Do Law Schools really average out your LSAT scores? Forum

[UCSD1984]

I'm looking at Cal-Western's Admissions website and it specifically states "If more than one LSAT score is reported, the scores will be averaged." Just curious...is this actually true? If so, do all schools do it? I find it hard to believe that a Tier-4 would average out LSAT scores, but then again I have no idea.

[fatduck]

some do some dont

if they say they do they do

/thread

[Mickey Quicknumbers]

Rarely do schools care about the average. It would be disadvantageous, as the only the highest LSAT is reported to US News to factor in school rankings.

[MrPapagiorgio]

Some schools still do. Technically, the ABA requires schools to post only the highest in reporting admissions statistics. But, for application purposes, some schools do. Most do not explain how they treat multiple scores, with most giving the PC answer of "we consider all scores." Obviously, that is extremely vague. Nonetheless, its a good bet that if the school explicitly states that they average scores, they probably do.

[bk1]

some do some dont

if they say they do they do

/thread

This isn't necessarily true. A lot of schools have policies that state they do when in practice they don't or they don't do it always. I would say it is pretty universal that almost every school outside of the T6 does not average.

[bk1]

Some schools still do. Technically, the ABA requires schools to post only the highest in reporting admissions statistics. But, for application purposes, some schools do. Most do not explain how they treat multiple scores, with most giving the PC answer of "we consider all scores." Obviously, that is extremely vague. Nonetheless, its a good bet that if the school explicitly states that they average scores, they probably do.

Again, I'm not so sure. I would bet that a lot of the statements regarding this from schools is dated and not necessarily accurate.

[UCSD1984]

I see. Does it look bad to have a cancelled LSAT score on your application along with a good score, rather than one low score and one good score?

[bk1]

I see. Does it look bad to have a cancelled LSAT score on your application along with a good score, rather than one low score and one good score?

Cancel/Good Score is generally better than Bad Score/Good Score.

[UCSD1984]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

[jtemp320]

I see. Does it look bad to have a cancelled LSAT score on your application along with a good score, rather than one low score and one good score?

Cancel/Good Score is generally better than Bad Score/Good Score.

I believe that is correct.

From what I've seen:

1 high score> 1 high score + a cancel or absence > 1 high score + a lower score > a middling score

How does this work practically? I believe a 175, 163 seems to be better then a 171 (even though the average is lower) even for NYU who say they average (I'm taking this from LSN and anecodtal evidence on here). Then again cancel, 175 is better then 163 and 175 and a single 175 is best of all.

But these are marginal differences except at HYS where they do seem to matter - even there a single cancel dosen't seem to hurt but a lower score can. In the end if you only took the LSAT twice and have at least one solid score, in most ways your cycle will look it would have if you only had that one high score.

[mrwarre85]

My roommate is at T20 and was 157, 157, 167 and given a nice scholly for the 167. They didn't give a flip about his other two LSATS.

Only the top 2-3 schools are really going to average.

[UCSD1984]

Great information, thank you again.

[Sandro]

only a select few average. Schools do not want to shoot themselves in the foot rankings wise.