New LSAT Podcast, Episode 92: Student Question Mailbag #7

[Administrator]

It’s time for another Student Mailbag episode! Jon and Dave field questions on a wide range of important subjects: how uber-busy people can best organize a study schedule, knowing when you’ve truly peaked and shouldn’t retest, when a retake makes sense and how to properly prep for it, appropriate and inappropriate personal statement topics, applying early decision, 2021-2022 cycle predictions, and more!
Listen on any major podcast outlet or on our blog: https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/podcas ... mailbag-7/

[MillsV]

Can you talk about how to navigate the application process for students who only want to pursue Public interest law? For example: how to choose the right school, indicate PI interest to school, how to navigate PI program info because its very convoluted and general on schools' websites.

[mshaheen14]

Hi Dave and Jon,

Do you guys think that it will be too late in the cycle to apply to law schools after the October LSAT scores are released, additionally, do you think that if you apply at that point in the cycle you would still be able to receive a significant amount of financial aid from most schools if you are at or above the LSAT median?

[Jon Denning]

Hi Dave and Jon,

Do you guys think that it will be too late in the cycle to apply to law schools after the October LSAT scores are released, additionally, do you think that if you apply at that point in the cycle you would still be able to receive a significant amount of financial aid from most schools if you are at or above the LSAT median?

Hi mshaheen - thanks for the questions! We touched on our expectations for this upcoming cycle, including the timing of apps and what's legitimately "late," in this latest mailbag episode and in episode 81 (https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/podcast/81/ ; on why this last cycle was so competitive). So be sure to check those out if you can!

To give you a preview of those longer conversations, the short answer to your question about whether October—or even November—is considered late in this cycle, or could cause issues receiving scholarships, is a resounding NO. Absolutely not. Both October and November are still fairly early in the cycle, in fact, particularly this coming year when things are going to be moving far slower than in years past.

My personal take is that words like "late" (1) don't really mean what they used to given how much the volume and competitiveness we're seeing right now are pushing things into spring and summer; and (2) don't become a consideration at all until at least January or February. And even those tests are completely fine if they result in a higher score: given the choice of applying in November with a 165 or in February with a 168 I'm 100% going to opt for February.

And that holds true for both admissions and scholarships! Worry about surpassing medians, not meeting some arbitrary deadline (except for schools' app deadlines, of course), and you'll give yourself the absolute best shot at getting in and getting paid