The November LSAT scores are in, and some of you may be reevaluating your law school choices or plans. What should you do if your LSAT is low?
Can you get into law school with a low LSAT?
Below are 5 important things you should consider before making any decisions:
- The LSAT matters.
The LSAT and GPA are tools – with statistical significance – that law schools use to predict whether an applicant will be successful in their first year of law school and if a potential student is likely to pass the bar exam. Don’t discount the importance of the LSAT score – law school admissions committees count on it. - How low is too low?
Quite frankly, if your LSAT score is below 147, it will be difficult to be admitted to an accredited law school; not impossible but very difficult. Your GPA will have to do some heavy lifting. If your LSAT score is 150 or above, your chances increase if you choose prospective law schools wisely. Anything over 160 combined with a solid GPA, and you are a good candidate who will have more opportunities.
For a list of average LSAT scores by school and more admissions stats, check out the Law School Selectivity Index. - Should I take the LSAT again?
Some schools will accept the future LSATs but will hold your application until it’s complete. It can be well worth retaking the LSAT if you think that you will score significantly (more than 3 points) higher. On the other hand, if you don’t think you will score higher, delaying your application can hurt your chances. Think of it this way: you want to apply when you have your strongest application. If that means improving your LSAT score, applying a bit later may reap rewards. - Don’t repeat your mistakes.
If you didn’t do well on this LSAT, change your strategy. Don’t study on your own from a book, if that’s what you did before. Get a tutor or take a different class. Take timed practice tests. The LSAT simply requires preparation, and you need to discover the study approach that’s going to get you your best score. Practice, practice, practice. - Make the rest of the application strong.
Many candidates will fall within a school’s median LSAT and GPA range. Give a law school positive reasons to admit you; don’t just mitigate or remove possible negatives. The best way to distinguish yourself is through the personal statement. Law is a writing profession, so the personal statement counts for quite a lot. Explain to the committee why you are applying to law school and why you will be a great member of their community in a clear and concise narrative.
Most important of all – don’t despair! If your LSAT is holding your application back, you can study for it and improve your score. Even further, you can ensure that your written materials reflect the best story of yourself as an applicant.
For a list of LSAT scores by school, check out the Law School Selectivity Index.
What are the lowest scores accepted into law school?
The following data comes from the most recent U.S. News law school rankings.
| Law School | US News Ranking 2021 | Median LSAT Score |
| University of Connecticut | 50 | 159 |
| University of Maryland (Carey) | 47 | 159 |
| Florida State University | 50 | 160 |
| Baylor University | 50 | 160 |
| University of Utah (Quinney) | 45 | 160 |
| Pepperdine University (Caruso) | 47 | 161 |
| University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill | 27 | 161 |
| Ohio State University (Moritz) | 38 | 161 |
| University of Iowa | 27 | 161 |
| University of Arizona (Rogers) | 47 | 162 |
| University of Washington | 42 | 162 |
| University of California—Davis | 38 | 162 |
| Indiana University—Bloomington (Maurer) | 38 | 162 |
| University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign | 31 | 162 |
| Wake Forest University | 42 | 162 |
| University of Wisconsin—Madison | 38 | 162 |
| William & Mary Law School | 31 | 163 |
| Washington and Lee University | 31 | 163 |
| University of Colorado—Boulder | 46 | 163 |
Get the assistance you need to make your case for law school AND get ACCEPTED when you work one-on-one with an Accepted admissions advisor. Check out our Law School Admissions Consulting Services for more information on how we can help you get ACCEPTED.
Christine Carr is a Harvard graduate with over 15 years of admissions experience, including nine years as Associate Director of Admissions at Boston University School of Law. She has read over 10,000 personal statements and counseled thousands of prospective applicants through the application process Want Christine to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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