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Dear Law School Admission Committee

I have taken LSAT test for three times, but I do not think the score I got from Dec 2009 reflects my potential to success in law school. Though I am not a native speaker, the unsatisfactory results were mainly caused by my inability to handle the test-day pressure, rather than my language, since I can get desired score most of the time in practice tests. During my first two attempts, I felt too nervous and distracted to finish my exam. However, with strong determination to go to a top law school and to prove that I am capable to achieve high score, I registered a preparation course after the Dec test.

Other than excellent techniques and intensive exercises I acquired from the prep course, the greatest benefit was from the simulation of proctored tests. I have taken ten simulated tests in one month compared to five tests suggested by the prep course. On the test day of Feb 2010, I had no problem cope with the pressure and I exerted my potential much greater than before. Most importantly, I regard my LSAT preparation experience as valuable, because it taught me to face psychological shadow directly in order to walk out of it. Therefore, I can expect my Feb 2010 LSAT score would be significantly higher, and it is also a better indication of my ability and potential for law school success.

Sincerely Yours

"critique"

Personally, I'd scrap the whole thing. There are grammar/sentence structure errors and in general it doesn't really say much of anything.


Here's what I'd put:

I feel my most recent LSAT score best reflects my ability to succeed in law school. On previous attempts, my score suffered due to severe test anxiety. To combat the anxiety, I enrolled in a test prep course which, above all else, gave me the confidence I needed to do as well as I was capable in my most recent attempt.

EdmundBurke23 wrote:"critique"

Way to help, jerk off.

I agree with twopoodles. You could say exactly what you are trying to say in 3-4 sentences (which twopoodles put quite well). Good luck, hope you did better on the Feb. test.

I think admitting that test anxiety got the best of you may be ill-advised. If you were on the committee, would you want a student that is unable to alleviate stress when faced with important tests? No offense; I'm sure you will develop effective strategies to combat the anxiety. However, it's important to realize that you only get one shot at a final exam. The committee may think that such exams will cause the same level of anxiety, and you will not perform well.

That said, I agree with the others that this should be no longer than 4 sentences. I think twopoodles did a great job. Consider using that as a jumping off point, if not just straight lift it.

twopoodles wrote:Personally, I'd scrap the whole thing. There are grammar/sentence structure errors and in general it doesn't really say much of anything.


Here's what I'd put:

I feel my most recent LSAT score best reflects my ability to succeed in law school. On previous attempts, my score suffered due to severe test anxiety. To combat the anxiety, I enrolled in a test prep course which, above all else, gave me the confidence I needed to do as well as I was capable in my most recent attempt.

This. Well said.

Will adcomms look down on you for taking a prep course?

shock259 wrote:Will adcomms look down on you for taking a prep course?

I don't think so. However, I don't know if test anxiety is a valid excuse - Everyone with a low score could conceivably use it.

OP, I'm in the exact same position; I applied in November, took the LSAT in December (third attempt), and scored really high. I have no idea what I should say in my addendum.

Terrible idea. STOP

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:"critique"

Way to help, jerk off.

I agree with twopoodles. You could say exactly what you are trying to say in 3-4 sentences (which twopoodles put quite well). Good luck, hope you did better on the Feb. test.

Did you know that there are a lot of people out there that point out how douchy other people are in order to feel good about themselves? I'm sure you've done this a brazilian times on TLS by now.

Cupidity wrote:Terrible idea. STOP

Yeah, don't a lot of law schools just take the highest score now? So what, you took it three times, we need an addendum for that?

narkizopoint wrote:

Cupidity wrote:Terrible idea. STOP

Yeah, don't a lot of law schools just take the highest score now? So what, you took it three times, we need an addendum for that?

Yes, a lot, but not all.

EdmundBurke23 wrote:

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:"critique"

Way to help, jerk off.

I agree with twopoodles. You could say exactly what you are trying to say in 3-4 sentences (which twopoodles put quite well). Good luck, hope you did better on the Feb. test.

Did you know that there are a lot of people out there that point out how douchy other people are in order to feel good about themselves? I'm sure you've done this a brazilian times on TLS by now.

Well aware. I wouldn't say a brazilian, because technically, that's not a number. I'm just really good at locating d-bags on this site. So tell me me, what was it you were trying to accomplish by correcting the spelling in the title of this thread? Did you know there are people out there that point out other people's errors in order to feel good about themselves. Personally, I'd rather point out the douches.

The whole point of the LSAT is to induce stress and panic. It's supposed to gauge your ability to reason clearly under time and performance pressure. Learning to keep your cool is half the battle. I would give as little detail about your anxiety as possible. Just ask them to focus on the February test, on which you hopefully scored higher, as a better indicator of your ability. If it is, they'll have every incentive to take you at your word.

autarkh wrote:The whole point of the LSAT is to induce stress and panic. It's supposed to test your ability to reason clearly under time and performance pressure. Learning to keep your cool is half the battle. I would give as little detail about your anxiety as possible. Just ask them to focus on the February test, which hopefully will be higher. If it is, they'll have every incentive to take you at your word.

