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Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:02 am
by crazyvix
I know there has been a lot of posts about them but I just want to make sure before I make my second move. I had my test today, the LRs and LGs both went well, I guess I won't miss over 2 Qs in total but I totally bombed RC, I seriously had no idea what I was reading when I was doing the test. With it being the first section, it just made everything worse.
Now the first thing I need to consider right now is whether I should cancel my score. I intend to apply HLS in the next cycle, I have been constantly scoring 176+ in the last 5 prep tests, but I am 90% sure that I would not possibly get that score in this writing. So if HLS does average, I should probably just cancel, if it does not, I should just see what I got after all these months' prep. So I'm asking for some advice! thanks a lot!!
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:21 am
by NoLieAbility
http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/ ... tml#retake
They average. If you have your heart set on Harvard and are confident that you underperformed, your choice is clear.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:47 am
by Pneumonia
Don't cancel. I felt awful about my RC too an ended up with a -0.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:49 am
by crazyvix
Pneumonia wrote:Don't cancel. I felt awful about my RC too an ended up with a -0.
It feels quite different, I was totally rushing.. I pretty much ended up guessing a LOT of questions... I don't think I have that kind of luck which can give me a -2 or something with pure guess.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:53 am
by Pneumonia
Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:55 am
by crazyvix
Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Really? Because the official site say
The LSAT need be taken only once. If you take the test more than once, all scores and their average will be reported and considered.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:57 am
by stillwater
the official site is not always what it seems. it also doesnt' say average. it says considered.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:05 pm
by crazyvix
stillwater wrote:the official site is not always what it seems. it also doesnt' say average. it says considered.
But consider all things being equal, a 167 and 177 is likely to be worse than a cancellation and 177... Idk.. it's killing me.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:15 pm
by crazyvix
Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Wait, is it possible that I do not cancel this time, but if I got a bad score, I abandon this LSAC account, I registered for another account and then use whichever that has a higher score to apply? Or am I missing something...??
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:20 pm
by onionz
crazyvix wrote:Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Wait, is it possible that I do not cancel this time, but if I got a bad score, I abandon this LSAC account, I registered for another account and then use whichever that has a higher score to apply? Or am I missing something...??
Don't they get your SSN?
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:25 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
crazyvix wrote:Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Wait, is it possible that I do not cancel this time, but if I got a bad score, I abandon this LSAC account, I registered for another account and then use whichever that has a higher score to apply? Or am I missing something...??
LSAC isn't like TLS, you can't just abandon an account and start a new one. They'll connect everything.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:30 pm
by crazyvix
A. Nony Mouse wrote:crazyvix wrote:Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Wait, is it possible that I do not cancel this time, but if I got a bad score, I abandon this LSAC account, I registered for another account and then use whichever that has a higher score to apply? Or am I missing something...??
LSAC isn't like TLS, you can't just abandon an account and start a new one. They'll connect everything.
The thing is I do not have an SSN since I'm an international student, LSAC just randomly gave me certain SSN number.. strange.... what am I missing though...
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:32 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
crazyvix wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:crazyvix wrote:Pneumonia wrote:Even still, no reason to cancel. HLS doesn't average.
Wait, is it possible that I do not cancel this time, but if I got a bad score, I abandon this LSAC account, I registered for another account and then use whichever that has a higher score to apply? Or am I missing something...??
LSAC isn't like TLS, you can't just abandon an account and start a new one. They'll connect everything.
The thing is I do not have an SSN since I'm an international student, LSAC just randomly gave me certain SSN number.. strange.... what am I missing though...
All the other information about you that LSAC connects? Also the unethical nature of trying to hide your previous scores when everything about the application process asks you to disclose all scores?
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:34 pm
by stillwater
yea, this is unethical. considering they get your transcripts, etc. it seems like there is plenty of data to expose your proposed fraud.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:36 pm
by crazyvix
stillwater wrote:yea, this is unethical. considering they get your transcripts, etc. it seems like there is plenty of data to expose your proposed fraud.
Yeah I understand lol.. I don't even know what I was just thinking.. haha anyway.. let me just think for another moment whether to cancel or not..
