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The dust has cleared from October’s quiz and yet again and again (I’ve posted this article thrice now) I have fielded phone calls from people who tell me they failed the LSAT. And this one seems to have been particularly difficult based on early feedback.
I’ve also heard thousands of times, “I way underperformed, I am doomed.” Indeed, we will hear from about 50-75 people in the next 2 days who think just that. There are hundreds more out there who think the same right now.
For so many reasons, you can’t fail the LSAT. And because I have seen the following scenario unfold so many times, I wanted to give some facts. Not an overblown peep talk or a feel good story. Just a few basic facts.
Fact 1: Schools will only care about your highest score. It is the only score that goes to USNWR. The mandate on the admissions office is to only care about your highest score (Edit update, Yale only cares about the high score too). We answer this question every week of the year “if my score goes down will it hurt me? The answer is very simple and binary, ”no, it will not.”
Fact 2: If you are applying for the 2016-2017 cycle this was really just a all win scenario. If you crushed it, enjoy some admit decision heading your way. If not, you have time to prepare for round 2 and even 3, again this was just a test-run.
Fact 3: So many people walk out of the LSAT thinking they did worse, only to see their score is right at what they were test-taking. It is a highly natural feeling.
Fact 4: Going to the law school of your dreams in a journey as much as it is going to be a destination. I can’t tell you how many times Karen, Derek and I have seen people start far below where they wanted to, keep moving forward, and get their desired results. There are so many different ways to get there that any one test score underperforming is essentially meaningless.
This isn’t a post-game defeat speech . I just wanted to say I have seen this scenario play out so many times IN FAVOR of the applicant who walked out of the test center feeling down. Hang in there because the results are worth the continued effort and focus.
