What Now, I Can’t Make My LSAT Test Date!!
You’re not ready for your October LSAT, or you’ve had a last-minute emergency. Hey, stuff happens. Unfortunately, for the October 5 exam, you missed the deadline to reschedule. So now what?
First, the standard disclaimer for all LSAC rules and regulations:
LSAC changes rules. Check with LSAC for schedule and methods. (Once upon a time, test takers could reschedule after the test had already taken place, not so, now!) Always confirm all information on the LSAC site.)
Current LSAC rules require that you if you want to reschedule your test date, you must do so approximately three weeks in advance. Obviously this isn’t going to work if you have a last-minute emergency, or even a 18-days-before-the-test-date emergency.
So now, what are your LSAT options?
- You could go sit the test ‘for practice’ with the intent of cancelling your score before you even leave the test center (or shortly thereafter).Be careful though, currently LSAC limits you to 3 LSATs during a two year time period. Cancelling your score will count towards one of your three tests. (Really…no one should have to take more than three LSATs, but it had to be mentioned.)If it is actually possible for you to make the test, then why not get the experience so as to be better prepared for it next time?!
- You could simply not show up on test day. If you don’t show up at all, then the absence is noted but, hey, as I said above, stuff happens. Maybe you were too sick to get out of bed. It would be a really odd admissions officer that held an absence against you.
So my generic recommendation— if you are in town and have the time…take the LSAT and get your money’s worth! (At this point, you are going to be losing your testing fee.) Consider it great practice after which you have the option to cancel your score. (Keep studying though, maybe you’re just having a panic attack and you really could do well after all. So relax, you have options!)
Neither option is going to materially prejudice your law school applications.
The important consideration is that you don’t end up with a score that is below your full LSAT potential. That would be a tragedy.
Tags: lsat advice, lsat info
