Top Law Schools

I'm not talking about a school that averages, just ones who take the highest score. How much can an LSAT with a 5 in the tens column hurt you (even if with a worthy explanation)?

JurisDoctorate wrote:I'm not talking about a school that averages, just ones who take the highest score. How much can an LSAT with a 5 in the tens column hurt you (even if with a worthy explanation)?

If it is your highest, you have basically have no chance. I am not even sure if a T6 has ever taken an applicant below 160 w/o "donating" insane money to them. Retake.

Basically 0 chance. I would give you a 0.1% chance, assuming that they have accepted someone in the 150's in the past who was a legacy with $ or some other uncommon situation. You'd be pushing to get into a top 25 with a score in the 150's.

I believe that the OP meant that he had a score in the 150's then a higher score on the retake. thats at least how i read it.

OP explain yourself

JurisDoctorate wrote:I'm not talking about a school that averages, just ones who take the highest score. How much can an LSAT with a 5 in the tens column hurt you (even if with a worthy explanation)?

A score jump within 5 points is within your range.

That's why law school's ask you to fill out an addendum for the 5+'s. It shouldn't affect you too much.

well you should definitely write an explanation for the lower score, assuming you have a higher score in your pocket right now.

sophia.olive wrote:OP explain yourself

Yes, god damn it, explain yourself.

JD, it might hurt alittle, but not really. If you follow up that 150s with a mid to high 170s on a retake you should be fine with an addendum.

If you were exactly equal to another applicant in every way except that they took the LSAT once and you took it twice it could hurt you.

Also it could hurt you at NYU.

Don't think it matters much at others.

I'm sorry, all. I didn't realize that was so poorly written.

So, if a person has a mid 150's on their first test and a low 170's on their second test - would that first score kill their chances at T6? I wrote this when I felt like my rather unexpected score had killed any and all chances at t6.

My question is: even with a great addendum and a fantastic highest LSAT score, can a score in the 150's harpoon one's chances at t6?

Since this thread was started with such an unclear post, I will further explain:

Theoretical Model of JurisD

Oct: 15X
Dec: 170-173
Addendum: Horribly ill on Oct
Applying to t6 schools that don't average
Effect of that Oct score: ???

I dont think this will send your chances to the bottom of the sea. An addendum is the required floatation device however. I think it would hurt your score more if you made a 167 and then a 171. Then they may be more inclined to average.

The Harvard Law School profile on this website suggests that Harvard Law School rejects those with low LSAT scores who later score in the range accepted to Harvard Law. The Harvard profile even refers to lawschoolnumbers.com in its statement.

P.S. Submit a short addendum citing illness as the primary reason for your low score.

Thanks.

I think the most important thing is for me to do as well as possible in December to show that the first score was truly unrepresentative. Looking at some of the LSAT retake charts, it seems crazy for me to improve in the teens - but it really isn't improvement when the first score was so far under my actual ability.

if you really have a good explaination for your low lsat, a score increase of 10+ points will help you. Just be sure to include a phrase stating that if requested, evidence can be provided" or somethign like that to help convince them that you are not just making it up.

It's also going to hurt because you're applying late due to the retake. Be open to waiting a cycle if T6 is your goal, because there's always the possibility that the admissions dry up by the time you get your score. Have the rest of your application ready for the day you get your score - not the day after, not 2 weeks after, but that day. That'll ensure that you've put yourself in the best position possible for admissions.

northwood, that's a really good idea; I would be able to verify it with doctors' notes.

stratocophic, thanks. I'll make sure to have the app complete before I get it.