Top Law Schools

have 3 scores
160, 163, 171

should i let the scores speak for themselves?
or should i write a multiple LSAT addendum?

nothing significant happened between tests except i just performed better on my most recent one (171).

I would write one and then look at the directions for an application and see what schools require it. It never helps to explain why you increased, if anything its a testament to your work ethic. Best of luck!

No reason to write an addendum here.

The best you could say is "I feel that my highest score is most representative," but that is something they will decide for themselves and an addendum is not going to change how they look at it.

thanks for the input.

so i got 1 no and 1 yes.

anybody else?

I am going to bump this after reading through some of the apps and this article: http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2010/ ... sat_scores

I understand if the reason for having 1 lower and 1 higher LSAT is "I studied more for the second one" then you shouldn't write an addendum. What if the school "requires" an addendum? (i.e. Penn saying that you "should.") Conversely what if it is "encouraged?" (i.e. UVA)

My feeling is that if it isn't required then don't write it. With something like Penn though, what should one do?

actually, a lot of deans want to hear about why your score increased, especially such a drastic jump. even if you only have an increased work ethic to blame, i think most places would be impressed by your dedication, and are thus less likely to assume the score is a mere aberration.

Bumping this since app season has started. I'm sure I'm not the only multiple test taker. The general feeling I get is that if the school's language suggests that they REALLY want an addendum, you should send one. Any thoughts?

lakerfanimal wrote:Bumping this since app season has started. I'm sure I'm not the only multiple test taker. The general feeling I get is that if the school's language suggests that they REALLY want an addendum, you should send one. Any thoughts?

I would say only write one if you have a unique circumstance (i.e. car accident, family death, etc) or they require it. I would ignore it if they "really want" it.

on a general note, would it ever hurt to have written an addendum that just said the scores increased because of studying, or some dumb circumstance like the lens on my eye glasses falling out? is there a middle ground to how these LSAT and GPA addendum's are perceived or do they count against you if they feel it wasn't worth mentioning?

merc280 wrote:on a general note, would it ever hurt to have written an addendum that just said the scores increased because of studying, or some dumb circumstance like the lens on my eye glasses falling out? is there a middle ground to how these LSAT and GPA addendum's are perceived or do they count against you if they feel it wasn't worth mentioning?

You might be perceived as someone who is just making excuses and it could hurt.

bk187 wrote:

lakerfanimal wrote:Bumping this since app season has started. I'm sure I'm not the only multiple test taker. The general feeling I get is that if the school's language suggests that they REALLY want an addendum, you should send one. Any thoughts?

I would say only write one if you have a unique circumstance (i.e. car accident, family death, etc) or they require it. I would ignore it if they "really want" it.

Hmm, but I saw that link you posted to Anna Ivey's thoughts on it, and she stated you shouldn't refrain from writing one if they basically ask for it

"If a school expressly asks or encourages you to comment on an X-point score difference, you should say something about it, even if realistically you can't be expected to justify or explain the score difference.

If they ask and you stay silent, I don't think they are necessarily going to average your scores, since they have to report the high score to the ABA, and that creates powerful incentives for the school to focus on the high score. However, staying silent after they expressly ask about it would suggest to them that you're not following instructions, and that's not a good outcome, even if the instructions themselves are silly. You should say something, anything, even if it's just: I studied differently/had a better day. In your case, tell them about your different approach to the test." (http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2010/ ... sat_scores)

lakerfanimal wrote:Hmm, but I saw that link you posted to Anna Ivey's thoughts on it, and she stated you shouldn't refrain from writing one if they basically ask for it

"If a school expressly asks or encourages you to comment on an X-point score difference, you should say something about it, even if realistically you can't be expected to justify or explain the score difference.

If they ask and you stay silent, I don't think they are necessarily going to average your scores, since they have to report the high score to the ABA, and that creates powerful incentives for the school to focus on the high score. However, staying silent after they expressly ask about it would suggest to them that you're not following instructions, and that's not a good outcome, even if the instructions themselves are silly. You should say something, anything, even if it's just: I studied differently/had a better day. In your case, tell them about your different approach to the test." (http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2010/ ... sat_scores)

Yeah that has me in a bind too, but TLS conventional wisdom is not to write it. I feel like it is what TLS has said versus what is said in that link.

bk187 wrote:

lakerfanimal wrote:Hmm, but I saw that link you posted to Anna Ivey's thoughts on it, and she stated you shouldn't refrain from writing one if they basically ask for it

"If a school expressly asks or encourages you to comment on an X-point score difference, you should say something about it, even if realistically you can't be expected to justify or explain the score difference.

