Categories: Advice, Law School Admission Deadlines, Law School Admission Trends, Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, LSAT; Rolling Admissions
Tags: December LSAT, Low LSAT, LSAT Scores, October LSAT score
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LSAT scores came out. Let the panic begin. Right now you’re exhausted, scouring the Internet for anything, ready to grasp the smallest, least credible piece of advice that tells you that your very low LSAT score WILL get you into the school of your dreams.
What is my advice? Sleep on it. Then, when you wake up, read these posts:
Before You Re-take the LSAT
The Post-LSAT Blues (by me, but on USNews.com)
Should You Re-Take the LSAT in December? (by me)
Should You Re-Take the LSAT in December (by MSS blog)
But to answer the easy questions:
1. NO – December is NOT too late to apply for Fall 2012 admission. Why? Because you will still be able to submit apps in early January. Because you’re better off having a higher LSAT score and applying in January than applying now with a lower LSAT score. Because applications are down 10% and this can only help you.
2. NO – You can’t significantly improve your practice exam scores in 5 weeks. If you suck at standardized tests, you’re not going to be able to teach yourself the test. To get a different result, you need to take different actions.
Happy to take questions! And would love your feedback on the new book, The Law School Decision Game:A Playbook for Prospective Lawyers.
Ann
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep
2 Comments »
Want to make sure you’ve covered your bases before Monday’s LSAT? Here are some things to check out:
Blog talk radio show: Last minute tips for LSAT takers
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ann-levine/2009/06/01/last-minute-tips-for-lsat-takers
Blue Print Prep: How to spend the last weekend before the LSAT (original post 10/1/10)
http://blueprintprep.com/lsatblog/lsat-advice/how-to-spend-the-final-weekend-before-the-lsat/
Blue Print Prep: What do to the morning of the LSAT (original post 6/2/11)
http://blueprintprep.com/lsatblog/lsat-advice/what-to-do-the-morning-of-the-june-2011-lsat/
LSAT Blog: Test Day tips organized in one post
http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/prepare-lsat-test-day-tips.html
LSAT Blog: 3 tips for day before LSAT
http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/prepare-day-before-lsat-tips-study-lsat.html
about.com <http://about.com> , 6 things to do the day before the LSAT
http://lawschool.about.com/od/lsat/bb/daybeforeLSAT.htm
If you read a few of these and then decide you’re not ready, here are 2 posts on how you can now “withdraw” from the LSAT before the test:
LSAT blog: New Option to Withdraw your LSAT Registration
http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/withdraw-lsat-registration-option-lsac.html
Manhattan LSAT: June LSAT – deadlines, destiny and dates
http://www.manhattanlsat.com/blog/index.php/2011/05/12/june-lsat-dates-deadlines-and-destiny/
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, Multiple LSAT scores
64 Comments »
The following is a guest post by Greg Smith, an LSAT instructor at Alpha-Score.com. He has been teaching the LSAT since 2003 both in class and online.
Thinking of retaking the LSAT? Here’s a few things to consider:
Are you insane?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results – Rita Mae Brown.
If you didn’t do as well as you’d like this time around, what is going to change next time? You need a new plan of attack, something needs to change. This could be as simple as reducing your stress, studying harder, or not staying out until 4 am the night before the LSAT, but something needs to change. If you have a plan and you can make significant changes than retaking the LSAT may be in your best interest.
How did you prepare for the LSAT?
If you spent months poring over LSAT text books and reviewing practice exams in preparation for the exam, it is unlikely that a few more months of study will have a significant effect on your score. However, if you avoided LSAT questions in favor of nights out with Jagermeister or even spent your time studying for midterms and writing essays, then you might have some room for improvement. If you don’t think you studied hard enough the first time are you going to commit to a different study plan for a retake?
Did something go wrong?
