October v. December Forum

[sds1991]

Currently taking the Testmasters course preparing for the October 6th LSAT, but I am concerned that I won't be able to reach my highest score in the next 6ish weeks. Should I wait until December? And if I wait until December what does that do to my chances during the admissions process?

Thanks

[honeybadger12]

Currently taking the Testmasters course preparing for the October 6th LSAT, but I am concerned that I won't be able to reach my highest score in the next 6ish weeks. Should I wait until December? And if I wait until December what does that do to my chances during the admissions process?

Thanks

If it were me, I'd sign up for October and you can withdraw up to the night before the test if you aren't ready (and schools won't know). The most you can lose by doing this is $150; the most you can lose by waiting til December is an advantage in the app process. This advantage maybe isn't huge, but to me optimizing chances at admission > $150.

[Nova]

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... &p=5811045
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... &p=5798987
http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/oc ... -cons.html

IMO, you should not take the LSAT until you have peaked.

A few more LSAT points > Applying early

An above median score at whatever school in Dec >>>>>> a below median score at whatever school in Oct

[Yardbird]

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... &p=5811045
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... &p=5798987
http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/oc ... -cons.html

IMO, you should not take the LSAT until you have peaked.

A few more LSAT points > Applying early

An above median score at whatever school in Dec >>>>>> a below median score at whatever school in Oct

This. I took the LSAT in December and did not feel ready and retook in June when I was more than ready. My scores were 168 and 174 respectively. As a splitter, that's a huge difference for me for this coming cycle. I don't know what your GPA is but a higher LSAT will always help. Make sure you are peaking as Nova stated. If you are not where you want to be, don't take the test.

Also, make sure you are not doing just the Testmasters practice. Use them more as a guide and supplement for your own study. You should be doing practice tests more often than they have you doing them in preparation for the test. 6 weeks is still a lot of time for improvement (I only prepped for 3ish weeks for December and 5ish weeks for June, though long 12 hour+ study days). Accuracy is important, then timing. Do a few untimed PTs aiming for accuracy and then start doing strictly timed tests. There are 44 days until the test. You can theoretically do 44 PTs (one each day), or do 22 untimed and 22 timed alternating untimed and timed days.