Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep
 54 Comments »
Here’s a previous post entitled “I have my June LSAT Score: Now What?” that might be helpful to many of you today.
There is no shame in re-taking the LSAT. Two guidelines about studying for September:
1. If you did much better (consistently) on practice exams than on the real thing, you don’t need to sit through another prep course – just maintain the skills you already have and check out Knewton and TestSherpa and other inexpensive tutorial methods. Also, get working on your application materials – don’t wait for the new score to start your personal statement, resume, LORs, etc.
2. If you weren’t hitting practice exam scores much higher than your actual score, you need a new and improved way to prep for the September exam: Try a different prep course, or if you didn’t take a prep course, trying one (even an online/inexpensive version) or a private tutor might make all the difference for you.
No matter what you decide, don’t let this first score haunt you. It doesn’t preclude you from enjoying a successful career – it’s just part of how you determine your strategy going forward.
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep, LSAT; Rolling Admissions, Multiple LSAT scores
Tags: Cancel LSAT score, Cancelling the LSAT, LSAT, LSAT noshow
1 Comment »
What a great radio show this morning! Wow!
We heard great tips for the week before the test from 4 very experienced LSAT tutors:
Josh Morrison of LogicPro, Donald Viscardi of Inspirica, Bara Sapir of TestPrepNY, and Paul Siemons of Advantage Testing.
Listen to this morning’s program at my BlogTalkRadio show. It’ll be the best 45 minutes you’ll spend in the week before the June LSAT. If you’re taking the September 2009 LSAT, it’ll really help you decide how to pick an LSAT tutor/prep program because we highlighted four very different (and each effective for the right person) approaches. You can listen on your computer or download it to your iPod.
Thanks also to Bara Sapir for offering a wonderful 30-minute sample of TestPrepNY’s sample LSAT exam preparation audio program.
If you have questions based on anything discussed in the program, leave a comment here. You can ask the question to me, or to a specific tutor from our panel. I look forward to your questions and comments! And, if you find the show helpful please let me know that too. Your feedback helps me determine future blog and radio show topics.
Categories: Advice, Application Timeline, Low GPA, Low LSAT, Multiple LSAT scores
Tags: applying to law school, DUI, Low GPA, Low LSAT
383 Comments »
I get versions of this question almost every day of the week. I want to thank J. for agreeing to allow me to address this question in a blog format. I think that the response will benefit many readers of my blog, even if it’s not the news people were hoping to hear.
“I’m wondering if it’s possible (or what the likelihood is) of getting into law school with a 2.5 GPA, 138 on the LSAT twice, and a DUI on my record. Is there anything I can do at this point to get into a law school? Going back to undergrad and increasing my GPA? Taking the LSAT over? Anything?” – J.
The answer for J. is that there is an incredibly small likelihood of his acceptance to an ABA law school right now. Even if we give him the benefit of the doubt about diversity, being president of everything at school, having a few years of significant work experience, and a fairly reputable undergraduate college (a combination of which is highly unlikely), law schools have no incentive to take a risk on him. He brings nothing of value to a school, from a law school’s perspective. Any law school would have to sacrifice its numbers to admit him and probably sacrifice its first time bar passage rate and employment statistics as well.
Going back to undergrad doesn’t work. It doesn’t change your LSAC computed GPA. If J. could get himself into a graduate school program of repute and do very well (not just a 3.0, but in the neighborhood of a 3.7 GPA) and get some solid academic letters and significantly increase his LSAT score, then I think he might have a better chance of being admitted to law school. This would show maturity and seriousness of purpose.
One DUI is problematic, but if J. can show he’s changed and grown and learned from the experience, this alone probably won’t keep him out of law school. J. needs to put some real and metaphorical distance between himself and the DUI incident for law schools to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I anticipate some questions and comments on this one, so fire away. And happy Friday!
Categories: Advice, Application Timeline, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Low LSAT, LSAT, LSAT Prep
Tags: LSAT, LSAT Prep courses, LSAT tutor
No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome!
JB left this comment on my old blog and I wanted to share it in a separate post here so everyone could benefit from the response:
Thank you Ann! I decided to take your advice and wait. (about the February LSAT)
I keep on having problems with the argument section in the practice exams, Im not sure how you are supposed to study for those kinds of questions. I also am having some trouble with the RC part of the exam. Is there anything that you can recommend that might help me study for these sections of the test better?
Thanks,
JB
First, this is a good decision. I’m glad you’re going to dedicate yourself to going through the law school application process the right way rather than the “get it over with” way. Here are some resources on LSAT Preparation:
Integrated Learning LSAT Blog
Manhattan LSAT Tutor
Test Prep NY
Also, here’s a link to a previous LawSchoolExpert post on LSAT Advice and here’s one on LSAT Prep Courses.
Categories: Low LSAT
547 Comments »
My most-read blog topics are those dealing with very low LSAT scores; there are a lot of you out there. So, what constitutes a “low” LSAT score? This is not a discussion for those of you who find yourselves disappointed with your 158s. Let’s aim this conversation at those of you below a 147 LSAT.
I get a lot of calls from people in this category. There are certain people whose chances will not be helped even with advice from a law school admission consultant. We are not, after all, miracle workers. If your LSAT score is in the 130s or low 140s, it’s very hard to find an ABA law school anywhere in the US that will offer you unrestricted acceptance (especially in the increasingly competitive environment of our c. It may be possible to gain acceptance to a conditional program at an ABA law school (especially with scores in the low to mid 140s) but even that has its problems. You may get yourself to Appalachia or somewhere to try the conditional course, and then they may only offer acceptance to 2 of the 100 participants. The problem is that once you are unsuccessful in gaining acceptance through a conditional admission program, other law schools will be hard pressed to find a reason to give you a chance at their own school, even with a slightly improved LSAT score.
If you haven’t exhausted your opportunities to take the LSAT, then take it again. However, you must prepare differently than you did before. And don’t rush the process; it’s too late for October. Wait until December. Make improving your score your focus; without it, the world’s best personal statement, most impressive resume, and illuminating letters of recommendation won’t make a bit of difference.
Those of you who know me know that I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I will always give my honest opinion…..
Categories: Low LSAT, Reapplying to Law School
5 Comments »
If things didn’t go your way for Fall 2008 admission and you are retaking the LSAT to apply for Fall 2009 admission (or Winter 2009 admission), here is a post of things to consider as you approach the June 2008 or October 2008 LSAT. (Please forgive the plug at the end – this was one of the first lawschoolexpert blog entries).
And here is a link to a previous post for general LSAT advice. The blogs that linked to this post last July still have worthy advice on the topic.
Categories: Low LSAT, LSAT
3 Comments »
I spend a lot of time on the subject of “Rankings Aren’t Everything” and “LSAT Isn’t Everything” and for those of you who still don’t believe me, I want to share this with you— it’s from a client with a 154 LSAT who e-mailed me tonight:
Ann!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god, i just got home and opened a package from Boston College Law School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still can’t believe it!!! Couldn’t have done it without you!
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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,
