Hey everyone, I'm trying to think wisely about which LSATs I could get the most out of this year and welcome any advice. I plan to take up to three LSATs total this year.

Here's my story:

I decided at the end of last year to matriculate in Fall 2026. Took a practice test without any study and scored 161. My target score is 175.

Around January I began studying on the LSAC website. Having discovered 7sage and better studying habits, I consider this first month a wash. Nonetheless, during this time I registered for the April 2025 LSAT.

Part of me now considers this a mistake as I doubt my score will improve very much over the next month. However, some friends have convinced me that it is worth it just to acclimate to the test environment and see what I score under real conditions.

Initially, I planned to take it again in June and August. I now think I should skip the June test to extend my study time and take the August test and either the September or October test.

The advantage of the October test is an extra month of study after the August test and the disadvantage is that with scores released on October 24, I will be looking to submit applications at the end of October/beginning of November. This is a little later than I would like for schools with rolling admissions (I am located in Boston and will apply to Harvard as my sort of platonic ideal). The inverse, of course, is true for the September test.

Currently within my situation I have time for 1-2 hours of dedicated study per day weekday (more on Saturdays, perhaps less on Sundays).

My explicit question for you all is whether you think the September or October test is a better bet (consider, for example, the impact of applying for rolling admissions schools a month into the process -- am I overestimating this?). Of course, I welcome any and all other advice given the information I've provided. Happy to clarify anything either described above or details I may have neglected to include.

Thanks all. Appreciate your time.