They asked me for explanation of LSAT scores Forum

[080910]

Deleted by author

[TheBigMediocre]

Honesty is a good policy. Just write a nicely-worded note saying you were nervous the first time but the experience gave you the confidence to really nail it the second time.

[pleasetryagain]

Imo if the school didn't like you they wouldnt be asking you for an excuse to overlook your multiple LSAT.

[Campagnolo]

Honesty is a good policy. Just write a nicely-worded note saying you were nervous the first time but the experience gave you the confidence to really nail it the second time.

Just make sure not to use the split infinitive above...

[Gamecubesupreme]

Honesty is a good policy. Just write a nicely-worded note saying you were nervous the first time but the experience gave you the confidence to really nail it the second time.

Just make sure not to use the split infinitive above...

I would like to definitely agree with the above post.

[Cupidity]

I think the idea of mentioning practice tests at all in an addendum is beyond stupid. Keep that in mind. I also think test anxiety is a bad answer. Go with a more general, "I was having a bad day." Everyone has bad days because they are tired (or anxious).

[09042014]

Blame it on misbubbling.

[080910]

Deleted by author

[080910]

I think the idea of mentioning practice tests at all in an addendum is beyond stupid. Keep that in mind. I also think test anxiety is a bad answer. Go with a more general, "I was having a bad day." Everyone has bad days because they are tired (or anxious).

Could you please clarify why you think this?

[druss3ll]

Blame Canada.

[bceagles182]

Got the same from UC Davis two days ago. It's weird to write because you feel like you're making excuses for your first LSAT. At the same time, adcomms are pretty much begging for an excuse by asking you t write this in the first place.

[too old for this sh*]

Any number of variables allow for a reasonable explanation. Think explanation, not excuse. As others aptly note...if they didn't want you, they would not bother to ask for the explanation.

[ughOSU]

I think the idea of mentioning practice tests at all in an addendum is beyond stupid. Keep that in mind. I also think test anxiety is a bad answer. Go with a more general, "I was having a bad day." Everyone has bad days because they are tired (or anxious).

Could you please clarify why you think this?

IMO, anything more than mentioning PTs in passing could be a mistake. The reason is mainly because (a) anyone can make up how well they were doing on their PTs and (b) the test conditions rarely replicate those in the actual test environment. Saying "Well i was 177s on my PTs, but only got a 159 on the real thing" is irrelevant and sounds stupid, and does not reflect positively on you... In my addendum I mentioned PTs in passing (nothing specific) only to illustrate that one of my scores was the most representative of where I should be, and I got into a pretty good school, so it probably doesn't really matter as long as you don't come off like an asshole or a liar.

[NayBoer]

Davis made me write one months ago. I basically said I retook twice because I thought I could do better based on practice tests, and argued that my highest score should count as the most representative. It didn't matter too much for me, since even my lowest score alone exceeded their median.

I avoided it doing it specifically because most schools don't really even pretend to care.

[JazzOne]

One of the schools I applied to asked for an explanation of the difference between my two lsat scores. On the first test I scored a 158, and on the second test I scored a 164. While I was studying for the LSAT I always scored between 161-168. Only twice out of the 30+ exams that I took did I score below a 160.

Basically the only answer I have as to why I scored much lower than my testing range on the first exam is that I was extremely anxious. To some degree, the rest of my life was hinging on this test and I think that led to lower performance.

Should I say this in my explanation? I wasn't sick, the test center wasn't overly distracting (aside from the proctor going in and out of the room and me being closest to the door), and I prepared for both exams the same (so lower performance wasn't due to lack of effort or preparation).

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

What were the dates of your two two tests? Perhaps it was Bush's fault?

[pleasetryagain]

What were the dates of your two two tests? Perhaps it was Bush's fault?

I lol'd.

[cassieyuc]

Davis made me write one months ago. I basically said I retook twice because I thought I could do better based on practice tests, and argued that my highest score should count as the most representative. It didn't matter too much for me, since even my lowest score alone exceeded their median.

I avoided it doing it specifically because most schools don't really even pretend to care.

Do you think mention anxiety is too specific, I have similar situation

[reasonable_man]

If said school has moved up or down a few spots in the USNWR in the last few years; ask them about it in your reply.

[Sauer Grapes]

....

[Amelie]

I wrote an addendum for a similar situation as yours, I can PM it to you if you would like.

[cassieyuc]

I wrote an addendum for a similar situation as yours, I can PM it to you if you would like.

Sure, Thanks a lot, Maggiebre,

[Maven]

IMHO it is ludicrous for Davis to ask such a question. If the discrepancy implicated some kind of fraud its inquiry would be appropriate, but to ask about an improvement of 6 points serves no purpose. What do the adcoms expect the applicant to say other than "I was nervous", "I felt like crap", "my significant other dumped me the night before the test" etc.
Hell-the only reason that applicants take the test multiple times is to improve. So in Davis' view if you do improve you have to justify your improved score.
These are the same kind of people who will ask you at an interview "where do you expect to be in five years?"!

[JazzOne]

If said school has moved up or down a few spots in the USNWR in the last few years; ask them about it in your reply.

Lol

Tell them that their rise in the rankings inspired you to perform better.

[LiveFree]

Tell them that said school is your top choice and that you knew you'd have no shot with a 158, so you redoubled your efforts...simple as that.

[NayBoer]

Davis made me write one months ago. I basically said I retook twice because I thought I could do better based on practice tests, and argued that my highest score should count as the most representative. It didn't matter too much for me, since even my lowest score alone exceeded their median.

I avoided it doing it specifically because most schools don't really even pretend to care.

Do you think mention anxiety is too specific, I have similar situation

I suppose you could plausibly mention anxiety if you subsequently improved your score (rather than expecting them to take your word for it that you could have done better). Might be easier if it's diagnosed and being medicated, but I would not mention anxiety in any case.

If you throw out your anxiety as an excuse, most likely it just sounds like an excuse. It might make them wonder if it will affect your performance in law school.