Taking December LSAT - Disadvantage? Forum

[David_Hume14]

Is taking the December LSAT going to put me at a disadvantage? That would mean applying to schools around New Years. Thoughts, anecdotes welcome.

[rinkrat19]

Yes, because you won't be submitting a complete app until January. Schools will have been accepting people since December--a few even since November.

[Cicero76]

But apps have fallen so far you're probably still fine. Almost certainly still fine, except maybe at Stanford and Harvard.

[David_Hume14]

Yes, because you won't be submitting a complete app until January. Schools will have been accepting people since December--a few even since November.

I thought most December people go complete in December. Ah well. With the decline in apps recently maybe it won't matter as much?

[David_Hume14]

But apps have fallen so far you're probably still fine. Almost certainly still fine, except maybe at Stanford and Harvard.

Does it matter that I'm a sub 3 splitter? [would only be applying if I hit my 168 goal on the test]

[Balthy]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

[David_Hume14]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

Not sure what you mean with your latter sentence.

[Humbert Humbert]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

Not sure what you mean with your latter sentence.

He means that earlier is better than later in general, but a higher LSAT score is better than a lower LSAT score, regardless of when it is submitted.

For example: a 172 on the December LSAT is better than a 170 submitted on September 1st.

[David_Hume14]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

Not sure what you mean with your latter sentence.

He means that earlier is better than later in general, but a higher LSAT score is better than a lower LSAT score, regardless of when it is submitted.

For example: a 172 on the December LSAT is better than a 170 submitted on September 1st.

OK, got it.

Also, do I need to have my lsac $ paid before my profs can submit their letters? or only before lsac will send that stuff off to schools?

[Dr. Dre]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

eh, i wouldn't say "SIGNIFICANT" but a slight advantage

[Balthy]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

eh, i wouldn't say "SIGNIFICANT" but a slight advantage

I'm basing that off of elterrible's analysis. Of course it has its limitations since it's based on LSN, but I think it's probably accurate. Here's a the analysis for Penn in case you haven't seen the blog yet:

http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... el-in.html

[Dr. Dre]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

eh, i wouldn't say "SIGNIFICANT" but a slight advantage

I'm basing that off of elterrible's analysis. Of course it has its limitations since it's based on LSN, but I think it's probably accurate. Here's a the analysis for Penn in case you haven't seen the blog yet:

http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... el-in.html

Bro, I think his blog is saying a 1 point increase in LSAT is more valuable than submitting app 1 month early

So all OP has to do to make up the 2 LATE months is to increase his LSAT score by 2 points.

[RatemyLSATprep]

I took the December LSAT last year and sent my applications out during the first week of January and got into the schools I wanted to. With a strong LSAT score and a competitive GPA, I don't think taking the December LSAT puts you at much of a disadvantage. I also attended panels held by admission counselors from different Law Schools and most of them said taking the December LSAT putting you at a disadvantage is a myth.

[Dr. Dre]

taking the December LSAT putting you at a disadvantage is a myth.

TITCR

[rinkrat19]

I took the December LSAT last year and sent my applications out during the first week of January and got into the schools I wanted to. With a strong LSAT score and a competitive GPA, I don't think taking the December LSAT puts you at much of a disadvantage. I also attended panels held by admission counselors from different Law Schools and most of them said taking the December LSAT putting you at a disadvantage is a myth.

Admissions counselors also claim that softs matter and that admission is holistic.

[Balthy]

All things being equal, yes, there's a significant disadvantage. With a higher LSAT score, maybe 2 points or more, probably not.

eh, i wouldn't say "SIGNIFICANT" but a slight advantage

I'm basing that off of elterrible's analysis. Of course it has its limitations since it's based on LSN, but I think it's probably accurate. Here's a the analysis for Penn in case you haven't seen the blog yet:

http://admissionsbythenumbers.blogspot. ... el-in.html

Bro, I think his blog is saying a 1 point increase in LSAT is more valuable than submitting app 1 month early

So all OP has to do to make up the 2 LATE months is to increase his LSAT score by 2 points.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying too. His blog is saying that, all things being equal (as in, two applicants with the same scores/GPA applying early vs late) applying late puts you at a significant disadvantage, but a couple of points higher on the LSAT offsets that enough to make it worth it. Specifically for Penn, for example, an applicant applying earlier than someone with identical numbers has a 25.7% higher chance of being admitted for each month that he applies earlier.


Edited for clarity

[Dr. Dre]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying too. His blog is saying that, all things being equal (as in, two applicants with the same scores applying early vs late) applying late puts you at a significant disadvantage, but a couple of points higher on the LSAT offsets that enough to make it worth it.

25.7% per month isn't dat significant

[RatemyLSATprep]

I took the December LSAT last year and sent my applications out during the first week of January and got into the schools I wanted to. With a strong LSAT score and a competitive GPA, I don't think taking the December LSAT puts you at much of a disadvantage. I also attended panels held by admission counselors from different Law Schools and most of them said taking the December LSAT putting you at a disadvantage is a myth.

Admissions counselors also claim that softs matter and that admission is holistic.

Ultimately they want people to apply, so they'll say anything.

[Balthy]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying too. His blog is saying that, all things being equal (as in, two applicants with the same scores applying early vs late) applying late puts you at a significant disadvantage, but a couple of points higher on the LSAT offsets that enough to make it worth it.

25.7% per month isn't dat significant

Really? You don't think so? It seems huge to me. Worth trying hard to cop that high score as early as possible, but of course, it's still preferable to have a late app with a higher score.