preLaw - Back To School 2008 - (Page 30) 8. Know your resources Lana advises students to try out some ‘practice’ tests first before making it official. “Take a practice test and see where you stand immediately,” Lana said. “Research the schools you want to get into and see how far your score is from their mean. Be sure to factor in your GPA.” Use the LSAC references to help you select your target. But realize that until you have an LSAT number, you cannot predict the process. “If your practice test is more than 10 points from your target score, give yourself at least 3 months to prepare for the LSAT,” Lana said. “Ideally, start your preparation at least 6 months in advance, so that you can give the language a chance to marinate.” Lana said. “Rolling admissions plays an important role in acceptance, so it is imperative that applications be submitted by November before admissions officers are flooded with applicants and they become jaded.” 10. Stay focused on the long-term goal Even if you fret over studying for and then taking the test, remember why you are doing it in the first place. Remember to keep your eye on that proverbial “big picture” throughout this process, Petersam said. “Your goal isn’t necessarily to score high on the LSAT,” he said. “It’s to get the law degree from your best-fit school to help you achieve your future career goals.” School admissions committees will look at much more than LSAT scores and roughly half of those incoming classes will have LSAT scores below the medians. “Do not underestimate the level of commitment the exam requires,” Lana said. “If executed properly, the level of reward is worth it.” ■ Dave Thomas is a freelance writer based in San Diego. 9. Follow the three J's According to Lana, her general rule for students in school is the Three J’s: January, Junior Year and June. That means begin preparation in January of Junior Year for the June test. “The June LSAT is optimal for everyone because it is a forgiving test date - if for some reason a student requires more time to study, the test date can be shifted to the Fall and the student’s application is still timely,” ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ABA-accredited Member of the Association of American Law Schools For real world experience look to New England School of Law.Through a wide selection of clinic offerings, our students work in many different legal settings from government offices to firms that specialize in environmental law. Choose up to four course-related clinics. With real world experience, you’ll have the opportunity to put theory into practice. YOU CAN’T BEAT THE EXPERIENCE. Boston 617.422.7210 nesl.edu New England School of Law 30 preLaw http://nesl.edu http://nesl.edu
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