Most Impressive JD Students At Harvard

How Your LSAT Score Can Affect Your Applications

Now, the real work begins.
You’ve completed your LSAT. In a few weeks, you’ll get the results. Maybe you’ll score where you expected. You may even score a few points higher. But that’s still no guarantee that you’ll be accepted at your first choice. If you scored low, you have some tough choices to make. So what are your options?
Shawn O’Connor, CEO of Stratus Prep, is back with some answers in his latest US News and World Report column.  According to O’Connor, LSATs carry significant weight in admissions decisions, but they aren’t the only factor. Your GPA, essays, and recommendations can compensate for a lower LSAT score – or undermine a higher LSAT score. If your score doesn’t fit within the mean of your target schools, O’Connor advises you to consider the following:

• Re-Take The LSAT: Does your score truly reflect your abilities? O’Connor notes that “even a couple of points can make a difference.” If you believe you can nudge up your score, it might be worth giving the LSAT another go.

• Look At School Averages: Averages are compilations; they don’t reflect the full range of scores.  Some applicants will hit the ceiling. Others will dwell at the tail end. And some students who scored lower will still get accepted. Don’t let a less-than-ideal score discourage you from applying at your dream school.

• Invest Your Time Where It’ll Matter: If taking another shot at the LSAT will likely yield the same score, devote your time to your essays and references. In particular, focus on your career goals and unique experiences. Show how you will bring that special something to your class that admissions won’t find anywhere else.

• Find a Back Up: Getting into law school isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Accept that you might not get into a stretch and target school and submit applications to safety schools too. 

To learn more about Stratus Prep’s test preparation and admissions counseling services, click here: Stratus Prep
Source: US News and World Report

Law School Admissions Officers Want to See Legal Education Change

The American Bar Association isn’t alone in seeking changes to law school admissions and curriculum standards.
On the heels of an ABA task force recommending an overhaul of licensing and accreditation requirements, Kaplan released the results of a study showing admissions officers also want to amend the business of law schools.
Kaplan’s research, which is based off surveys from 127 American Bar Association-approved law schools, shows that 78 percent of admissions officers answered yes to whether the “U.S. legal education system needs to undergo significant changes to better prepare future attorneys for the changing employment landscape and legal profession.” This corresponds with the 87 percent of law school graduates who agreed with this statement in an August survey conducted by Kaplan. Another 71 percent of admissions officers answered that law schools needed more clinical coursework to bolster students’ practical experience.
In addition, Kaplan found that 54 percent of admissions officers intended to cut the size of their 2013-2014 classes. That is a 3 percent increase over the previous year’s study, which used the same respondent pool. Another 25 percent expect similar cuts in 2014-2015. What’s more, 67 percent believe this decline will not reverse itself in the near term.
Bottom line: With fewer slots available, applicants can expect admissions teams to be more selective in the coming years.
Source: US News and World Report