<p>I'm currently a sophomore, planning to study abroad for a year next year (Junior year).
I will return in June 2014. I was planning to study for the LSATs while abroad, take a formal course/tutor the summer I get back and then take them October of my senior year. Would this be okay to begin applying to law schools my senior year? I'm a pretty good test-taker, and I only needed to take the SAT once to get a top score.</p>
<p>The earlier in the cycle you apply, the better it is for you. As long as you have the rest of your applications done and ready to hit send by the time your October LSAT score hits you will be fine. You should contact your chosen people for references, your school for transcripts and other forms you need from them while you are still abroad, at the end of your junior year. Those things should be in place with LSAC along with your completed applications before you get your scores back. </p>
<p>If you are not happy with your score and have to retake again in December, you will be a little late in the cycle to get any early advantage. At that point you might want to sit out a year, save some money and apply the next cycle, unless you have a really high GPA and fantastic LSAT score.</p>
<p>however you do it, you should have a full 2-3 months committed to the LSAT. it is probably the most important test you will take in your life (besides the 1L final exams you will take in law school).</p>
<p>If your senior year grades wills help your GPAa, then consider applying after college. </p>
<p>From what I recall, you can have a new LSAT score sent in to schools to which your have already applied; the only trouble is that you would have quite a full schedule between class work, applications, and retaking an LSAT.</p>