I’ve heard terrible stories of what can happen on LSAT day. Everything from construction in the room next door to heat waves, panic attacks and illness. If your test day was a disaster you’ve got a great reason to retake. Also, if there were extenuating circumstances during your first LSAT you may want to notify any law schools you apply to of this fact, BUT only after you have proven you can score higher.
Check your score?
Check your LSAT score against your scores on your home practice tests. If there’s a significant difference then something went wrong. If it wasn’t a the testing conditions, illness floods or some other natural disaster then the most likely cause of your downfall is stress. It is possible to overcome this and even turn it to your advantage, some students perform better under stress. Check this guide on stress reduction for the LSAT.
Statistically speaking
LSAC provides substantial data on students who repeat the LSAT and the results they see. In summary, only about 30% of students retake the LSAT. The ones that do, are more likely to see their score increase than decrease. Approximately 67% of repeaters saw their score increase, 8% experienced no change, and 25% received a lower score.
Effect on Applications
You should also consider the delay of re-taking the LSAT on your applications to law school. Many schools admit students on a rolling basis so it is actually easier to get in if you apply earlier. One option is to apply with your lower score to take advantage of the rolling admissions and then if you get a higher score, alert the school and have another shot at admission. You may also get accepted to a school that is not your first choice based on your initial LSAT score. At this point you can take the LSAT again, stress free because you know you are already accepted to at least one school. Then, if your second score is higher, you might get into the school of your choice. Stress is a very significant factor in how students perform on the actual LSAT so whatever you can do to reduce or eliminate stress is a good thing!
Ann Levine can probably provide better input on how a second score affects your application with respect to rolling admissions.
Average or Highest LSAT Score?
Check with your target schools (usually on their websites) to see if they average your scores or take the highest one. Even schools that average scores can occasionally be persuaded to take your highest if there were special circumstances at the time of your lower scored LSAT. (note by Ann: since schools only have to report the highest of multiple scores to the ABA, they have incentive to rely on your highest score). Law schools are increasingly taking the highest reported LSAT score for applicants as it helps their law school rankings when they report the average LSAT of their admitted students.
Let your schools know!
If you do decide to retake the LSAT, make sure to let your school know about your new score. You need to make sure your new score gets to them. (note by Ann: schools make mistakes about this all the time, so take control of your process and be proactive about making sure schools have your new score.)
For more information about online LSAT prep courses
For more information about the likelihood of raising your score on a second try, see this law school expert post.Here is more about whether to retake the LSAT.
Here’s an application timeline for December LSAT takers.
For more about why Ann Levine considers the December LSAT the “LSAT of LAST RESORT” see The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert. (Also available on download from iTunes or in MP3 format on Amazon.
Categories: Advice, Application Timeline, Law Careers, Law School Admission Deadlines, Law School Admission Trends, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Law School Rankings, Law School Resume Tips, Low LSAT, LSAT Prep, Uncategorized, Wait lists, waitlist
Tags: applying to law school, insider secrets getting into law school, law school podcast, LSAT Preparation
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I recently did a podcast interview for Insider Secrets : ”Getting Into Law School” - you can listen to it or read the transcript. In it, I discuss how to choose an LSAT prep program, choosing a law school, taking on debt, putting together your applications, resumes, wait lists, low LSAT scores, and about a thousand different things related to law school admission. I’m happy to take questions here and/or entertain your comments and thoughts.
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, LSAT; Rolling Admissions
Tags: February LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, Taking the LSAT
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For all of you February LSAT takers, here’s the best 45 minutes you’ll spend this week – Listen to my Blog Talk Radio show with four elite LSAT Tutors talking about tips for test day. Listen to it online or download it through iTunes (BTR- Ann Levine)
Also, I’ve been hearing from a lot of people who are just deciding late in the game to apply for the Fall 2010 law school admission cycle and their practice LSAT scores definitely demonstrate that they aren’t ready. I do not advocate a last minute approach to LSAT prep or to the law school application process. To me, it usually means the person hasn’t really thought through the choice and applying to law school with an unknown (but predictably very poor) LSAT score is really throwing good money after bad. Here’s how to know if you’re really ready to take the LSAT.
