What does it mean when... Forum

[whymeohgodno]

A median LSAT score is also the school's 75th percentile?

From Cornell's website
"Median LSAT score was 168, with the 25th and 75th percentiles for the class falling at 166 and 168, respectively."

[neonx]

I mean it could happen, but that seems very strange.

161-164-168-168-180
0 - 25 - 50 - 75 - 100

[RTFM]

It means that 50% of people scored less than a 168 and 25% of people scored above a 168. Which also means that at least 25% of people scored a 168.

[whymeohgodno]

I wonder if this means a 168 LSAT for Cornell is better than just meeting median all things considered?

[stratocophic]

It means that 50% of people scored less than a 168 and 25% of people scored above a 168. Which also means that at least 25% of people scored a 168.

Not quite. The cutoff for 168 doesn't necessarily have to be exactly at the median mark - it only means that at least 50% scored 168 or above. They could potentially have had up to 75% (minus one person, of course) of the class score a 168 - not necessary that anyone scored above a 168 (though of course some did). At least 25% of the class scored a 166 or below, but no more than 50% (minus one person). Seems likely that around 10-20% of the class scored above a 168, 40-60% scored exactly a 168, and about 30-40% of the class scored below a 168.

[whymeohgodno]

It means that 50% of people scored less than a 168 and 25% of people scored above a 168. Which also means that at least 25% of people scored a 168.

Not quite. The cutoff for 168 doesn't necessarily have to be exactly at the median mark - it only means that at least 50% scored 168 or above. They could potentially have had up to 75% (minus one person, of course) of the class score a 168 - not necessary that anyone scored above a 168 (though of course some did). At least 25% of the class scored a 166 or below, but no more than 50% (minus one person). Seems likely that around 10-20% of the class scored above a 168, 40-60% scored exactly a 168, and about 30-40% of the class scored below a 168.

So all we know for sure is at least 25% scored 168.

Meh...

[stratocophic]

It means that 50% of people scored less than a 168 and 25% of people scored above a 168. Which also means that at least 25% of people scored a 168.

Not quite. The cutoff for 168 doesn't necessarily have to be exactly at the median mark - it only means that at least 50% scored 168 or above. They could potentially have had up to 75% (minus one person, of course) of the class score a 168 - not necessary that anyone scored above a 168 (though of course some did). At least 25% of the class scored a 166 or below, but no more than 50% (minus one person). Seems likely that around 10-20% of the class scored above a 168, 40-60% scored exactly a 168, and about 30-40% of the class scored below a 168.

So all we know for sure is at least 25% scored 168.

Meh...

Pretty much.

[2014]

At least 25% DID score a 168. That's the only way the 50% and 75% would match up. I'd guess it is something like a 3rd who were right at that score.