On June 8, 2009, I took the LSAT for the first time and received a score of 155. On the day of the test, my nerves got the best of me and, to be completely honest, I choked under the pressure of taking the LSAT for the first time. I took the LSAT again on September 26, 2009 and received a score of 168. I did not let my nerves get the best of me during this exam. As such, I believe my second score of 168 is a much better reflection of my actual abilities.

Thoughts?

most schools just look at the highest lsat score
but that is a pretty big difference btw scores so im not too sure

I was only going to submit it to the schools that recommend explaining a difference of more than three points. For the other schools, I was going to let the score speak for itself.

Can you be more diplomatic in your language? No need to be incredibly stiff and formal, but I just wince when I imagine submitting this to an Admissions Committee with phrasings like: "my nerves got the best of me" and "I choked under the pressure"

Reword that scheiz and even add in some nice cushioning, perhaps:

...On the day of the LSAT, I felt nervous as I had failed to get a continuous nights sleep and this anxiety carried into the test. I take full ownership of my first LSAT score yet understand that it is not indicative of my capabilities. On the September 2009 LSAT, I received a score of 168 and believe this better reflects my ability to handle the rigors of your law school. I hope that you can....

What do you think?

HELL NO!


"I know we lost the case Mr. Partner. My nerves got the best of me. I choked."

Get it?

Haha - Yes, I get it. Thank you - I think I was attempting to be too honest.

I actually like the honest feel it gives.

I just wouldnt say "I did not let my nerves get the best of me during this exam" since that is implied

I also think that this addendum might not work in your favor; you got nervous? Everybody get's somewhat nervous when taking the LSAT, and it's just a diagnostic. What will happen when you take your 1L class exams, will you be overwhelmed by nerves again? I wouldn't include it. My first LSAT score was a 146 and second LSAT was 157, and I didn't include an addendum on any of my applications. I couldn't see the exam the first time, so I went to get my eyes checked; It was because my eye prescription changed by 1 unit in each eye - I'm not stupid.

On June 8, 2009, I took the LSAT for the first time and received a score of 155. On the day of the LSAT, I felt nervous as I had failed to get a continuous night’s sleep the night before and this anxiety carried into the test. I take full ownership of my first LSAT score yet understand that it is not indicative of my capabilities. On the September 2009 LSAT, I received a score of 168 and believe this better reflects my ability to handle the rigors of your law school. I hope you will take this into consideration when reviewing my application.

Thoughts on this version? I am also confused - many schools do not ask for an addendum explaining multiple LSAT scores on their application, but do in their FAQ. What should I do in this case - include the addendum or not?

Personally, I think you're trying to make a case out of it but it's not necessary. It sounds corny to me, sorry. Sounds like you're making an excuse. I don't know if you've read some of the other addenda on here, but they have more meat to them than being tired or something...

It doesn't sound like he's trying to make an excuse.... it sounds like he's just trying to be honest to the schools that want an explanation.


(and I don't mean to take a shot at you, but not being able to see an exam seems like an excuse)

due to personal circumstances ... when i received my score of 15? i knew that it wasn't indicative of my academic capabilities. I rescheduled and scored 16?, which is a more accurate representation.

they really don't care that much about this, but for whatever reason (it seems) just want something in writing.

This is the trouble I am running into - I do not have a good explanation for why I did badly on my first LSAT except for the fact that I just choked. I prepared no more the second time in contrast to the first time, I was not sick, nor did a family member die two hours before the test - I simply underperformed

did you feel the lower score coming? or was this an after thought, just curious... how do you know you choked?

this sounds much better than i choked or i was tired. I would just make it brief, and not dwell on it so much. They will most likely look at the higher score anyway? Just my feeling. Anyway, it's just one part of your application. If they see that your transcripts are all high marks there's not really an argument for not considering the higher score anyway.

I knew I was not going to do well essentially from the first section on. For instance, my first section was logic games and the first game was the easiest. I was just so nervous that I could not even properly do the first game. In addition, I had an answer transcription error that forced me to erase frantically my answers in the last section in the last five minutes of the exam.

This sounds more descriptive, you could use some of this language if you wanted... i don't know.