Napoleon(1769-1821) said that God is on the side of the big battalions. If Napoleon were applying to law school today, he would probably say God is on the side of the high LSAT scorers. If Napoleon knew English well, he may have said (the palendrome) Able was I ere I saw Elba. Napoleon was exiled to Elba on May 4, 1814.
BACKGROUND OF THE LSAT
The LSAT was first introduced in 1948 to provide law schools with a standardized method of evaluating law school applicants. Throughout its history, the LSAT has evolved in various ways to provide an instrument that measures, to the greatest extent possible, skills necessary for success in law school. As a result of this constant effort to improve the construct validity of the test, the version of the LSAT administered in 1948 bears only a slight resemblance to the LSAT of today. (Paragraph from LSAC)
PERFORM VERY WELL ON THE LSAT
Performing very well on the LSAT is absolutely essential to getting into a top law school. Buy and use OFFICIAL LSAT PUBLICIATIONS and begin early (Perhaps as early as the summer before your junior year) and test yourself repeatedly. If preparing on your own does not seem suffiicient, seriously consider taking an LSAT prep course that provides excellent material taught by an excellent instructor. Try to let neither money nor time interfere with your efforts to maximize your LSAT score. Ideally with the LSAT, the first time should be the last time.
SECTIONS OF THIS CHAPTER
SECTIONS OF THIS CHAPTER
LSAT RECOMMENTED WEBSITES
IMPORTANCE OF THE LSAT AND GPA
COMMENTS
SOME KEY LSAT FACTS
WHERE AN LSAT SCORE STANDS WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST-YEAR CLASS
TOPICS OF THIS SECTION
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.
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 on a law school applicant..
LSAT PREPARATIONshould 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 three choices: retake the LSAT, try to explain your poor score, GO TO PLAN B.
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).
SOME KEY LSAT FACTS
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. If you did not do well on a least one of SAT, GRE, or GMAT, you definitely must maximizing your effort on the LSAT.
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 for the LSAT 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 going previous LSATs for which you have the answers and, ideally, the solutions
HOW OFTEN SHOULD ONE TAKE THE LSAT? (Answer. Ideally exactly one time) 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. 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
