The LSAT Sucks!
But you already knew that.
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The LSAT has been referred to, among other things, as the killer of dreams. It is an exam that in many ways doesn’t have anything to do with law school; however, it is the most defining factor of whether or not you get accepted.
You are not your LSAT score. Law schools think that a higher score means that you will be more likely to succeed in law school and have a greater chance of passing the bar on your first try. Balderdash!
Having so many people apply to law school is a recent phenomenon. Whether it’s due to the economy, jobs being outsourced to other countries or the proliferation of lawyer TV shows, law schools are being flooded with applicants. Why do you want to go to law school? Are you sure?
At any given law school, your LSAT score will be the first thing the admittance committee will look at. The second thing is your GPA. Thirdly, and depending on the school, your race and ethnicity. Nothing else matters. Nowadays, I don’t even think the school will read your personal statement. A friend of mine, who I took my first LSAT with in October 2003, scored a 148. We both applied to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas but only my friend was accepted. His GPA wasn’t even above 3.3. We both believe that he was accepted because he was Hispanic as a 148 LSAT, especially today, will not get a second glance at UNLV. I read my friend’s personal statement that accompanied his application and it was full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Substance wise, his personal statement contained mostly fluff. Even if you got a Presidential speech writer to write your personal statement, it doesn’t matter – in most cases it’s pretty much your LSAT score and nothing else.
So, before you lay out thousands of dollars to Kaplan or Princeton, and for LSAT Prep Books, keep in mind that getting in is only half the battle. Not to mention the many hours you will spend on practice exams. Then there’s the LSAT exam itself, which I ended up taking twice. My first score was a dismal 138. A monkey guessing the answers would have done better. It’s true – if you fill in the same letter for the whole exam you will score a 140.
I know plenty of people who dropped out after their first semester because being a lawyer or going to law school just wasn’t for them. Then there are those who fail out, or as law schools call it, “academically dismissed.” It’s hard to tell if you will make it in law school or not. Here is some recent data on law school drop-out or attrition rates:
Whittier Law School: CA 51.50%
Touro Law Center: NY 37.40%
Golden Gate University School of Law: CA 36.90%
Western State School of Law: CA 32.60%
Widener University-Harrisburg: PA 30.50%
St. Thomas University: FL 28.50%
Barry University School of Law: FL 27.60%
Thomas M. Cooley Law School: MI 26.00%
Widener University: DE 25.70% If you haven’t figured it out already, the point I’m trying to make is that you must have the desire to go to law school. You must really, really want it. For those struggling with the LSAT, the best advice is to practice actual LSAT questions over and over until you recognize a pattern. There are only so many ways to ask the same question. You may find it easier to read what’s known as the “call of the question” before reading the question so you know what you are looking for.
3. PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME - relates back to one and two. Since you have studied and since you have taken proactive tests you should have you internal clock working with you. You need to be able to tell approximately how much time has passed since the section started. You are allowed to bring in a watch. If you do not have one buy one. One with big numbers that you can see without any extra effort. Check the watch and time after every seven questions to make sure you are staying within your allotted time limits.
LSAT Tricks for Success
There are a number of tricks and/or strategies that you can use to help yourself succeed on the LSAT. The number one most important "trick" is to be prepared. This means that you have to study for the LSAT. It is not a test that you can take without preparation unless you are Einstein or someone as equally brilliant. Part of what the LSAT is testing is whether or not you have the ability to make a commitment to learning a new way of thinking and reading. So go out and buy a LSAT prep book and study. Get in touch with the organizers of the LSAT and have them send you copies of old LSAT tests and then study. Once you have done all that you can to ensure that you are prepared there are a number of additional steps that you can take that may give you the edge you need to achieve your highest possible score on this test.
1. ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS - I repeat ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. Certain multiple choice tests deduct points if you answer the question incorrectly not the LSAT. Your score is based on the numbers of questions you answer correctly. So it is better to guess then to leave an empty answer. You have a 20% chance of getting the answer correct and with each potential answer that you can eliminate your chance of getting the correct answer increases so ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.
2. FINISH THE TEST. This relates directly to answering all of the questions. Do not allow yourself to get stuck on one question. If you do not know the answer -GUESS- and move on. You want to finish each section. The reality is that the easier questions may be towards the end of the section. The individuals who create the test are smart. You are being tested on many skills. One of these is the ability to manage your time and performance under pressure. Each question gets no more then 90 seconds of your time. Make this your rule. If at the end of a minute and a half you do not have what you believe to be the correct answer make your best guess and move on. If you have time left over after completing the section you can go back and look at the question again. But I repeat do NOT get stuck on one question. I have seen this kill people's score.
4. Drive to the test location one or two times before the actual test date. Make sure you know how to get there and how long it takes. Step out of the car and walk to where the test will be given. Sit down and visualize yourself taking the test.
5. The month before the test make sure you are eating a healthy diet and not spending too much time out with friends and not focused. You can have a wild time after the test is over. The month before the test you body along with your mind is in training. So get enough sleep, eat your vegetables and exercise.
6. The morning of the test wear comfortable clothes. Make sure you leave early enough that you are not rushed. You will need to sign in and go through an administrative process. Bring a book or a magazine to read while you are waiting. Do not pay attention to other people. This test is about you and your skills. Make sure you have your number two pencils and something to drink. I recommend either straight water or a vitamin water. You do not want to drink anything that is going to spike your blood sugar and then have it drop. Eat a good breakfast before leaving your home. High in protein low in fat. You want food that is going to get your through the next four to five hours. You do not want to be hungry or not feel well while taking the test. A grilled chicken breast and half a bagel. Whatever works for you it does not have to be traditional breakfast food. Also do not consume so much liquid that you are running to the restroom every thirty minutes.
The more time and effort you put into preparing for the test the higher likelihood that you will be successful. Study and use the strategies outlined above and before you know if you will be purchasing your first Black's Law Dictionary.
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As difficult as it may seem to get in law school in the United States, it is much harder to get accepted in other countries. With new law schools cropping up year after year, it is even becoming easier. Last year there were over 150,000 students enrolled in law school - an all-time high. The downside is that law schools prey upon the fact that you are somewhat desperate, and charge exorbitant tuition.
Consider the fact that a legal education from a private law school will end up costing you over $100,000, but the median salary for new lawyers is just $62,000. Don’t forget to minus the $12,000 per year that you will pay in student loans.
If you don’t graduate from one of the top 15 law schools, there are some things you can do that will help you land a higher paying job after you graduate from law school and pass the bar. Many schools offer what is known as an externship, which allows a student to gain experience in a specific legal field before graduation. A student can also work or volunteer while going to law school, but it shouldn’t be for more than 20 hours per week and not until the third year of law school.
Do you have an LSAT or Law School horror story to share? Visit our Contact Us page and tell the world how much it all sucks!