Top Law Schools

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I believe schools will see this new score. I think LSAC automatically sends it to schools you applied to (though I could be wrong about this). As to whether you need to be worried, I think the general wisdom is that the vast majority of schools only care about your highest score so this lower score will make little to no difference. Given this, I imagine writing an addendum is unnecessary, though others may have a more informed opinion about this.

Well you have nothing to lose by writing an addendum over not writing one. Just say you were too busy with work/volunteering and had a bad test day you will be fine.

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That sounds totally normal to me. These tests are such a crapshoot. I was not at all happy with either of my takes, but to me it just seemed like my score depended more on the particular test than how much prep I did. I could score 174 on one PT and 158 on the next one without changing my approach and with the circumstances being the same. Those are extreme examples as I was generally within a 6-7 point range, but I still don't see an eight point difference being out of the ordinary or anything that would raise an eyebrow. It happens. If you've already been accepted, I don't think it would matter.

Schools don't care

Not to deny that schools probably won't care, but think of it in this way: suppose you got rejected after they see the new score. Would you regret and blame yourself for not having written an addendum, which supposedly may have led to a different outcome? Sure, the chances are small, but you have nothing to lose in giving your max, which simply means writing one short paragraph.

What you have to lose is that there's a slight chance you might annoy someone who is reading their 23rd pointless addendum of the day. What you have to gain is nothing, since this would go in the category of the 99.5% of addenda that have no legitimate reason for being written.

I had a 7 point drop and schools didn't care or ask. No need for addendum. Top is what matters

Mack.Hambleton wrote:Schools don't care

rion91 wrote:No need for addendum. Top is what matters

Paul Campos wrote:What you have to lose is that there's a slight chance you might annoy someone who is reading their 23rd pointless addendum of the day. What you have to gain is nothing, since this would go in the category of the 99.5% of addenda that have no legitimate reason for being written.

He won't be rejected on the basis of he wrote a short paragraph to explain his tight schedule caused a seemingly notable score fall dude, and there are many ways to get them on the nerves much more than this. But OP will get into what his highest score dictates either way.

cc1012 wrote:June 2015 LSAT: 169
October 2015 LSAT: 161

In June, I pulled a -1 on RC and in October, I got a -9 on RC so I feel that this was strongly responsible for the big fluctuation in scores. I have no real reason for this drop other than an increased load at work and increased volunteering leading to less preparation time. The good thing is that I have already gone complete at most schools using only my June 2015 score, so I don't know if they will even see my October score.

Should I be worried about this drop?

I've read a fair bit about some schools doing averages or something of that sort, but as schools become bigger and bigger ranking-wh***s, and since only the top LSAT score matters, schools are caring less and less about lower scores. The only few that would ever really care are ones all the way at the top - HYS - that MIGHT care a bit, because they can afford to not care about rankings and just look for who they think is the best applicant - which, to be fair, an average is generally a better indication than the top score. But again, the schools only report the top LSAT score, so this drop probably won't effect you at all.

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