<p>I'm a rising junior and am wondering exactly when would be the best time to take the LSAT. I've already bought the PowerScore books and have diligently been working through them for the past month or so. I also plan to take a Kaplan LSAT class in the fall (though it's also offered in the spring); it should last about two months, which would give me about a month to continue to prepare on my own before the February test (and possibly retake in June). However, some other students have told me that the best time to the take the LSAT is in June, and then use the September date for a possible retake. The only reason I hesitate to take the second route is because I would like to apply early to schools the fall of my senior year, and I'm not sure if the September test would be too late for that option.</p>
<p>Right now, I intend to apply to: Harvard, Stanford, Michigan, Duke, UVA, Cornell, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, GW, and Emory. Although I'll of course do my absolute best on the LSAT, what would be a competitive score for these schools? My cumulative GPA is a 3.9 and I'm a URM (African American male).</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but any and all input is greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>^I’m in the same situation and would appreciate any help. </p>
<p>I’m planning to start studying this summer, but I feel that October is too early to take it, February is awkward, and June is too late, especially if I need to retake before the admissions cycle of my senior year.</p>
<p>June is not too late. You should not plan on taking it more than once. If you have to retake (which should only happen if something really disastrous happens in June), you could take it in the fall with plenty of time to get your apps in early.</p>
<p>If you’re applying in the fall, the latest I’d recommend taking the LSAT is June of that year. As someone who just went through the law school admissions process, applying early can make the difference between an acceptance or a waitlist/denial. I’d recommend applying before Oct 15th, or as soon as applications become available thereafter. I’d say take in February, retake in June if you know you can do better. I took it twice and schools seemed only to pay attention to my highest score.</p>
<p>For information on competitive scores, check out lawschoolnumbers.com and lawschoolpredictor.com. On the predictor, plug in various numbers and see where you land. Being URM, especially a black male, will be a huge boost, but will also makes your cycle less predictable. Apply broadly, as it looks like you will.</p>