What is a Dean’s Certification?

A Dean’s certification is a summary statement of a student’s academic history. It verifies for the law schools whether an applicant has had any academic or disciplinary sanctions and includes a brief statement about your Stony Brook academic performance, extracurricular activities, and campus service. Your resume or a list of your activities helps us to write the statement.

• Pre-Professional Advisors write certifications for seniors and alumni.
• Some schools do not require a Dean’s Certification. Check the application materials of the schools you are applying to.
• The Dean’s Certification is not considered a recommendation letter. The writer does not need to know or meet with the applicant.
• Applicants who transferred to Stony Brook from another college or university must also have their previous schools submit Dean’s Certifications to the law schools as well.
• The Academic and Pre-Professional Advising Center needs at least one week advance notice to send out a Dean’s Certification Form. They are written in the order received from applicants.