Is taking the LSAT in December too late?
Asked by: Rupert Buckridge | Last update: December 6, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (66 votes)
Many law schools will ask you take the LSAT by December for fall admission — but admissions teams don't wait until the deadline to start making their decision! Get those applications submitted as early in the process as possible.
Is the December LSAT too late?
The LSAT-GPA
If you're below the median for either, applying early in the cycle is your best bet. Law schools operate on a rolling basis, and the competition gets stiffer as the cycle progresses. However, if your scores are stellar, fear not – you're still a strong candidate even in December.
What is the most popular month for the LSAT?
LSAT Admissions Cycle
June, July, and September test dates are most popular for that because they allow for plenty of time to get scores back before applications need to be turned in.
Is December too late to apply to Harvard law?
Each year, the application for Fall semester enrollment opens in mid-September, and closes in mid-February. We aim to notify all applicants of their admission decision by early April. Please see the Application Components webpage for precise dates.
Is early December too late to apply to law school on Reddit?
I believe applying in December is considered to be “on time.” It's definitely not late tho so don't stress about your timeline!
When is too late to take the LSAT
Is December a bad time to apply to law school?
As early as winter, around early-December, your admissions odds begin to decrease. Applying to law school in December, January, or February may not be a death sentence, but such late applications can leave you with outcomes that are less than ideal. You may consider whether it would be worth waiting for the next cycle.
What month is too late to apply to law school?
Most law school application deadlines tend to be in February or March, with some even being as late as April or May. While it is not a bad thing to submit your application for the final deadline, we do recommend aiming to submit your application by your school's early submission date.
What is the lowest LSAT score accepted by Harvard?
With that said, you will realistically need to score 168 or above on the LSAT in order to give yourself a chance of being admitted into Harvard Law School. Of course, there are always exceptions, especially if the other aspects of your application are remarkable.
Is there an advantage to applying to law school early?
While you may see better results and higher acceptance rates when applying early, it's equally important to give yourself enough time to submit a high-quality resume, law school personal statement, and supplemental materials.
What is the average age entering Harvard law?
The law school doesn't report the average age of its students but we can use these numbers to come up with an educated guess. 18% entered law school at about age 22. 19% entered law school at about age 23. 44% entered law school at about age 24–25.
Which LSAT month is the hardest?
There isn't one specific month that is the easiest or hardest to write the LSAT, and if there was, it would change each year since the students writing the LSAT change each year! The hardest test will be the one you haven't fully prepared for, regardless of the month!
Can I get a 170 on the LSAT in 2 months?
A 170 will be difficult to obtain. It will require quality resources and substantial preparation. You should dedicate at least four months to reach this target. For the best LSAT support, consider teaming up with a 99th percentile tutor who can help you increase your score by 12 points!
Is the LSAT going away in 2025?
The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.
What month do most people take LSAT?
- Schedule your LSAT test early enough that your scores will be available by your first law school application deadline. ...
- Typically, students applying for regular fall admission take the test during June or September/October of the previous calendar year.
Has the LSAT gotten harder over time?
No. The LSAT changes for each session that it is offered. While it may change in difficulty, that does not affect a student's ability to get a high mark.
What is the average LSAT score over time?
Mean LSAT scores by year are as follows: 156.63 in 2008, 156.44 in 2009, 156.55 in 2010, 156.71 in 2011, 156.76 in 2012, 156.45 in 2013, 155.81 in 2014, 155.30 in 2015, 154.60 in 2016, and 154.18 in 2017.
Does it matter what college you go to before law school?
Top Law Schools are unlikely to admit people who attended less impressive undergraduate schools, especially if there were opportunities you did not pursue (such as independent academic research, challenging courses, and intellectual pursuits outside of the classroom.)
Do law schools prefer older applicants?
It's never too late to apply to law school. Law schools appreciate older applicants for their life experience and well-defined career goals.
Does early decision increase chances of law school?
As we discussed above, applying early decision can increase your admissions chances if you have a certain set of scores. For most law schools, your chances of admissions are greater if you are a “splitter student” — a student with a high LSAT score and a lower GPA or vice versa.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.
What is the lowest LSAT score accepted?
What Is The Lowest Acceptable Score? A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.
What LSAT score did Elle Woods get?
When she applied to this school, she had a 4.0 GPA with a 179 on the LSAT, the two most important things when applying to law school. The average LSAT score for students applying to Harvard is 174, meaning she got above the average.
Is there no December LSAT?
The LSAT will be offered eight times in 2024: January 2024, February 2024, April 2024, June 2024, August 2024, September 2024, October 2024, and November 2024. There is no LSAT in March, December, May, or July in 2024. When Can I Take the LSAT in 2025?
What is the last LSAT you can take?
Test-takers may take the LSAT up to three times per testing year, which runs from July to June, and no more than five times within five years. Schools vary a bit in how they consider applicants with multiple LSAT scores, but they generally go with the highest score.
What age is too late for law school?
It's never too late in life to apply to law school. Although most applicants are under 25, about 1 in 5 are 30 or older and a much smaller proportion are over 40.