LSAT Facts – allannairn.com
Information for your LSAT Prep.
A High LSAT Score could Make Your Dream of Getting into a Top Law School a Reality
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is required of all potential law school candidates. The LSAT score you receive could determine whether or not you will be able to attend the school of your dreams. Top law schools set high standards when it comes to the LSAT.
First impressions are important when trying to get into the highest ranked law schools. Your LSAT score is only one of the first requirements that law school admission committees evaluate. There are a number of other criteria considered with your LSAT being at the top of the list.
Factors Considered for Acceptance into a Top Law School
A high LSAT score is the first factor considered. Aside from this, your undergraduate GPA or grade point average is also high on the list of requirements. There is a lot of competition for getting into a high ranking law university. These two scores help the admissions council to decide if you have the skills and attributes necessary to excel at their school, as well as in life practicing law.
Other Factors….
Aside from your LSAT and undergraduate GPA scores, the following factors will also be considered before an applicant is accepted:
- interviews
- essay
- recommendations
- prior work experience
- past academic performance
- ethnic background
- cultural background
These are just a few factors. While the LSAT score is a significant factor, this does not mean you are guaranteed acceptance if you receive a high score. It is simply the first and extremely important step; however, you will be required to meet other criteria.
Top Law School LSAT Score Requirements
The rankings list for top law schools tends to change yearly. While the actual ranking number may change, the list tends to be similar from year to year. It appears the score requirement is similar each year, as well.
Is your school on this list? If so, it is important to know what the LSAT score requirement is for your school so that you can strive to meet this score through the practice tests. If your school is not on the list, you may still be required to have a high score. It is recommended that you visit the website of the school you wish to attend for specific requirements. This list does not go by rankings, but rather by LSAT score requirements from highest to lowest.
| University | Location | LSAT Median Score |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 173 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 173 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | 172 |
| New York University | New York, NY | 172 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 171 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 170 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 170 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 170 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 169 |
| University of California Berkeley (Boalt) | Berkeley, CA | 167 |
Yale and Harvard are popular universities and tend to be at the top of the list for potential law school candidates. Earning a 173 on the LSAT is definitely a challenge; however, it is possible with intensive LSAT preparation.
LSAT scores range from 120 to 180 with the average being 150. Anything above 160 is considered to be a good score; however, this score will not get you into a top law school. The average GPA requirements for all of these schools range from 3.71 to 3.9. The 3.9 is required from Yale University.
In Conclusion
If attending a top ranking law school is your goal, then you will need to take an intensive LSAT prep course or receive one-on-one tutoring. This prep course and/or tutoring will not ensure that you will receive a high score. This is due, in part, to the fact that the LSAT does not measure you on learned knowledge.
It is more of an assessment of your skills, mindset, how well you can absorb and process extremely difficult text, whether you have the ability to draw logical conclusions from this information, and more. There are other types of classes you can take that may help you develop these skills. If you are prepared to work hard, then it is definitely a possibility that you could meet the LSAT score requirement to get into one of the top law schools!