<p>I am a second semester freshman majoring in IR and Philosophy.
I am strongly considering pursuing JD which, of course, means I'm thinking hard about LSAT.</p>
<p>I've heard that law schools generally accept LSAT score less than five years old. But I've also heard that the most prestigious law schools recommend taking the exam a year before the expected year of law school enrollment.</p>
<p>Now, the deal is that I want to study uber hard over summer and take the September 2007 LSAT. It's not that I want to brag about taking this test early. That would be very foolish since top law schools strongly recommend taking this test only once and there's a good deal of preparation needed to do well on it. The reason why I want to take it early is because I want to study abroad my junior year (I think it would be hard to prep for LSAT while I am abroad). Also, I feel that I will be busy with school work and the actual law school application process when I am a senior. So I think it may not be a bad idea to study hard over the summer (I'm planning on taking a prep course from July to September) and in the fall and get LSAT out of the way. Since most of my courses in the fall will be gen-ed and intro level courses, I think this way I will have less conflict between LSAT prep and school work.</p>
<p>What do you guys think? Will law schools care that much?</p>
<p>I don't know, but I have the exact opposite question...</p>
<p>if I want to take two years off after College to do Teach for America, should I take the LSAT in my senior year sometime when I'm going to be finishing up my degree, or should I take it during the first gap year?</p>
<p>swmass- my d is doing a semester abroad now. She initially thought she's do her LSAT Oct-senior year but decided against it as she didn't want to do LSAT and applications at the same time.
She decided in August to take LSAT in December (junior year) prior to her going abroad for semester. She too did not want it to interfere at all with her study abroad program. As she had to take LSAT's and finals at the same time (December), she decided to take a little bit lighter load last semester (14 credits??) and "tweaked" her schedule a bit, by taking courses that might be a bit easier. She'll save the other courses for her senior year. If she had thought of this earlier, it might have been better to take the LSAT in October junior year and study hard May (after sophomore year) through October. But as she decided in August to take the LSAT junior year, she needed the time to study for it- so the December test it was!
Are you going abroad for the entire year or is it a semester?? You should try to get the dates that you will be abroad, so it may help you plan out when you will have enough time to study for the LSAT's. Personally, I think if you can wait until your junior year (at least) it may be a better move.
Also realize, some countries have very different semester scedules. I know as d #2 is thinking about doing a semester in Australia. Their winter schedule is February through late June- so it is different than US schools.
Chocoman- If you are definitely taking a GAP year, then I think it is your call. Do you want or can you study for finals and LSAT's at the same time??
You do have the summer before senior year and then take the Sept/Oct LSAT- so there will not be much overlap with school and LSAT prep. As you are not applying straight from college you'll have plenty of time to "analyze" your results and apply at a future time. If you wait until after college (which may give you MORE time to concentrate solely on the LSAT's), you may not want to wait TOO long. Sometimes the longer you stay away from studying, the more difficult it is to resume your good study habits!!</p>
<p>Shoot, who says you should only take the LSAT once? I'm taking it twice. I'm also a second semester freshman considering law school. I am thinking I will take the test in February 2008 and again in September 2008. I'll do the bulk of my studying this summer and have weekily review next semester, and the prep course will be in there somewhere. I'm trying to graduate a semester early so that, especially if I'm going to law school, I have a nice long break to work and just take it easy between college graduation and going to law school in August 2010.</p>
<p>As has been much discussed on this board, I wouldn't plan in advance to take the LSAT twice. Study and prepare as much as you feel you need to and take the test once. Absent compelling circumstances (which should be explained in your law school application), many (if not, most) law schools will expect to see that you have adequately prepared for and did as well as you could do in one attempt.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Top law schools will average LSAT scores if taken more than once.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is not exactly true. Though LSAC recently changed its rules to allow using only the highest score for reporting purposes, most of the top law schools have stated that they prefer that applicants will take the LSAT only once (absent some reason such as illness for taking them more than once). I believe you are correct that if an applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the scores will be averaged.</p>
<p>I believe I will be abroad for the entire year, following the typical U.S. semester schedule (August through May). So I think my junior year may not be optimal for taking the LSAT. I would like to spend my senior year preparing for reference letters, personal statements, and many other details which follow the application process rather than worrying about the LSAT.</p>
<p>So I think taking the LSAT during my sophomore year may be the best option for me, although it does feel rather early in the game.</p>
<p>The top schools vary re: multiple LSAT score policies. Most average, but some will take only the highest (Northwestern comes to mind), and some state that they consider things on a case-by-case basis (i.e. having an explanation for a low score, I suppose).</p>
<p>While I don't imagine that law schools would care whether you took the LSAST sophomore year, I would caution against it. I think that college level work in general will do a lot to prepare you for the test: critical thinking, logic, dense reading, emphasis on speed. I personally think you'd be shorting yourself to take it so early. Then again, if you feel that it's your only option, then there's not a lot of point in even asking the question. </p>
<p>Check into when your abroad program ends. Some end very early in the spring, so taking the June test after junior year might be a viable option, as well.</p>
<p>Sally- if SW is anything like my kid, the last thing she wanted to do was THINK about the LSAT while she was in Italy. From what I am gathering, study abroad classes are usually M-Thursday and the kids do alot of travelling on week-ends. There are discount airlines (Ryan Air) so as long as my kid is in Europe, I would want them to learn and enjoy as much as they could- without the trouble of studying for the LSAT!!
