Several Questions - Advice Needed

<p>Hi Guys,</p>

<p>I’m currently a sophmore in college and I am considering studying abroad in England next year. Here’s my question:</p>

<li> I can take LSAT either in June in London following my junior year or take in the fall of my senior year (October). Which option is preferred?</li>
<li> My grades from UCL (London) will automaticly transfer onto my transcript in the U.S., would this make a difference in the grade calculations by LDAS folks?</li>
<li> Do you recommend taking a prep course such as Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc.?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Vlad</p>

<p>1) If you take the LSAT in June, then it allows you to see how you did and register to take it again if you need to before the early decision applications are due. So, if you are planning on applying early decision or early action, then you should take it in June to allow yourself an extra date in case there is a problem.</p>

<p>2) According to the LSDAS web site, if your study abroad classes were set up through your university and appear on your unviersity transcript, you do not need to send in a supplemental transcript. They recalculate your grades anyways, these will be calculated along with all your other grades.</p>

<p>3) Why don't you first take a free diagnostic test like the one available at <a href="http://www.lsac.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.lsac.org&lt;/a> and see how you are scoring. Determine your score and see what the average scores are for the law schools you are looking at. If your score is within the average for the schools you plan on applying, then no, there is no need to take a course. If you are not at the score you need to be, then yes, you should prepare somehow, and structured courses are good for people that might not study regularly on their own otherwise.</p>

<p>As far as which course, on another web site, everyone seems to be claiming that Powerscore and TestMasters are more thorough programs than Kaplan and Princeton Review, but the latter two programs have been around forever and have a more established reputation. </p>

<p>Hope this answers your questions!</p>

<p>I would simply add that whatever your initial diagnostic score, it is usually worth it to invest some time and energy into your LSAT prep. </p>

<p>For one thing, taking the test under formal test conditions is a very different thing than taking it at home, and many people drop somewhat under the pressure. </p>

<p>2ndly, the test essentially decides where you can go to school, and this has significant implications for future employment possibilities.</p>

<p>Finally, even if you know where you want to study, and it appears easily within reach, most schools will offer scholarship money if you have a score well above the median. Do well enough, and you might get a full ride, potentially worth over $100,000. Even a $10,000 - $20,000 scholarship is probably worth a little prep. </p>

<p>Whether you take a course is up to you -- not everyone needs one. But Testmasters/Powerscore are probably the best available.</p>

<p>I agree with Cardozo that it is worth prepping even if you are already within your target score - but I feel it is neccessary to point out that a course is not the only way to do so. Many people do quite well studying on their own with CDs or books, or by just taking old lsat's over and over. Others choose a course. Still others choose private LSAT tutoring. </p>

<p>If you decide to prep further for LSAT's thoroughly check out your options and which best fits with your study style. That said, if you are busy and may not study on your own, a course provides a good structured environment.</p>

<p>I'm in a Kaplan course right now. I'll let you know how it turns out.</p>

<p>Highly advisable to prep for your first LSAT. You should view the first LSAT as a key score, even if you retake later, because unlike colleges which take your highest SAT scores, law schools generally consider all your LSAT scores and average them.</p>

<p>It also looks bad to take the LSAT more than once; it's best if you have a good reason for doing so. Think "there was construction outside," or "So sick that I didn't get out of bed for three days after that," as good reasons to re-take. The Penn admissions dean (in the 2000 version of Robert Miller's Law School Confidential, a must-read for y'all) said that, unless there is a reason why the student scored better the second time around, that they will average the scores. </p>

<p>At least in the US, the June LSAT is the only one done in the afternoon: it's at 12:30, while the others are given at 8:30 am. Also, your applications should be in by September or October - and, as said above, your LSAT pretty much determines where you go to law school. So you'll need that score. Now, if you feel horrible on that lovely June day, or you are unprepared, wait for October. </p>

<p>I didn't take Kaplan. Just get the 10 previously released LSATs and take those. Most important thing is to figure out what you did wrong - figure out what the test is asking you. </p>

