Hi rezamza,
Thanks for your question. You're right to point out that the February administration is of little utility for those wishing to give themselves the best chance of admission in that particular year: for most schools practicing rolling admissions, a February score comes out a little too late. There are a few instances, however, in which taking the test in February can prove advantageous:
From the perspective of test-takers (you), a February test is...
- 1. A chance to take the test when you're ready. As a general rule, it’s almost always advisable to not take the LSAT until you’re consistently scoring in a range with which you are satisfied. Law school admission is incredibly competitive, so you need to give yourself the best possible chance of attending the best possible school. Which, of course, means that you need to aim for the highest possible score on the LSAT. And if that means waiting until February to take the test, then for most people that’s the right decision.
2. One last chance to get the score you need. If you've been waitlisted, a significantly higher score in February than in December can improve your chances of admission. Even if you don't know of your impending waitlist status at the time you decide to take the February test, merely suspecting that you could be waitlisted can prove a sufficiently strong motivator. For many students who cannot wait another year to apply to law school, February is their last chance to obtain the score they need, and have it ready for the admissions committee to review it in the nick of time. A June score does not come out until July, which is way too late for the vast majority of schools (yes, some people do get off the waitlist in August, but this is uncommon).
3. Not too late (for some schools). For some lower-ranked schools, a February score is not too late: they are perfectly happy to consider it, given the less competitive nature of their admission cycles. Every school is a little different—some schools won’t accept February scores for admission that calendar year, some schools accept it but penalize you in their rolling admissions process, and some accept it without penalty. If you're considering February, your best bet is to do some research, and potentially contact schools directly and ask. This link might be a good place to start: http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/153 ... SAT-scores
4. Perfectly timed for winter break. Unlike the June or the December administrations, which tend to coincide with the end-of-semester finals at many colleges and universities, a February test is unlikely to compete for your attention with schoolwork. Many students take the opportunity to study during Winter Recess between their Fall and Spring semesters, which usually lasts from Christmas until late January.
From the perspective of test-makers, a February test is...
- 1. A way to use you as a guinea pig. As you know, the February test is not released to the public: you will never receive a copy of test booklet, and the questions on it will still be considered "live" after the test is over. From LSAC's perspective, such an administration is an invaluable opportunity to test the logical validity and difficulty level of questions that they might add to certain future tests, such as those being administered abroad, make-up tests for weather cancellations, or tests given to Sabbath observers.
2. A chance to take the load off other administrations. Without the February test, the LSAT would be given only three times a year. This isn't enough to meet the demands of the applicant pool world-wide. Granted, the pool has shrunk in recent years, but still... there are over 100,000 people who take the LSAT every year. About 20% of them take it in February: not a small number, when you think about it. Take a look at this: http://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/data/ ... ministered
3. Somewhat evenly timed between December and June. Given the need to administer the LSAT four times during the year with evenly spaced, 2-to-3-month intervals between any two administrations, a February test makes logical sense. After all, the timing of the remaining three administrations is non-negotiable.
All of these reasons aside, I am not a fan of February administration. It will be dark and cold when you wake up at 7 AM, there may be snow on the ground, or - worse - about to hit the ground. You won't get to see what you missed on the test, and your score will be released too late for most schools worth a damn. So, buckle up and try your best to prepare for December
