please critique my lsat addendum Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 12:42 am

Cn someone please critique my lsat disparity essay?
It will only be sent to schools that ask for one.
I was told to not make it less than 3 sentences and never make it more than 2 paragraphs.
Thanks you in advance.

There is a 7 point increase between my first and latest LSAT score. In 2013 I received an LSAT score of 156 after taking a prep class studying for hours every single day, closing myself off from my friends and family. It was not a score I was not happy with, so I decided to take the test again next year. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result, which is exactly what happened to me. I studied in the same exact manner and received almost the same score (155). I decided to take the test one last time in 2015. When my February test date started coming around, I felt I was not as prepared as I wanted to be so I debated pushing it back. I decided to just take test I had already signed up for in preparation for the June test. I changed my study habits completely. I studied on my own, making sure to space out my practice tests and giving myself time to review them. I also made sure to take time for myself away from studying. I went into the February 2015 test much more relaxed. I saw it as just another practice test. I did not need to be so stressed. I came out with a 163, scoring in the 89th percentile. I feel that my latest score is much more indicative of my abilities as a law school student.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:23 am

Post removed.

JonTheMandamus · Post by **JonTheMandamus** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:32 am

^agree with above post. Your jump in score is well within reason, and doesn't require such a long explanation.

UsernameNotFound · Post by **UsernameNotFound** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:54 am

MistakenGenius wrote:You were told wrong. This is way too long and actually pretty weird. If you have to have an addendum (I don't see why you'd need one since it wasn't that big of an increase), then definitely make it shorter and take away all this weird reasoning about it. This edited version would be better.

"In 2013, I received an LSAT score of 156 after underestimating the time-requirement necessary to properly prepare myself. It was not happy with this score, so I decided to take the test again next year. I self-studied, making sure to space out my practice tests and giving myself time to review them. I earned a 163, which I feel is more indicative of my actual abilities."

I agree with you that it has a lot of unnecessary information and it should be shorter but I don't agree with your edited version at all.
First off, that wasn't the excuse that OP gave at all. Second, you didn't mention the second lsat. Schools have visibility to all scores. What's it going to look like if OP just completely didn't mention the second score at all?
Also the point increase may not be that substantial to some, but some schools ask for an lsat disparity essay for an increase of 5 or more points. So yes, only include the essay if they specifically ask for it. Otherwise it is a waste of your time and the admission officers time.

OP: do not go with this poster's version, but you definitely can't go with yours either.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:40 am

Post removed.

JonTheMandamus · Post by **JonTheMandamus** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 4:46 am

To go a little further, typically if there was a testing reason, such as getting hospitalized right before exam time, then you should elaborate on the situation. For the case of studying more and raising your score, that is a very standard situation for many students, and adcomms can spot it the moment they start reading your addendum. Don't dive too deeply into the nuances of studying and just own that you didn't do as well as you believed you could have the first time, and then you proved it by scoring higher.

You're entitled to take anyone's advice on TLS with a grain of salt, but MistakenGenius has the right idea (of course frame your addendum in your own words). People who have successfully gone through the admissions process and are giving back on the forum tend to know better than prospective students btw.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:47 am

Raising the issue of insanity in one's LSAT addendum is not a good idea, in my opinion.

The key to your LSAT addendum is that, after using study methods taught by a prep course, you devised your own study techniques which resulted in a substantial increase in your score.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:42 pm

MistakenGenius wrote:
UsernameNotFound wrote:
MistakenGenius wrote:You were told wrong. This is way too long and actually pretty weird. If you have to have an addendum (I don't see why you'd need one since it wasn't that big of an increase), then definitely make it shorter and take away all this weird reasoning about it. This edited version would be better.

"In 2013, I received an LSAT score of 156 after underestimating the time-requirement necessary to properly prepare myself. It was not happy with this score, so I decided to take the test again next year. I self-studied, making sure to space out my practice tests and giving myself time to review them. I earned a 163, which I feel is more indicative of my actual abilities."
I agree with you that it has a lot of unnecessary information and it should be shorter but I don't agree with your edited version at all.
First off, that wasn't the excuse that OP gave at all. Second, you didn't mention the second lsat. Schools have visibility to all scores. What's it going to look like if OP just completely didn't mention the second score at all?
Also the point increase may not be that substantial to some, but some schools ask for an lsat disparity essay for an increase of 5 or more points. So yes, only include the essay if they specifically ask for it. Otherwise it is a waste of your time and the admission officers time.

