<p>So, what I want to do is take the 9/30 LSAT. I've waited until now to register because I wanted to make sure I could get into a review course ahead of time, which ended up causing some confusion (two courses cancelled, one course with a class conflict...it's been special). Though I realized I might not get the test center of my dreams, I figured that 6 weeks before the test date and almost 2 weeks before the first registration deadline would still give me plenty of time to get SOMETHING!</p>
<p>Evidently, I was wrong. When I went to register online, the region of every zip code I tried was filled up (all around SoCal). I figured I could fly home for the weekend, but that area (Sacramento) is full, too! For the time being, I put my name on the waitlist, but that will be taken off if I don't pay and confirm within 24 hours (I'm waiting to call LSAC tomorrow morning).</p>
<p>I don't want to wait for the Dec. test because I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket, so to speak. I don't want to get to the end of Dec., find out that I bombed the test, and have to entirely re-do my applications (as most of the schools in which I'm interested are very top-tier schools).</p>
<p>Is this a common problem, or just a hazard of living in an over-populated state? Does it sound like maybe I'm doing something funny in the search? Has anyone been waitlisted and had the situation turn out fine (it didn't give a guarantee or let me provide preferences or anything)? It'd be helpful to know what someone else did in a similar situation...the problem caught me off guard!</p>
<p>Well, yes, ideally...but as stated originally, I had unavoidable reasons for waiting. Beyond that, this is not nearly as early as I could be acting, but I definitely wouldn't call it the last minute, either. There are a good 3-weeks-worth of people who are going to have even more trouble than I, even though most of them will have met the correct deadline.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. There's not a lot of advice I can ask for since it's kind of a "stuck" position...I'm mainly just curious as to whether this is a common issue (and thus commonly overcome).</p>
<p>Would it be that much of a burden to wait an extra year in the application cycle? Just a thought. </p>
<p>As for a full test center... do you have friends in other areas that you could stay with? Somewhere maybe an hour's drive away? Could you go to a less-populated area and stay overnight beforehand in a hotel room? Any family within a few hours that would take you in? Sure, it would be a pain, and it would be really hard to scope out the test center beforehand, but it's do-able. (The week before my LSAT, I drove down to the school, found all sorts of hidden parking spaces, wandered around, and got my bearings. Considering that people were illegally triple-parked, it was very helpful to not be freaking out about where to stash my car for the 6 hours.)</p>
<p>Incidentally, what prep course are you taking?</p>
<p>Alright...taken care of! So any other late-acting test-takers in highly populated areas...have no fear. What was unclear (to me, anyway) from the website was that even by placing my name on the waitlist, I am still guaranteed the test date. According to the LSAC phone rep, they will expand or open up new centers as necessary to accomodate the waitlisted people. </p>
<p>As for the potential burden of driving 100mi, that much is easy and already taken care of. I can deal with an overnight or a two hour drive, but the timing issue posed a much larger inconvenience. Thanks for the suggestions!</p>
<p>I'm taking a Kaplan classroom course plus a few hours of tutoring (because I have a regular class that conflicts with a small bit of the Kaplan course). I originally intended to go through Princeton Review but they were getting cancelled right and left. Any insights?</p>
<p>If you are aiming for a top-tier school, my advice is perfect.</p>
<p>Preparation is especially important in law school since there is only one make it or break it exam a semester.</p>
<p>Standardized tests are mainly about preparation. You may only increase a little bit or you may increase a lot with plenty of preparation.</p>
<p>If you are applying to top law schools without any substantial evidence of what your real LSAT score may be, and are taking the LSAT AFTER applying, I seriously doubt you will do well in your admissions. No offense or anything.</p>
<p>I taught the SAT myself (and am in the process of getting an LSAT teaching position at one of the better-known test prep centers) and for the most part, I'm not impressed by the way classes are taught. The main qualification is mostly a high test score, and I don't see much improvement in most students.</p>
<p>Oops, I'm hurting my own job's credibility. I mean, whatever you do, keep trying, its worth every cent, especially the tutoring that costs 50 dollars an hour.</p>
<p>Your points are well taken. Although for the record...</p>
<ul>
<li>I do have a rough idea of how I may perform on the LSAT.<br></li>
<li>The schools to which I plan to apply are varied, even if top-heavy.</li>
<li>I'm not applying to schools before taking the LSAT. I agree that that would not make a lot of sense.</li>
</ul>
<p>Your advice is well-received and, furthermore, you're entirely correct: I should have been faster. But I think that was kind of implied by the very issue at hand... :-)</p>
<p>My advice is to prep this summer for the LSAT, and take it in the fall. Get a job, and experience the non-academic world for a year. If you're enjoying yourself, make it two years.</p>
<p>Would people recommend prepping a "short" amount of time in extreme concentration (taking classes, testing everday or so) say for three months, or a more spread out, less stressful kind of preparation, lasting, say for about a whole academic year? I started this summer, and hope to take it around June. (Currently opting for the latter, but we'll see what happens)</p>