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For HY, do you think there is any substantial difference between a 170, 171, and 172 LSAT score? They are all below the 173 median. So if two applicants have equally strong GPA (3.9+), and equally compelling softs, but one has a 170 and the other a 172, wouldn't the LSAT be a wash in this case?

Unless they actively work to protect the 25th percentile (171), as much as they do the median. I wonder if they care about this, because I don't think UNSWR factors in 25th percentile.

Yep there is a difference, and it can be a gamechanger

bump

I'm pretty sure USNWR rankings are now based on 75th and 25th percentiles instead of just the median.

Additionally, statistically a student with a 172 LSAT will do better in law school than a student with a 170 or 171.

So yeah, there's a difference.

Lol, this thread makes me feel as though I have a chance. I don't.

androstan wrote:I'm pretty sure USNWR rankings are now based on 75th and 25th percentiles instead of just the median.

Additionally, statistically a student with a 172 LSAT will do better in law school than a student with a 170 or 171.

So yeah, there's a difference.

According to the USNWR website, they use medians, not 25th to 75th percentile: http://www.usnews.com/articles/educatio ... l?PageNr=1

I know that ABA collects data on 25th to 75th, but I wonder if schools care about this at all.

jerrymander wrote:For HY, do you think there is any substantial difference between a 170, 171, and 172 LSAT score? They are all below the 173 median. So if two applicants have equally strong GPA (3.9+), and equally compelling softs, but one has a 170 and the other a 172, wouldn't the LSAT be a wash in this case?

I think there is. Although not nearly as much as 172/173 difference.

jerrymander wrote:

androstan wrote:I'm pretty sure USNWR rankings are now based on 75th and 25th percentiles instead of just the median.

Additionally, statistically a student with a 172 LSAT will do better in law school than a student with a 170 or 171.

So yeah, there's a difference.

According to the USNWR website, they use medians, not 25th to 75th percentile: http://www.usnews.com/articles/educatio ... l?PageNr=1

I know that ABA collects data on 25th to 75th, but I wonder if schools care about this at all.

you're also assuming law schools like HLS ONLY care about gaming USNWR stats. that is prob not the case as they dont really plan on moving up the rankings per se.

statistically, a 172 student would do better at law school than a 170 (marginally)...assuming equal GPAs. if it comes down to softs, i guess it depends on whether they believe that soft would make the person contribute to diversity noticeably more or offer something. so yes, there would be a difference, but prob only because you havent given me an example where the 170 applicant is worth getting more than the 172 (softs really dont count for that much esp. if it is only a bit better)