PRELAW HANDBOOK

TOPICS

SECTIONS OF THIS CHAPTER

LSAT RECOMMENTED WEBSITES

COMMENTS

SOME KEY FACTS

WHERE AN LSAT SCORE STANDS WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST-YEAR CLASS

LSAT AND GPA: WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SYNCH

WHICH LSAT SCORE IS USED BY THE CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS) WHEN CAKCULATING THE ADMISSIONS JNDEX NUMBER? "If an applicant has more than one LSAT score, an index number is calculated for each score and for the average of the scores." Of course the law school can use the index number it wants.

SECTIONS OF THIS CHAPTER

LSAT GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LSAT: dates, deadlines, fees, when to take, registration and information of value when preparing for the LSAT , prep material, and advice.

WHEN TO TAKE THE LSAT? The June LSAT, circa 14 months prior to when planing to begin law school, has its advantagse but is notr everyone.
     For someone graduating in more than four years, an earlier test date may be more convenient.
     For someone who will nor be fully prepared for the June test date; possibly because of summer distractions that will restrict LSAT prep time (e.g. a full-time job, summer semester, or spring quarter final exams).
    MAXIMIZING YOUR LSAT SCORE. Advice on adapting to LSAT time constraints and making use of rational guessing.

LSAT SCORING. Since an LSAT score depends only on the number correct, the only thing better than guessing an answer is knowing an answer. We shall show you how to guess for success.

LSAT IMPORTANCE. For various LSAT scores, we give a rough idea of the limitations that this LSAT score will impose.

LSAT PREP TESTS are available from the LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION COUNCIL (LSAC) and others.

LSAT PREPARATION should begin early and involve previously-given LSATS.

LSAT PREP COURSES. LSAT prep courses are not necessary for an applicant to do well, but a good prep course taught by a good instructor can be of great value to many.

NON-ACADEMIC LSAT PREPARATION. We give thirteen steps to follow so that on the day of the LSAT you only have to worry about at most one thing--the LSAT.

NO SHOW OR POOR SHOW ON THE LSAT. If you sign up for the LSAT and then decide not to take the LSAT on the scheduled day, see about a TEST DATE CHANGE OR REFUND.
     If you take the LSAT test and then decide not to have it count, there are two ways to cancel your score: complete the score-cancellation section on the LSAT answer sheet at the test center or send a written cancellation to LSAC; the written cancellation to LSAC must be received by LSAC within nine calendar days of the test.

RETAKING THE LSAT.
      In summary we have
         If you did poorly on the LSAT, you have two choices:
         retake the LSAT or try to explain your poor score.

WEBSITES

Some Strongly Recommended Websites

The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) administers the LSAT. Two LSAC websites whoses reading we regard as de regueur are:
          The LSAT - Full Menu
          LSAT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Some Recommended Websites

A very informative webpage to read is PREPARING FOR THE LAW SCHHOOL ADMISSION TEST.

MASTER THE LSAT and ONLINE GUIDE TO THE LSAT EXAM provide useful information about the LSAT Exam.

For an introduction to the LSAT test, read  LSAT ORIENTATION; especially note their first item, which is LSAT at a Glance.

See the AVERAGE LSAT SCORES FOR 29 MAJORS. The data is over twelve years old but seems to be the latest available.

WIKIPEDIA covers the LSAT.

Frank X.J. Homer (University of Scranton, Pennsylvania) provides a good introduction to the THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST; you may also see the same article at LSAT ADVICE and elsewhere. Reading one of these webpages is de rigueur for anyone contemplating taking the LSAT test. Frank X.J. Homer gives facts about the LSAT test, eight common misconceptions about the LSAT test, preparation for the LSAT test, four important points to remember about the LSAT test, and some pointers to increase testwiseness. Frank X.J. Homer also gives the excellent advice, "Applicants can help themselves by working with an elementary logic text, learning to recognize common fallacies, many of which may exist in their own thinking." Of course, taking a course in logic is a good idea.

Pre-Law Studies at Florida Atlantic University considers HOW LAW SCHOOLS DECIDE ON WHOM TO ADMIT considering the effect on admission of the LSAT score, GPA, letters of recommendation, and personal statement..

WIKIPEDIA provides some general information abouet the LSAT.


The University of Massachusetts Pre-Law Advising has some useful information about the LSAT.


4LawSchool provides information about many aspects of the LSAT.

Make sure not to commit one or more of the SEVEN DEADLY LSAT SINS.


ACE THE LSAT provides tips on the LSAT.   _.

The University of Louisiana, Lafayette has a very informative LSAT webpage: PREPARING FOR THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST.

IMPORTANCE OF THE LSAT AND GPA

Law schools admission committees first focus in on the applicant's LSAT score and GPA. In many cases, these two factors alone, perhaps with a casual look at OTHER ADMISSION FACTORS, determine the admission decision. For other law school applicants, a more than cursory look at other admission factors may be necessary to determine the admission decision. Although it certainly happens that other admission factors may help an applicant overcome minor LSAT or GPA deficiencies, it is unlike that other factors will be able to overcome major LSAT or GPA deficiencies. Your primary focus should be on your LSAT score and GPA (probably in that order).

Napoleon said that "God is on the side of the big battalions." If Napoleon were applying to law school today, he would probably say that
God is on the side of the high LSAT scores.

