Pros/Cons of Taking the LSAT Earlier than Normal?

<p>I will be a Junior in undergrad this coming fall. With almost four months until the September 2009 LSAT, I feel that I have a great chunk of time to study for the test over the summer months without too many academic obligations like I do during the regular school year. Normally, it seems like most people take the LSAT in September/October and sometimes December of their Senior year. To me, taking the test then doesn't seem that advantageous since it gives little time for the person to take the test/prepare personal statement/get application ready/ apply to law school, etc. So my questions are:</p>

<pre><code> Will taking the LSAT in the fall of my junior year put me at any disadvantage with regards to law school? Do law schools look unfavorably upon doing this? Am I alone in taking the LSAT earlier than normal (in other words, has anyone here done this or known someone who has done this as well)? Thanks!
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<p>I don’t think it will be a huge problem; it’s only about 10 months earlier than many people going straight from undergrad take it (June after junior year). If this is the time you think you’ll do your best, I say go for it…any possible detriment would be made up for by doing even a point or two better than you’d do otherwise.</p>

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It will not be a disadvantage if you prepare properly, and law schools will certainly not look unfavorably on it. You are also certainly not alone in taking the LSAT junior year; Most of the people I know who were serious pre-law-ers took it their junior year.</p>

<p>It takes about 150 hours to exhaust all useful study material. Divide that by 4 months and it comes out to roughly 2 sections a day.</p>

<p>Have you ever heard of a student taking it during their sophmore year, either late or early in it?</p>

<p>People who always knew that they wanted to become lawyers may take it sophomore year. If you have proper study skills, I’d say go for it.</p>

<p>Yeah well I’m going to be a freshman in the fall but I’ve been studying for about a month and I’m in the upper 160’s so I just wanted to know if I get 174+ I want to just get rid of it since I need to take the GMAT too.</p>

<p>Does your LSAT score expire after a set amount of time…?</p>

<p>Your LSAT score is good for only 5 years, and some law schools do request that you submit scores no older than 3 years.</p>

<p>^^ Hmmm that could be a definite problem then… Do you know specifically which schools have the 3 year rule?</p>

<p>I haven’t done the research in a year or two. You can certainly find the information for yourself by visiting the websites of each of the law schools to which you are interested in applying and checking the requirements at each.</p>

<p>For example, the following is taken from the HLS website:</p>

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<p>I appreciate all the responses! When thinking about taking the LSAT earlier than normal, I just can’t imagine why law schools would look down upon doing such, especially if the applicant has a solid score. Also, it seems like taking the LSAT earlier would show law schools that you seem devoted to the field and are motivated. I’m interested to hear others weigh in on this topic, as well.</p>

<p>The recommended time for taking the LSAT is June between your junior and senior year. Taking it the autumn before won’t hurt you if you are prepared to take it. </p>

<p>Spending three hours taking a test as a freshman or sophomore doesn’t prove to me that you are “devoted” and/or motivated. Indeed, I might suspect that you were planning to take other standardized tests like the GREs or GMAT or MCAT and this was the reason you were taking it at an unusual time. If you are doing junior year abroad or had some other special circumstance, that would be different. </p>

<p>If you want to prove that you are “devoted” or “motivated” you can find better ways to do it, IMO.</p>

<p>This is exactly what I’m planning on doing, and what one of my friends is planning on doing as well, so I don’t think it isn’t normal or anything. I really don’t know why more people don’t; as you said, this summer is the ideal time to study for the beast!</p>

<p>Ah ok thanks for the help sallyawp!</p>