LSDAS – Law School Data Assembly Service
The Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) assembles data derived from candidates'
transcripts and LSAT scores. The LSDAS places grades from institutions with
varying grade point systems on the same scale to allow the law schools to evaluate
all students on a more or less equivalent basis. The LSDAS combines information
from all transcripts you send, so credits that may not be computed in your current
undergraduate GPA will be calculated in the LSDAS report of your GPA. LSAT scores
earned in the last five years will be reported, as well as the averages of those
reported. At the request of a law school the LSDAS analysis may also include
an index score derived from the GPA, the LSAT score(s), and the undergraduate
school(s) attended.
Almost all ABA accredited law schools require you to register with LSDAS, and
to send official transcripts from any colleges or universities you have attended,
including graduate schools. You are solely responsible for sending transcripts
to LSDAS.
You get one law school report with your LSDAS subscription. If you plan to apply
to more than one law school, you need to estimate the number, and pay for that
number of reports when you register with LSDAS. You do not need to tell LSDAS
where you expect to apply. The law schools to which you apply will obtain a
copy of your report directly from the LSDAS. This process eliminates the problem
of law schools receiving your report and establishing a file even if you decide
later not to apply there. To apply to more schools than you originally estimated,
you must submit an order for additional reports. Fee waivers do not apply to
the additional reports.
An LSDAS subscription lasts for one year. Therefore, you should subscribe only
with the year you plan to apply to law school. Allow LSDAS enough time to process
your transcripts before your applications arrive at the law schools. For most,
this means subscribing and sending in your transcripts approximately one year
prior to the time you hope to start law school. If you are a senior and are
counting on your senior year grades to improve your GPA and increase your competitiveness,
you may choose to send a transcript to LSDAS after your Fall grades are recorded.
You should also send an official transcript with those grades directly to the
law schools so they will be aware of your progress without waiting for an update
to be processed by LSDAS. A few schools will not accept LSDAS updates. With
these schools, you must weigh the advantages of applying early against your
potentially improved GPA.
|
