Schools that accept the February LSAT

Many students assume that all schools will take the February LSAT because they take it before the application deadline for the law schools they are applying to. However, that is not always the case, and it's important to know which schools will take the February LSAT score and which won't, in order to really maximize your application, take advantage of the rolling admissions process, and know exactly where you stand as an applicant.

Below is a list of schools, separated by their deadline date, and their take on February LSAT scores. Keep in mind a few things:

1. When I say "February LSAT scores" I don't mean ALL February LSAT scores. I mean the scores for the February LSAT that is administered in the same year that the applicant is applying for admission. All schools technically "take" February LSAT scores (i.e., If you took the LSAT in Feburary 2009 and are applying right now for entrance in the Fall of 2010, of course they'll take your score)--however, not all take the scores for the February test taken in the same year you're seeking admission.

2. Taking the LSAT as late as February puts you in a disadvantageous position regardless of whether the school takes the score or not. Results for the February LSAT aren't available until late February/early March, which means that your application won't be considered complete until that time, which means that it will only be read at the end of the admissions cycle, which means that there will be fewer seats available, which means that your chances are much diminished. As a rule of thumb, take the LSAT in June or October of the year prior to the one you are seeking admissions in (i.e., if you want to go to law school starting in the Fall of 2011, then take the LSAT in June or October of 2010). This does a number of things: (1) Gives you the flexibility of taking the LSAT again if you feel you need to, and (2) Allows you apply very early in the admissions process (because your scores will be ready by November at the latest, and you can submit your application at the beginning of the applications cycle).

3. Even if a school says it has no preference in test dates or doesn't state a preference in test dates, they'll all tell you that earlier is better as far as taking your LSAT goes.

I've separated schools into four categories: Schools that accept February LSAT scores, schools that accept February LSAT scores but recommend taking the LSAT earlier, schools that don't accept February LSAT scores, and schools that do not mention a preference.

The list below includes all schools with application deadlines from January through March. Schools with deadlines in April and beyond all accept February LSAT scores.

SCHOOLS THAT ACCEPT FEBRUARY LSAT SCORES

American University
Arizona State University
Boston University
Brooklyn Law School
College of William and Mary
George Washington
New England School of Law
North Carolina Central University
Ohio State University
Pace University
Rutgers University, Newark
Santa Clara University
St. Mary's University
Stetson University
Suffolk University
Temple University
SUNY Buffalo
University of Connecticut
University of Hawaii
University of Kansas
University of Maryland
University of Montana
University of Pittsburgh
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Wyoming
University of the District of Columbia
University of the Pacific
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Wayne State University
Western New England College
Whittier College
Yale University

SCHOOLS THAT ACCEPT FEBRUARY LSAT SCORES, BUT STRONGLY RECOMMEND TAKING THE LSAT EARLIER
These schools accept February LSAT scores but recommend taking the LSAT prior to the February administration for a variety of reasons, including: (a) Seats may no longer be available in the incoming class by the time the applicant's file is complete; (b) If seats are remaining, competition for them will be fierce and will drastically diminish the applicant's chances; (c) February LSAT scores become available too late for students to be considered for financial aid, scholarships, or Early Decision or Notification.

Albany University
Baylor University
Boston College
Catholic University
Charleston School of Law
Cornell University
CUNY (Queen's College)
DePaul University
Duke University
Emory University
Georgetown University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Lewis & Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Pepperdine University
Roger Williams University
Texas Tech University
University of Akron
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of California, Davis
University of California, Hastings
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Idaho
University of Iowa
University of Kentucky
University of Maine
University of Memphis
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri, Kansas City
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of San Francisco
University of South Carolina
University of South Dakota
University of Southern California
University of Utah
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Willamette University

SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT ACCEPT FEBRUARY LSAT SCORES

Columbia University
Harvard University
New York University
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Texas, Austin
Indiana University, Indianapolis

SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT SPECIFY A PREFERENCE REGARDING FEBRUARY LSAT SCORES
Be careful with these schools. Although they do not specify a preference outright, many of them specifically state that their applications must be complete by a certain date (and a complete application includes an LSDAS Report, which by default includes an LSAT score). If the February LSAT is the first LSAT you are taking and the score release date is after the application deadline for the schools that do not specify a preference regarding the February LSAT, make sure to contact each school to obtain their stand on submitting the rest of your materials first and your February LSAT after.

Brigham Young University
Fordham University
Georgia State University
Howard University
Indiana University, Bloomington
John Marshall Law School
Louisiana State University
Loyola University, New Orleans
Mercer University
Pennsylvania State University
Quinnipiac University
Rutgers University, Camden
Seattle University
South Texas College of Law
Southern Illinois University
Southern Methodist University
Southern University
Texas Wesleyan University
Tulane University
University of Baltimore
University of Denver
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Missouri
University of San Diego
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Tulsa
Vermont University
Washington University in St. Louis
West Virginia University