<p>I am currently a junior finance/accounting major at DePaul university in chicago with a current gpa of 3.8. I am hoping to graduate and become a cpa for a couple of years and then go to law school perhaps. I was wondering if it would be completely insane to take the lsat now, while im a junior in college as opposed to right before I start applying three years from now. I hope to go to a top law school (choices right now are University of Chicago, Ucla, or perhaps northwestern). I am very controlling at times and am already interested in the Lsat. I think I could reasonably take it sometime this year and get a high score if I study enough. I just took a practice test from lsac and with maybe a couple of hours looking over a games book in a book store I got all that I was able to look at in time correct. However for reasoning and reading I didn't do so well, but I ended with a 155. </p>
<p>So, my question is would it be a mistake to take the lsat this year, even though I don't plan on attending law school until 2015? (the scores would still be applicable)</p>
<p>Most take LSAT after junior year in college when they are applying in fall of senior year. When you take it is not that important except that law schools do not accept LSAT’s that are more than 5 years old when you apply. The real issue is how well you are prepared and believe you can do because high ranked law schools will hold lower scores against you even if you take the LSAT a second time and score higher (and all test scores are submitted to law schools to which you apply; you cannot prevent it from happening). Moreover, LSAT score is 60% of everything for admission to law school. In other words, ideally it is a test that you should plan to take only once and do well on it. If your practice tests are giving a 155, that is a very low number for the law schools you mention (you would be an automatic rejection) and indicates you need more work before taking the test.</p>
<p>I was given this advice years ago, and pooh poohed it</p>
<p>This advice is based not only on my experience, but on the experience of my friends, and the myriad of co-workers I have come across over the years.</p>
<p>I know that is not what you want to hear, but consider yourself warned.</p>
<p>@drusba I understand that the scores are only valid for five years, as well as that the best thing I can do is to prepare well. Also, that is my first practice test, like taking it cold for the most part. I understand that I would need a lot more study and practice to improve my score, which is one of the reasons why I would want to do it now, as I actually have the time to study. I wouldn’t take it now (within the year) unless I was able to actually improve my practice scores to a (much) better score than my first diagnostic.</p>