It’s three days before the September LSAT. This means that the time has come to check one very important thing off your LSAT study plan: the Should I Withdraw?! MeltdownTM.
Spoiler Alert: Probably not. But, like everything in law, it depends.
We have some questions to help guide your decision!
Question: Do you already have an LSAT score on record?
Answer: Regardless of whether your answer is yes or no, you probably should not withdraw from the September LSAT. If you do not have an LSAT score on record, we would suggest sitting for the September exam. A reportable LSAT score is necessary at many schools to even be eligible to apply. If you have a score on record, improving just one point on the LSAT strengthens your application. You may be wondering, “What if my score goes DOWN?!” Contrary to popular belief, a score that is lower than your score already on record will not significantly weaken your application. The main point is that law schools only report your highest LSAT score on record; they are incentivized to not care too much about a score drop!
Question: Have you taken the official digital LSAT before?
Answer: Unless you were one of the lucky few that experienced the joy of the digital LSAT in July, your answer is no. September is the first fully digital LSAT. Why would you not want to take advantage of being one of the few taking the September LSAT? Ok, ok, we get it — may be reasons why you wouldn’t. Here are some reasons why you should, though: although the Blueprint online tests are a great parallel to the digital LSAT, taking the real test can be a bit of a different experience. For starters, you’ll be in an official testing center with other test-takers. Also, you won’t be taking it on your own laptop. Each test taker in your testing center will be receiving a tablet, LSAC stylus, and booklet with 15 pages of LSAC-watermarked scratch paper. By taking the September LSAT, you will get first-hand experience of the digital LSAT. This is guaranteed to help if you need to retake the test in the future.
Question: Have you been studying for the LSAT?
Answer: OK, if you registered for the September LSAT, perhaps needing to humble yourself after a night that was a little bit too fun, and have literally never looked at an LSAT question since paying your $200 … perhaps this is not the test for you. However, if you have studied, let your hard work pay off! Even if you don’t end up scoring exactly where you want to end up, the role of the test is to give you a starting point. Your LSAT journey doesn’t have to end after September 21st! You can still retake the test twice this year. Because you’ve already taken the official real-deal test, it’s implied that you’ll have a leg up in the future.
All in all, we would say there is little benefit to withdrawing, but there are tons of benefits to taking the exam. I mean, consider the resume addition: “Pioneer Test Subject for Digital LSAT.” (Note: We do not actually recommend you add this line to your resume.)
October LSAT registration has passed, and November is filling up … who knows when the next test you will be able to take is? We highly recommend taking advantage of the ultra-exclusive spot you’ve managed to snag for Saturday.
Put your logic skills to test with some reasoning! Comprehend what you read! Give yourself a day-off from studying on Friday (please do not “cram” for the test on Friday night), and be prepared to show off your skills on Saturday. Remember, there is always the possibility that everything can work out in your favor! Every question has only one correct answer. We’ve helped you figure out the answer to the Should I Withdraw?! MeltdownTM, and now it’s up to you to find correct answers on Saturday! Good luck — we believe in you.
