A careful evaluation of individuals' past accomplishment and future promise is at the heart of the process. Undergraduate academic performance is a significant indicator of potential success in law school, and we are convinced that one of the primary considerations for admission must be scholarship. Besides being one measure of general ability, a strong scholastic record indicates persistence, organization and motivation-all important factors that have few direct measures. The cumulative average is one measure of scholarship, and not always the most accurate one. A weak start in college may be irrelevant if subsequent performance is outstanding.
Trends are important, in both directions, as are the quality and difficulty of the courses taken.
Unusual creativity, exceptional research skills, analytical prowess and other intellectual factors enter in where they can be ascertained, and are not always reflected on a transcript. It is designed to measure some of the mental qualities that are needed for successful law study and, within broad limits, provides a reasonable assessment of these factors. Standing alone, the LSAT provides only a partial evaluation of anyone's qualifications for law study. But when combined with other assessments, the LSAT is helpful in assessing individual promise and in making comparisons among those who compete for admission. The quantitative factors in our admissions process, while important, are not determinative.