Say it with me now (and try not to panic): “The December LSAT is less than a month away.” Now that you’re done crapping your mental pants, it’s time to remind you of a couple important December LSAT deadlines. Tomorrow, Nov. 9, is the last day you’ll be able to do the following:

– Register late for the December LSAT
– Change your December LSAT test center
– Change your December LSAT test date
– Withdraw from the December LSAT and get a partial refund

And, surprise, surprise, each of these above items comes with an associated cost. An LSAT test center change will run you $35. An LSAT test date change will run you $80. And if you withdraw, you get a whopping $49 refund (in other words, you’ve effectively flushed $101 down the drain, yay!). Late registrations usually cost an extra $69 on top of the existing $160 fee, but LSAC has waived the late fee due to the events of Hurricane Sandy.

Given the above information, you have to take an honest look at the consequences of a given decision and determine whether or not it’s worth the cost. Let’s take a look at late registration, for example. Have you been studying your ass off? Do you feel more and more prepared every day after finishing your homework? Have you had your nose so buried in those books that you forgot to register? If you can answer “yes” to these questions, the late registration may be worth it. Bear in mind that you probably won’t get the LSAT test center of your choice and may incur the extra cost of a hotel room and travel as well.

Did you answer “no” to the questions I asked? Well you, my friend, may have just gotten a reprieve. Your dilly-dallying has backed you into staving off an LSAT for which you are not prepared. Now is the time to ask yourself whether you’ve prepared the way you should. Whether you’ll be ready for the LSAT in less than a month. If the answer is “no” or even “probably not” then you may want to go ahead and register for the February exam instead. At least you’ll be able to enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving. Mmmmmm…turkey.

An LSAT test center change only really bears consideration if the change will make your life on test day significantly easier. Closer to your apartment? Go for it. Closer to your favorite breakfast spot? Go for it. Better parking, bigger tables, quieter area? Go for it. All I’m saying is, have a good reason to change your LSAT test center if you choose to do so.

An LSAT test date change and withdrawal ought to be considered together. Why, you ask? Well, total withdrawal is only worth its associated cost if you know for an absolute certainty that you have zero future intention of ever taking the LSAT. Period. If you still want to take the LSAT, but you feel completely unprepared (i.e. unprepared enough to spend an extra $80) then just change the date. Boom, instant $21 savings over withdrawal. Now you can take your significant other to that matinee of Skyfall. Or a not-so-fancy brunch. Or you can buy a bunch of 50% off Halloween candy. Your call.

Now watch this 9 year-old girl dominate her pop warner football league.