SOME KEY FACTS ABOUT THE LSAT

For the LSAT test, you may want to adopt the motto NO EFFORT TOO MUCH. _.At the age of 26, Constantin Carathodory, the scion of a powerful Greek family, gave up a promising career as an engineer to return to school and devote himself to the study of pure mathematics. His family, whose motto was No Effort Too Much, considered his plan foolishly romantic. He made significant contributions to several areas of mathematics including the calculus of variations and the theory of functions.

LSAT STATISTIC. For the 180 fully-accreditated law schools and the 7 provisionally-accredited law schools, we have that the average of the LSAT 25th percentile is 150.8 and the LSAT 75th percentile is 156.2

THE LSAT: A GREAT PREDICTOR OF LAW SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. "The LSAT is the only standardized measure that law schools have to predict law school performance. Every student's undergraduate record is different, even when students have the same major and attend the same undergraduate school. In fact, studies have shown that the LSAT is the best single predictor of first-year law school performance, while the best overall predictor of law school performance is a combination of the LSAT and undergraduate UGPA." University of Kentucky

IMPORTANCE OF THE LSAT. The higher your LSAT score, the greater your chances are of admission to law school and of obtaining financial aid.

AN ADDED BENEFIT OF PREPARING FOR THE LSAT. The LSAT involves thinking logically. Because of this, whether you go to law school or not, the material learned in studying for the LSAT will serve you well in life.

HOW SERIOUS IS THE LSAT. The LSAT test is much more difficult and involves more logical thinking than the SAT, GRE, or GMAT.

LSAT PRACTICE TESTS. Previously administered LSATs, all with an answer key, writing sample, and LSAT score-conversion table, are available from LSAC. Also available from LSAC is an online option, LSAT ItemWise, that not only gives the correct answers, but also provides explanations as to why your answers are correct or incorrect; note that LSAT is a paper-and-pencil test. Publishers, other than LSAC, have LSAT practice tests or LSAT sample tests, some with solutions; these are readily available at book stores.

LSAT PREPARATION. Since the LSAT does not test knowledge of a particular subject, the goal of studying is to become familiar with the LSAT test format and to develop methods to answer LSAT test questions with efficiency and accuracy. The best prepare for the LSAT is directly from

HOW OFTEN SHOULD ONE TAKE THE LSAT? (Answer. Once) With the LSAT, do not plan on doubling your pleasure. When you walk in to take the LSAT, you should have the expectation of a score that you can be proud of based on your performance on actual, previously administered LSATs. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, and the Great Gatsby demonstrated, There is no second act in American life. This is not quite true for the LSAT but unless your LSAT score is significantly below your score on actual, previously administered LSATs or you intend to change your way of studying, do not take the LSAT a second time. Nationally nearly one in five will take the LSAT a second time. Most law schools average multiple LSAT scores. Do not take the LSAT unless you are ready (No LSAT before its time).

LSAT SCORE AND PERCENTILE RANK REPORTED TO LAW SCHOOLS. "Along with your numerical score, Law Services also reports a percentile rank, reflecting the percentage of candidates scoring below your reported test score. Over the past several years, a score of about 150 [perhaps 151 or 152] has generally fallen at approximately the 50th percentile, and a score of about 163 has fallen at approximately the 90th percentile." Kansas University Pre-Law Advising

TIME LIMITATION OF LSAT SCORES. "Law Services reports scores for five years. Scores for all LSAT exams taken in the five years prior to your application to law school will therefore be reported to the law schools you designate. Multiple scores will be averaged by Law Services in its report to law schools. Copies of your writing samples for those tests will be included, up to a maximum of three samples. Some law schools will not accept a score earned more than three years prior to an application (so, yes, you will have to take the exam again if [you apply to such a law school and] your score is more than three years old). Check the [law school] catalogs to determine if you need a more recent score." Notre Dame Prelaw

WHERE AN LSAT SCORE STANDS
WTH RESPECT TO THE FIRST-YEAR CLASS

Example. As the table below shows, an LSAT score of 155 will be at or above the twenty-fifth percentile for the entering class at 104 law schools and will be at or above the seventy-fifth percentile for the entering class at 27 law schools.

LSAT
SCORE

Number of Law
Schools with This
Given LSAT
SCORE as Its
25th Percentile
of the LSAT

Number of Law
Schools with This
Given LSAT
SCORE as Its
75th Percentile
of the LSAT

At or below 147

10

0

148

4

0

149

4

2

150

14

0

At or below 150

32

2

151

18

2

152

16

6

153

14

4

154

14

4

155

10

9

At or below 155

104

27

156

9

24

157

8

11

158

16

15

159

7

12

160

9

14

At or below 160

153

103

161

8

13

162

5

6

163

5

15

164

3

15

165

2

4

At or below 165

176

156

166

2

7

167

4

8

168

4

2

169

0

4

170

1

1

At or below 170

187

178

171

0

3

172

0

3

173

0

1

174

0

0

175

0

1

176

0

1

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE LSAT AND GPA
ARE NOT IN SYNCH

Law schools Admission Committees (LSAC) first focus on the applicant's LSAT score and UGPA. On a typical undergraduate's application, these two factors are paramount. However, most law schools will tell you that the student's entire application is reviewed and considered. As a result, it would be to your advantage to supplement your curriculum with activities that demonstrate leadership, initiative, creativity, responsibility, analytical skills and research ability.
University of California, Merced Law School Information

If your LSAT score and UGPA do not match up, explain this discrepancy (without bitterness, anger or defensiveness) on a separate piece of paper entitled Explanation of LSAT Score or Explanation of UGPA. This separate sheet of paper would be part of your law school addendum.
Johns Hopkins University Law School Option