<p>Drop me an email.</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I was just thinking about my particular situation, I was wondering if this would be an advisable solution.</p>

<p>Take a prep course this summer and take an LSAT in October of this year in London. Would this make a difference?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Vlad</p>

<p>Just to confirm: you should generally never have to take the LSAT more than once, and you shouldn't plan on doing so. For the reasons stated, you should simply prep very thoroughly the first time through, wait until you're 100%, and then take it. Any other approach will leave you with a lower than necessary score, along with extra expenses and headaches from going through the process twice. </p>

<p>If you really feel sick on test day, or have construction going on, postpone/cancel and take the next one. </p>

<p>I agree there are different ways to prep, which will work better for different people. However, pretty much everyone should prep in some way. I personally recommend at least working through a basic Kaplan/Princeton Review prep book, so you understand the fundamentals, and then working through a number of the most recent exams. (The more you do, the better. I'd do at least 15 if you want to fully develop your skills.) Start out untimed, and gradually incease your speed. This is probably the most important exam you'll ever take, so it's worth some time and effort. </p>

<p>(I have a copy of a study plan for the LSAT someone wrote up -- PM me if you'd like a copy.) </p>

<p>In terms of taking the prep course this summer, and taking the LSAT in October, I think it's a good idea. I would also, however, leave yourself time to work through some old exams afterwards, so you can further hone the skills you've learned. </p>

<p>(Personally, I don't think there's any question that Testmasters and Powerscore are superior to Kaplan and Princeton Review, although Kaplan has supposedly revamped their course in an effort at improvement. Longevity doesn't mean much in this context. However, feel free to look around for other opinions.)</p>

<p>Sorry to butt in on your post but I have one question. When does everyone think the best time to take the LSAT is? I heard that the scores are kept for 5 years, and I know I want to go straight into law school as soon as I finish UG. Would it be best to take it in my Junior year? I am currently in the last semester of my sophmore year, and I was planning to really start studying this summer up until the test in Febuary?
Thanks</p>

<p>Generally, most people advise that you take it in June before your Senior year, or in the following October. Both will give you the chance to apply early in the cycle for the following year. June gives you the chance to re-take in October, but like I said, this shouldn't usually be necessary. </p>

<p>The most important thing is that you're fully prepped before you take it, whenever that is. June gives you a few weeks of summer vacation to focus on the exam, while October allows you to spend the entire summer immediately before focused on the exam. (June also gives you the chance to take it in the afternoon, as opposed to early morning.) I'd avoid February because schoolwork will generally get in the way. </p>

<p>Getting an early start this summer won't hurt you, however, especially if you just start looking at some prep books and figuring out how much time you'll probably need to prepare. (Maybe work through one exam untimed, and see how much improvement you think you'll need.)</p>

<p>I generally agree with Cardozo, but...
I say take the test in June if you are applying anywhere early decision. If applying regular decision, then you can consider taking it in October.</p>

<p>Here's why: If you are faced with a problem - a car accident on the way to the site, a last minute medical problem, a problem at your testing center - it is good to leave yourself the opportunity to take the test on a different date. If you are applying early decision, plan to take the test in October and something DOES happen, you will be screwed out of early decision consideration.</p>

<p>And, as ariesathena said, the June administration is the only one held in the afternoon. Many people don't test so well at 8 in the morning, especially figuring that means waking up even earlier. If you aren't an early riser, take the test in June. </p>

<p>Lastly, if you take the test in June, you have your results by July. That means that you can still research some schools to see where you might fit without being mid-admissions cycle. </p>

<p>Just some things to consider...</p>

<p>Some good points. (I also noted the June afternoon time, because I'm not a morning person, and I don't know many people who are 100% at 9:00 a.m. This alone could be important.) </p>

<p>My only concern is that the student is as fully prepped as possible. This is the most important thing, because it directly relates to their score, which is pretty much more important than anything else. </p>

<p>So yeah, June is probably better for the reasons noted, IF you're definitely ready to take it at that point. If you're not, then it's probably not worth rushing it just to get an earlier score.</p>