LSAT critical for top law schools.
Dear Mr. Bradshaw– Im a junior at Indiana University and plan to apply to law school this fall. My overall - average is 3.75 with a major in political science and a minor in French. I have not taken the LSAT, but I hear that top law schools place a lot of weight on how well you score on this test. My SAT scores were good (in the mid to upper 600′s) but I hear the LSAT is a lot harder test. What are my chances of getting into a top law school if my LSAT scores are comparable to my SAT scores? –Law School
Dear Law School–Unless you score really high on the LSAT your chances are slim to none that you will get into a top law school such as Harvard or the University of Chicago.
That means you must score at least 170 out of the top score of 180 for Harvard, and at least a score of 165 for Chicago. This is a rough estimate based on working with law school applicants over several years. Be forwarned that applying to top law schools is not the place to find yourself if you have a fear of rejection. The LSAT separates the truly smart student from the grade grubbers who belive high grades, recommendations and other accomplishments will balance out an average score.
Applying to a top law school is not the same as applying to an undergraduate college. There, a creative “extracurricular” activity such as playing the piano might help you get in. The only one that I know of my experience was a client who scored 155 on the LSAT but was admitted to Harvard Law School on the basis of perfect undergraduate record and a brilliant personal statement. Although it was a brilliant piece of writing, he was rejected at Yale, Stanford, Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania.
Now, if that hasn’t discouraged you, I have some good news. The LSAT is a giant opportunity to destroy the competition. The LSAT does not test prior knowledge; it test your ability to read well, the ability to reason from a given set of facts, and how well you have prepared for the test.
That means you can study for it like any other assignment. You may not score 180, but the harder you study the better your chances of scoring higher. Starting salaries for top law school graduates are thousands of dollars higher than for average law schools. I suggest you sign up for a prep class. Plan on repeating it several times. remember, you are trying to master the test, not just improve your score by a few points.
Keep in mind the conventional wisdom is wrong. counselors who tell you that taking a course doesn’t help very much have little experience with test preparation. If they say all you need is the ability to study at home, ignore their advice. The LSAT can be mastered, but it will take all the outside help you can get. That means spending $1000 or more outside tutors and prep classes. Ask yourself, if it can be easily mastered at home or a dorm room, why do people pay for assistance?
It is like learning to master a foreign language on your own. That is the kind of mind-sett you need to have and the level of committment you need when you study for it. Next hire a personal tutor. Isolate yourself with him or her. Pretend you are going away for the summer for Marine Corps boot camp. You want a tough tutor who will ride you case if you fail to do your assignment.
Always keep in mind that practice makes perfect. That means you should study everyday and study harder than for any class you ever had in college. The fall test is in September. Plan to study for it all summer, seven days a week. You will have to answer tough questions each day. Get over the frustration and do not fight the test. Rework the question until you get it right.
There is nothing inherently logical or intuitive about the LSAT. Its not an IQ test. It is not a test of you native intelligence. You are learning a foreign language. the students who do the best on the LSAT are the ones who understand this and don’t try and ”figure it out.” No matter how smart you think you are, it takes time to learn a new language. If you can persevere, expect a much higher score that will match your strong GPA. The chances are you will get into a good law school and succeed once you are there.
