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Hypothetical: Big difference in two LSAT scores

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 1:25 pm
by Dipsychus
Let's say an applicant takes the LSAT twice, once in September, second time in December or January. Let's say the first time they score a 160 and the second time a 174. The average is 167. Is that the score most T14 schools will take into account in their numerical calculations, or the higher one? And, since the disparity (and percentiles) is pretty large, is that in itself a red flag? Finally: apply early, but send in the second score anyway later, correct? I imagine many students, hypothetical or not, would be asking these questions.

Re: Hypothetical: Big difference in two LSAT scores

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 1:43 pm
by cavalier1138
Schools will use the higher score only. Yale may be an exception, but their admissions process is fairly unique.

If the disparity is that large, you can write an addendum (prepare better, wasn't sick the second time, etc.). But you probably wouldn't need to.

Re: Hypothetical: Big difference in two LSAT scores

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:38 pm
by QContinuum
cavalier1138 wrote:Schools will use the higher score only. Yale may be an exception, but their admissions process is fairly unique.

If the disparity is that large, you can write an addendum (prepare better, wasn't sick the second time, etc.). But you probably wouldn't need to.
If the first score is a 160 and the second score is much higher, I don't even think an addendum would be called for. I'd only really recommend an LSAT addendum if the first score was something eye-poppingly low, like, I dunno, <150 and even then, only if there was a very good reason for the low score (beyond "oh, I didn't really prep sufficiently").