Applying with Different LSAT Scores

Should you apply to law school if you are planning on retaking the LSAT? Or should you wait to apply next year with your final score?

In this episode of the LSAT Demon Daily podcast, Erik and Nathan respond to Parker, who asks if it’s a good strategy to apply with his current score and update his application after he retakes the LSAT. 

Parker’s Story

Parker recently scored 171 on the LSAT, but with practice tests in the mid-170’s, he knew he could score higher. Parker signed up for the October LSAT to try to maximize his score, but he asked if he could apply while he was waiting.

With a 3.99 GPA, Parker was already above the 75th percentile for GPA at nearly every law school in the country, but his current LSAT score was below the medians at some top schools he wanted to apply to.

Should Parker Apply Now or Wait?

Nathan and Erik advised Parker to apply now to the schools he was above the median LSAT score at. Early applications can sometimes lead to earlier acceptance and scholarship offers, which could be beneficial. However, some schools may hold his application when they see he’s registered for the October LSAT, waiting to review it until the new score comes in.

But this advice isn’t just for Parker—it’s for everyone. If you’re above the median LSAT at a school, it’s worth applying earlier rather than waiting for your next score. For more selective schools, if your score is below the median, you may want to wait until you’ve taken your next LSAT to apply, especially if you feel confident your score will improve.

Scholarship Negotiation

If you do improve your LSAT score after applying to some law schools, it could give you additional leverage to negotiate better scholarship offers.

Many law schools don't finalize their scholarships until the spring, so having a higher LSAT score on record at that time could make a difference in what they offer you.

When Not to Apply Early 

Whether or not you should apply early to certain law schools depends on your situation. 

If your current LSAT score is already strong for many schools, applying early isn't risky. But if you have a score below the median for your target schools and hope to improve it later, you could face rejection before you get the chance to submit a better score. 

Different schools have different policies regarding applications from students registered for a future LSAT, so it’s important to understand that submitting your application with a below-median score is risky.

An Alternative Approach

It might make more sense for you to consider waiting until the next application cycle when you have your highest LSAT score. 

Applying at the very beginning of a cycle with your best possible score would eliminate the stress of balancing applications against a pending LSAT retake and position you to get the best scholarship offers available to you. 

Takeaway

Law schools want students who will raise their median LSAT and GPA. If you’re already above the school’s median, it might be worth applying early, even if you’re going to retake the LSAT. 

But you should be cautious about applying early with scores below the median, as not all schools will wait for you to retake the LSAT before making a decision. And often, it’s better to wait until the next cycle and apply early with your very best LSAT score.