For many would-be graduate and law students, the first obstacle is choosing which standardized test to take. The LSAT vs GRE debate has become more and more relevant, with an increasing number of law schools opening their doors to both exams. Knowing the major differences between them and what benefits each test can offer you will enable you to select the one that best matches your academic and career goals.
The LSAT has already been the gold standard for law school admissions. It's designed to help you develop the analytical skills that are especially necessary in legal education, including reading comprehension, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. The aforementioned is also owed to the fact that most admission committees continue to consider high LSAT performance as the best overall predictor of law school success. That is, it does offer clear, traditional pathways to the law for applicants whose only interest is as a lawyer.
The GRE, on the other hand, was created to accommodate a more diverse array of graduate programs. The test doesn't necessarily resemble the reasoning law schools seek with their verbal and quantitative sections, but it does assess analytical skills and facility with numbers. And now that more law schools are accepting GRE scores, applicants who want to pursue J.D./M.B.A. or J.D./PhD. Programs have taken an interest in the option since they can apply across disciplines with one test.
When you look at LSAT vs GRE in terms of preparation, one involves much less time than the other. The LSAT requires a skill set that goes well beyond logic games and argumentative sections, which are inherent in its format. But the GRE requires you to keep up with vocabulary-rich reading and also focus on problem-solving when it comes to math. Students might also prefer one format over another based on their academic strengths.
In terms of career strategy, the other reason would be in case you're planning to go to law school and something comes up. The GRE is usable at thousands of graduate programs, and thus could appeal to those who are interested in careers outside of law. On the other hand, remaining loyal to the LSAT can be a more powerful and direct way of showing your commitment to your legal education.
Ultimately, the decision of LSAT vs GRE is not universal. If you really are hell-bent on getting into the legal field, and you have to choose just one test to prepare for, the LSAT is still likely your safer bet in that it's more widely accepted. But for candidates craving more flexibility and more academic options, the GRE can provide some highly valuable choices. You want to evaluate your goals, strengths and long-term ambitions so that you can see which exam will be most applicable toward helping you on your journey.
Paul Thomas is the author of this article :- For more details about Complete Process for JD Program Admission please visit our website :- lsac.org
