Answer courtesy of PowerScore
Much like the SAT is used in college admissions, the LSAT is used as a standardized measure in law school admissions. Why? Because the only across-the-board numerical indicator that law schools have when comparing applicants are LSAT scores.
Law schools have no way of knowing how one major in one college stacks up in difficulty to the same major in another college, or how a 4.0 GPA from one school compares to a 4.0 GPA from another.
When it comes to LSAT scores, they know that everyone was given the same level of difficulty and very similar questions. This makes the LSAT score the single most important number on your application, even more important than your undergraduate GPA. In fact, some schools weigh the LSAT scores 4 or 5 times more than your undergraduate GPA—which means that a three-and-a-half hour test can weigh much more than four years of college!
Use this information to your advantage. Think of it this way—even if your GPA is below the median for the school of your choice, you can significantly improve your chances by thoroughly preparing for the LSAT and scoring in a high percentile. And, if your GPA is well above the median for your dream school, you can make yourself a virtual shoo-in by getting a high LSAT score and making sure everything else in your application is well taken care of. No matter which category you fall into, you can play the LSAT score game to your advantage.
LSAT Frequently Asked Questions:
How do law schools see multiple LSAT scores?
Should I cancel my LSAT score?
Should I retake the LSAT?
What if I'm unhappy with my LSAT score?
What's a good LSAT score anyway?
How important are LSAT scores?
How do law schools use the LSAT writing sample?
