Multiple LSAT Scores

[mchllhcm]

<p>Does anyone know of a recent list that shows which schools average and which do not average multiple LSAT scores? </p>

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.deloggio.com/academic/twolsat.htm%5DWhat"&gt;http://www.deloggio.com/academic/twolsat.htm]What&lt;/a> Law Schools Do with Multiple LSAT Scores<a href="2006">/url</a></p>

[sallyawp]

<p>This is a repeat of some information I posted about a year ago. To my knowledge, nothing has changed on this list. The website you cited seems to have a thorough list of law schools, but as you can see below, I think that a one word answer doesn’t quite do justice to how multiple LSAT scores will be treated by many of the top law schools. I’m sure that other law schools similarly have policies that are not adequately described in one word.</p>

<p>This is the post from last summer –
A few bits of current information from the websites of some top law schools:</p>

<ol>
<li>Harvard Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

Should I retake the LSAT? If you take the test more than once, all scores and their average will be reported and considered.

</p>

<ol>
<li>Georgetown Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

For reporting purposes, Georgetown adheres to the ABA policy of reporting the higher LSAT score. For evaluation purposes, the Georgetown Admissions Committee typically averages LSAT scores. Georgetown may consider the higher LSAT score if you have only taken the LSAT twice. Please address any mitigating circumstances you feel the Admissions Committee should consider.

</p>

<ol>
<li>Columbia Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

Even though the ABA requires that we report the highest LSAT score, the Committee considers the entire LSAT testing history when evaluating applications for admission. Published statistics for this and prior years were based on average LSAT scores.

</p>

<ol>
<li>NYU Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

If I take the LSAT more than once, does the Committee see the higher score?
Yes, but they evaluate based on the average score in most cases. The Committee may take special circumstances into account. If a candidate can point out specific reasons why the Committee should consider an LSAT score aberrant, they should detail those reasons in an addendum to the personal statement.

</p>

<ol>
<li>Penn Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

Q. If I take the LSAT more than once, does the Admissions Committee consider the average or the higher LSAT score?
If there are circumstances that you believe affected your performance on a prior test, we encourage you to provide an additional statement with your application explaining those circumstances. The Admissions Committee will consider such information and may, at its discretion, evaluate your application based on the higher or highest LSAT score.

</p>

<ol>
<li>U of Chicago Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

What if I took the LSAT more than once? We recognize that some students will take the LSAT more than once, perhaps because the first score was the product of unusual conditions or because it seemed low given earlier practice test scores. In keeping with recent changes in LSAC and ABA policies, we will focus on the higher of an applicant’s two scores. LSAC data suggest that the first score is an excellent predictor of a second score; applicants are thus advised to re-take the test only if there is reason to expect significant improvement. We certainly do not wish to encourage expenditures on repeat test taking.

</p>

<ol>
<li>U of Michigan Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

How does the University of Michigan Law School handle multiple LSAT scores?
The LSDAS report for an applicant who has sat for the LSAT more than once will show every score or cancellation, as well as the average score. The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student’s highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight. We do, however, consider the average score as well, because data provided by the Law School Admissions Council suggests that it has the greatest predictive utility. If you have a significant disparity between scores (six or more points), it would be very helpful to address any explanation for the difference in an optional essay or addendum.

</p>

<ol>
<li>U of Virginia Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

What is your policy on multiple LSAT scores?
Multiple LSAT scores will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We do not automatically use the average, the highest, or the most recent score, but will evaluate any information provided by the applicant that may be relevant to the interpretation of test results, such as illness, testing conditions, or other extenuating circumstances. The recent change to the ABA rule regarding multiple test scores affects only how we report the LSAT score of an applicant who took the LSAT more than once. The old rule required that law schools report the average of multiple scores; the revised rule now asks law schools to report the higher of multiple scores. The ABA rule does not now, nor did it ever, tell law schools to rely on one score over another in making admissions decisions, but rather encourages schools to look comprehensively at all information presented in an application for admission. That practice has not changed.

</p>

<ol>
<li>Northwestern Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

All applicants are required to take the LSAT. The LSAT is administered in June, October, December, and February. Applicants may take the test more than once, but repetition is not advised unless some disruptive factor has interfered with performance during the first administration. If an applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the Admission Committee will consider all scores, the circumstances surrounding each test experience, and possible benefits resulting from prior exposure to the test. Test results are sent to the Law School by the Law School Admission Council. According to LSAC, scores are valid for five years after the test date.

</p>

<ol>
<li>Cornell Law School:</li>
</ol>

<p>

If I take the LSAT more than once, will you take the highest score or the average of the scores?
In general, Cornell Law’s policy is to take the higher score if it is at least 3 points higher than a prior score, but the Admissions Committee invites applicants to submit an addendum to their application explaining the different LSAT scores and why we should take the higher score.

</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Duke Law School - no comment made on website</p></li>
<li><p>Boalt - takes the highest (I’m sure someone can find the quote, if necessary)</p></li>
<li><p>Yale - no comment made on website, school still states that they use a holistic approach to admissions</p></li>
<li><p>Stanford - makes no comment on website</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Moreover, the takeaway seems to be that if you take the LSAT more than once, you had better have a good reason for doing so (102 degree fever, power outage at the testing location, death in the family, etc.) and you had better take some time to explain that reason in your application. Again, I emphasize that you should prepare for and go into the LSAT as if you are going to take the test once and only once. Having explanations for one thing or another on your application, instead of just having a strong application, diverts attention from your strengths and may lead to questions about your ability and/or your commitment. </p>

<p>The LSAC has repeatedly emphasized to law schools that your first LSAT is the test most likely to predict your success in law school, and I think that most of the top law schools are clearly keeping that advice in mind. You may take the LSAT more than once (in fact, up to three times in two years), but I believe that you do so to your detriment in admissions.</p>

[lizschup]

<p>My son took the LSAT twice and got into quite a few of the above mentioned schools including Stanford where he will be attending next fall. We actually did have a death in the family the week before his first LSAT ( his grandfather who lived in the same town as his undergraduate college) so I think it really did affect his test score,which was lower than what he had been testing at. He agonized over whether to take it again but in the end decided to retake improving his score by 7 points. From the information he read on LSAC and law forums he concluded that in the last few years there has been a move away from relying on the first test score. He did not send any explanation in his application and actually took the last LSAT possible which meant he was among the later applicants in the law school pools. His GPA was high though at 3.99 so that was probably a factor as well. I know all of this is purely anecdotal but I write this to illustrate that you really have to make the decision to retest based on your own circumstances rather than averages, especially if you are scoring higher on practice tests.</p>

[mchllhcm]

<p>Thanks to both posters. I was just curious to see if there were any changes to the Deloggio site. I had already taken it twice, with the second one being a 6 point increase from the first (165 and 171 with an average of 168). Hopefully, my experience will be as successful as your son’s.</p>