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:37 pm
by crazyvix
A. Nony Mouse wrote:All the other information about you that LSAC connects? Also the unethical nature of trying to hide your previous scores when everything about the application process asks you to disclose all scores?
Yeah fair enough.. I went blurred lol.. do you have advice on whether to cancel or not btw?
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:38 pm
by stillwater
crazyvix wrote:stillwater wrote:yea, this is unethical. considering they get your transcripts, etc. it seems like there is plenty of data to expose your proposed fraud.
Yeah I understand lol.. I don't even know what I was just thinking.. haha anyway.. let me just think for another moment whether to cancel or not..
i would counsel against canceling unless you really blew it or didnt answer a bunch of questions
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:40 pm
by crazyvix
stillwater wrote:i would counsel against canceling unless you really blew it or didnt answer a bunch of questions
I have finished all the Qs tho.. it's just I am almost certainly sure that I underperformed in RC... probably will fall below 170..
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:41 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
crazyvix wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:All the other information about you that LSAC connects? Also the unethical nature of trying to hide your previous scores when everything about the application process asks you to disclose all scores?
Yeah fair enough.. I went blurred lol.. do you have advice on whether to cancel or not btw?
I wouldn't cancel, but that's because my desire to know how I actually did would override other concerns, not because it's necessarily the best move. But I also don't think HLS has any incentive to disregard a higher score even if it's a retake, and that 167/172 doesn't look any worse than cancel/172 (or whatever you end up getting).
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:50 pm
by crazyvix
A. Nony Mouse wrote:crazyvix wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:All the other information about you that LSAC connects? Also the unethical nature of trying to hide your previous scores when everything about the application process asks you to disclose all scores?
Yeah fair enough.. I went blurred lol.. do you have advice on whether to cancel or not btw?
I wouldn't cancel, but that's because my desire to know how I actually did would override other concerns, not because it's necessarily the best move. But I also don't think HLS has any incentive to disregard a higher score even if it's a retake, and that 167/172 doesn't look any worse than cancel/172 (or whatever you end up getting).
Thanks a lot for your advice, I have like 3 or 4 days to consider, I'll do that thoroughly.

Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:57 pm
by lawschoolwannabee123
From personal anecdotal experience, no, HLS does not average LSAT scores.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:05 pm
by crazyvix
lawschoolwannabee123 wrote:From personal anecdotal experience, no, HLS does not average LSAT scores.
It's really surprising to see this consensus that HLS does not average.. Is it true that the "official saying" does not necessarily reflect what they actually do in admission process?
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:09 pm
by crazyvix
A. Nony Mouse wrote:crazyvix wrote:A. Nony Mouse wrote:All the other information about you that LSAC connects? Also the unethical nature of trying to hide your previous scores when everything about the application process asks you to disclose all scores?
Yeah fair enough.. I went blurred lol.. do you have advice on whether to cancel or not btw?
I wouldn't cancel, but that's because my desire to know how I actually did would override other concerns, not because it's necessarily the best move. But I also don't think HLS has any incentive to disregard a higher score even if it's a retake, and that 167/172 doesn't look any worse than cancel/172 (or whatever you end up getting).
oh btw, what's good about not cancelling tho? I mean international tests are undisclosed, I do not know which Qs I got wrong.. just a score which I am pretty sure won't reach my PT average...
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:19 pm
by Pneumonia
crazyvix wrote:lawschoolwannabee123 wrote:From personal anecdotal experience, no, HLS does not average LSAT scores.
It's really surprising to see this consensus that HLS does not average.. Is it true that the "official saying" does not necessarily reflect what they actually do in admission process?
You're misreading. The official stance is that they consider each score individually in addition to the average, not that they consider the average exclusively. If you're looking for anything additional then even cursory perusal of LSN or a utilization of the search function will dissuade you of the notion that HLS takes the "average" into serious consideration. This holds especially true for you; if you were convinced that you got a 150 or something then the advice would be to cancel, but since it seems pretty certain that you're 165+, and possibly 170+ then there's no need for it.
Re: Does HLS actually average LSAT scores?
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:47 pm
by WaltGrace83
Disclaimer: Anecdotal evidence.
HLS does not average. My friend, a non-URM without any special softs, got into HLS off of the wait list last year. Her LSAT scores were a 160-169.