Will scoring well on the LSAT bolster a non-law school application?

Answer 1

I'm not sure I 100% understand the question, but I'll give a couple responses to what you might mean.

If you're asking whether the LSAT is good for anything aside from applying to law school (e.g. applying to other schools), the short answer is no. The slightly longer answer is that Mensa (the high IQ club) generally admits new members who score well enough on the LSAT (which I believe means 168+), and of course there's the satisfaction of the mental challenge of the test, if that's your style. But it doesn't work for admission to non-law schools.

If you're asking whether taking the LSAT makes up for a low GPA, the short answer is yes, to a point, assuming you do well enough. If you head over to the website of the test makers, each US law school has a profile that includes their typical admissions decisions in a grid based on GPA and LSAT scores, so you can find out the specifics for any particular school you're interested in. (Link: https://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx) Canadian and Australian law schools are now listed as well, in a separate area.

If you're asking whether taking the LSAT makes up for an undergrad major that was not pre-law, the short answer is yes -- because law schools don't care what your undergrad major was. Regardless, unless you're trying to use the GRE for admission to law school (another discussion), you have to take the LSAT.

Hope that helps!