One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, "How hard is the LSAT?" Most students have heard the test is difficult, but unless they've taken an LSAT already, they don't have a good idea of whether the test really is hard, or whether it's just like any other college test. Let's take a look at some numbers and see what the real story is here. LSAT Scoring Scale First, we have to understand the scores that are produced by the test, … [Read more...]
Should I Take the LSAT Before Deciding Where to Apply to Law School?
When applying to law school, timing is everything. You need to know which LSATs you should take and when to submit your applications. Getting your letters of recommendation on time is completely dependent on when you ask for them. Same with getting your transcripts. As you can see, timing is a big factor in the admissions process! Below is an ideal timeline for getting into law school. Before & During the Admissions Process Before we get … [Read more...]
Should You Retake the LSAT?
When LSAT scores come out, many students are faced with the uncomfortable reality of a possible retake. With that in mind, let's consider two of the most common questions regarding law school admissions: “Should I retake the exam? And if I do, how will law schools interpret my scores?”In order to help you better understand your options, we have researched the policies of LSAC and top law schools, and spoken with many admissions counselors … [Read more...]
Should You Take the LSAT in February?
Taking the LSAT in February isn’t necessarily ideal. It’s in the dead of winter and East Coast testing centers regularly close for snow! To add insult to injury, LSAC keeps the questions secret even after the fact. The cherry on top? You’re cutting it close with the admissions deadlines for most law schools. But, just because it's often a "last resort" doesn’t make it a terrible option. On the contrary! The February test may be your last and best … [Read more...]
Retaking the LSAT? What to Do Differently to Raise Your Score
Note: we talked in detail about retaking the LSAT on the PowerScore LSAT PodCast, in episodes 2 and 3. You can access those episodes here on iTunes. Previously, I covered who should retake the LSAT. In this post, I'm covering how to properly prepare for your retake. First, I'm going to presume that the last time you did a fairly decent job of preparing. That is, you worked through a course or some self-study guides and you took a fair number of … [Read more...]
What Does Your Transcript Say About You?
Next to your LSAT score, your GPA is the most important thing on your law school application. Like it or not, those numbers hold the greatest weight in your likelihood of getting into a particular school. Unlike your LSAT score, though, your GPA has another facet to it: your transcript. Whether your transcript has a positive or negative effect on your application depends on what's on it.Let's take a look at what your transcript can say about … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 10: March 2019 LSAT Review and Scale Prediction
The 10th episode focuses on the four March LSAT administrations students just experienced—North American, two International, and a Sabbath-observer—detailing the scored topics section by section, the original appearance of any reused tests, student reactions, and overall impressions of difficulty, including curve predictions. There’s also a discussion of the keep-or-cancel decision and advice on what to do if you’re unsure about your next … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 5: Scholarship vs Prestige – How to Choose Between Multiple Law School Acceptances
In this episode, Dave and Jon explore an agonizing dilemma many law school applicants face: how to determine the best school to attend if you’ve been accepted to several. Within that discussion they provide a wide variety of analytical tools for gathering and comparing data, run through the main factors that should affect your decision, and finally take a close look at five specific, real-life application scenarios and explain precisely how they … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 3: Retaking the LSAT Part II – How to Study
Continuing the retake discussion from Episode 2, Dave and Jon now explore study habits and techniques to help ensure your next attempt is the one that gets it done! They break it all down--from proper mindset (including time off) to identifying and tracking specific strengths and weaknesses to the ideal practice test approach. There’s also an in-depth look at Blind Review and tips for using an incredibly powerful learning tool,“The Teaching … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 2: Retaking the LSAT Part I – Pros and Cons
Retaking the LSAT can be a big—and tricky—decision. Fortunately, Jon and Dave are here to help you make the right one. They discuss what it takes to justify a retake, outlining five key scenarios where a retake is the correct call. With that comes talk of rolling admissions and “late” applications, incomplete apps, waitlists, and even scholarships! They wrap up by looking at things from the other side. What might prevent a retake as you weigh the … [Read more...]
Why Does It Take So Long for Paper LSAT Scores to Come Out?
Once the LSAT is over, one of the most common complaints is that scores should come out more quickly. Given that we live in an era where tests are electronically scored and the results are transmitted nearly instantly by email, it sounds like a reasonable complaint. So, why does it take so long for LSAT scores to appear? Couldn't they get them out a lot earlier? To best understand what happens once you turn in your LSAT scoresheet, let's take a … [Read more...]
Waiting for Your LSAT Score? Here Are Some Things to Do
You're waiting for your LSAT score. You can't sleep, can't eat, and can only think about your score. Don't let all this drive you crazy! Besides, studies have shown that pulling out your hair makes you look frumpy. Don't do it! Instead, here's the smart thing to be doing with your time: put the final touches on your law school applications! Essentially, you should be able to click the "Submit" button the moment you receive your LSAT score. Steps … [Read more...]
Submitting Your Law School Application if You’re Retaking the LSAT
We had an interesting question posed recently that we thought we would share. "When you submit an application to a law school (say, in November), but you are registered to take the test in January (or March), do law schools automatically see that and hold off on making a decision until they receive your score? Or do you have to "remind" them somewhere on the application form?" Heavy on the minds of many applicants is the need to submit … [Read more...]
Should You Take the January LSAT?
The short answer is: Yes, you probably should.True, there are some disadvantages. First, it's administered in the dead of winter and it's nondisclosed. This means that you won't see the test content until after the fact. But consider this: the January test may be your best—and last—chance to get the score you need and still apply for admission in the Fall. Virtually every law school will accept scores from this test as you'll see in our … [Read more...]