Monday, November 6, 2017
LSAT Test-Takers Continue To Surge, With 10.7% Increase In Sept/Oct Following June's 19.8%
After a 19.8% surge in the number of LSAT test-takers in June (the first test administration for the 2017-18 admissions cycle), LSAT test-takers rose 10.7% in September/October. The increase in the first two test administrations in this cycle is the largest since 2009-10, when LSAT-test takers hit an all-time high (171,514). In addition, registrations for the next test administration in December are up 19.8%. We are headed for a third consecutive year of increases in LSAT test-takers (and the largest yearly increase, dwarfing 2015-16's 4.1% and 2016-17's 3.3%), which followed five consecutive years of declines.
https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2017/11/lsat-test-takers-continue-to-surge-with-107-increase-in-septoct-following-junes-198.html
Comments
Paul, Is this increase due to there being more individuals taking the exam, or the same people taking the exam more times? My information is that this increase coincides with the removal by the LSAC of the maximum number of times someone can take the exam, which was previously capped at three. I have also heard that while the number of law school applications is up, the number of applicants is down, which would seem to confirm the latter being true. Lars
Posted by: Lars Smith | Nov 6, 2017 7:08:51 AM
To put it another way, LSAT test-takers are still down 39% from 2009-2010 even though the number of four-year college graduates has increased 15% over that time. And I'd sure hate to be in the middle of law school if (when) the Trump admin and Congress curtail GradPLUS loans, eliminate PSLF, and prolong income-based repayment to 30 years at 12.5% of income. Some of those are Trump admin imperatives, others are longstanding GOP Congressional desires. One does wonder how many law school admin officials are making 0Ls aware of these possible life-altering changes to law school financing...
Posted by: Unemployed Northeastern | Nov 6, 2017 7:08:02 AM
Good. Maybe the lower end law schools will return to some modicum of selectivity.
Posted by: Anon | Nov 6, 2017 11:17:01 AM