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Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 4:08 am
by SGVBruin14
First post!!
So this might come across as a strange question but there are a couple schools I want to submit my application into before I receive my LSAT score because the schools insist on submitting before December/January (for instance, Berkeley). I am taking the December LSAT however and will not know my official LSAT score but based on practice tests I feel I will probably score below some of their medians. However, I do have a relatively high GPA (3.8 ) and am an URM.
Anyway, my question is, if I apply this month will it look bad to attach an LSAT addendum when I do not yet have an LSAT score? I wouldn't talk about a low LSAT score since I don't have a score yet but I wanted to highlight the fact that I have a history of under-performance on standardized tests (scored in the 1400's on the SAT) and yet graduated summa cum laude from my undergrad (where the average SAT was in the 1900's). I am pretty sure I want to include these facts regardless of my score since I feel it is relevant. How would I best go about doing this without an LSAT score? Or should I just submit my applications without an addendum and perhaps try to add one later if I get my score and am not happy with it? I am just afraid they won't see the addendum in time if I try to add it when I get my score if I submitted my application in November.
Thanks everyone! :D

Re: Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 8:48 am
by haus
Seems like a bad idea to me. Although you may want to check out the Spivey thread where you may well get an answer from someone who has spent time on the receiving end of addendums.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=197451

Re: Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:03 am
by mist4bison
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Re: Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:19 pm
by ms9
mist4bison wrote:I would definitely not do this. If anything, just have one written and ready to submit the day scores come out.

Also, I agree with the above: check the Spivey thread. They'll be more helpful than we are.
No need, I found this. The above advice is spot on. Don't do it, just prepare it. Here is why:

1. In the 15 years I have been in legal education, I don't know of anyone ever submitting an LSAT addendum without an LSAT. I'm always babbling about differentiation but in this case it would be uncomfortable and unsettling to just about every AdComm. They wouldn't like it.

2. They may interpret this as an extreme lack of confidence. This might not be accurate, of course, indeed maybe you are just very introspective, but you don't want to risk that interpretation.

3. What if you popped off with a higher score than you have been testing at -- it happens. What in the world would you do then? Send another addendum saying "I was just kidding about the first one"? You would have just told them that your score is an aberration.

So yea, please don't do this. There is zero upside, all downside.

Re: Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:49 pm
by hopefulsplitter93
I'm reading this on the subway on my iPhone so forgive the potential RC misunderstanding. So you're going to send an LSAT addendum before you even send uour LSAT score? An addendum that will also highlight that you scored a 1400 on your SAT? Probably not a good idea....

Re: Submit LSAT Addendum Before LSAT Score?

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:54 pm
by SGVBruin14
MikeSpivey, thanks for finding that! Those points are really helpful.
Hopefulsplitter93, basically correct. I had read before that mentioning one's history of poor standardized testing coupled with overall high academic achievement sometimes helps - though I had never heard of sending it before one's LSAT score.
Anyway, I see there is a consensus. Looks like I will forgo an early addendum and wait on my score.
Thanks everyone for your responses!!