If they ask and you stay silent, I don't think they are necessarily going to average your scores, since they have to report the high score to the ABA, and that creates powerful incentives for the school to focus on the high score. However, staying silent after they expressly ask about it would suggest to them that you're not following instructions, and that's not a good outcome, even if the instructions themselves are silly. You should say something, anything, even if it's just: I studied differently/had a better day. In your case, tell them about your different approach to the test." (http://www.annaivey.com/iveyfiles/2010/ ... sat_scores)

Yeah that has me in a bind too, but TLS conventional wisdom is not to write it. I feel like it is what TLS has said versus what is said in that link.

That sounds accurate. FWIW, another member on this site told me they didn't write an addendum for CCN and they were accepted at all 3. Also, I know Berkeley straight takes the highest score.

I taked with an admissions officer at USC face to face, and they expect an addendum if your score is more than 5 points either way.

Things have changed over the last several years as the focus has increasingly become about USNWR ranking and LSAT medians at most law schools. Schools used to have more stringent requirements, saying they would average LSAT scores unless you could give a reason they should only consider the highest, but because it now benefits schools so highly (w/r/t USNWR rankings) to just take the highest score, most have moved away from this. Anna Ivey hasn't actually worked in law school admissions for a while now, and probably underestimates the strength of the shift to highest LSAT score because she's used to the way things were.

(I find it interesting that I keep finding biographies of Anna Ivey promoting her as the former Dean of Admissions at Chicago, but none that actually say when she was there.)

If a school explicitly asks, I'd still write something because it's never good to not follow directions, but most don't anymore.

So I have several schools that want an addendum for a significant increase in scores. I need to come up with one that explains the jump without sounding whiny, or like I am making excuses (which I am). Would something like this be appropriate? I walked out of the 2009 test feeling shaken and sick and ended up with a 166, and then walked out of the last one feeling like i knocked it out of the park. Apparenly a steady diet of coffee and no sleep is not condusive to high scores. who knew?

To whom it may concern,
During the Fall of 2009 I accepted a full-time internship with the National Women’s Law Center in Washington DC. Because the internship was unpaid, I worked an additional 30 hours a week as a waitress in the evenings and on weekends. While I felt passionately about my internship, and learned a great deal, the long and hectic hours took a toll on me both physically and mentally. My score of xxx on the September 2009 is reflective of the long hours I was putting in rather than my intellectual ability.

When my internship ended last winter, I accepted a marketing position in Dallas, TX. While I still worked long hours, the job afforded me greater control over my schedule. Because of this, I managed to strike a balance between my career and LSAT preparation, and I feel that the scores from the October 2010 administration are a more accurate reflection of my abilities.

I met with my pre law adviser and she told me that the general consensus is that you have atleast 3 scores, you /definitely/ need to write an Addedum because law schools want to know why you took it so many times. Even if you have no legitimate excuse for performing better, they still want to know why you took it so many times.

My pre-law advisor gave me the same info about multiple scores. She told me schools would look down on taking the test 3 times, though every school I've met with has said they didn't care either way and would just take the highest score.

I took it twice in '09 because I was planning to apply for Fall '10 immediately after I finished my master's. Family situation and the fact that I was a little burned out from my master's, and I decided to take it again and apply for Fall '11. I don't think I should have a problem.?

Hey guys, I just dug up this old forum and thought I would bring it back up in light of the recent October score release. I have similar LSATs as the OP. I scored a 162 (Feb.), 165 (June), and 170 (Oct.). In February, I rushed to take the test because I thought I was going to be living in Dubai this year and forced myself to take it with a case of the swine flu. In June, I misbubbled a passage on RC which set me back 6 points. I am still a little disappointed with October b/c I fucked up games (which I aced in June), but I'll take it. I have a 3.88 and am interested in all t-14 (except HYS...b/c I won't get in). 1 year of sweet work experience.

Thoughts?

bump