Silly me, and all along I thought the reason was to test your logical reasoning, reading comprehension and analytical abilities. Ha, what was I thinking?

But seriously, I wouldn't be concerned about hiding the fact that you were anxious. Adcomms know that some people are anxious, and they also know that practicing reduces this anxiety. They aren't oblivious. Then again, I'm biased because I wrote something similar in my addendum. I was also waitlisted today. DAMN YOU Illinois!

cdd_04 wrote:

autarkh wrote:The whole point of the LSAT is to induce stress and panic. It's supposed to gauge your ability to reason clearly under time and performance pressure. Learning to keep your cool is half the battle. I would give as little detail about your anxiety as possible. Just ask them to focus on the February test, on which you hopefully scored higher, as a better indicator of your ability. If it is, they'll have every incentive to take you at your word.

Silly me, and all along I thought the reason was to test your logical reasoning, reading comprehension and analytical abilities. Ha, what was I thinking?

Hehe. I can use selective emphasis too. =)

Of course it is supposed to test all of those things. Just not in a vacuum. Imagine having 5 or 10 additional minutes on every section. How about the whole day? Would the test be as hard?

The stress and panic serve a useful purpose -- they, in effect, exacerbate the distribution.

autarkh wrote:

cdd_04 wrote:

autarkh wrote:The whole point of the LSAT is to induce stress and panic. It's supposed to gauge your ability to reason clearly under time and performance pressure. Learning to keep your cool is half the battle. I would give as little detail about your anxiety as possible. Just ask them to focus on the February test, on which you hopefully scored higher, as a better indicator of your ability. If it is, they'll have every incentive to take you at your word.

Silly me, and all along I thought the reason was to test your logical reasoning, reading comprehension and analytical abilities. Ha, what was I thinking?

Hehe. I can use selective emphasis too. =)

Of course it is supposed to test all of those things. Just not in a vacuum. Imagine having 5 or 10 additional minutes on every section. How about the whole day? Would the test be as hard?

The stress and panic serve a useful purpose -- they, in effect, exacerbate the distribution.

That's funny you mention the time constraint. I was about to say a big reason they have the time constraint, is because without one, everyone would score perfectly. Then I realized it would hurt my argument, so naturally, I left it out

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:"critique"

Way to help, jerk off.

I agree with twopoodles. You could say exactly what you are trying to say in 3-4 sentences (which twopoodles put quite well). Good luck, hope you did better on the Feb. test.

Did you know that there are a lot of people out there that point out how douchy other people are in order to feel good about themselves? I'm sure you've done this a brazilian times on TLS by now.

Well aware. I wouldn't say a brazilian, because technically, that's not a number. I'm just really good at locating d-bags on this site. So tell me me, what was it you were trying to accomplish by correcting the spelling in the title of this thread? Did you know there are people out there that point out other people's errors in order to feel good about themselves. Personally, I'd rather point out the douches.

You... complete me. It's like an when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. My antithesis. You and I are two of a kind.

Oh, and thanks for pointing out that brazilian isn't a number... I honestly did not know that.

EdmundBurke23 wrote:
You... complete me. It's like an when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. My antithesis. You and I are two of a kind.

Oh, and thanks for pointing out that brazilian isn't a number... I honestly did not know that.

This could be the beginning of something beautiful

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:
You... complete me. It's like an when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. My antithesis. You and I are two of a kind.

Oh, and thanks for pointing out that brazilian isn't a number... I honestly did not know that.

This could be the beginning of something beautiful

I'm glad that you think so. I love you. Now let's take off our shirts and kiss:D

EdmundBurke23 wrote:
I'm glad that you think so. I love you. Now let's take off our shirts and kiss:D

I was thinking more along the lines of a bromance, but PM me...I don't like public display of affection lol

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:
I'm glad that you think so. I love you. Now let's take off our shirts and kiss:D

I was thinking more along the lines of a bromance, but PM me...I don't like public display of affection lol

I'm shy

EdmundBurke23 wrote:

cdd_04 wrote:

EdmundBurke23 wrote:
I'm glad that you think so. I love you. Now let's take off our shirts and kiss:D

I was thinking more along the lines of a bromance, but PM me...I don't like public display of affection lol

I'm shy

oh man I LOLd. I can only hope the law profession is filled with as many smartass/sarcastic people as tls. Considering this is a PRE-LAW website, that would make plenty of sense. Logical reasoning win for me.

I'm actually a very likeable person if you meet me in person. Can you provide me your home address?

Thanks a lot for the advice guys, really helpful
but I have a question, Honestly, I felt anxious during the test, though it may hurt my application, does the fact I have successfully overcome it helps as well? especially I am a non native speaker, only been in US for two years