How well does LSAT predict law school success?

The LSAT is a strong predictor of first-year law school performance (1L GPA), significantly better than undergraduate GPA (UGPA) alone, with the combination of LSAT and UGPA being the most effective predictor of success, according to LSAC and LSAC. While it doesn't predict everything (like post-graduation success), it effectively forecasts academic performance in the challenging first year, with higher scores generally correlating to higher grades, though individual outcomes vary.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely in the 170s) to gain admission to Harvard Law School, especially given his undergraduate GPA was considered relatively low for Harvard applicants. Experts suggest his score was well above average, probably in the top percentile, possibly placing him in the 94th to 98th percentile range to compensate for his undergraduate record and secure admission.
 

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

No, Kim Kardashian did not take the LSAT because she pursued a law apprenticeship (like the California Law Office Study Program) instead of traditional law school, but she has faced setbacks passing the actual California Bar Exam, failing her first attempt in July 2025, though she remains determined to pass. She previously passed the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after multiple failures. 

How rare is a 172 on the LSAT?

A 172 LSAT score is extremely rare and elite, placing you in roughly the top 3% (97th percentile) of test-takers, meaning you scored better than nearly everyone, making you highly competitive for even the most selective T14 law schools. While scores in the 170s are common on law school forums, they represent a very small fraction of all test-takers, often outperforming the average scores (around 151-153) by a significant margin. 

What LSAT score will get you a full ride?

To get a full law school scholarship, you generally need an exceptional LSAT score, often in the 170+ range, especially for top schools, though a score around 166+ significantly boosts your chances at many programs, with higher scores (173+) making you a very strong candidate for full rides at many schools, even lower-ranked ones. The specific score depends heavily on the school's median and your GPA, but exceeding the median LSAT score is key to significant merit aid. 

Does the LSAT Predict Law School Performance

What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?

Elle Woods scored a nearly perfect 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of the perfect 180 score, after starting with a 143 on a practice test, demonstrating an incredible, fast improvement to gain admission to Harvard Law School in the movie Legally Blonde. Her score placed her in the 99th percentile, though the rapid jump from 143 to 179 is often cited as the least realistic part of the film.
 

Can a predictor help me choose law schools?

HourUMD Calculator

This calculator is one of the most popular law school predictors. HourUMD uses data provided by law school applicants to calculate your chances of getting into a law school of your choice. To find out which law schools might admit you, enter your GPA and LSAT score into the calculator.

Can you get into Harvard with a 173 LSAT?

To give yourself a realistic chance of acceptance into Harvard Law School, students should aim to score 171 or above on the LSAT, with the most competitive applicants scoring 174 or higher. The median LSAT score for admitted students is 174.

What is the hardest section of the LSAT?

The hardest LSAT sections vary, but generally Reading Comprehension (RC) and difficult Logic Games (LG) with complex rules (like hybrid or matching games) are cited most often, while some find abstract Logical Reasoning (LR) questions (like Parallel Reasoning or Flaw questions) the toughest due to nuanced language, with Logic Games often seen as the most learnable section despite initial difficulty. Specific "170-breaker" questions are statistically the hardest, often appearing at the end of sections, but building a strong base in easier questions is crucial.
 

How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar exam?

Michelle Obama took the Illinois bar exam twice, failing the first time but passing on her second attempt, which she found devastating but ultimately insignificant to her future career, according to her book Becoming and legal sites like JD Advising and Bar Exam Toolbox. 

Is the baby bar harder than the bar?

The Baby Bar (FYLSE) is often perceived as harder due to its historically very low pass rates (around 20%), which are lower than the main California bar, because it's designed to weed out unaccredited law students, who are generally less prepared. While the main bar tests more subjects and is a two-day comprehensive exam for all law grads, the Baby Bar is a one-day, three-subject test (Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts) for a specific group, making its low pass rate a formidable barrier to continuing their legal education.
 

How did Kim lose 16lbs in 3 weeks?

She lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into her vintage Met Gala gown. How did Kardashian lose weight? She says she cut carbs and ate “just the cleanest veggies and protein.” She also ran on a treadmill and wore a sauna suit twice a day. Kardashian's 3-week weight loss sparked concern over the impact on mental health.

Did Michelle Obama finish law school?

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.

What is most people's first LSAT score?

The average LSAT score is around 152, though many top-100 schools will require more than the average for admissions. Schools will compare you to other applicants from the same cycle.

What is the #1 ranked law school in the world?

There isn't one single "number one," as rankings vary, but Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University consistently appear at the very top globally, often trading #1 spots depending on the ranking system, with Harvard often leading in overall QS rankings and Yale/Stanford in U.S. News & World Report's domestic rankings for U.S. schools. Other top contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and NYU.
 

What is harder, LSAT or bar exam?

Generally, the bar exam is considered harder than the LSAT. The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law.

What school takes the lowest LSAT score?

Southern Illinois University School of Law

This law school admits applicants with a minimum LSAT score of 147 and a 3.00 GPA, so just by the nature of the game, the bar pass rate will be a bit lower.

Which month has the hardest LSAT?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

How long should I study for the LSAT?

Most experts recommend 3-6 months of LSAT prep, totaling 150-300 focused hours, to allow for deep learning and practice tests, though many successfully prep in a concentrated 2-month period. The key is consistent, deep review of mistakes (around 20-25 hours/week is common), not just clocking hours; starting 12 weeks before the test with 10-15 focused hours weekly is a good benchmark, but adjust based on your baseline score and goals. 

How realistic is a 170 LSAT?

A 170 LSAT percentile typically lands around the 96th percentile, meaning you've outperformed most people who took the test.

What kind of person excels in law school?

The personal qualities that law schools value include maturity or life experience, emotional intelligence, an ability to get along with different kinds of people and communication skills, she says.

What percent of people quit law school?

Law school dropout rates vary significantly by school type and student demographics, with overall attrition for first-year students often around 6-8% at ABA-approved schools but much higher (over 40%) at unaccredited or California-accredited schools, where minority students, especially women of color, face even greater challenges due to academic pressure, mental health, and financial burdens, with some groups seeing rates over 10% compared to White students' ~5% at ABA schools.
 

Is law school harder than med school?

Most people find medical school harder due to its intense memorization, faster pace (drinking from a firehose), higher stakes with lives on the line, and longer overall training including residency, while law school focuses more on critical reading, writing, and analysis, though it's also highly demanding and competitive. Medical school involves mastering vast scientific facts and clinical skills, whereas law school emphasizes interpreting complex texts and applying legal reasoning, often with fewer but high-stakes exams.