Skip to main content

Know When to Postpone LSAT Testing

By U.S. News & World Report

Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a feature of Law Admissions Lowdown that provides admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.

If you have a question about law school, please email me for a chance to be featured next month.

[Learn more about preparing for the LSAT.]

This week, I will answer questions about LSAT test timing when life throws you curveballs.

I have begun my preparation for the December exam, but because of work obligations, I know I won’t be able to devote as much time as I’d like to my preparation in November. Should I push through with my preparation for December even though I won’t be able to devote myself as fully to the test next month or should I wait until February to take the test? -Unsure December Tester

Dear Unsure December Tester: The answer to this question depends in part on how compromised you are during November. As I have mentioned in other posts, the four or so weeks leading up to the test date are the most important in terms of preparation. If you can’t devote 10-15 hours each week to LSAT preparation during November — while maintaining a regular sleep schedule and your sanity — then it is likely a better move to postpone to February.

[Read about whether to postpone the LSAT from December to February.]

One additional factor to consider is when you’re planning on applying to law school. If you’re applying during this admissions cycle, then the December exam is definitely preferable.

Some schools do not accept February exam scores, so you would be limiting the pool of schools you could apply to. Furthermore, even for the schools that do take the February exam scores, you will have no option to retake the LSAT before applying if it doesn’t go well.

In a nutshell: If you’re applying this cycle, take the December LSAT and do your best to set aside enough time in November to prepare sufficiently. If you aren’t applying this cycle, continue to prepare as you have, cut back during November and then plan to spend December and January fully focused on LSAT prep.

I had been preparing thoroughly for the September LSAT, but because of a sudden — but fortunate — change in my work situation in August, I upended my life, moved to a new city and began a job that has required a huge amount of work to get up to speed and in a position to succeed. As a result, my preparation for the September test dropped off and I decided to postpone. Because of the demands of my job, I won’t be able to spend significant time preparing for the LSAT until April. When do you recommend I take the LSAT and how should I prepare? -Postponed LSAT Tester

Dear Postponed LSAT Tester: First , it sounds like you made the right decision to postpon e the LSAT.

The final four weeks of preparation are critical. Since you weren’t in a position to dedicate the necessary time in those final weeks, I think you made the right decision in postponing, assuming, of course, that you aren’t planning on applying to law schools this year.

[Discover these three preparation keys for the June LSAT.]

If you have free time again starting in April, the June 2017 exam would make the most sense. Taking the LSAT in June seems like it will coincide with a lower-intensity period in your job and enable you to spend enough time to be fully prepared for the exam. It also allows for you to re take the exam in September and still apply on the early end of the admissions cycle, should you underperform in June.

As for preparation, although I generally advise setting aside four months to prepare, it sounds like you have already done a lot to study for the test before your work situation changed. In this situation, I recommend that you take four to six full, timed practice tests in your first two weeks back in LSAT preparation mode.

There will inevitably be rust, so don’t put much stock in the scores you get during this period. After that many tests, though, you should be a point or too away from where you were scoring before you took time off and ready to build on your previous preparation.

More from U.S. News

Weigh Types of J.D.-MBA Programs, Applications

10-Week Timeline for Submitting Law School Applications

Make the Most of LSAT Practice Tests

Know When to Postpone LSAT Testing originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote