LSAT Addendum Advice?

[tiger1013]

Hi,

I'm feeling disheartened about the law school application process, and I could use some advice. I'll try to keep it short. I took the LSAT in April 2022 and cancelled my score. I scored a 164 on my LSAT during the August 2023 administration (during my make-up exam after awful proctoring issues the first time). I then took the October 2023 exam and scored a 162. I made the mistake of not purchasing score preview for that exam, so the score is visible. I just retook during the September 2024 exam and scored a 163. I am extremely disheartened, but I believe I will keep this score. Although it is not better, I don't want admissions committees to assume that my cancelled September score was much lower than my 164.

I feel the need to write an addendum, but I am struggling to avoid making excuses. I had the bad proctoring experience in August 2023, I took the October 2023 exam during a time when I was working two jobs and enrolled in 18 credit hours and was utterly exhausted. During my September exam, I had an extremely noisy testing environment at home as my mom decided to beat the gutters outside of my room during a large portion of my test. I have a 4.0 undergraduate GPA and a great resume, but I feel like I'm a walking red flag to law schools with this testing/score history. I also completely understand that my testing scores are my fault, regardless of external circumstances, so I don't know how to make the most of this situation. Any advice on addendums/how to address this? Law school is a dream of mine, but I feel so defeated right now.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi,

I'm feeling disheartened about the law school application process, and I could use some advice. I'll try to keep it short. I took the LSAT in April 2022 and cancelled my score. I scored a 164 on my LSAT during the August 2023 administration (during my make-up exam after awful proctoring issues the first time). I then took the October 2023 exam and scored a 162. I made the mistake of not purchasing score preview for that exam, so the score is visible. I just retook during the September 2024 exam and scored a 163. I am extremely disheartened, but I believe I will keep this score. Although it is not better, I don't want admissions committees to assume that my cancelled September score was much lower than my 164.

I feel the need to write an addendum, but I am struggling to avoid making excuses. I had the bad proctoring experience in August 2023, I took the October 2023 exam during a time when I was working two jobs and enrolled in 18 credit hours and was utterly exhausted. During my September exam, I had an extremely noisy testing environment at home as my mom decided to beat the gutters outside of my room during a large portion of my test. I have a 4.0 undergraduate GPA and a great resume, but I feel like I'm a walking red flag to law schools with this testing/score history. I also completely understand that my testing scores are my fault, regardless of external circumstances, so I don't know how to make the most of this situation. Any advice on addendums/how to address this? Law school is a dream of mine, but I feel so defeated right now.

Hi Tiger,

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling low about all this. A few thoughts:

First, your scores, while not up to your expectations, are still quite good! Scores in the 160s are hard to come by and will still get you into a strong school

Second, based on your current record, I would not write an addendum. To the committee, the 164 will look accurate, and I can't see that you gain anything in the explanation other than making excuses (that's how they will see it). If this was a one-off scores then I could see the noisy testing environment/retake being valid, but you have three scores all within the same window. Nothing you say currently will change the way the view this, and I can't see a positive for making the case. the only way I see an addendum as valid is if you go out and get another score that is significantly higher. Then I'd explain the back history.

Last, I don't see why you think your scores are a walking red flag. The LSAT is hard and they know that. A high GPA is no guarantee of a high LSAT score, something I've seen many times over the years. Law schools have seen ti even more. We're also coming off an era of unlimited takes, and I had students with 9-10 takes get into T14s. That's a real concern at that level--and requires an addendum. 4 takes is not a red flag or really all that unusual.

Side note: You need to talk to your mother about why the heck she was doing that! Indefensible

Don't be down about your situation--there are still many good outcomes that could occur.

Please let me know if this helps, thanks!