAT score between 163 and 168, and an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 and higher.
The vast majority of survey respondents did not complete a post-graduate degree before starting studies at U of T Law.
The majority of survey respondents attended high school in Ontario.
The average respondent worked for 0.62 years before attending law school.
Family History
The majority of survey respondents were the first in their family to attend law school. However, the majority of survey respondents had at least one immediate family member with some university education.
32 percent of survey respondents had at least one parent with a Master’s degree, followed closely by 25 percent of survey respondents with at least one parent with a Bachelors degree.
Financial Information
21 percent of survey respondents attended a private high school.
38 percent of survey respondents cited loans as their top source of funding tuition. 29 percent cited family support.
Around 4 percent of survey respondents had household incomes over $500,000, with 1.5 percent with household incomes over $1 million. Over 30 percent of survey respondents had household incomes between $150,000 and $500,000. Around 25 percent had household incomes less than $100,000.
13 percent of survey respondents expect no debt upon graduating U of T Law. Close to 50 percent of survey respondents expect a debt ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 upon graduation.
Mental Health
On a scale of 1 to 5, the average respondent who answered “Yes” to the above question rated the impact of law school on the frequency of their experience with that condition at 3.97 and the impact on the severity of that condition at 4.
On a scale of 1 to 5, the average respondent (out of all survey respondents) rated the impact of the recruit on their mental health at 4.03.
Personality, Politics, and Partying
On a scale of 1 (Very introverted) to 5 (Very extroverted), the average respondent to this question rated themselves at 3.07.
On a scale of 1 (Only study independently) to 5 (Only study in groups), the average respondent to this question rated themselves at 1.99.
The majority of survey respondents affiliated with the Liberal and NDP parties. Only 9 percent of survey respondents affiliated with the Conservative party.
39 percent of survey respondents have four or more drinks in a single outing a couple of times per year. In contrast, 21 percent never do this!
The majority of survey respondents do not use marijuana recreationally. 20 percent use marijuana a couple of times per year.
Editor’s Note: Respondents were permitted to opt out of answering any questions.
