<p>Hi! After reading some threads regarding LSATs, and its correlation with the SATs, I was wondering if any of you could give me an idea of what my score will be. The thing is I really want to score a 170+ on the LSAT, but I'm not sure that even with preparation I could do it. I've been a mediocre test-taker.</p>
<p>I took the old SAT exam and took it twice in total without any preparation whatsoever.</p>
<p>The highest combined sitting is a 1380 (out of 1600). (The other time I got a 1370.) The highest combined from the two sittings is 1420 with mathematics at 730 and verbal at 690. </p>
<p>For the SAT IIs, I didn't prepare either, and I got a 670 in Biology, 740 in Math IC, and 780 in Writing. I'm not sure if these scores are relevant, but yeah...</p>
<p>Just for kicks and giggles, what do you guys think my LSAT score will be with absolutely no preparation?</p>
<p>And what do you think it will be if I prepare for a year? I really need to break 170 to get into the law school I desire. Some people say that studying for the LSAT is futile, but I just want a glimpse of hope. After reading horror threads about the LSAT, I'm starting to think "maybe I'm too stupid to score 170+."</p>
<p>Correlation not causation. Several dumb people do well on the SAT and horribly on the LSAT because of the fact that the SAT is something that really benefits from practice when the LSAT generally doesn't. If you're stupid you'll do bad. If you're not you won't. :)</p>
<p>Though there are some things that help. Such as taking logic/reasoning courses in college :) helps for analyzing arguments which is a section of the LSAT.</p>
<p>You can download one for free at <a href="http://www.lsac.org%5B/url%5D">www.lsac.org</a>. Or walk into Borders or B&N and buy a book of 10 real LSATs or order one on-line at Amazon. Why engage in silly speculation when you can take a LSAT and get an idea of how you score without prep?</p>
<p>Ok, will someone tell me if I'm stupid or not please? I just want to know what you think I will get with SAT scores like that. ( I was thinking about 160, according to another thread I read, but does anyone else have an opinion?)</p>
<p>Thanks for the other advice though, although I never was into the whole prepping for tests thing.</p>
<p>
[quote]
SAT is something that really benefits from practice when the LSAT generally doesn't. If you're stupid you'll do bad. If you're not you won't.
<p>Yeah, I agree with jonri that I think the best thing to do is just get some practice LSATs. Surely your local library will carry some of those practice books, so you don't even have to spend any money. </p>
<p>I would however say that the LSAT iscoring is almost certainly 'harder' than the SAT for the simple reason of self-selection. Let's think about who is actually taking the LSAT. They consist of people who have self-selected themselves as being college graduates who think they are good enough to go to law school. Not everybody who takes the SAT even goes to college, not everybody who goes to college manages to graduate (the overall college graduation rate is less than 50%) , and even of those that graduate, many of them graduate with such terrible grades such that they know that they probably won't get into any law school, so they don't take the LSAT. What that means is that the bottom end of SAT takers is cut off. The pool of LSAT takers is therefore of higher quality than the pool of general SAT takers. What really matters is not so much your LSAT score, but rather your LSAT percentile, and it's obviously harder to get into a higher percentile when the quality of the test-takers is raised.</p>
<p>Ok, I'm getting conflicting messages. Does studying for the LSAT work or not? Because I feel I really do need to prep for it...but people say it doesn't help.</p>
<p>I believe that studying for the LSAT works, at least when it comes down to learning the format of the exam and preparing oneself for the time constraints.</p>
<p>Dude chill out. You know you are not stupid. What do you want, someone to stroke your ego and tell you that everything will be fine? The LSAT is a nightmarish three-hour ordeal the likes of which I have never before experienced. You dont have to be stupid to do poorly on the test. There are many other factors that play into a stellar LSAT performance. The biggest thing to worry about is your reading speed vs. reading comprehension. If you can read fast and retain everything, then that is a definite plus. The LSAT in no way shape form or fashion remotely resembles the SAT or ACT. The LSAT is not about what you know, it is about how fast and accurately you can process information. And yes, studying does help. There are a finite number of setups for each question type. Studying will help you identify these setups, which will cut down on the time needed to answer the question.</p>
<p>Davyhay: Ego-stroke? My SAT scores were mediocre. Tons of people do better, but yeah, I wanted to test out my chances for 170+. I just hope with practice I can do that, because it seems almost impossible.</p>
<p>Thanks for the other replies and keep them coming!</p>
<p>Mediocre compared to what? From what you have shared it seems that you are in the 85th-90th percentile with respects to your test scores. You know as well as I that if you were stupid you would not even be thinking about law school in the first place. I have to admit though, I also have this problem. I no longer compare myself to everyone, nor do I to all college students. Now I am consumed with how I rank compared to all post graduate Law School students. The thing is, if you are in the running to be accepted to a tier one school, you are already part of the intellectual elite, relatively speaking. I know I live in Alabama, which is the shallow end of the cognitive pool, but here only 16% of all high school graduates attend college, and of those less than 10% pursue any sort post graduate studies. I have been trying to tell myself that worrying about which law school I get into is kind of like worrying whether I am going to purchase a Bentley GT or a BMW M6. Whatever happens, I am still doing far better than the average man.</p>
<p>I think it was around 95th percentiles but that's besides the point really. This was taken in 2003...I'm at university now deary. </p>
<p>I actually know people who scored 1000 who are considering going to law school, and let's face it, maybe they shouldn't be. I don't care if I'm harsh, I just wish people were more honest and direct. </p>
<p>Fatjoe...so 170 is 99th percentile, right?</p>
<p>What is 165?</p>
<p>P.S. I don't want to be "doing a bit more than the average man." I want to do better than my parents who both went to graduate school (for science though, not law); I want to be more successful and I want to make more money. Somewhere along the line, I also want to make a difference in society. Is that too much to ask?</p>
<p>Davy, I attend university in California, so the common man here owns a Mercedes.</p>
<p>Well here in Alabama I drive a poor mans Mercedes. A Jetta. All I am saying is that if you have the mental acuity to score as high as you have on the SAT, then you probably have the facilities to do really well on the LSAT, though there is no direct correlation. Also, if you only get into a school that has a 25%-75% of 3.1-3.7 GPA and 161-164 LSAT, then you will still be able to accomplish your dream of doing better than you parents and properly provide for yourself whatever lifestyle you wish within reason. I am really hoping that I get into the University of Alabama School of Law. That is the most prestigious law school in the state. I dont have the choice of moving to another state, since I own a house here and also have a family. The thing is, even if I only get into my #3 school, I will still be able to accomplish what I want in life, because it is not all about what school you graduate from as much as it is how hard you are willing to work, and how determined you are to stand out in the crowd.</p>
<p>I agree with davy. Take the test or not take the test, but stop asking for the approval of the gallery. What do you want - us to analyze your writing here and say how "smart" or "stupid" it is?</p>