Top Law Schools

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How much did you increase?

Unless you were sick or something the first time, it's probably not worth writing. IE don't write one just because you did some more studying.

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I know that some schools state specifically that if you have a 5+ score increase (or something), to add an addendum. I think in those cases you should write one.

For the other schools I'm not sure... is your only reason more studying?

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kazu wrote:I know that some schools state specifically that if you have a 5+ score increase (or something), to add an addendum. I think in those cases you should write one.

For the other schools I'm not sure... is your only reason more studying?

Do any of schools still say this? I have not yet seen this in an available app. I remember specifically GULC used to say something to this effect but I do not see it mentioned on their website and their instructions for last year's application say nothing about it.

bk187 wrote:

kazu wrote:I know that some schools state specifically that if you have a 5+ score increase (or something), to add an addendum. I think in those cases you should write one.

For the other schools I'm not sure... is your only reason more studying?

Do any of schools still say this? I have not yet seen this in an available app. I remember specifically GULC used to say something to this effect but I do not see it mentioned on their website and their instructions for last year's application say nothing about it.

Hmmm I don't know - my memory's a bit vague. You're right I haven't seen this in an available app yet either. Do you think this indicates that schools don't want an LSAT addendum anymore, unless there's a really valid cause?

kazu wrote:Hmmm I don't know - my memory's a bit vague. You're right I haven't seen this in an available app yet either. Do you think this indicates that schools don't want an LSAT addendum anymore, unless there's a really valid cause?

I would assume so, something like getting into an accident the day before the LSAT or something like that. They aren't really mentioning multiple LSATs at all. Though I do think if you emailed them they might still give you the bullshit holistic answer.

bk187 wrote: I would assume so, something like getting into an accident the day before the LSAT or something like that. They aren't really mentioning multiple LSATs at all. Though I do think if you emailed them they might still give you the bullshit holistic answer.

Yep. Oh how we love those

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I'm writing an addendum (not that I have any idea what to say yet). I've gotten a 158 and 164, and I will retake in October and hopefully get a higher score.

Anecdotal evidence for lsat addenda:

Ann Perry, Assistant Dean for Admissions at The University of Chicago Law School

TLS: How do you deal with multiple LSAT scores?
...If I see a big discrepancy in LSAT scores, I think it would behoove the applicant to give us an explanation for that, because we’re going to want to see what happened.

TLS: What do you consider a big discrepancy?

Anything over probably 7 or 8 points.

Johann Lee, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Northwestern University Law School

With regards to addendums about LSAT performance, I think if a person took the LSAT once and then is going to submit an addendum regarding their LSAT not being indicative of their actual ability, I tend to discount that a little bit, because frankly, if you take the LSAT once and it’s not indicative of your ability, take it again. I think if a person has taken it a couple times, then I can see an addendum regarding that as appropriate.

Interview with Alissa Leonard, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at The Boston University School of Law

We base our decisions on the highest score, but we do see all scores. So we encourage applicants to offer a short explanation if they have multiple scores with a large (more than 8 points) discrepancy between them. In most circumstances we are not concerned by cancelled test scores or test absences. It is never wise to take the test while sick or before you are well-prepared.

Interview with Faye Shealy, Associate Dean of Admissions at William & Mary Law School

Addendums are helpful in addressing any deficiencies and aberrations in academic performance and test results. Statements on reasons the candidate chose to retake the LSAT and their view of the test results can be helpful.

Interview with Susan L. Krinsky, Associate Dean of Admissions at Tulane University Law School

Naturally, we see all of the scores, but we rely on the candidate to explain which score is more representative and why. Not surprisingly, candidates want us to look at the higher or highest score, but without an explanation, we are more likely to look at the average score than the higher score in making the admission decision.

All from http://www.top-law-schools.com/interviews.html.

HTH

The Northwestern quote doesn't really look like it is saying that they want an addendum, but rather that they don't want an addendum if you only took the LSAT once and don't think it is indicative of your score. It then says that an addendum would be fine if you took it more than once.

Also, for the BU quote, the dean specifically mentions that you should never take the test when you are sick or before you are well-prepared, so what would you write if you didn't have a real reason for the discrepancy? It seems like she would see most explanations as excuses.

The Chicago one clearly addresses this situation, and I know there is a very similar quote on Michigan's website. I guess in those cases you might want to include something, but then what do you really write? I suppose you must decide whether it is better to follow their suggestions but provide something that might be viewed as an excuse or invalid, or write nothing and just let them take the numbers as they do.

Yeah, I've searched around, and I'd also be interested to know if there are more point-specific statements like that UChicago one.

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GettingReady2010 wrote:I don't think adcomms are necessarily looking for something earth-shattering (i.e. the proctor shorted you 10 mins on each section), but that they just want some sort of explanation. This could be as simple as saying that you changed your preparation material.

Why would they want to know that? Do you think they seriously looking for any answer other than "I prepped the exact same way and just got lucky the second time"?

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Just looked this up on the Chicago website:

"Any large differences between LSAT scores should be explained in an addendum attached to your application and be honest about the discrepancy in your scores. We simply want to know why one score is a better predictor of your ability than another."

Hmm, I just don't know anymore...

If they highly encourage it in their application instructions on their website or on LSAC I think I'll add one, other than that I probably won't.

Calla Lily wrote:Just looked this up on the Chicago website:

"Any large differences between LSAT scores should be explained in an addendum attached to your application and be honest about the discrepancy in your scores. We simply want to know why one score is a better predictor of your ability than another."

Hmm, I just don't know anymore...

"I studied more" is hard to use as a justification of why it is a better predictor.

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The question, though, is what constitutes "large." More than 7 or 8 seems reasonable, but, despite how precise people on forums like these like to be about the LSAT, 5 or less seems to me margin of error "I ate a better breakfast" material. (Even though I know it can make a huge difference in outcomes.) That's why more quotes like the one from the UChicago Dean would be helpful.

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GettingReady2010 wrote:

earplugs wrote:The question, though, is what constitutes "large." More than 7 or 8 seems reasonable, but, despite how precise people on forums like these like to be about the LSAT, 5 or less seems to me margin of error "I ate a better breakfast" material. (Even though I know it can make a huge difference in outcomes.) That's why more quotes like the one from the UChicago Dean would be helpful.

I would say 6 or under would not warrant an addendum. But that's just my opinion.

I agree. 7+ seems to be about right. 5~6, depends on what reason you have. Under 5, probably not.