<p>I want to apply next fall to LS, but I'm not sure if I should take the June test date. I haven't studied much for the LSAT and June 16 is not too far away. Is it enough time to study for the test if I studied now? Or should I wait untill October? I'm working full-time, so I can't devote every hour studying for the test. I can only study in the evenings and on the weekends. Anyway, I just want to do if I have enough time to study for the test or whether I should take the test in October. Would I be at a great disadvantage if I take the test in October? I could take both tests, but it's expensive and I heard some schools average the scores. So should I wait untill October?</p>
<p>Depends on how comfortable you are feeling with it now. If you're within a few points of your goal already, then by all means -- just go for June 16th. That's still 25 days away, which is not that few. If you're applying next fall, an October test date is okay, too. Don't take both tests.</p>
<p>I don't think there is any disadvantage to October. When I went to information sessions, they said it takes about 6 weeks to get all of the information together before anything would go to committee. You can apply by early October even if you don't have an LSAT grade yet. Your Oct LSAT grade would be be available by around Nov 1, so your application could still go to the committee near the beginning, which is supposed to be preferable. I would not take December as I heard classes can fill up and it may be harder to get in near the end.</p>
<p>With exceptions, applying without an LSAT score could turn out to be a waste of money. Two reasons. First, LSAT scores might net you some fee waivers. Second, if your score comes back either higher or lower than you expected (very common), then you'll find yourself targeting an entirely different range of schools.</p>
<p>With that said, you still probably want to do it.</p>
<p>Um..I'd like to clarify something. It may be that the author of post #3 understands it, but I'm not sure and, I think as written, it's a bit ambiguous.</p>
<p>Your LS applications have to go through LSDAS. Everything has to be submitted to LSDAS. It takes LSDAS a month or more--depending on the amount of the crunch at the time you apply-- to process your application and forward it to law schools. So, it's not as though your app will be at the LSs you are applying to the day after your LSAT score comes back. Your LSAT score goes to the LSDAS service, NOT the law schools and then you have to sit around and wait until LSDAS adds it to your file and sends it with the other information, including your gpa as calculated by LSDAS, to LSs. </p>
<p>I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that there's no way on earth that someone who takes the LSAT in October would have the files complete and at LSs to be reviewed by November 1. It just doesn't happen. You still will be early enough in the cycle to have a good shot at admissions. I'm not trying to imply otherwise. However, if you are waiting til October to take the test, I would suggest that you make sure you have registered for LSDAS and that that your transcript, letters of recommendation, etc. have all been sent in, so that when your LSAT score is received and processed, your file is ready to go. </p>
<p>That may be what poster of #3 meant--you don't actually apply to particular LSs, you just make sure everything else is into LSDAS BEFORE you take the LSAT. </p>
<p>If everyone already understood that...well..I meant well. </p>
<p>There's one other difference between the two test dates. This may sound silly but...The June one is usually the only one given in the afternoon. The others usually start at 8:30 am. Not everybody functions that well in the morning. Plus, some folks live a considerable distance from a test site or get assigned to one a million miles away, which may mean getting up superearly, at least by college student standards or even having to stay overnight somewhere close by the night before the test.</p>
<p>My test site was two hours away. I was very, very grateful for an afternoon exam.</p>