Good time to take the LSAT?

<p>I’m a junior and wondering when a good time to take the LSAT would be. I know most people take it during senior year, but most of my practice test have been in the 170 range. I don’t know how different the atmosphere will be for the actual test. Would it be a good idea to take it this year and not have to worry about it next year, or should I take more time to prepare?</p>

<p>Study like a mofo and then go to Harvard.</p>

<p>Consider taking it in June (that way you could see where you stand) and then if you would need to take it again, you could do so in October.</p>

<p>TIMELINE QUESTIONS:</p>

<p>So June following your Jr yr of college would be a normal timeline? How late can you take a second shot at the LSAT in your Senior yr? Are most applications in by the Fall of Sr year for entrance the following Fall after you graduate? </p>

<p>Given a heavy class load in colleege while trying to maintain a high GPA are certain months better than others to take the test since you can prep a little more at times when you aren't necessarily inundated with college exams?</p>

<p>So June following your Jr yr of college would be a normal timeline? How late can you take a second shot at the LSAT in your Senior yr? </p>

<p><a href="http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/2006-2007/TESTDATE.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/2006-2007/TESTDATE.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you were looking to take the lsat in 2007 the dates are: </p>

<p>Monday, June 11, 2007 12:30 PM</p>

<p>Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Monday, October 1, 2007 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Saturday, December 1, 2007 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Monday, December 3, 2007 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Saturday, February 2, 2008 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Monday, February 4, 2008 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM</p>

<p>Are most applications in by the Fall of Sr year for entrance the following Fall after you graduate? </p>

<p>Your best bet would be to look up the application dates an deadlines at the schools that you are interested in applying. </p>

<p>For applying to law school many schools start accepting applications in as early as October. If you are looking to apply ED or EA, many schools will ask that your application be completed between Nov 1 and 15 (completed app. meaning all your stuff is submitted to LSDAS by this date). Schools that also admit on a rolling basis may use these same dates with the student getting a response (admit, deny, hold) as early as mid December. </p>

<p>At some schools they will tell you that the october testing date will be to late to evaluate your application where you can get a december response (individual mileage may vary so check with each school as they will tell you).</p>

<p>The RD deadline falls usually at around Feb. 1.</p>

<p>It looks like some Monday tests start at 12:30. Can you take that even if you do not have religious reasons for choosing Mon. over Sat.?</p>

<p>I wonder with the new highest score policies, if it would still be wise to take the test in the Summer after your junior year. Would it be better to take the LSAT during your junior year so you have room to retake it twice more?</p>

<p>I wouldn't recommend taking the test more than once. Even if it is LSAC policy that it will take your highest scores from different sections, all of your scores will still be reported and law school are not going to be so quick to change their thinking with respect to LSAT scores.</p>

<p>In my opinion, the reality is that law is not a profession where you get multiple chances to do well. You either do or you don't. You will be tested once per semester per class in law school, and often your grade on your test is your grade for the class (as will be true during your first year of law school, where your grades mean more than any other time during law school). The bar exam is a winner take all exercise, and though you can take it more than once if you must, it is given only twice a year and it's not going to do much for your career with your employer if you don't pass on the first try, due to the time it takes away from work to prepare for another try at it, and because your employer can bill you out only as a clerk/paralegal until you pass the test and get yourself admitted to the bar. Therefore, knowing these things, why would a law school think it is okay to look at the highest scores from different administrations of the test? I just don't see it making a difference.</p>

<p>Prepare. Do whatever you have to do. Take the LSAT once. Keep in mind that your scores show up on your LSAC report for five years from the date you took the test, and that many law schools require you to have a LSAT score no less than 3 years old for purposes of applying.</p>

<p>I agree that you should NOT take the LSAT more than once, unless something goes wrong. It is not the SAT. Some law schools will average your scores anyway. Given the difference a few points can make, why would you have a bad score on your record? </p>

<p>Many schools also want an explanation of why you did not do well on the first try. Trust me, "I did not adequately prepare for the test" will sink your application. You are expected to prepare for the LSAT. It is, as Sally said, a lot like law school exams - same length, same one-shot deal. If you don't prepare for that and have to retake, you may as well just write your application in crayon.</p>