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What weight do Law Schools put on these writing samples? Since it isn't scored, how is it looked at?

I'd imagine every school has its own perspective, but I haven't heard much about it.

They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

KibblesAndVick wrote:They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

hahahaha

From all that I've read from adcomms, they aren't looked at too much. Basically it's simply just a character check: Did you take it seriously or did you goof off?

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

hahahaha

Being a lawyer is primarily about argumentation through the written word. Because of this, the writing sample is by far the most important and indicative section on the LSAT. How many lawyers do you know that solve logic games for a living? Compare that to the number of lawyers who write coherent arguments based on a situation that could be argued either way. Law schools aren't stupid. They know what makes a good lawyer and what doesn't. They look at the entire LSAT accordingly.

Most don't look at it from what I've heard. They usually just check to make sure you wrote something.

I've also heard that after it gets photocopied and sent to the schools from LSAC it is often so blurry that it is nearly incomprehensible. I'm fairly sure that AdComms don't want to squint at thousands of photocopies each a page long of people's handwriting that is made even worse due to LSAT stress and fatigue from doing it at the end of the test.

KibblesAndVick wrote:

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

hahahaha

Being a lawyer is primarily about argumentation through the written word. Because of this, the writing sample is by far the most important and indicative section on the LSAT. How many lawyers do you know that solve logic games for a living? Compare that to the number of lawyers who write coherent arguments based on a situation that could be argued either way. Law schools aren't stupid. They know what makes a good lawyer and what doesn't. They look at the entire LSAT accordingly.

wait.. I thought you were just screwing around.. you were being serious??

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

hahahaha

Being a lawyer is primarily about argumentation through the written word. Because of this, the writing sample is by far the most important and indicative section on the LSAT. How many lawyers do you know that solve logic games for a living? Compare that to the number of lawyers who write coherent arguments based on a situation that could be argued either way. Law schools aren't stupid. They know what makes a good lawyer and what doesn't. They look at the entire LSAT accordingly.

wait.. I thought you were just screwing around.. you were being serious??

Yup, law schools are known for their ultra-holistic approach to admissions. This mentality applies to the LSAT as well.

OP, the rampant sarcasm should clue you in: it won't get you in anywhere. However, should you blow it off and, say, draw a picture of a burro instead (EDIT: or simply exhibit the fact that you can't write for shit), it can certainly get you dinged. Also, adcomms will sometimes compare these to PSs to ensure that they are about the same quality of writing, i.e., whether you paid someone else to write your PS.

sundance95 wrote:OP, the rampant sarcasm should clue you in: it won't get you in anywhere. However, should you blow it off and, say, draw a picture of a burro instead (EDIT: or simply exhibit the fact that you can't write for shit), it can certainly get you dinged. Also, adcomms will sometimes compare these to PSs to ensure that they are about the same quality of writing, i.e., whether you paid someone else to write your PS.

Doesn't the LSAC consider your LSAT incomplete and refuse to score it if you don't fill out the writing sample?

ahh I see. Well I wouldn't take the sample lightly. But i recognize that stressing till my hair falls out isn't necessary. I did read that schools compare to your PS, so that's something to be aware of.

thanks for all your input

clintonius wrote: Doesn't the LSAC consider your LSAT incomplete and refuse to score it if you don't fill out the writing sample?

That's what they say, although I don't know whether they follow through. If they do, then you don't get your LSAT. If they don't, adcomms get to see that you are lazy and don't take it seriously.

Moral of the story? It's not hard, just write the thing.

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:

tkgrrett wrote:

KibblesAndVick wrote:They read it first. If it isn't good enough they don't even look at your score. If it's really good it will add like 3-4 points to your raw LSAT score.

hahahaha

Being a lawyer is primarily about argumentation through the written word. Because of this, the writing sample is by far the most important and indicative section on the LSAT. How many lawyers do you know that solve logic games for a living? Compare that to the number of lawyers who write coherent arguments based on a situation that could be argued either way. Law schools aren't stupid. They know what makes a good lawyer and what doesn't. They look at the entire LSAT accordingly.

wait.. I thought you were just screwing around.. you were being serious??

He was not being serious.


Also:

bk187 wrote:Most don't look at it from what I've heard. They usually just check to make sure you wrote something.

I've also heard that after it gets photocopied and sent to the schools from LSAC it is often so blurry that it is nearly incomprehensible. I'm fairly sure that AdComms don't want to squint at thousands of photocopies each a page long of people's handwriting that is made even worse due to LSAT stress and fatigue from doing it at the end of the test.

TITCR. I can't even make out like half of my writing sample after they photocopied it. No way adcomms are going to try

I still find it bizarre that prospective Med students have an actually scored, and more rigorous, moral/ principles based reasoning/ argumentation written section on the MCAT, but 0L's aren't evaluated at all on their ability to debate.