Ep 71: Is the LSAT Changing? Tips on Understanding the Situation
You have likely seen the news that the ABA voted to end the LSAT requirement for law schools, but what does this really mean for you? Let's talk about it.
Episode Highlights
Last year the American Bar Association(ABA) voted and said that all law schools could start accepting the GRE instead of the LSAT exam. A really important note about that is that the ABA is not saying every school must do this, it's just saying here are some permissible rules for you
Now, the ABA has voted to not have any standardized tests. This is not the final decision. The ABA House of Delegates have one more vote to finalize in February
In addition to what they voted on, the ABA decided that this will not start until 2025. So if you are applying to law school this year, if you're applying to law school next year, if you're applying to law school the year after, it's actually not going to affect you
The ABA is not saying law schools cannot use the LSAT. This is very important because people hear, “Test optional. The ABA voted that law schools don't have to use the LSAT. Goodbye LSAT.” That's just not realistic.
Some schools will go test optional and some will not. For some schools, tests are how their admissions process has worked and think that's the best way that they can evaluate candidates.
Some may argue that in lieu of using the LSAT exam, schools would use other factors like GPA and factors that don't account for the lived experience of many first generation and lower income students
There are numerous valid arguments for and against why having the LSAT in play is helpful or harmful to diversity.
I think this really boils down to the law school admission world not fully understanding the difference between test optional and test blind
Test optional means you have the option of taking this exam. If you have a 4.0 GPA and a 145 LSAT, maybe you don't submit your LSAT score because that would not help your application, but maybe if you have a 2.9 GPA and a 175 LSAT score, you submit your LSAT score because it is going to help your application. Test optional means you as the applicant have the option to submit what you feel like best represents who you are as an applicant.
Test blind means admissions is not going to consider your LSAT exam, like you can send it to them, but they’re not going to look. That's not what anyone is actually saying or proposing.
I would still encourage everyone to take an LSAT diagnostic exam because you don't know what you don't know. You cannot assume, “I don't have to do this, so I'm not going to do that.” The name of the game is still, how can I strengthen my application?
Tweetable Quotes
“I think we need to start making..decisions based on ‘What are my goals? Where am I trying to go? Where am I starting, and is it kind of worth it?’...And go off the strength of [your] GPA and academic record.”