Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature in Law Admissions Lowdown that provides admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.
If you have a question about law school, please email me for a chance to be featured next month.
This week, I will answer questions about retaking the LSAT for potential funding as well as disclosing LSAT accommodations.
I took the September LSAT and scored a 165 with very little preparation. I think this score will get me into the East Coast schools I’m considering (incuding Washington and Lee University, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, etc.). My concern is scholarships. Should I retake the LSAT in December — with more preparation– to increase my score and chances for scholarships? -Funding Matters
Dear Funding Matters: First, congratulations : M any applicants would be thrilled — and more than a little jealous — to have a 165 on a first attempt with little prep.
You are correct that a 165 puts you in a competitive position for Washington and Lee University, with a 25th to 75th percentile range of 158-162, and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, with a range of 160-164.
However, the LSAT is, of course, not the only factor in determining both admission and potential funding. You can assess your probably of admission based on your LSAT and undergraduate GPA through the Law School Admission Council’s website.
[Learn what law schools don’t tell parents about financial aid.]
Another factor to consider is time. Law school a dmissions committees begin to award merit-based funding as early as November, along with their first acceptances. Once an applicant accepts a scholarship offer, that funding is no longer available. This means that there is less funding later into the cycle.
In fact, Washington and Lee Law explicitly states on its website that “the chances of you receiving a scholarship award are much better the earlier you complete your application.”
If you are considering a career in public interest, UNC Law’s Chancellor’s Program offers a full tuition scholarship with an application deadline of Dec. 31 .
Finally, do not take for granted that your score will improve. Retaking the LSAT is a significant commitment with uncertain results. You will need to develop a comprehensive study plan.
To make retaking the exam worthwhile, you will want to see at least a three-point increase in your score. That kind of improvement is more difficult to achieve with a starting score of 165.
While I have seen many applicants significantly improve their scores, I have also worked with a few clients who did not see improvement. One applicant took the LSAT three times and scored a 167 every time. Another applicant’s score dropped from 165 to 161.
[Know what to consider when deciding whether to retake the LSAT.]
If retaking the LSAT in December would delay submitting your applications for this cycle, you are better off spending that time making your application as strong as possible. Aside from your numbers, funding decisions will be based on the strength of your personal statement, resume and supplemental essays. To maximize your chance to receive merit-based funding, be sure to craft an application that highlights your strengths and addresses any weaknesses.
I have a learning disability and received testing accommodations for extended time on the LSAT. Do I need to tell law schools about my disability? I’m worried schools will somehow be able to tell that I received extra time. -Accommodated
Dear Accommodated: You do not need to disclose your testing accommodation to law schools. LSAC reporting policy specifically states that it “does not annotate the score reports of individuals with disabilities who take the LSAT with testing accommodations, including the testing accommodation of extended time.”
It sounds like you would prefer to keep your learning disability private on your applications. I have worked with applicants in your situation who were concerned that admissions committees would skeptically evaluate an LSAT score of applicants who received an accommodation for extra time. However, law schools cannot discriminate based on disability.
[Discover four things to know about accommodated LSAT testing.]
For example, the University of M ichigan–Ann Arbor Law Schools website reassures applicants: “Often applicants worry that accommodation will reflect negatively on them in the application process, but due to changes in LSAC practices, accommodated scores will no longer be ‘flagged,’ and whether you received accommodations will therefore not be evident to admissions offices. (And in any event, it was certainly never the case at Michigan Law that an accommodated score was looked at with a jaundiced eye.)”
I once worked with an applicant who chose to disclose his learning disability in an addendum, in part because he knew he would need testing accommodations for law school finals, which can be particularly time intensive. The applicant wanted to attend a law school that was supportive of students with learning disabilities. Depending on your situation, you may want to investigate law school policies regarding testing accommodations for students with your disability.
More from U.S. News
3 Things to Do When Your LSAT Score is Stuck
How to Tackle Supplemental Law School Essay Prompts
3 Study Habits That Won’t Help on the LSAT
Thorny Questions About Another Attempt, Disclosure on the LSAT originally appeared on usnews.com
