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I keep seeing a lot of conflicting information on the importance of the essay part of the LSAT. Some people have told me that it can be a key factor in whether or not you are accepted at some school while other people told me that they didn't even bother filling this part of the test out.

Haha no you will not get accepted based on the writing part of the LSAT. Whoever told you that is a moron. The only importance I've heard of being placed on it is that if you actually don't do it, or just draw a picture or something, it might be a reason for an adcom to deny you.

Sharking Jumping test ehhh?

It's very important that you use actual english words, and that those words vaguely form something that looks like sentences. Beyond that, there is no importance what so ever.

Important enough to do thoughtfully during that 4th hour...

Not important enough to practice and definitely not important enough to practice more than once.

I got into both my reach and my top target with a terrible essay. I knew I had done really well on the LSAT and used up all my energy so I literally just wrote something and gave up for that essay.

basic 5th grade writing persuasive skills will ensure it doesn't hurt you at all. Even if it's the best piece of writing you'v ever written I don't think it will help much.

Echoing what everyone else said. You should do it to the best of your abilities, but do not stress out about it and certainly do not waste your time preparing for this section. Once you get to the essay section, this should be your wind down and relax time. Sit back, pat yourself on the back for finishing the previous sections, and pop out a few paragraphs of legible english.

I remember when I did my Kaplan course and everyone made a big deal out of the essay.

I forgot that it existed till I saw this thread.

I wrote an intentionally absurd argument, cracked sarcastic jokes, and made ridiculous references to various pop-cultural phenomena throughout my essay (celebrities making an appearance in my essay included The Simpsons, Lady Gaga, Chef Boyardee, and Thomas Kinkade).

Basically I had a lot of fun with the essay as a way to blow-off steam after the grueling LSAT.

Which leads me to suspect that it doesn't matter one whit. Just don't write blatantly offensive stuff and you'll be fine.

And I think you actually need to write something (no matter how loose your answer is). I think the LSAC reserves the right to cancel your test if it does not appear that you attempted to make an argument.

It doesn't figure into the score. My guess is that it's a way for the LSAC people to know you actually were writing at that moment. I had a decent essay, but it isn't much to worry about. The personal statement is the big essay to worry about.

From an ad-com friend of mine:
We don't even read them, b/c they are written in pencil, then photocopied/scanned to us, most of the time the pencil gets smeared during transit and thus are illegible.
The only way it'll hurt you is if you don't do anything, or draw silly pictures

swimbrad wrote:From an ad-com friend of mine:
We don't even read them, b/c they are written in pencil, then photocopied/scanned to us, most of the time the pencil gets smeared during transit and thus are illegible.
The only way it'll hurt you is if you don't do anything, or draw silly pictures

From this I infer that it is okay to draw pictures, as long as they aren't silly.

bk187 wrote:

swimbrad wrote:From an ad-com friend of mine:
We don't even read them, b/c they are written in pencil, then photocopied/scanned to us, most of the time the pencil gets smeared during transit and thus are illegible.
The only way it'll hurt you is if you don't do anything, or draw silly pictures

From this I infer that it is okay to draw pictures, as long as they aren't silly.

Inference Credited.

NU_Jet55 wrote:

bk187 wrote:

swimbrad wrote:From an ad-com friend of mine:
We don't even read them, b/c they are written in pencil, then photocopied/scanned to us, most of the time the pencil gets smeared during transit and thus are illegible.
The only way it'll hurt you is if you don't do anything, or draw silly pictures

From this I infer that it is okay to draw pictures, as long as they aren't silly.

Inference Credited.

LMAO

I am glad I read this...because I knew it wasn't that serious, but not that it was completely NOT serious (aside from following instructions and writing one, that is).

I have been wasting 35 minutes of sleep time. Cutting that out starting tonight.

It's not as important as everyone makes it out to be, however I would still do it to the best of my ability. I know someone who was waitlisted for a school and they told her they would examine her written portion of the LSAT and compare it to other students in order to make their next decision.