But SW- I'm gonna play mommy now!!-<br>
I think it may be better to take LSAT in Junior year. The additional time and "maturity" will only be an asset in taking this test. With that said, ya gotta speak with your---
advisor--study abroad program Rep.- and Law school advisor.<br>
You gotta prioritize what is most important and doable-- </p>
<p>Will a semester abroad meet your needs and therefore you can do both LSAT and study abroad in your Jr. year?? </p>
<p>Are you willing to study for LSAT's while you are abroad??</p>
<p>Would you take Lsat in your senior year and either start Law school a year later or just be real organized in taking test and getting applications out??</p>
<p>My d loves her semester abroad. She's in Florence-- her Classes are in English and (looking at the school bulletin as I type) the have courses in International Studies, Business, Philosophy and Religious Studies Etc. etc. etc. etc.
If you are at all interested in a semester in Italy, I can pass the info along to you.<br>
Good luck- I think you have some important decisions to make. But it is really great, that you are asking the right questions now!<br>
Good luck
marny</p>
<p>I don't know where exactly, but I am planning on going to China/Japan for a semester and somewhere in Latin America for another. Or I may spend an entire year in one of these sites. </p>
<p>Yes, like marny said, I'd rather not worry about LSAT when I am abroad. That would be very anti-climactic for my abroad experience, which I hope will be the one of the best moments in my life :).</p>
<p>I am going to have to think hard about this for a next couple of months to come and eventually come up with a decision. Thank you so much for all your inputs :).</p>
<p>Just a "quick" idea. My sister who is a retired teacher did a study abroad program in China through Brooklyn College during the summer--
So---is it possible to consider your semesters be comprised of a spring OR fall semester and a summer semester?? This way you can be at your "home" school for either spring or fall of your junior year and do the LSAT at that time. You can still do the 2 semesters abroad (summer/ and spring or fall).In fact with that type of schedule, I'd consider using summer after soph year to study for LSAT--take the test Oct. or December junior year --and then do study abroad spring AND summer semester of your junior year. Then when you get back for your senior year, you'll be good to go on your Applications!!
If you were planning a year abroad in one place, this might not work for you, but as you have to pack up and leave anyway,taking advantage of a summer semester may do the trick. If the semesters overlap, you may need to consider being at your "home" school for the spring semester and taking the June LSAT. Academic calendar schedules may be the deciding factor. Just a thought for your consideration.</p>
<p>Thanks marny for your continued input and interest :).</p>
<p>The problem with doing summer abroad program is $$. If I do Fall and Spring abroad program, my scholarship will cover the most of the expense (as long as it doesn't exceed $25k, which is my annual scholarship). If I do summer abroad, I have to come up with money on my own.</p>
<p>The trade off, then, is whether I want to spend extra money and risk extremely busy schedule in the future for an extra year of academic maturity. Or I can forgo that possible academic maturity and save money and not take the risk of having conflicts between LSAT prep and school work.</p>
<p>My S - against our suggestions, but we're only parents ! - chose to take the LSAT during his semester abroad. It was hard not to, since he was still there during both the February and June test dates, and he didn't want to wait for the October one, which he thought was too late for his apps. </p>
<p>It was tough to take the LSAT in Enlish since he was doing immersion in a foreign (Asian) language. He is not Asian, so he really struggled, going back and forth from language to language. He may have done better if he'd waited to get home, but it was his decision. He did well enough to get into his first choice school, so I guess it worked out for him.</p>
<p>My suggestions, based on his experience, if you find yourself taking the test abroad: Make sure you know exactly where the test location is; make sure you test out the route before the morning of the test; and if it's an early morning test, make sure you have done the first two suggestions !!</p>
<p>Ok- just want you guys to be aware that you gotta stay on top of "foreign transcripts" and make sure that the info and grades are received and accepted by LSAC. </p>
<p>I am not sure how this all plays out- but I DO KNOW it can become an issue.</p>
<p>I believe my d will get a regular transcript from her sponsor school (which is in NY state) so I think she will be ok. But for some of you who may opt to register with the study abroad school directly, you have to make sure your grades (and translation of transcript) get to the right place!!</p>
<p>Just gives you something else to worry about.</p>