Does the LSAT Matter to Law Students?
March Madness is in full swing and I am reminded anew that there are few who enjoy sports metaphors more than I. I am also reminded how much I like the expression “in full swing.” With at least one of those facts in mind, I embark humbly upon this blog post expedition.
While studying for the LSAT, or considering the undertaking, you may find yourself wondering whether or not the test and the score you receive will have any significance past the law school admissions process. The answer, as you’ll find in law school, is that it depends. If you’re considering an application to Mensa, then yes, the LSAT may matter after you’re already going to law school. That’s assuming you manage to pull a score above the 95th percentile.
Further, if you want to teach for an LSAT company that requires a high LSAT score, then again, the answer is yes. (And if you’re taking a Blueprint prep course you’ll be happy to know that the standard for our instructors is higher than the Mensa’s threshold.*)
Beyond those ambitions, your score will likely cease to matter once you decide where you’re going to attend law school. Think about it, when a team reaches the Sweet 16, do they care what they did to get there? NO! They’re not wistfully reflecting on the incredible journey that was Rounds 1 and 2 (or 2 and 3 if you drink the current NCAA Kool-Aid). They’re focusing on beating the snot out of whatever team they have to in order to reach the Elite 8.
Law school and the LSAT are much the same. Your fellow students don’t care what you got on the LSAT. You are attending the same school. This means that you all managed to look good enough on paper to make the admissions committee ignore your obvious shortcomings deem you worthy of acceptance. Once you reach law school, the playing field is level. The stats don’t carry over. Just like the MLB Playoffs, everyone starts at zero. Clean slate. Tabula rasa. {insert other metaphor for a fresh start}.
So don’t be the person who prances about the halls, spouting off about how great you are because you scored in the 99th percentile. It doesn’t matter anymore. Your professors don’t care. Your colleagues don’t care. Law firms don’t care (except for K&L Gates, for some odd reason). And neither should you. It’s a wonderful accomplishment, but when all is said and done you can reduce it to a very large piece of the admissions pie. Mmmmmmm . . . pie.
*And they call themselves “smart.”
Post by Blueprint LSAT Prep instructor and UCLA Law School graduate Alex Davis.