OP: do not go with this poster's version, but you definitely can't go with yours either.
Who the hell are you? At least get accepted by Notre Dame (or any law school for that matter) before trying to act like you know what you're talking about. Also, since all I know is you're targeting Notre Dame, retake.

Yes, I changed the explanation because the one in use presents the OP in a very negative light. The OP basically said, "I worked my ass off but studied wrong and did poorly on the LSAT. Yadda yadda yadda, some bullshit about the definition of insanity... I didn't learn my lesson and so repeated my mistake and did even poorer. I finally tried it in a different way, and I didn't suck quite as much." It's a terrible explanation and so I changed it to one better. But yes, I accidentally removed the part about the second take and didn't realize and so will incorporate it into it. But let's not split hairs, with just a 163, OP is not getting into any school that's going to give a damn about this stuff. It doesn't really matter.

Here's the new edit.

"Before learning how to properly prepare for the LSAT, I received scores of 156 and 155, respectively. I did not believe these scores accurately reflected my potential as a law student, and so I decided to take the test again the next year. I self-studied, making sure to space out my practice tests and giving myself time to review them. I earned a 163, which I feel is more indicative of my actual abilities."

Idk why you felt like you had to personally attack this person. They were just trying to help me. And idk why you told them to retake the lsat when you don't even know their score. I hope you got a 180 and got into HYS before you start talking smack about other people's scores/school choices.
They just said not to use your edit because that wasn't what I was saying. And I agree. But I agree with you too that it should be changed. So thank you for your help.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:43 pm

CanadianWolf wrote:Raising the issue of insanity in one's LSAT addendum is not a good idea, in my opinion.

The key to your LSAT addendum is that, after using study methods taught by a prep course, you devised your own study techniques which resulted in a substantial increase in your score.

So I shouldn't say anything about going into the test thinking I would just take it again?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:44 pm

JonTheMandamus wrote:To go a little further, typically if there was a testing reason, such as getting hospitalized right before exam time, then you should elaborate on the situation. For the case of studying more and raising your score, that is a very standard situation for many students, and adcomms can spot it the moment they start reading your addendum. Don't dive too deeply into the nuances of studying and just own that you didn't do as well as you believed you could have the first time, and then you proved it by scoring higher.

You're entitled to take anyone's advice on TLS with a grain of salt, but MistakenGenius has the right idea (of course frame your addendum in your own words). People who have successfully gone through the admissions process and are giving back on the forum tend to know better than prospective students btw.

Thank you. I will rewrite.

Sera Numquam · Post by **Sera Numquam** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:38 pm

CanadianWolf wrote:Raising the issue of insanity in one's LSAT addendum is not a good idea, in my opinion.

The key to your LSAT addendum is that, after using study methods taught by a prep course, you devised your own study techniques which resulted in a substantial increase in your score.

Agree with this: don't mention insanity. It also is very out of place and irrelevant.

Dcc617 · Post by **Dcc617** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:42 pm

MistakenGenius wrote:
Here's the new edit.

"Before learning how to properly prepare for the LSAT, I received scores of 156 and 155, respectively. I did not believe these scores accurately reflected my potential as a law student, and so I decided to take the test again the next year. I self-studied, making sure to space out my practice tests and giving myself time to review them. I earned a 163, which I feel is more indicative of my actual abilities."

Yep, that looks about right. Don't make it a big deal OP.

rpupkin · Post by **rpupkin** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:46 pm

Anonymous User wrote: It will only be sent to schools that ask for one.

Do any schools actually require an LSAT addendum? Or do they just give you the opportunity to explain a score disparity if you would like? If it's the latter, do not submit anything. Absent extraordinary circumstances, I don't think these addenda help.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:51 pm

Post removed.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:54 am

MistakenGenius has, in my opinion, offered a clear & concise explanation. Self study (or teaching oneself) is the primary goal of most law school curriculums as attorneys need to be able to apply law to a variety of factual situations.

In answer to your question: No need to state that you went into the retest with the casual attitude of "just taking the test again".