Law Schools Now Require Higher LSAT Scores + GPAs

A notable shift has occurred recently with regard to law school admissions: law school median LSAT scores and GPAs have gone up. In other words, it generally takes a higher LSAT score and GPA to get into the same law school than it did a decade ago. We see that across the board, particularly in the elite T-14 law schools. Several reasons have been cited for this phenomenon:

• Increased applications. Law schools generally aren’t increasing their class sizes, but applications have gone up significantly. The end result? A lower percentage of applicants are accepted, typically meaning you need higher numbers.
• Higher LSAT Scores. LSAT scores have gone up at all “percentile ranks,” including the top 175-180 range. In other words, you now need a higher LSAT score than before to achieve the same percentile rank . One reason for this appears to be that students are preparing more for the LSAT, which naturally results in higher LSAT scores.
• Repeat LSATs. Law schools focus on the highest LSAT scores of students. This encourages students to take the LSAT more than once, and students taking multiple LSATs is now a more common occurrence. When students take the exam multiple times, and the averages/medians are based on each student’s highest LSAT score, the LSAT medians for law schools go up.

None of this should dissuade you from going to law school, but it does suggest that thorough preparation for the LSAT is even more important now. Your LSAT score is the biggest part of your law school application and you deserve the best LSAT Prep you can get! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at mark@scoreitup.com.