Help! My LSAT is Low – Should I Still Apply to Law School?

The November LSAT scores are in, and some of you may be reevaluating your law school choices or plans. What should you do if your LSAT is low? 

Can you get into law school with a low LSAT?

Below are 5 important things you should consider before making any decisions:

1. The LSAT matters.
   
   The LSAT and GPA are tools – with statistical significance – that law schools use to predict whether an applicant will be successful in their first year of law school and if a potential student is likely to pass the bar exam. Don’t discount the importance of the LSAT score – law school admissions committees count on it.
   
   
2. How low is too low?
   
   Quite frankly, if your LSAT score is below 147, it will be difficult to be admitted to an accredited law school, not impossible but very difficult. Your GPA will have to do some heavy lifting. If your LSAT score is 150 or above, your chances increase if you choose prospective law schools wisely. Anything over 160 combined with a solid GPA, and you are a candidate who will have more opportunities.
   
   
3. Should I take the LSAT again?
   
   Some schools will accept future LSATs but will hold your application until it’s complete with the new score. It can be well worth retaking the LSAT if you think that you will score significantly (more than 3 points) higher. On the other hand, if you don’t think you will score higher, delaying your application can hurt your chances. Think of it this way: you want to apply when you have your strongest application. If that means improving your LSAT score, applying a bit later may reap rewards.
   
   
4. Don’t repeat your mistakes.
   
   If you didn’t do well on this LSAT, change your strategy. Don’t study on your own from a book, if that’s what you did before. Get a tutor or take a different class. Take timed practice tests. The LSAT requires preparation, and you need to discover the study approach that’s going to get you your best score. Practice, practice, practice.
   
   
5. Make the rest of the application strong.
   
   Law school admissions is a competitive process. Many candidates will fall within a school’s median LSAT and GPA range. Give a law school positive reasons to admit you; don’t just mitigate or remove possible negatives. The best way to distinguish yourself is with a compelling personal statement. Law is a writing profession, so the personal statement counts for quite a lot. Explain to the committee why you are applying to law school and why you will be a great member of their community in a clear and concise narrative.
   
   Read: 5 Things to Consider When Justifying Your LSAT Score or Grades

Most important of all – don’t despair! If your LSAT is holding your application back, you can study for it and improve your score. Even further, you can ensure that your written materials reflect the best story of yourself as an applicant.

For a list of LSAT scores by schools, check out the Law School Selectivity Index.

What are the lowest scores accepted into law school?

The following data comes from the most recent U.S. News law school rankings.

Law School	US News Ranking 2022	Median LSAT Score
University of California (Hastings)	50	158
University of Iowa	29	161
Ohio State University (Moritz)	40	161
University of Utah (Quinney)	43	161
Florida State University	48	161
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign	29	162
Indiana University–Bloomington (Maurer)	43	162
University of Washington	45	162
Pepperdine University (Caruso)	46	162
University of Wisconsin–Madison	29	163
William & Mary Law School	35	163
Washington and Lee University	35	163
University of Colorado–Boulder	48	163
University of California–Davis	35	163
University of Arizona (Rogers)	46	163
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill	24	163
Wake Forest University	41	163
Boston College	29	164
University of Alabama	25	164
Fordham University	35	164
George Mason University	41	164

Get the assistance you need to make your case for law school AND get ACCEPTED when you work one-on-one with an Accepted admissions advisor. Check out our Law School Admissions Consulting Services for more information on how we can help you get ACCEPTED.

Christine Carr is a Harvard graduate with over 15 years of admissions experience, including nine years as Associate Director of Admissions at Boston University School of Law. She has read over 10,000 personal statements and counseled thousands of prospective applicants through the application process Want Christine to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Law School Personal Statement, a free guide
• Testing, Testing, 1-2-3: What’s the Right Test Prep For You?, a podcast episode
• 5 Things to Consider When Justifying Your LSAT Score or Grades

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