<p>When is a good time to begin prepping for the LSAT? I'm a high school senior and have been admitted to college early decision. Basically, It'll be easy for me to breeze by this year with minimal work. Is it too early to start prepping?</p>
<p>The LSAT generally goes through a major overhaul every few years. I'd wait at least two years before starting to prep.</p>
<p>I'm starting as a freshman in college because I'm not too good at standardized testing. Most people, however, start the summer before their junior college year, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Huh. That raises the question, when does one generally apply to Law School? Spring of senior year? And one would generally take the LSAT when? And is it unlike the SAT in that you generally take it once?</p>
<p>People generally apply to law school in the fall of the academic year preceding the year they wish to matriculate.</p>
<p>I understand that people still take the LSAT no more than once. (Of course, most people taking it today had not yet been born when I took it.)</p>
<p>Check and check, Greaybeard...funny I get the feeling that I'm you when I look in the mirror. So when does one <em>take</em> the LSAT? Spring junior? Fall senior?</p>
<p>I took it the fall of my senior year, and got the results the day after Thanksgiving. (Most take it a little earlier to give them time to take it a second time; I wanted the summer to practice for it, and was taking off a year between college and law school, anyway.)</p>
<p>So you get the feeling you're me when you look in the mirror? I get the feeling I'm you when my kids are calling...</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Urrr...when your kids call you turn into a Silly Person?</p>
<p>"Silly" is in fact my children's favorate description of me.</p>
<p>The thing is, I will be going to an engineering school with a reputation for really back-breaking work. I don't think I'll have time to study for the LSAT during the school year. Does this matter? Is it still to early? I'm under the impression that if i want to start law school after my senior year I took it the June before my senior year.</p>
<p>Casablanca,</p>
<p>Three-and-a-half years strikes me as a long time to spend prepping for a standardized test, expecially one that may not exist in its current format when you're ready to take it. I'd recommend preparing in a more general way that would benefit you in other ways: get a book on formal logic from the library, grapple with some Great Books that haven't been assigned in school. But don't forget to relax and have a good time this year.</p>
<p>I wouldn't be so quick to decide now that you're going straight from engineering school to law school in four years. You'll probably make a better technology lawyer if you work as an engineer for a couple of years before starting law school.</p>
<p>Greybeard, this is getting scary. </p>
<p>I probably shouldn't mention that "Casablanca" is probably my second-favorite movie after "Shakespeare in Love."</p>
<p>And I probably shouldn't mention that I watched Casablanca on Tivo last night. (But only after I was shocked, shocked to realized that my son had changed the channel while the Maltese Falcoln was being recorded.)</p>
<p>If it were me, I would inform my son that his name was now Tivo and that it was his duty to record "The Maltese Falcon" for me. Got a DVD of same last year and I've got to say that I don't think it gels as a movie despite the all-star cast. The script is...full of holes and long dry patches.</p>
<p>I've seen it about 20 times, the first time when I was studying for the LSAT. (How's that for a segue?)</p>
<p>Great way to get the thread back on topic Greybeard!</p>
<p>It's generally thought that the BEST time to take it is in June after your June year. If that's not possible, October of senior year. (This assumes you want to go directly to law school.) </p>
<p>You are correct that you should only take it once. Most LS's don't take the better score if you take it more than once. The most common thing to do is to average scores, so it would take a good size improvement in your score to make much of a difference.</p>
<p>Lots of law schools start accepting applications September 1. Most people think that getting in the apps early gives you better odds of getting in. </p>
<p>LSAT scores tend to surprise many people. You really can't know where you should apply until you know your score. Knowing your score early so you can get your apps in early helps. </p>
<p>Plus, if you SHOULD bomb the LSAT, you'll have time to study before you retake it and can still meet deadlines. If you wait until October, by the time you get the score back, there's not a heck of time left to study for the December LSAT. Taking the LSAT after December REALLY hurts your chances of getting in for the following fall at many law schools.</p>
<p>To address some of the things said here:</p>
<p>Most students usually take the LSAT once (most schools average scores) or twice if they think they can make a substantial improvement. Some schools will disregard a low score if an adequate explanation is provided. Such as scoring a 160 when sick and a 178 two months later.</p>
<p>Students usually apply early (most send in apps in either october or november for EA) since LSs operate on a rolling admissions basis. The sooner they get the app, LOR, PSs, the better your chances are supposed to be.</p>
<p>The pre-law people at Wake recommend taking the LSAT the october of your senior year, but some recommend the one before (june) if possible.</p>
<p>As far as prepping goes, most of the people I've talked with say they've done three months, on average, of prepping for the LSAT. The great thing about the LSAT is that every single test is released after it has been administered. Unlike the SAT there are over 40 practice tests you can take.</p>