For those of you who are ready, good luck this weekend!
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep
Tags: LSAT help, LSAT tutor
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People learn in different ways, and nothing makes that more obvious than LSAT preparation.
Whether you’re attacking the test for the first time or you’re unhappy with past performance, an LSAT tutor might be the answer for you. Big prep companies often take college kids with high LSAT scores and make them tutors. They are pretty much given a script and told what to do, but that doesn’t make them necessarily good teachers. You need to know who you’re getting before you sign on the dotted line. An effective LSAT tutor needs to be someone who respects your learning style and who knows how to get ideas and concepts across to you in a way you can relate to.
I have some suggestions for where to find an LSAT tutor, and I’ve broken them down into 3 categories: Companies that specialize in private tutoring and who hire high quality teachers, LSAT prep companies who also offer private tutoring, individuals who are known LSAT tutors, and websites where tutors advertise their services. Thanks to the wonders of Skype, you don’t even need a tutor in the same city where you live so you can shop around.
Tutoring Companies – My clients have been incredibly happy with these two options for private tutoring. Inspirica offers tutors in Boston, Philadelphia and NY in person, and “Inspirica Anywhere” via skype. Advantage Testing is in 17 locations and I’ve had several clients work with the Los Angeles office and see big payoffs- from high 140s/low 150s on their first LSAT attempts to high 150s after using Advantage. The director of the Los Angeles office and a Master Tutor for Inspirica participated in my Blog Talk Radio show last June on Last Minute Tips for LSAT Takers.
LSAT Prep Companies – I’ve been really impressed with the operations at AtlasLSAT and they do offer private tutoring. Those tutors go through a crazy screening process by prep company standards.
Individual Tutors – Here are some interesting options that came up when I did a google search for LSAT tutors:
Tutor Nation
Manhattan Review
Find A Tutor
Tutor Match
LSAT Blog (Steve Schwartz – I’ve heard from a number of people who had great experiences with him, and I actually quoted him on LSAT prep in my law school admission guide book. )
LSAT Experts
Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a great place to start when searching for an LSAT tutor.
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, LSAT; Rolling Admissions, Multiple LSAT scores
Tags: re-taking the LSAT
88 Comments »
I hope everyone had a good weekend, but since LSAT scores came out I’m sure a lot of you were distracted and unable to enjoy your normal pursuits.
A common question over the weekend was, “If I take the LSAT again in December, is it too late to be competitive for Fall 2010 admission?”
No. It’s not too late. I had clients last year who were admitted to Harvard and Columbia with December LSAT scores. It’s not too late. The key is deciding whether you are set up to be successful with an LSAT that is only 6 weeks away. Here are some factors to consider:
1. Was the problem with your LSAT score in September a lack of sufficient preparation? If so, December is too soon to make a dramatic improvement in your score.
2. If the problem with your September LSAT result was a strange testing circumstance (illness, medication side-effects, noise, terrible proctors, missing an uncharacteristic amount of questions on a particular section, etc.) then it is feasible to raise your score significantly.
The next thing you’re going to ask is: Do I submit applications BEFORE I take the December LSAT? Here are the factors to consider:
1. You only have 6 weeks to maximize your December LSAT score? Why would you cut into such a short time frame by spending time on applications? Especially when those schools aren’t going to review your application without your score. And especially if you have other obligations (school, work, family) that are going to demand your time in the next 6 weeks.
2. You can work on applications starting December 6th and still get things submitted sooner than most December LSAT takers.
For more about your decision regarding retaking the LSAT, see “Re-taking the LSAT“
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Ann K. Levine, Esq., former director of law school admissions for two ABA approved law schools, is a law school admission consultant and owner of Law School Expert,
