Feb. LSAT too late for fall entry? Forum

[Sciencemeetslaw]

Hi all,

I have been planning to take the Dec.2015 LSAT, and have been studying very hard for it since September. HOWEVER, I have just realized that I did not actually sign up for it!! I did manually actually did the sign up on my laptop, however the order did not go through, and I have just realized this NOW. So I need some advice now.

1) Since i've missed both the regular & late registration deadlines, would calling LSAC help me try to secure a spot for the Dec. LSAT?

2) If not, then can I still take the Feb. 2016 LSAT and apply to schools for fall 2016 admission cycle? My goal is not the T14 schools, I just hope to get into a Top 50 school, and preferably Top 20-30. My LSAT PT's score range now is 154-161.I know that in previous years, applying late to the admission cycle would significantly decrease my admission chances, but what about now? I heard that the policy has become less strict?

Please DO NOT tell me to wait for another cycle, because I have been out of school for two years already (but i have been working). I am an international student who has done my undergrad in North America, and I cannot stay in North America forever and **to be preparing** to go to a law school forever. I just need to go to a law school this cycle, graduate, and then return to my home country.

I really need some advice right now!! I am panicking!!! Any kind of advice would be deeply appreciated!!! Thank you so much in advance!!

[wittywitless]

oof. Tough situation.

1) LSAC are sticklers for policy, so I wouldn't bank on the calling option being successful. It certainly can't hurt to try, but roll with the punches and try not to get too upset if they tell you no. It's hard to say, they might have a test center that didn't fill up or something that they could plug you into if you're grovelingly polite and pleading.

2) This is tough. Schools start handing out acceptances as soon as November for some places, so your chances may decrease, but I don't think you're completely dry. How is your GPA and do you think you can increase your LSAT score significantly between now and the test date? I can tell you from my own personal experience that I took the June LSAT and I was getting emails from some eyebrow raising schools (Emory, for instance) as late as the last week of June to apply for admission in August of the same year. If your GPA is solid and you write a good PS, it shouldn't murder you, although I'd encourage you to start writing your applications now and submit them without your LSAT score if you're waiting for a February school. Also, LSAT test takers are a pool of misinformation sometimes, but there were several people when I took the June LSAT who were retaking for August admissions.

Regarding needing to go back to school next fall, I completely understand. It sucks to have to wait up for another test date, especially when you've already done all of the studying. I personally would encourage you to nail down next application cycle and commit to it, but if that's not an option ... then it's not.

[Sciencemeetslaw]

Thanks for the advice. So I have called LSAC, and they indeed did not approve my request, but they advised me to register for the Feb. LSAT.

My dream school is actually Emory, and I was intending in applying ED with my dec LSAT. But now it seems that it's not possible anymore. I am NOT aiming for T14 schools, I just want to to get into a top 50 school, and preferably a top 20-30 school, and from what I see on their websites, it seems that even taking the feb Lsat would meet their application deadline (except Emory which has deadline of March 1st, but the feb score only gets released on March 3rd). As in my GPA, i graduated with 3.2 according to my school's grading scale. Though it is not super high, I have received Honours upon graduation, and it was from a top 20 school in North America. Also, I did a double major in science. I have worked at research labs during my undergrad, and now i am working at a multinational firm in Singapore. I believe that if I continue reviewing, my score should increase under normal circumstances, but I don't know by how much. I feel that my progress has been quite slow. Now I am averaging around 154-161. What do you think would be a competitive score? I am Also, do you mind if I ask what did you score on the June LSAT to receive an invitation from Emory?

oof. Tough b
1) LSAC are sticklers for policy, so I wouldn't bank on the calling option being successful. It certainly can't hurt to try, but roll with the punches and try not to get too upset if they tell you no. It's hard to say, they might have a test center that didn't fill up or something that they could plug you into if you're grovelingly polite and pleading.

