Jon and Dave are back with the 8th installment in their popular Student Mailbag series, tackling the most pressing questions submitted by listeners! In this LSAT-centric episode they explain how make up tests work, the pros and cons of Score Preview, November scale predictions for the 150s and 160s, when canceling a score is most advisable, and the application review process when schools can see you’re signed up for a future test date.
Timestamps
0:00 – Intro. Jon and Dave catch up for one final podcast conversation before Jon heads out for a long overdue extended trip abroad.
3:50 – This week in the LSAT world. Analyzing the latest law school applicant numbers and LSAT score trends, plus a reminder about our strong slate of upcoming webinars!
Listener-Submitted Questions
13:50 – “How do the official make up LSATs work? Are they the same as the regular test week’s? Is the difficulty easier, harder, or the same?”
22:12 – “How does Score Preview work in your LSAC account? Can you see the score earlier than others before the official release date? Is it worth the money?”
30:31 – “How will the curve look on the November LSAT in the 150-155 range?”
35:42 – “Is it possible that LSAC mixed real content with experimental on the November test?”
42:24 – “I’ve taken the LSAT four times, but only did writing samples for the first two (my two most recent takes were in 2019, and my writing samples were from 2018). Am I in trouble? Will my scores still be released to the schools I’m applying to?” (additional listening: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/lsat-podcast-episode-15-the-digital-writing-sample/)
45:25 – “I was feeling on track to be ready for the LSAT in a few weeks, but things at work have gotten pretty insane, and I don’t know if I will have the time I thought I would to study leading up to the test. Is it better to just reschedule, or take the exam anyway and see how I do, even though I may not be able to study very much in the next few weeks?”
49:41 – “If I take the test and get below my target score, should I cancel? I have LSAT score preview for this test.”
59:38 – “Is it worth it to take the LSAT again in January but be really late in the application cycle if I feel like I can do better?”
1:08:00 – “What happens when I sign up for the January test? Do I have to tell schools I’m taking it? Will they make a decision before my January score comes out?”
1:13:46 – Outro.
Q says
Thank you so much Dave!
Q S says
Hello! Thank you so much for having this podcast! I have a question about retaking LSAT after submitting applications.
I took Oct LSAT and scored a 171. I submitted all my applications on 11/30 for the 2022 cycle, and now I am considering if I should retake LSAT since I know I can score higher (173+ at least), and my goal is a T-14 school (STEM background with a mediocre GPA that lower than all T14’s 25%). I am a bit confused about retaking option after the application deadline. Should I send schools a note and address things such as “I know February test is after the application deadline, but I do want to solidify my chance at X school. Please review my application with my current status, and I would appreciate an evaluation with my updated/higher score?” I prefer them to review now and if they have not rendered a decision before February, then consider the newer/increased score. Would this be possible, or would it be better to ask schools to hold till I get my updated score? Thank you again, and please advise!
Happy holiday!
Q
Dave Killoran says
Hi Q,
Thanks for the message. If you can, relisten to some of our recent episodes on retaking the LSAT and applications–we’ve covered this a bit!
When you sign up for an LSAT, the schools get a report indicating such and so you don’t have to notify them. What they do with that new info is up to them, and even if you write them and ask them to consider you, they may or may not. They will do what is in their best interest here, not yours, and often it’s in their best interest to wait.
In your situation, it will be fairly obvious to them you will be hoping to obtain admits from better schools and be in a better position to reconsider. So, if a school was sitting there thinking they might admit you, they will want to wait. Because if you go out and score a 178, they may want to yield protect and wait and see what happens. So, asking them to consider you now is unlikely to cause them to do that–they’ll just sit and wait until they see how you do (this applies in most cases, not all, of course).
So, in your situation, I wouldn’t send those notes to the school. I’d simply let it ride and see what happens.
Thanks!