@Sprinkles said:
I wonder what this means for students with LSAC fee waivers.
I don't believe they will exceed the 2 free takes, but I guess it may be possible for them to add an additional free take to make it 3. I can't see them giving someone unlimited free takes though, that would be insane if someone could do that! haha, if only
@Sprinkles said:
I wonder what this means for students with LSAC fee waivers.
I don't believe they will exceed the 2 free takes, but I guess it may be possible for them to add an additional free take to make it 3. I can't see them giving someone unlimited free takes though, that would be insane if someone could do that! haha, if only
@Sprinkles said:
I wonder what this means for students with LSAC fee waivers.
I don't believe they will exceed the 2 free takes, but I guess it may be possible for them to add an additional free take to make it 3. I can't see them giving someone unlimited free takes though, that would be insane if someone could do that! haha, if only
@CinnamonTea said:
Although I think it is positive development for test takers overall, I feel like the 3-times-in-2-years rule also serves to motivate many people.
I can see the motivation in the 3times/2years rule, but when I first found out about this former rule (before any studying), it made me think if I have a chance at all. I wasn't too confident I would be able to do good on the LSAC, especially given this limitation so I really thought about alternative life plans just in case. Maybe it was just me overthinking it, but I am sure maybe other people felt this way too when thinking about going to law school.
Coming from someone who was close to the threshold this is great news. My first two takes I received the same score (154) and never really pushed myself to study hard. My next take was going to be my final opportunity (I still hope it is!), but this allows room for error should something happen on the 3rd attempt.
@Freddy_D said:
Spivey just posted on Twitter that starting in 2018-2019 the LSAT will be offered 6 times a year
He's also projecting that all of the existing dates get reshuffled. Instead of Feb/June/Sept/Dec and then adding supplement months like August and April.. they might all just get moved around (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov for example). He thinks we might see this news break sometime today.
@slcaldwell82590 said:
Coming from someone who was close to the threshold this is great news. My first two takes I received the same score (154) and never really pushed myself to study hard. My next take was going to be my final opportunity (I still hope it is!), but this allows room for error should something happen on the 3rd attempt.
Yeah . I really love unlimited takes for this reason as well. It now just becomes about scoring your potential and that opportunity is not limited by number of takes.
@TheDeterminedC said:
What would be a reason for this change?
Possibly the fact that some schools have started to accept the GRE. LSAC probably fears losing business by people opting out of taking the LSAT and just taking the GRE
I totally agree with the benefits from it! @"Alex Divine"
@TheMikey It sure would sway me to study for the LSAT.
I wonder how it will affect this cycle. Maybe more people that are less ready (aka- lower scorers) will try and take it. Nevertheless, it's very interesting!
Can anyone think of any negatives to this option? -- is taking the LSAT 'too many' times detrimental? And what would admissions folks consider as 'too many'?
@tringo335 said:
Can anyone think of any negatives to this option? -- is taking the LSAT 'too many' times detrimental? And what would admissions folks consider as 'too many'?
I think there is really no telling what negatives can result from this change until we see how admissions committees react to it. If they don't care, then applicants will go on as they have and if they have multiple scores then adcomms will care about your highest. If they do care, there's the possibility of them holding it over an applicant somehow. But I feel like if U.S. News doesn't really make schools report all scores, then adcomms most likely won't give a crap.
@tringo335 said:
Can anyone think of any negatives to this option? -- is taking the LSAT 'too many' times detrimental? And what would admissions folks consider as 'too many'?
It's hard to answer because I'm not sure how this new rule will change how they look at multiple LSAT scores. Previously, under the old rule even if most schools didn't average tests they still considered them. Especially the top schools. So I would guess it is still better to have one high score rather than multiple scores. At the end of the day, I don't think you'll ever be at too much of a disadvantage from multiple retakes.
@tringo335 said:
Can anyone think of any negatives to this option? -- is taking the LSAT 'too many' times detrimental? And what would admissions folks consider as 'too many'?
It would depend on the school and how they react to it. This along with the LSAC upping tests per year from 4 to 6 probably will cause some issues with some of them. Redoing is one thing but I don't think any school would want someone who takes it 4 or 5 times within a year until they get a score they like over someone who only took it once or twice.
These changes like accepting the GRE and giving more opportunities to take the LSAT, with no limitations on the number of takes no less, seem to indicate that law school is becoming a lot more like business and trade schools. I think this'll encourage older people to apply and will put more pressure on people to have work experience before law school.
Schools will continue to be primarily concerned with maintaining/increasing their rankings. The real question is, will USNews change their metrics? This would fundamentally affect the foundations of this consideration, and if I were just starting out, I'd be really concerned with the potential to switch from high score to average. For now, I think the traditional policy holds: Don't take until you're ready.
@tringo335 reading again. Sounds like he is saying that USNWR could respond to unlimited takes by incorporating the average of a candidate's scores into their rankings. Doing so would have a major effect on for any retakers because admissions councils would suddenly care A LOT more.
I don't know when it's dated but here's a summary list of top law school policies involving multiple scores. Many already state they consider your entire LSAT history while others only consider your highest. Imo, do your best the first time, try again if necessary, but just because it's an option doesn't mean you should take advantage of the unlimited tries.
@jkatz1488 said: @tringo335 reading again. Sounds like he is saying that USNWR could respond to unlimited takes by incorporating the average of a candidate's scores into their rankings. Doing so would have a major effect on for any retakers because admissions councils would suddenly care A LOT more.
@TheMikey said:
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, that's what I meant. For me, it'd have huge implications. My high score is 170. My average is 165. Those early mistakes would suddenly become very, very meaningful if they start averaging.
@TheMikey said:
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, hopefully they don't average or else I'll most likely not be going to a top school.
