LSAT or Bar Exam - Which blew more? Forum

[Mount Elbrus]

Pointing out that the Bar is exam is Pass/Fail is not relevant for the majority of test takers. Almost no-one, particularly those taking their first bar exam, studies just enough to pass. Rather, most people study like hell for it. No-one wants to fail and have to tell friends and family. No-one wants to go through several months of cramming and never quite feeling like you have a lock on all the material.

The MPRE is also pass/fail. Despite being very easy, people still fail it, but it is no big deal. The consequences of failure are much lower. Also, there doesn't seem to be much of a negative connotation. Rather, it is almost a badge of honor to get as close to the passing score as you can.

With the LSAT, you go in knowing what will be on the exam. For the bar exam, particularly the essay day(s), you have no idea what they will ask. You have an idea of possible topics, but even then you don't know. Even if you knew the general subject matter that was to be tested, i.e. Secured Transactions, you would just spend a ton of time boning up on all the obscure rules like different ways to perfect, etc.

Although it is changing now with boards like this, when I was applying to law school (before the recession and before the employment statistics were so widely debunked), I did not understand the huge chasm between T10 schools and the rest. Sure, you knew that you would likely not clerk for the Supreme Court if you went to a place like GW or Notre Dame. But schools far lower were putting out these bogus employment stats and you figured you would just work hard and succeed. Back then, you studied for the LSAT, but it was more like another box to check, like writing your personal statement. In that sense, you couldn’t really fail the LSAT.
Even now, with all the information that is out there, you still see people post with high GPAs and LSATS around 150-160 asking about options and qualifying their statements with “Retake is not an option” Even when pointed to all the information, they stick with the decision.
The counterpoint is the relatively rare applicant who sets goals that they fully intend to stick with. For instance, someone who is unwilling to even apply to law school unless they get a 175. That would be stressful, but the vast majority of people are likely to move the goalposts after receiving their score. Even though a 165 opens far fewer doors, it opens some doors and a lot of people lack the discipline to keep to their goals.

[TheFutureLawyer]

x