Median LSAT Score
What is the Median LSAT Score…?
You could finish that question with any school, and probably come up with a relatively predictable LSAT score for admittance to that school based on which tier of ranking the school enjoys.
But what is a Median LSAT score from a general perspective? The Median LSAT score is the number which represents the halfway point between the variance of admitted LSAT scores relative to accepted applications. That is: it is the midway point between the lowest accepted LSAT score for a student and the highest LSAT score by a student at the school for a given period of time. Generally speaking the median LSAT score is calculated for the prior admission year’s data to give students hoping to come to the school an idea of what it takes from a placement perspective to get into the school.
Is the Median LSAT score the only thing that matters?
In high profile schools, the LSAT score will never be the sole deciding factor for admittance into the law program, but it does have a funny way of playing the great equalizer. If you exceed the median LSAT score by more than a couple points, you would likely be given more leeway on your GPA and non-academic sections of your admissions application. LSAT scores can be a thing of school pride, and all the schools will be looking for spectacular scores from their students so they can publicize the student body.
A perfect example of this is Yale’s 173 Median LSAT score. This median score is an approximation of what it takes to get into the school with a balanced resume and admissions application but with a 176 LSAT score you would have about a 40 percent chance of admission to Yale Law.
Usually between 8 and 18 people score a perfect 180 on the LSAT, a large majority of these students go to the top 5 schools on the rankings lists. They are almost always are paraded around as special assets of the Law School they attend. A 178 or higher LSAT score would put the student into the 99.9th percentile of scoring.
What is the Median LSAT Score of my school?
It’s not difficult to find the median LSAT score of the school you desire; generally speaking a top tier school (ranked #1-50) outside of the T14 (Top 14 schools) will have a median LSAT score of above 162. In the Top 14 schools (and thereabout) you can expect to be required to have a Median LSAT score of above 168.
What about the median LSAT score for the top 5 schools?
You can expect to need a median LSAT score of at least 168 to be considered, and in most cases, you will want to be above 169 to be confident in admission. The very top schools will factor other items on the admissions application but will also expect a MUCH higher median LSAT score (remember that 173 from Yale?) like 170+ for you to be fully confident in your application submission.
Recapping the information about “Median LSAT Score”
Median LSAT score means the following:
- The Median LSAT score is the midway point between the lowest accepted LSAT score and the highest LSAT score during a specific period of time
- The Median LSAT score is a general barometer for acceptance into a specific law school given that standard other requirements are also met (like GPA)
- Top 50 schools (top tier schools) will usually require above a 162 median LSAT score
- Top 14 schools will usually require above a 168 median LSAT score
- The very highest ranked schools will generally require a median LSAT score of 170+
Besting your desired school’s median LSAT score
You will want to strive for the highest LSAT score you can get, but keep in mind that when looking for the best LSAT score, great LSAT Preparation is going to give you the single most impactful advantage. A great tutor or even just some excellent classroom style LSAT Prep can easily push you ten points higher than your previous (practice or official) scores.
Did you know? Get Prepped has a Money Back guarantee: 5 points higher minimum OR YOUR MONEY BACK?
Your Median LSAT score on legitimate practice tests can be a good indicator of your performance on the official tests, so get to practicing and raise your LSAT score to a level above that of the median LSAT score for your desired school.
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