Can you do one for someone taking the test in dec?
Here is a tentative schedule for someone taking the test in December:
JuneSign up for LSDAS. You can do this without having to sign up for the LSAT, which is nice. Signing up for LSDAS means that you will have an account set up and ready to process your transcripts and letters of recommendation way ahead of time (and you'll probably beat the rush of applicants trying to get their paperwork processed in October, November, and December).
If you haven't already, take some time to do thorough research on the schools you want to apply to. This will do few things: familiarize yourself with each law school, and give you an LSAT score goal. A few resources that you will find helpful are the actual websites of each school, and the LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools (which can be found here:
http://officialguide.lsac.com). Study the Guide, learn about each school. Don't pick just because of reputation or cost. Pick places where you know you'll be happy.
Get your transcript requests in to the appropriate offices at all the undergrad and grad institutions you have attended. Because they'll have to be sent directly from the institution to LSDAS and then they'll have to be processed by LSDAS to appear in your file, there's a lot of potential for third-party delays and errors. Give yourself time by requesting them early and following up with everyone involved.
Touch base with the people you want to have your letters, and tell them that you're applying to law school and you would like them to be one of your recommenders. For tips on who to pick and what to do, see this thread:
http://www.lsatdiscussion.com/index.php/topic,33.0.htmlJulyFollow up with your transcripts and your recommenders. Your transcripts should be in to LSDAS by now; your recommenders should either be done with the letters or be fairly close. Once your letters are done, they need to be sent directly to LSDAS BY THE RECOMMENDER for processing. Make sure this is done by the end July or mid-August at the latest, so that you give yourself time to correct any errors that may happen.
Update your résumé. Many schools request one. Make sure it doesn't look like an employment résumé. It needs to be a LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION résumé. For some tips on how to do that, take a look at this video:
AugustStart working on your personal statement. You may think this is not doable without having seen the applications; that is not true. Most schools simply request a general essay that presents a side of you not seen elsewhere in your application. Essentially, it's almost like an interview on paper (in a much fancier, literary manner). Start thinking about topics you can write about (and no, they don't have to be shocking or have you trying to save the world). To get your brain flowing, look at this thread:
http://www.lsatdiscussion.com/index.php/topic,44.0.html. Try to have your essay fully wrapped up by the end of this month.
At this point, your transcripts and letters should all be processed and in your LSDAS account.
Sign up for the December LSAT (so that you can both rest easy that you're registered and get the test center you want) and sign up for an LSAT prep class (if you haven't already done so).
SeptemberApplications for admission the next fall become available on LSDAS. Go online and complete all the biographical information. There may also be any of the following in these apps: additional essays (such as the "Why XYZ Law School?" essay), Dean's Certifications, potential addenda you need to write (such as an explanation of any criminal arrest, or an academic suspension from school). This is the time to write these essays and get them done. Have them complete and in final draft by the end of this month, so that you can focus on studying for the LSAT for the two months prior to the test. Dean's Certifications (if the schools you are applying to require them) can take up to a month to complete, so get that in to the appropriate ASAP and double-check that they get done and sent out.
At this point, you should essentially have your applications ready to go except for your LSAT scores. The idea behind this is to essentially just press the "GO!" button on your app as soon as your scores are ready. Because you are taking the test in December, your scores won't be available until January, which means your app won't get to schools until about halfway through the admissions cycle. Although that's not terrible, you don't want to wait much longer than that, so don't let anything else be waiting for completion other than your LSAT score.
OctoberStudy for the LSAT.
NovemberStudy for the LSAT.
DecemberTake the LSAT. And then RELAX. You are done. All you're waiting for are your scores, to have them complete your application so you can send them to schools.
JanuaryLSAT scores are out. They will be automatically added to your LSAC School Report, so as soon as they are available, check your profile for application completeness and send them off. You're all done. Relax, chill out, and wait for replies.
CONTINGENCIES:If you don't do as well on the December LSAT as you wanted, you may want to take the February LSAT to see if you can up your score. If you end up doing that, you will want to check with each school you are applying to in order to see if they take the February LSAT score results (some schools don't for applicants seeking admission in the fall of the same year). If they don't, you have a few decisions to make: you can either apply with the score you've got, or you can wait until the next application cycle, retake the LSAT in either February or June, and submit your applications for admission at that time.
Good luck!
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