Self-study
From people's experiences who are going through the application process or already did, do law schools care more about low scores or cancelled scores? For example, say my first LSAT is 150s and I take again and score high 160s, would law schools rather see growth or just the best outcome possible? I don't think my score will be bad for admission purposes, but for scholarship oppurtunities I want to get into the high 160s. I have not taken the LSAT yet so this is a hypotheticals based on gut-feeling and final goal. I'm deciding whether I should cancel my score if it's not in my scholarship range or be prepared to defend a lower score with a higher score. I feel the latter is best, but wanted other's opinions. Thank you
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5 comments
Usually cancelled scores are seen as a yellow flag (not great, but not horrible). As others have said, a big jump in score can be a bigger red flag, unless an addendum is added that explains what led to that (usually big jumps signal to schools that you didn't take the first time seriously, which they don't often love. If you have a different legit reason that would likely be less of an issue)
But also, admissions counselors will often warn that sometimes students cancel a score that they don't feel great about, and then never get a better score. So I would really be cautious with canceling.
Finally, check the admissions policies of each school you are interested in. Some schools only look at the highest score. Some look at the average. Some hold cancels against you, some do not. That can also inform your decision.
From what I have been told they really care about the highest score, want to see an explanation if there was a 10 point or more jump from test to test and don't want to see more than 2 canceled test scores.
I believe they only care about the highest score, as that's what affects their median.
I'm not a lawyer, I'm not an admissions officer but the notion of success on a first try is not indicative of the challenge ahead in law school, the bar, and a legal career. The idea of accepting a result and working to improve it says a great deal more about who you are as a person and the work you're willing to do to improve foundational skills. It speaks to a person who will find success and continue moving forward over a person who hides their failings. We are a species that fails to then succeed. Own it, address it, convince them as a lawyer would that you believed in a result better than your first attempt and worked to improve upon it. That's what I would do. That's what I did when I applied from a lower tier school to then getting into USC after my first year. The improvement is proof of effort, the improvement is something to be proud of.