13 Dec, 2006
Most schools now use the best LSAT score
Accepted Admissions Almanac points us to an article about the recent LSAT reporting policy change called "LSAT changed likely to aid potential applicants." The article says that 74% of law schools are now evaluating applicants based on high LSAT score as opposed to the 87% who used to evaulate applicants based on average LSAT.
I just do not get how this as benefits students as a whole. To further my point here is a quote from the article:
- "In the law-school admissions process now, taking the LSAT more than once may pose significantly less risk for a student than before this change," said Steven Marietti, Kaplan's director of pre-law programs.Marietti said this may induce more students to take the test multiple times.
- College junior Arushi Sharma, who is considering taking the LSAT, said that she would consider retaking the exam as a result of the new policy shift. "You can only go up from there," she said.
- Among schools who evaluate highest scores, 37 percent said taking the LSAT fewer times would benefit applicants in the admissions process.
So how does the fact that more people will take the test more often with the "you can only go up from here" mentality, and that a majority of the schools will ignore all but the high score benefit students as a whole?
I see how this policy helps the LSAT test prep companies. I see how this policy helps the students with ample time and money to take the test. I even see how it benefits the person who had the "bad day" test.
But I'm not sure that it benefits to the average test taker.
That is correct, there is a limit of three. As to your question...
"Why anyone would want to torture themselves through this process multiple times is beyond me though."
The same reason we put ourselves through the torture of law school, I guess. Additionally, there is much less risk to studying less and taking it two more times after the first because the higher score is the most important.
In other words, I could see some people who are somewhat happy with their first score subsequently taking the test a couple more times, not working and studying as hard the next time around because that first score is locked in. After all, "you can only go up from there."
Posted by Austin 24 Jan 2007, 17:52According to the LSAT registration site, a person can't take it more than 3 times in a 2 year span. So, when you say "multiple" time, you really aren't able to take it like the GMAT, which I think it like once a month, no more than 6 times a year.
Why anyone would want to torture themselves through this process multiple times is beyond me though.
Posted by lsat_curious 04 Jan 2007, 17:03Austin, we accidentally deleted the trackback you left on the Accepted.com blog. :-( Can you send it again. Sorry.
Posted by Linda Abraham 14 Dec 2006, 18:47