December LSAT-takers: Should I Apply Before Receiving My Score?

YES!!

The purpose of applying before you receive your score is to spur the administrative process on our end. Each application we receive requires a fair amount of processing. These procedures can take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks, based primarily on the volume of new applications. So by submitting a "pre-score" application, you are, in effect, giving yourself a head-start. You are allowing us to do the requisite "prep work" beforehand, so that when your score is released to us by LSAC, your file will be immediately eligible for review. Waiting to receive your score before applying can greatly delay review of your application by greatly delaying processing of your application materials.

I'm sure there are exceptions to this rule--though I can't think of any right now. But if you are in a seemingly unique situation where applying before receving your LSAT score doesn't seem to be the best course of action, send me an email explaining your concerns, and I'll give you my take. It'll probably be a refrain of what you just read here.

GOOD LUCK TO THOSE TAKING THE DECEMBER LSAT!!

With the December LSAT looming over the horizon, I just wanted to offer well wishes and encouragement to those of you who are taking it. The following are a few tips to doing your best on the exam:

• Be sure to get a good night's sleep the night before the exam; don't stay up all night studying or fretting.
• On test day, get an early start, giving yourself ample time to eat a decent (though not heavy) breakfast and reach the test site well before the start of the exam.
• During the exam, don't let anxiety cripple you. Be confident in your preparation, and rely on the skills you've built through that preparation.
• Lastly, do your best. That's all you can ask for.

If you have not already submitted an application for admission, you should do so as soon as possible after the exam. Do not wait to receive your score before applying. The earlier your admissions file is rendered complete, the better. And waiting for your score before applying can delay review of your application up to 6 weeks.

The Bowen Approach to Admissions--How We Handle Multiple LSATs

As you can imagine, we receive applications from many folks who have taken the LSAT 2, 3 or even 4 times. And I'm commonly asked by such applicants whether we will accept their best score. The answer to that question is most often, "Yes". The most common situation where we may not accept an applicant's best LSAT is when the most recent score is significantly lower (eg. at least 7 points) than all other scores.

On a related note, more and more law schools are beginning to take this approach to evaluating multiple LSAT scores. The ABA and the LSAC are even encouraging schools to accept high scores. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Bowen was taking this approach when most schools were not. Accepting applicants' best scores comports with our holistic admissions philosophy and our desire not to place undue significance on the LSAT.

Applicant Question: I'm retaking the LSAT in Dec. Realistically, what's the most I can improve?

According to the LSAC, the average improvement upon retake of the LSAT is fairly nominal, not quite 3 points. Some scores actually decrease. But I have seen incidents of 15 or even 20 point improvements. These improvements are by no means typical and should not be expected. When evaluating your realistic chances of improvement on the LSAT, you should analyze three main factors: 1) your first score; 2) your level of preparation for the second test as compared to the first; and 3) circumstances surrounding your taking the first test.

Statistics show that the lower a person's score on the LSAT, the greater the possibility that the person will improve if the test is retaken. It's the age-old phenomenological concept called "regression to the mean". Thus, as a general rule, a test-taker with an initial score of 130 should show greater improvement than a test-taker with an initial score of 160.

Because the LSAT is a skills-based test, lack of preparation can be debilitating to a person's chances of realizing his or her full potential on the test. Thus, a markedly higher level of preparation for the second test increases your chances of improvement.

Lastly, to the chagrin of many unfortunate test-takers, "life happens" on test day-the car breaks down, a nasty virus decides to infect you, tragedy befalls, etc. Significant hassles on test day can negatively affect your test performance. Thus, if there is a tangible event to which you can attribute significant blame for your bad performance, chances are your score will improve on retake. But be careful not to blame a bad performance on innocuous inconveniences. Having a hard time finding your keys on the morning of the test probably had no effect on your performance if it took you only 10 minutes to find them; if it took an hour, that may be another story.

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Interested in meeting Bowen students, sitting in on a class or touring the school? If so, attend our Pre-Law Visitation Day on November 14, 2008. RSVP with Pat Martin at pamartin@ualr.edu.