Hi, I actually just finished writing my own Diversity statement. If you'd like to swap for feedback, let me know. :)

I would try to re-confirm the math on the GPA prediction first.

There are online GPA calculators that will do the math for you, you can google around for this.

Ex: https://gpacalculator.net/college-gpa-calculator/

Can one semester of straight As or A+s really raise it up to a 3.0? I remember my overall (combined) gpa barely barely went up a few decimal points even after all straight As in a semester, I think it depends on how many cumulative credits you've already taken and how many credits you plan to take on.

Note, LSAC adds more weight to A+ grades (4.3 on the grading scale, whereas some undergrad institutions simply value an A+ at a 4.0). Also they average out all grades if you repeat a course, and both the original and repeat grade show up on your transcript.

See the link to the webpage for their grading scale: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/jd-application-requirements/academic-record

If you can confirm the extra semester will put you in the 3.0 range and you feel confident about your ability to get the highest possible grades, then I would actually try to stay another semester and get that GPA bumped up. A 3.0 is a solid B, and is less of an eyebrow raiser than a 2.7, which is like a C+/B-. It will also help you out when it comes to merit scholarships too.

If you choose this route, then depending on your course load and how much time you have left over, I would begin digging into the basics of LSAT fundamentals. If this is your first time being exposed to the material then it's important to take your time to absorb it and understand it correctly from the beginning of your LSAT prepping period. Set a goal to do a little bit of the Core Curriculum every week.

Take a bit of a break if you need to, and then take the summer to begin timed sections/ PT phase of LSAT prep... going into the Fall. It's important to keep to a steady schedule of taking full-length PTs once you get to this phase. Most people advise between 15-20 PTs or so. Join the free blind review sessions offered on here and get an accountability partner if you can.

One of my biggest regrets post-graduating, is not taking advantage of "easy A" courses while I still had the chance to boost my gpa. You have to be strategic, since applying to law school is (largely) still a numbers game. Once you graduate that number is set in stone.

Post-graduate grades such as those from a master's degree are not counted for your lsac GPA.

The alternative, I suppose, is to gain some valuable work experience instead while you invest your time in the LSAT. Take a diagnostic if you haven't already and see how far you'd need to go to get to your goal score, this will help you build an overall study plan up until your registered exam date.Your goal score btw should be at or above a school's 75th percentile score, since your lsac GPA will likely be below their 25th percentile at many schools. Check the schools you're interested in to see what this number range is (probably above a 168 or so...), ABA 509 reports will have this information.

Feel free to pm me if you have any other qs, I've been in a situation similar to yours before.

And best of luck.

Maybe it'll be one of the practice exams LSAC already released in digital format- 71, 73, 74. You can try calling to confirm closer to the event date, they'll prob have decided by then....

But if I were to take a guess, I'd guess it'd prob be out of those three.

You can submit your apps before your Jan score comes out. The adcom. will place it on-hold. Also, whether or not it's too late depends on the deadlines for the schools you plan to apply to. Some have deadlines in mid February or after March... so a Jan score would not be considered too late for admission. You should confirm directly with the schools you plan to apply to make sure they'll accept the Jan LSAT score (as far as I'm aware most schools will).

You can check the 7sage admissions predictor tool for an idea of your chances post-Jan: https://classic.7sage.com/predictor/

I can't provide much insight into your potential scholarship outcomes though.

The general consensus seems to be that the later it gets, the more competitive it gets for the remaining seats/ scholarship awards.

I believe LSAC keeps your LORs on-file for a period of 5 years once uploaded. You can ask your recommenders to update the date for next year, if you end up postponing.

There's also the option to just exit out of your current PT and click on a random section within an untouched digital PT and just start that one. Time pauses when you click out of a digital exam.

For ex: I'll do PT 87, click out of the exam after the third section, take the 15min break, come back and go to an older PT like 67, and click on section 1 of that exam to use as an experimental. Then come back and finish the last section of PT 87.

For the remaining 3 sections of 67, I either continue using the sections as experimentals for other exams or finish up the remaining sections of that test in one sitting. Also, to make it more of a mental endurance test, sometimes I'll do the experimental first.

This method still doesn't replicate the psychological conditions of not knowing which section is experimental though. It just helps randomize the section you'll get, (granted you haven't seen the PT before)... as opposed to you cherry picking exactly which questions to do in your custom set.

Hi Cindy, I'm interested! Will send you a message, thank you!

I think it also depends on where you work, and your ultimate goals post- law school. My employer recently offered to help finance my law school education and have extended the option of working for them both during/after law school, if I'd be interested. My direct manager is a corporate lawyer herself, and has been pretty supportive of my long-term goals- I've been very lucky in that regard. I've worked out an arrangement with them where I can work from home or take time off to just focus on studying.

For further context, I've been working as a paralegal for two years within the field of corporate law. I think I'd like to continue on in this field, post law school. Right now, at the very least I have a strong network to fall back on, should I ever need it. So, before fully quitting, I would recommend checking to see if your place of employment can offer an extended leave period or working out another flexible arrangement for you to balance both working and studying, if possible. Best of luck.

^Agreed with the above. I already feel like I'm reading a really good book.

@nlkhamis275 This is really inspiring, thank you so much.

I had the exact same email. I called them and they confirmed that the part about taking a paper exam was a mistake and I would indeed get digital. They resent the email with the correct information the same day. I would recommend calling them.

Thanks a lot for the response!!

Congrats!! What were your PT scores like? Would you mind sharing a bit about your studying process? I think a lot of people here are keen in learning more about that. Thanks in advance, and congrats again!

I attended as well. And found it useful to test drive the tablets and lsat writing sample. Seemed like most schools I spoke to weren't offering the fee waivers on-site though (BU, Fordham, NYU...). They stated that there was a whole separate review process for obtaining fee waivers. What schools ended up giving them out, if you don't mind me asking?

We’ve settled with PT 81 for next Saturday. You’re welcome to join us, if you can make it

There are places in the city that have lockers you can rent out. I live in one of the outer boroughs, so I'll just be leaving my phone at the nearest gym. I'm taking mine at the Sheraton hotel in Times Sq.

Check out NYRR RUNCENTER by Columbus Circle, I think you can use one of their lockers for free during the day, but don't quote me on that.

Thank you guys again, for the awesome input and words of encouragement. Truly appreciate it. :)

What about just switching to the Nov. exam? You'd still be able to apply before Jan with that score

Thank you guys! I appreciate the input. I'll try it out!

@analivaldez480 : Thank you so much for your response. And you're right, taking PTs really is the only way to improve.

@jkjohnson1991823 : Good to hear I'm not alone in this, it's such a struggle.

@missvannavo762 : Thank you for your response!! That's exactly it, I don't yet know what I don't know... and I need to find out sooner rather than later.

I'll do my best to not focus too much on the score, and work on getting as much out of the PT as I can. I think putting so much pressure on getting the best possible score, makes them so much more daunting- especially when you've been studying for so long and don't want to have to face the possible reality of a disappointingly low score. Only onwards and upwards from here.

Thanks again for the responses, best of luck to you all!

@ElaineWang Thank you!!!

I do!

ah I missed it, thank you!

Thank you for this! Will the webinar be recorded?