2) This is tough. Schools start handing out acceptances as soon as November for some places, so your chances may decrease, but I don't think you're completely dry. How is your GPA and do you think you can increase your LSAT score significantly between now and the test date? I can tell you from my own personal experience that I took the June LSAT and I was getting emails from some eyebrow raising schools (Emory, for instance) as late as the last week of June to apply for admission in August of the same year. If your GPA is solid and you write a good PS, it shouldn't murder you, although I'd encourage you to start writing your applications now and submit them without your LSAT score if you're waiting for a February school. Also, LSAT test takers are a pool of misinformation sometimes, but there were several people when I took the June LSAT who were retaking for August admissions.

Regarding needing to go back to school next fall, I completely understand. It sucks to have to wait up for another test date, especially when you've already done all of the studying. I personally would encourage you to nail down next application cycle and commit to it, but if that's not an option ... then it's not.

[wittywitless]

Thanks for the advice. So I have called LSAC, and they indeed did not approve my request, but they advised me to register for the Feb. LSAT.

My dream school is actually Emory, and I was intending in applying ED with my dec LSAT. But now it seems that it's not possible anymore. I am NOT aiming for T14 schools, I just want to to get into a top 50 school, and preferably a top 20-30 school, and from what I see on their websites, it seems that even taking the feb Lsat would meet their application deadline (except Emory which has deadline of March 1st, but the feb score only gets released on March 3rd). As in my GPA, i graduated with 3.2 according to my school's grading scale. Though it is not super high, I have received Honours upon graduation, and it was from a top 20 school in North America. Also, I did a double major in science. I have worked at research labs during my undergrad, and now i am working at a multinational firm in Singapore. I believe that if I continue reviewing, my score should increase under normal circumstances, but I don't know by how much. I feel that my progress has been quite slow. Now I am averaging around 154-161. What do you think would be a competitive score? I am Also, do you mind if I ask what did you score on the June LSAT to receive an invitation from Emory?

oof. Tough b
1) LSAC are sticklers for policy, so I wouldn't bank on the calling option being successful. It certainly can't hurt to try, but roll with the punches and try not to get too upset if they tell you no. It's hard to say, they might have a test center that didn't fill up or something that they could plug you into if you're grovelingly polite and pleading.

2) This is tough. Schools start handing out acceptances as soon as November for some places, so your chances may decrease, but I don't think you're completely dry. How is your GPA and do you think you can increase your LSAT score significantly between now and the test date? I can tell you from my own personal experience that I took the June LSAT and I was getting emails from some eyebrow raising schools (Emory, for instance) as late as the last week of June to apply for admission in August of the same year. If your GPA is solid and you write a good PS, it shouldn't murder you, although I'd encourage you to start writing your applications now and submit them without your LSAT score if you're waiting for a February school. Also, LSAT test takers are a pool of misinformation sometimes, but there were several people when I took the June LSAT who were retaking for August admissions.

Regarding needing to go back to school next fall, I completely understand. It sucks to have to wait up for another test date, especially when you've already done all of the studying. I personally would encourage you to nail down next application cycle and commit to it, but if that's not an option ... then it's not.

LSN puts them as having a median LSAT score of 165 and a GPA of 3.7. Seems like admissions is a holistic process and your softs are pretty impressive, but since your GPA is a bit below the median mark I would really encourage you to try to improve your LSAT score a few points. If you couple that with a good statement and strong recs you could do well.
I scored a 167 on the June LSAT and my GPA is fairly strong. I just checked back in my email and turns out the email about openings for Aug '15 semester was sent to me on July 7. Needless to say it was pretty surprising.

It may be worth trying to build a relationship with the admissions office, ie calling in or emailing them and asking if you can submit your application for consideration now even if you come back with a Feb LSAT score. Some schools let you pull things like that, others don't.

Good luck, mate!

[Phoenix97]

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[ms9]

The vast majority of schools, nearly all, will gladly take a Feb LSAT test-taker. There is no downside to them. Either you are a strong applicant and you improve their class profile, or you are not and you help their selectivity. All of which they are assessed upon as part of their job.

Most schools will take a June LSAT, even if their website has a contradictory date.