@TheMikey said:
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, hopefully they don't average or else I'll most likely not be going to a top school.
Live, Love, SweetTort
SweetTort: the rubber band ball that stole our hearts. We hardly knew ye.
@TheMikey said:
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, hopefully they don't average or else I'll most likely not be going to a top school.
Live, Love, SweetTort
SweetTort: the rubber band ball that stole our hearts. We hardly knew ye.
@TheMikey said:
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, hopefully they don't average or else I'll most likely not be going to a top school.
Live, Love, SweetTort
</3
You and SweetTort were my first LSAT-buddies... I'm getting emotional now.
Comments
I don't believe they will exceed the 2 free takes, but I guess it may be possible for them to add an additional free take to make it 3. I can't see them giving someone unlimited free takes though, that would be insane if someone could do that! haha, if only
lol if only.
Haha, yeah makes sense.
I can see the motivation in the 3times/2years rule, but when I first found out about this former rule (before any studying), it made me think if I have a chance at all. I wasn't too confident I would be able to do good on the LSAC, especially given this limitation so I really thought about alternative life plans just in case. Maybe it was just me overthinking it, but I am sure maybe other people felt this way too when thinking about going to law school.
Spivey just posted on Twitter that starting in 2018-2019 the LSAT will be offered 6 times a year
Nice!
Coming from someone who was close to the threshold this is great news. My first two takes I received the same score (154) and never really pushed myself to study hard. My next take was going to be my final opportunity (I still hope it is!), but this allows room for error should something happen on the 3rd attempt.
He's also projecting that all of the existing dates get reshuffled. Instead of Feb/June/Sept/Dec and then adding supplement months like August and April.. they might all just get moved around (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov for example). He thinks we might see this news break sometime today.
Yeah . I really love unlimited takes for this reason as well. It now just becomes about scoring your potential and that opportunity is not limited by number of takes.
Feel free to make a new thread about this!
What would be a reason for this change?
Possibly the fact that some schools have started to accept the GRE. LSAC probably fears losing business by people opting out of taking the LSAT and just taking the GRE
I would guess to be more competitive with other tests like the GRE/GMAT. Financial incentives probably played a large role, too.
Either way, I'm happy to see LSAC making changes that make the test better!
I totally agree with the benefits from it! @"Alex Divine"
@TheMikey It sure would sway me to study for the LSAT.
I wonder how it will affect this cycle. Maybe more people that are less ready (aka- lower scorers) will try and take it. Nevertheless, it's very interesting!
Can anyone think of any negatives to this option? -- is taking the LSAT 'too many' times detrimental? And what would admissions folks consider as 'too many'?
I think there is really no telling what negatives can result from this change until we see how admissions committees react to it. If they don't care, then applicants will go on as they have and if they have multiple scores then adcomms will care about your highest. If they do care, there's the possibility of them holding it over an applicant somehow. But I feel like if U.S. News doesn't really make schools report all scores, then adcomms most likely won't give a crap.
It's hard to answer because I'm not sure how this new rule will change how they look at multiple LSAT scores. Previously, under the old rule even if most schools didn't average tests they still considered them. Especially the top schools. So I would guess it is still better to have one high score rather than multiple scores. At the end of the day, I don't think you'll ever be at too much of a disadvantage from multiple retakes.
It would depend on the school and how they react to it. This along with the LSAC upping tests per year from 4 to 6 probably will cause some issues with some of them. Redoing is one thing but I don't think any school would want someone who takes it 4 or 5 times within a year until they get a score they like over someone who only took it once or twice.
These changes like accepting the GRE and giving more opportunities to take the LSAT, with no limitations on the number of takes no less, seem to indicate that law school is becoming a lot more like business and trade schools. I think this'll encourage older people to apply and will put more pressure on people to have work experience before law school.
Schools will continue to be primarily concerned with maintaining/increasing their rankings. The real question is, will USNews change their metrics? This would fundamentally affect the foundations of this consideration, and if I were just starting out, I'd be really concerned with the potential to switch from high score to average. For now, I think the traditional policy holds: Don't take until you're ready.
@"Cant Get Right"
what do you mean by this?
Same question ....
@tringo335 reading again. Sounds like he is saying that USNWR could respond to unlimited takes by incorporating the average of a candidate's scores into their rankings. Doing so would have a major effect on for any retakers because admissions councils would suddenly care A LOT more.
I don't know when it's dated but here's a summary list of top law school policies involving multiple scores. Many already state they consider your entire LSAT history while others only consider your highest. Imo, do your best the first time, try again if necessary, but just because it's an option doesn't mean you should take advantage of the unlimited tries.
https://www.velocitylsat.com/resources/law-school-multiple-lsat-score-policies
ahh gotcha; that makes sense.
Yeah, if they start averaging, I'm more than fucked.
I would think if they do eventually start averaging again, it would be a way off into the future. I also think schools will fight that as much as they can so they can keep their rankings. I would't worry too much about this. It would suck though, haha. I'm so paranoid I'm refusing to take this test until I'm hitting 180s like SweetTort
Yeah, that's what I meant. For me, it'd have huge implications. My high score is 170. My average is 165. Those early mistakes would suddenly become very, very meaningful if they start averaging.
Yeah, hopefully they don't average or else I'll most likely not be going to a top school.
Live, Love, SweetTort
SweetTort: the rubber band ball that stole our hearts. We hardly knew ye.
I spoke to him frequently in PMs. He's a great guy tbh, just very neurotic lol
Long Live The Tort
</3
You and SweetTort were my first LSAT-buddies... I'm getting emotional now.
He will always be Frank Underwood to me!
Haha FACTS! Someone not too long ago had his old Frank avatar and I got excited thinking it was him lol.
I wonder how he is doing..