<p>I am going to take the LSAT for the first/only time, and I am applying to Law School in the Fall. All of the test centers for my test are full within 100 miles. Should I wait until October 1, or should I make a trek to take it? Would the added prep time help a lot?</p>
<p>Will an October test put me at a GREAT disadvantage for admissions?</p>
<p>Added prep time always helps and seeing that one bad score could ruin your dreams of law school I say prepare well before you take it. Applying a little later is not as hurtful to your chances as a bad Lsat score. This could be by far the most important test you'll take for the rest of your life so seriously prepare to the max. (Dont wanna scare you :))</p>
<p>I agree with tired_student. Most law schools, including Harvard and Yale, will consider all LSAT scores.</p>
<p>If you take it in June without being ready for it, that's a big mistake. Taking the test in October won't hurt you except in two ways.</p>
<p>Because the LSAT is so important, most people want to see their LSAT score before deciding which LSs to apply to. If you get a 157 you'll apply to different LSs than if you get a 165, etc. Taking the LSAT in June means you'll have the score back early and can "target" your applications. You'll know your score and can choose where to apply based in part on it. </p>
<p>If you take it in October, you probably won't get your scores until December and if you wait to have them before choosing your target schools, you may not be "complete" until January or even February and that WILL hurt your chances. The earlier you apply to LS, the better your odds of getting in.</p>
<p>So, I would SUGGEST that if you wait until October to take the LSAT that you spread your net a bit more widely and apply to a broader range of schools. Take some practice tests and get some idea of your probable score. Then apply to some LSs lower down the totem pole--places where a score 5 points below your practice score would still give you a "shot"-- and to more schools in different zones than you might if you actually knew your score. Apply to these schools BEFORE you get your score back. When the schools receive it, your file will be complete--at least a month earlier and more likely two months earlier than it will be if you wait to see your scores before deciding where to apply. </p>
<p>If you take it in June, you can apply to fewer schools. </p>
<p>The other problem is that as Gilder Radner says "Things happen." If you plan to take the test in October and get sick or something, your only remaining test date is December and then your complete date will be really late..which WILL hurt.</p>
<p>A few things...</p>
<p>You get your scores exactly three weeks after taking the test. That's late November. It can be done (yes, you are at a disadvantage, but it just takes more work)... fill out ALL of your apps before hand, and send in the appropriate ones (if you get a 157, send in the lower stack; if you get a 170, send in the better apps). You should have a decent idea of where you will fall.</p>
<p>If you can't get a test center within 100 miles, you might be eligible for special accomodations.</p>
<p>Ever driven 100 miles continuously? Ever done it twice in a day? Want to do the round trip twice in a week? You should visit the test center before hand (my LSAT was on a Monday, so I went the previous Monday - got a handle on traffic patterns etc, scoped out parking - which was the single best move I did, because all of the obvious places are taken by about 10 am). If the test is at 12:30, as usual, you'll want to allow about 2 - 2.5 hours for driving (no speeding, account for traffic) and arrive by 11:30. Is that how you want to gear up for the biggest, most important test of your life so far? The SATs can be taken again - you can't really re-take the LSAT - just looks bad. </p>
<p>After the LSAT, you'll be brain-dead. Everyone is. Do you want to make a 100 mile trek home at about six pm? The LSAT doesn't take three hours. Sure, there are five 35-min. sections and a 1/2 hour writing section - yes, that's 3 hr. 20 min. - but you can't imagine how long the whole process takes. Everyone has to be fingerprinted, admitted individually, etc. They scrutinize everyone's licenses. There is one line. They hand out the test booklets to each person - no such thing as passing the stack down the row. They are collected during breaks the same way, and counted before you can get up. That happens again before the writing section is done. Then the writing samples are all collected at the end in the same fashion. You really want to drive 200 miles the day that happens?</p>
<p>While Aries makes some good points...There's one other factor that MAY be relevant.The JUNE LSAT is the only one given on a Monday and the only one which begins at 12:30. All the others are on Saturdays and begin at 8:30 .</p>
<p>For my favorite law student, who did travel more than 100 miles to take the LSAT--though admittedly somebody else did the driving, it was a lot easier to leave the house at 9 or so to go to an afternoon LSAT than it would have been to make it to a closer test center with a functioning brain at 8 a.m.Your mileage may vary. Some people just don't "do" morning ;)!</p>
<p>From the lsac site:</p>
<p>"What time is the test administered?</p>
<p>The October, December and February administrations of the LSAT begin at 8:30 A.M. Candidates are required to be at the test center no later than 8:00 A.M. for these administrations. The June LSAT is administered at 12:30 P.M. Candidates are required to be at the test center no later than 12:00 P.M. for this test."</p>
<p>I concur - should have mentioned that the June is the ony afternoon test.</p>
<p>In order to get into law school for Fall of 2006, you need to apply in Fall/winter of 2005 rand take the test in October 2005? Is this right?</p>
<p>If so, then the law school app process will interfere with most student's final year coursework. right?</p>
<p>Do people usually wait a full year/or work before applying to law school or is it possible or better to apply while you're in college?</p>
<p>There's no one right way to do this. Many people advocate working for a year or two before going to LS. If you WANT to go directly to LS, then there are a few alternatives. You can take the June LSAT. Many colleges end the school year around mid-May. If yours does, that gives you about a month to study for it. You can also take it in October. This year I believe it is scheduled for October 1. At most schools with a semester schedule, that's well before midterms, so you can study over the summer, perhaps while working too, and the first month + of school. </p>
<p>Another option, which I personally like, is to do one of the above, get into law school, and then defer a year or even two to take a break. Many law schools, like colleges, will let you defer entrance a year.</p>
<p>Should have mentioned this earlier: get a hotel room where you'll take the LSAT (this is to the OP who can take it more than 100 miles away). Drive over the afternoon before, find the hotel, find the test center, and find test center parking. You'll be able to sleep in, relax in the am, get a good breakfast (sorry for sounding like your mom) and have a leisurely drive to the test center. Sure, driving home will stink, but you would have to do that anyway. You'll get your June LSAT date and afternoon exam, but you won't have to make the drive that morning.</p>
<p>Yes, it will probably run you about $80-$100... but - get used to spending money for law school applications. Just re-taking the LSAT would cost you more money than that. A single extra application (app. fees are between $50-$80 and there is $10 for LSDAS) will cost about that much money.</p>
<p>Thanks!
What are the best LSAT books? Should I take a course or are the books enough?</p>